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As confidentially submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2019. This draft registration statement has not been publicly filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and all information herein remains strictly confidential.

Registration No. 333-          

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Washington   2836   27-0907024
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200

Seattle, Washington 98102

(206) 659-0067

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Chad Robins

Chief Executive Officer

1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200

Seattle, Washington 98102

(206) 659-0067

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Andrew Ledbetter
Tyler Hollenbeck

Kevin Criddle
DLA Piper LLP (US)

701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6900

Seattle, Washington 98104

(206) 839-4800

 

Stacy Taylor

General Counsel

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200
Seattle, Washington 98102
(206) 659-0067

 

James Evans

Robert Freedman

Amanda Rose

Fenwick & West LLP

1191 Second Avenue, Floor 10

Seattle, Washington 98101

(206) 389-4510

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box:  

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b–2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price(1)(2)

  Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

  $                   $                

 

 

(1)

The proposed maximum aggregate offering price includes the offering price of additional shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED                 , 2019

                Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

This is an initial public offering of shares of common stock of Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation. We are offering             shares of our common stock to be sold in the offering.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $         and $         per share.

We intend to apply to list our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ADPT.”

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future filings.

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 13 of this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of the securities offered hereby, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

     Per share      Total  

Initial public offering price

   $                  $              

Underwriting discounts(1)

   $      $  

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $      $  

 

(1)

See the “Underwriting” section of this prospectus for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

To the extent that the underwriters sell more than              shares of common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional             shares from us at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discount.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York on                 , 2019.

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC    J.P. Morgan    BofA Merrill Lynch

 

Cowen

   Guggenheim Securities

William Blair

   BTIG

 

 

Prospectus dated                , 2019.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Prospectus Summary

     1  

The Offering

     9  

Summary Financial Data

     11  

Risk Factors

     13  

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     75  

Market and Industry Data

     77  

Use of Proceeds

     78  

Dividend Policy

     79  

Capitalization

     80  

Dilution

     83  

Selected Financial Data

     86  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     87  

Business

     101  

Management

     145  

Executive Compensation

     156  

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

     165  

Principal Shareholders

     168  

Description of Capital Stock

     170  

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

     176  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

     178  

Underwriting

     183  

Legal Matters

     188  

Experts

     188  

Additional Information

     188  

Index to Financial Statements

     F-1  

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Neither we nor any of the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the securities offered hereby. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters have taken any action that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons who have come into possession of this prospectus in a jurisdiction outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. It may not contain all the information that may be important to you. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our historical financial statements and related notes, before making an investment decision. In this prospectus, unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “we,” “our,” “us,” “Adaptive” and the “Company” refer to Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation.

Overview

We are a commercial-stage company advancing the field of immune-driven medicine by harnessing the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease. We believe the adaptive immune system is nature’s most finely tuned diagnostic and therapeutic for most diseases, but the inability to decode it has prevented the medical community from fully leveraging its capabilities. Our immune medicine platform applies our proprietary technologies to read the diverse genetic code of a patient’s immune system and understand precisely how it detects and treats disease in that patient. We capture these insights in our dynamic clinical immunomics database, which is underpinned by computational biology and machine learning, and use them to develop and commercialize clinical products and services tailored to each individual patient. These products and services are designed to diagnose, monitor and enable the treatment of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions and infectious diseases. Since our inception in 2009, we have characterized over 20 billion immune receptors, established partnerships and commercial relationships with over 125 biopharmaceutical companies and launched two product lines. Our goal is to change the course of medicine by understanding and translating the adaptive immune system into new products with unprecedented scale, precision and speed.

Our immune medicine platform is the foundation for our expanding suite of products and services. The cornerstone of our platform and core immunosequencing product, immunoSEQ, serves as our underlying research and development engine and generates revenue from academic and biopharmaceutical customers. Our first clinical diagnostic product, clonoSEQ, is the first test authorized by the FDA for the detection and monitoring of minimal residual disease in patients with select blood cancers. Leveraging our collaboration with Microsoft, we are also developing a diagnostic product, immunoSEQ Dx, that may enable early detection of many diseases from a single blood test. Our therapeutic product candidates, being developed under our collaboration agreement with Genentech, leverage our platform to identify specific immune cells to develop into cellular therapies in oncology. We believe this approach has the potential to be applicable to patients across a wide range of cancers.

Immune-driven medicine is one of the largest global addressable markets in healthcare. We estimate the potential market opportunity for our portfolio to be greater than $48 billion, including research products, clinical diagnostics and cellular therapies. We believe this market will grow over time as clinicians increasingly appreciate the importance of the immune system in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and as our pipeline of products and services continues to expand.

Our Immune Medicine Platform

The adaptive immune system is comprised of specialized cells, called T cells and B cells, which hold the instructions for diagnosing and treating most diseases. These instructions enable these cells to identify, bind and destroy pathogens or human cells presenting foreign signals of disease (“antigens”) using receptors on their cell surface. Unlike all other genes in the human genome, the

 

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genetic sequences of T cell receptors (“TCRs”) and B cell receptors (“BCRs”) rearrange over time, creating massive genetic diversity. The resulting diversity of the adaptive immune repertoire, which consists of over 100 million different genes in a healthy adult compared to approximately 30,000 genes in the static human genome, gives the immune system the ability to detect and respond to millions of different antigens associated with human disease. A platform that fully reveals the enormous diversity and scale of the immune system to develop clinical products must be able to reliably and repeatedly measure the relative frequency of each disease-specific immune cell, even those present in blood at only 1 out of 1,000,000 cells.

 

 

LOGO

SEQUENCE MAP PAIR CHARACTERIZEQuantifying TCRs Mapping TCRs Pairing Identifying optimal & BCRs to antigens receptor chains therapeutic TCRs MIRA TruTCRCOMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY MACHINE LEARNINGCLINICAL IMMUNOMICS DATABASE>20 BILLION IMMUNE RECEPTORS

Our immune medicine platform performs the following key functions related to immune receptors:

 

   

Sequence. immunoSEQ sequences single chains of “Y-shaped” TCRs or BCRs using next-generation sequencing (“NGS”), enabling us to understand the quantity and diversity of T and B cells in a biological sample. This provides deep insights into individual and collective immune responses at a scale that is thousands of times greater than was previously possible.

 

   

Map. MIRA (Multiplexed Identification of T cell Receptor Antigen Specificity) maps millions of TCRs to thousands of clinically relevant antigens. Combined with immunoSEQ, MIRA elucidates what potential diseases a patient’s immune system has been exposed to or is actively fighting.

 

   

Pair. pairSEQ builds on immunoSEQ by using a combinatorial strategy to accurately pair both chains of Y-shaped immune cell receptors at high-throughput, which is challenging to do at scale using other methods because the two chains of the Y-shaped receptors are located on different chromosomes. The ability to accurately pair both chains of the receptors in a sample enables us to reconstruct receptors for therapeutic purposes.

 

   

Characterize. TruTCR characterizes binding, cytotoxicity and safety properties of antigen-specific, paired TCRs to identify a subset that is therapeutic-grade, enabling the discovery and development of optimal clinical candidates to be engineered into TCR-mediated cellular therapies.

The massive amount of data generated by our immune medicine platform is stored in our dynamic clinical immunomics database of over 30 billion immune receptors, of which we have data

 

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rights to over 20 billion. We believe the application of machine learning, supported by our collaboration with Microsoft, has the potential to exponentially accelerate our ability to derive novel insights from this database and use them to inform our robust product development efforts.

Our Current Products and Pipeline

Our current portfolio includes commercial products and services in life sciences research and clinical diagnostics, and we are developing products and services in both clinical diagnostics and drug discovery.

Life Sciences Research. Our immunoSEQ research service and kit are used to answer translational research questions and discover new prognostic and diagnostic signals. Our technology has been used for research purposes by over 2,000 academic researchers and more than 125 biopharmaceutical companies and incorporated into over 480 clinical trials since our inception in 2009. We intend to initiate development of a next generation, sample-type agnostic research use only (“RUO”) kit, which we expect to enable global distribution of our research product. We are working to analytically validate the improved version of immunoSEQ so that all research data generated using immunoSEQ can be used for clinical validation of potential diagnostic applications.

We also use immunoSEQ for our own internal clinical product development efforts as the foundational technology for our clinical diagnostic and therapeutic product pipeline.

LOGO

Our Clinical Product PortfolioDIAGNOSTIC SIGNAL CLINICAL FDA FDA REIMBURSE-PRODUCT PLAN VALIDATION VALIDATION SUBMISSION CLEARANCE MENTMultiple MyelomaAcute Lymphoblastic LeukemiaMonitor MRD: clonoSEQ Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Expected submission in 2019 Non-Hodgkins LymphomaEarly Detection: OncologySelect first indication for immunoSEQ Dx expected submission in 2019AutoimmuneDRUG DISCOVERY EARLY CLINICAL POCPh I Ph II PRODUCT PLAN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT GO/NO GO1st SharedTCR-Based2nd SharedCell Therapies*Personalized*Products in development as part of our worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Genentech

Clinical Diagnostics. Our clonoSEQ diagnostic test detects and monitors the remaining number of cancer cells that are present in a patient’s body during and after treatment, known as minimal residual disease (“MRD”). clonoSEQ was granted marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) under the de novo process, in September 2018 for patients with multiple myeloma (“MM”) and B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (“ALL”) to monitor their MRD from bone marrow samples. In January 2019, clonoSEQ received Medicare coverage aligned with the FDA label and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (“NCCN”) guidelines for longitudinal monitoring in MM

 

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and ALL. clonoSEQ is also available for use in other lymphoid cancers as a laboratory developed test (“LDT”). clonoSEQ testing has been ordered by clinicians in nearly 300 healthcare systems and institutions, including 27 of the 28 NCCN centers in the United States, and used by more than 30 biopharmaceutical companies in over 120 clinical trials. We continue to invest in the commercial success of clonoSEQ by establishing a specialized sales organization and infrastructure in the United States and by exploring partnerships with diagnostic companies in other parts of the world. We believe clonoSEQ has broad applicability and we intend to file to expand the clonoSEQ FDA label to multiple additional indications, starting with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (“CLL”) in 2019, followed by non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (“NHL”), to further expand its usage. Importantly, we are also generating data for submission to validate the use of clonoSEQ to monitor MRD from blood samples, which is less invasive than bone marrow samples, and may facilitate more frequent monitoring and broader physician adoption.

Leveraging Microsoft Corporation’s (“Microsoft”) machine learning capabilities to create a map of the interaction between the immune system and disease (“TCR-Antigen Map”), we are developing a diagnostic product, immunoSEQ Dx, that may enable early detection of many diseases from a single blood test. In 2019, we plan to confirm the first indications to bring to the FDA for review while continuing signal validation in several additional indications. We believe we are uniquely positioned to rapidly identify signals for early detection across many disease states simultaneously because our immune medicine platform works with retrospective sample sets and uses machine learning and computational statistics to continuously improve our detection and accuracy without requiring large cohorts of prospective patients.

Drug Discovery. Our TruTCR process characterizes TCRs against shared antigens for use in the development of therapeutics. In December 2018, we entered into an exclusive collaboration with Genentech, Inc. (“Genentech”) to leverage this capability for the development of cellular therapies in oncology. We are pursuing two product development pathways for novel T cell immunotherapies in which Genentech intends to use TCRs screened by our immune medicine platform to engineer and manufacture cellular medicines:

 

   

Shared Products. The shared products will use “off-the-shelf” TCRs identified against cancer antigens shared among patients (“Shared Products”).

 

   

Personalized Product. The personalized product will use patient-specific TCRs identified by real-time screening of TCRs against cancer antigens in each patient (“Personalized Product”).

In parallel, we plan to evaluate an investment in facilities for the screening of patient-specific TCRs to shorten the time from patient blood draw to infusion of the Personalized Product. We believe this investment would position us to potentially pursue additional opportunities outside of this collaboration, including cellular therapy in other disease states and cancer vaccines.

Our Competitive Strengths

We aim to harness the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to develop clinical products and services that improve human health by leveraging our core competitive strengths.

 

   

Our immune medicine platform is uniquely capable of supporting clinical products. We have developed a platform that is capable of reading and translating the massive genetic diversity of the adaptive immune system and its selective response to disease. Specifically, our platform sequences immune receptors and maps them to antigens for diagnostic applications, pairs receptor chains and characterizes antigen-specific, paired receptors to identify optimal clinical

 

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targets for therapeutic use. We are the only company that can perform all of these functions—and we do so at an unprecedented scale to develop novel clinical diagnostic and therapeutic products.

 

   

Our clinical immunomics database provides a robust product development engine. Our dynamic clinical immunomics database of over 20 billion immune receptors, now being annotated with antigens using machine learning, drives our ability to rapidly discover and develop potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Our aim is to translate the natural capabilities of the immune system into the clinic by capturing the millions of diverse unique receptors present in a patient’s blood.

 

   

Clinical applicability spans diagnostic and therapeutic product potential. Our ability to accumulate, synthesize and process billions of immunomic datapoints to generate multiple clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications across disease areas provides optionality to our commercial pipeline. Each of our products also has broad applicability, enabling robust product lifecycle extensions.

 

   

Regulatory and reimbursement expertise will help inform future clinical product development. Having successfully obtained FDA marketing authorization and Medicare coverage for clonoSEQ, we believe we have developed valuable core capabilities that will facilitate future product development through to regulatory approval and reimbursement. We believe this capability will inform future development of other clinical products, including our early detection tests.

 

   

Transformational collaborations with industry leaders validate our platform. Our collaborations with industry-defining leaders such as Genentech and Microsoft validate our unique approach to advancing the promise of immune-driven medicine. We will continue to seek opportunities to optimize our ever-growing clinical immunomics database to drive product development and commercial success and facilitate efficient use of capital.

 

   

Strong intellectual property protects our immune medicine platform and its applications. As of March 9, 2019, we have filed 375 patent applications, 234 of which have issued to date, covering improvements in sequencing methods and new ways to leverage adaptive immune receptors for life sciences research, clinical diagnostic and drug discovery applications.

Our Strategy

Our focus is to leverage our immune medicine platform and competitive strengths to develop transformative clinical solutions accessible to patients around the world.

 

   

Advance the promise of immune-driven medicine. We facilitate the development of the immune medicine field by providing a platform to encourage generation of immunomics data to facilitate a deeper understanding of, and biological discovery from, the adaptive immune system. We leverage the unique capability of our platform to translate a patient’s immune system with the scale, precision and speed required to enable the development of personalized products, including clinical diagnostic tests for disease monitoring and early detection, as well as immune-based therapeutics.

 

   

Rapidly identify and advance new products, leveraging foundational technology. Integrate proven chemistry into our clinical products in development, avoiding the need to re-engineer new products for every clinical application. We do this by serially identifying new applications of immunoSEQ Dx for early detection of disease using retrospective datasets without requiring live cells from large cohorts of patients, and by characterizing TCRs for therapeutic use. As our

 

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platform expands into new indications across cancer, autoimmune conditions and infectious diseases, we believe we will benefit from economies of scale and drive margin improvement over time.

 

   

Entrench our products and services in clinical drug development with biopharmaceutical collaborators. Position our platform as the gold standard for the validation of potential immune-driven clinical discoveries in late-stage clinical trials. Since inception, our products and services have been used by more than 125 biopharmaceutical companies and incorporated into over 480 clinical trials, and clonoSEQ has proven to be the MRD test of choice for select registrational trials. To deepen our established position as a partner of choice, we provide end-to-end support, including hypothesis-driven trial design, extensive data analyses, parallel regulatory support, compliant data transfers and novel target screening. These synergistic relationships advance the development and adoption of our own clinical products and also inform drug development for our partners.

 

   

Drive the commercial adoption of distributed, reimbursed and regulated clinical products. Expand distribution and drive usage of our products and services, including the development of clinical in vitro diagnostic (“IVD”) kits. Leverage the commercial infrastructure built for clonoSEQ to submit clinical data for regulatory clearance of our products and services, engage in payor conversations and provide robust billing and patient access infrastructure for multiple clinical applications.

 

   

Maintain an entrepreneurial, scientifically rigorous, data-driven and inclusive corporate culture. Fuel the promise and potential that our platform offers to help patients better manage their disease by translating insights from our world-class team, which includes over 75 people with medical or doctoral degrees with expertise in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, software, drug discovery, development and commercialization, into clinical products and services. We plan to continue to expand our team to advance the promise of immune-driven medicine.

Risks Associated with Our Business

Our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties of which you should be aware before making an investment decision, including those highlighted in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus immediately following this prospectus summary. Among others, these risks relate to:

 

   

our significant net losses since inception, expected net losses in the future and need for significant investments in products and services;

 

   

our ability to leverage our immune medicine platform to discover, develop, commercialize and obtain regulatory clearance, authorization and approval for our products and services, particularly in light of the novelty of immune medicine and our methods;

 

   

our ability to develop our TCR-Antigen Map and yield insights from it that are commercially viable;

 

   

our collaboration with Genentech and ability to develop and commercialize cellular therapeutics, including our ability to achieve milestones and realize the intended benefits of the collaboration;

 

   

our laboratory operations, including errors or defects in our products or services and our reliance on a limited number of suppliers, and in some cases single suppliers, for our equipment and materials;

 

   

our limited experience with the development and commercialization of cellular therapeutics;

 

   

market acceptance of our products and services, and our limited sales and marketing experience;

 

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our expected reliance on collaborators for development and clinical testing of therapeutic product candidates, which may fail at any time due to a number of possible unforeseen events;

 

   

our ability to increase our capacity, manage the evolution of our products and services, stay current in our rapidly changing industry, expand our workforce and otherwise manage our growth;

 

   

the loss of any member of our senior management team, or of the support of key opinion leaders;

 

   

the extensive regulation of our industry, including reimbursement coverage decisions; and

 

   

the validity of our patents, protection of our trade secrets and related intellectual property matters.

See the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for additional information about the risks we face.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”). As such, we may take advantage of reduced disclosure and other requirements otherwise generally applicable to public companies, including:

 

   

presenting only two years of audited financial statements and related financial disclosure;

 

   

not being required to have our registered independent public accounting firm attest to management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

presenting reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; and

 

   

not being required to hold non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.

We have taken advantage of some of these reduced disclosure and other requirements, and pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act, as an emerging growth company, we have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. Accordingly, the information we provide to you may be different than you might get from other public companies in which you hold securities.

We could remain an “emerging growth company” until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this initial public offering, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of any completed second fiscal quarter before that time, or if we have total annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more during any fiscal year before that time, or if we issue more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during any three-year period before that time.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated in the State of Washington on September 8, 2009 under the name Adaptive TCR Corporation. On December 21, 2011, we changed our name to Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation. In January 2015, we acquired Sequenta Inc. (“Sequenta”), a San Francisco, California-based company that was also developing an NGS test for MRD (“Sequenta Acquisition”). Our principal executive offices are located at 1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200, Seattle, Washington 98102, and our telephone number is (206) 659-0067. We maintain a website at

 

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www.adaptivebiotech.com. Information contained on or that can be accessed through our website is neither a part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus.

We own various U.S. federal trademarks, applications and unregistered trademarks, including our company name, product and service names and other trade or service marks. All other trademarks or trade names referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus are referred to without the symbols ® and ™, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us

            shares

 

Option to purchase additional shares

We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to            additional shares of common stock from us. The underwriters can exercise this option at any time within 30 days from the date of this prospectus.

 

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

            shares (or            shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares).

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, will be approximately $        million (or approximately $        million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares), assuming an initial public offering price of $        per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund our commercial and marketing activities associated with our clinical products and services, continued research and development for our pipeline candidates and drug discovery initiatives, ongoing investments into our immune medicine platform and scaling of our laboratory operations with our anticipated growth. We expect the remainder, if any, to be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See the “Use of Proceeds” section of this prospectus.

 

Risk Factors

See the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors that you should consider carefully before deciding to invest in our common stock.

 

Proposed Nasdaq Global Select Market symbol

“ADPT”

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 105,651,630 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, which includes (i) the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 92,790,094 shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering and (ii) the issuance of 20,000 shares of common stock upon the exercise of an outstanding common stock warrant immediately prior to the closing of this offering that would otherwise expire, and excludes:

 

   

56,875 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant to purchase shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, with an exercise price of $2.64 per share;

 

   

35,032 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant to purchase shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, with an exercise price of $0.33 per share;

 

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264,677 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options to purchase shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, under our Sequenta, Inc. 2008 Stock Plan (“Sequenta Plan”), which we assumed in connection with our Sequenta Acquisition, with a weighted-average exercise price of $0.44 per share;

 

   

14,893,253 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2018, under our 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (“2009 Plan”), with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.59 per share; and

 

   

                 shares of common stock that will become available for future issuance under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (“2019 Plan”) (which includes all shares reserved for issuance under our 2009 Plan) upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes or gives effect to:

 

   

the filing of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and the effectiveness of our amended and restated bylaws in connection with the closing of this offering;

 

   

the conversion of all outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 92,790,094 shares of common stock upon the closing of this offering;

 

   

the conversion of an outstanding warrant to purchase our convertible preferred stock into a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 56,875 shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering;

 

   

the conversion of all outstanding stock options to purchase our convertible preferred stock into stock options to purchase an aggregate of 264,677 shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering;

 

   

no exercise or termination of outstanding options or warrants after December 31, 2018; and

 

   

no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to                additional shares of common stock in this offering.

 

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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

The summary financial data set forth below should be read together with our financial statements and the related notes to those statements, as well as the “Selected Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of this prospectus. The statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018 have been derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected in the future.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2017     2018  
    

(in thousands, except share

and per share data)

 

Statements of Operations Data:

    

Revenue:

    

Sequencing revenue

   $ 22,759     $ 32,978  

Development revenue

     15,689       22,685  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     38,448       55,663  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

    

Cost of revenue

     15,680       19,668  

Research and development

     31,995       39,157  

Sales and marketing

     16,765       24,486  

General and administrative

     15,949       20,409  

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,694       1,699  

Restructuring

     840       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     82,923       105,419  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (44,475     (49,756

Interest and other income, net

     1,644       3,309  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (42,831   $ (46,447

Fair value adjustment to Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

     135       102  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

   $ ( 42,696   $ (46,345
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (3.50   $ (3.67
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

     12,196,998       12,629,778  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted(1)

     $ (0.44
    

 

 

 

Unaudited pro forma weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

       105,470,520  
    

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 17 to our financial statements appearing at the end of this prospectus for details on the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share and the calculation of basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share.

 

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     As of December 31, 2018  
     Actual     Pro Forma(1)      Pro Forma
As Adjusted(2)(3)
 
           (in thousands)         

Balance Sheet Data:

       

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

   $ 165,018     $ 165,027      $                

Working capital(4)

     157,918       157,927     

Total assets

     332,688       332,697     

Total liabilities

     29,942       29,606     

Convertible preferred stock

     560,858       —          —    

Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity

     (258,112     303,091     

 

(1)

Pro forma amounts give effect to: (i) the automatic conversion of all of our outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 92,790,094 shares of common stock, immediately prior to the closing of this offering; (ii) the issuance of 20,000 shares of our common stock upon the exercise of an outstanding warrant to purchase our common stock, immediately prior to the closing of this offering that would otherwise expire; (iii) the conversion of an outstanding warrant to purchase our convertible preferred stock into a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 56,875 shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering; and (iv) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the consummation of this offering.

(2)

Pro forma, as adjusted amounts reflect pro forma adjustments described in footnote (2) as well as the sale of            shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $        per share of common stock, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

(3)

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $        per share of common stock, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted amounts of each of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, working capital, total assets and total shareholders’ (deficit) equity by approximately $        million, assuming that the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares of common stock offered by us would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted amounts of each of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, working capital, total assets and total shareholders’ (deficit) equity by approximately $        million, assuming that the assumed initial price to the public remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

(4)

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties, together with all other information in this prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of this prospectus before investing in our common stock. Any of the risk factors we describe below could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. The market price of our common stock could decline if one or more of these risks or uncertainties actually occur, causing you to lose all or part of your investment in our common stock. Additional risks that we currently do not know about or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We have incurred significant losses since inception, we expect to incur losses in the future and we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to achieve and maintain profitability.

We have incurred significant losses since our inception. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, we incurred net losses of $42.8 million and $46.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $295.9 million. We have funded our operations principally from the sale of our convertible preferred stock, and to a lesser extent sequencing and development revenue. We have devoted most of our financial resources to the research and development of products and services under our immune medicine platform. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in the development of products and services utilizing our immune medicine program to support the validation of additional clinical diagnostic and therapeutic products and services. In addition, following the completion of this offering, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company, including expenses related to legal, accounting, regulatory, maintaining compliance with exchange listing and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requirements, director and officer insurance premiums and investor relations. We will need to generate significant additional revenue to achieve and sustain profitability. Our failure to achieve or sustain profitability could negatively impact the value of our common stock.

We expect to make significant investments in our continued research and development of new products and services, which may not be successful.

We are seeking to leverage our immune medicine platform to develop a pipeline of future disease-specific research, diagnostic and therapeutic products and services. For example, we are attempting to extend clonoSEQ into additional indications and sample types, and we are developing our TCR-Antigen Map with a view toward developing immunoSEQ Dx, a diagnostic test that may enable early detection of multiple diseases from a single blood test. In addition, we are developing certain therapeutic product candidates under our collaboration agreement with Genentech by leveraging our platform to identify TCRs that can be engineered into personalized cellular immunotherapies. We expect to incur significant expenses to advance these development efforts, but they may not be successful.

Developing new products and services is a speculative and risky endeavor. Products or services that initially show promise may fail to achieve the desired results or may not achieve acceptable levels of analytical accuracy or clinical utility. We may need to alter our products in development and repeat clinical studies before we identify a potentially successful product or service. Product development is expensive, may take years to complete and can have uncertain outcomes. Failure can occur at any stage of the development. If, after development, a product or service appears successful, we or our

 

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collaborators may, depending on the nature of the product or service, still need to obtain FDA and other regulatory clearances, authorizations or approvals before we can market it. The FDA’s clearance, authorization or approval pathways are likely to involve significant time, as well as additional research, development and clinical study expenditures. The FDA may not clear, authorize or approve any future product or service we develop. Even if we develop a product or service that receives regulatory clearance, authorization or approval, we or our collaborators would need to commit substantial resources to commercialize, sell and market it before it could be profitable, and the product or service may never be commercially successful. Additionally, development of any product or service may be disrupted or made less viable by the development of competing products or services.

New potential products and services may fail any stage of development or commercialization and if we determine that any of our current or future products or services are unlikely to succeed, we may abandon them without any return on our investment. If we are unsuccessful in developing additional products or services, our potential for growth may be impaired.

If we are not successful in leveraging our immune medicine platform to discover, develop and commercialize additional products and services, our ability to expand our business and achieve our strategic objectives would be impaired.

A key element of our strategy is to leverage our immune medicine platform to discover, develop and potentially commercialize additional products and services beyond our current portfolio to diagnose and treat various disease states. In particular, for clonoSEQ we are attempting to generate sufficient clinical evidence to support a new regulatory submission to add additional lymphoid cancers beyond ALL and MM, while also adding blood as a validated sample type. If we are unable to extend clonoSEQ into other indications or to use additional sample types, our platform may face a broader obstacle to using our immunosequencing data for commercially viable products and services.

Identifying new products and services requires substantial technical, financial and human resources, whether or not any products or services are ultimately developed or commercialized. We may pursue what we believe is a promising opportunity to leverage our platform only to discover that certain of our risk or resource allocation decisions were incorrect or insufficient, or that individual products, services or our science in general has technology or biology risks that were previously unknown or underappreciated. Our strategy of pursuing the value of our immune medicine platform over a long time horizon and across a broad array of human diseases may not be effective. In the event material decisions in any of these areas turn out to be incorrect or sub-optimal, we may experience a material adverse impact on our business and ability to fund our operations and we may never realize what we believe is the potential of our immune medicine platform.

Our efforts to develop our TCR-Antigen Map may not be successful, and it may not yield the insights we expect at all or on a timetable that allows us to develop or commercialize any new diagnostic products.

We are leveraging our collaboration with Microsoft to develop our TCR-Antigen Map. Together we are using immunosequencing, proprietary computational modeling and machine learning to map TCR sequences to the antigens they bind. However, we may not be successful in developing a comprehensive TCR-Antigen Map for any number of reasons. Our collaboration with Microsoft is in the early stages, and our computations and algorithmic-based methods are largely untested and may not allow us to accurately pair TCR sequences to a meaningful number of antigens. As a result, it may require significantly more time and resources for us to determine how to use machine learning to accelerate our mapping process, which could adversely impact our ability to develop or commercialize new diagnostic products or services. In addition, even with the aid of machine learning, we expect the TCR-Antigen Map to take us several years to develop.

 

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The TCR-Antigen Map we are developing may not yield clinically actionable insights on a timetable that is commercially viable, or at all. Our goal is to leverage the TCR-Antigen Map to develop a diagnostic product, immunoSEQ Dx, that may enable early detection of many diseases from a single blood test. However, we are still validating early detection testing for a set of discrete diseases where antigen specificity is well-known, and we do not expect to validate more than one indication in 2019. If our computational modeling and machine learning efforts do not accelerate the pace at which we can validate association of TCR sequences to the antigens they bind, the timetable for our business model may not be commercially viable. Even if we can accelerate this timeline, our products and services derived from our novel technologies may have product or service level errors. If we are unable to make meaningful progress in our TCR-Antigen Map and successfully use it to develop and commercialize new diagnostic products or services, our business and results of operations will suffer.

We are exposed to risks associated with our agreement with Genentech, and we may not realize the advantages we expect from it.

In December 2018, we entered into a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Genentech (the “Genentech Agreement”), with the goal of accelerating the development and commercialization of novel cancer-specific antigen and neoantigen directed T cell therapies for the treatment of a broad range of tumor types. Under the terms of the Genentech Agreement, we received $300.0 million in an initial upfront payment in February 2019, and may receive approximately $1.8 billion in additional payments over time upon achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones. In addition, Genentech will pay us royalties on sales of products commercialized under the agreement. We may not be successful in achieving these milestones, and products developed under the Genentech Agreement may not be commercialized in the timeframe we expect, achieve significant sales, or be commercialized at all.

We are exposed to numerous risks associated with the Genentech Agreement, including sharing a measure of control over the operations of our research and development portions of the collaboration with Genentech and Genentech having sole control over the commercialization of any products developed via the collaboration. The Genentech Agreement also prevents us from, among other things, developing or commercializing TCR-based cellular therapies outside the scope of the collaboration in the field of oncology on our own or with any third party. Our collaboration involves risks that are different from the risks involved in independently conducting operations, including that Genentech may:

 

   

have or develop economic or business interests that are inconsistent with ours;

 

   

take actions contrary to our instructions, requests, policies or objectives;

 

   

take actions that reduce our return on investment for this collaboration;

 

   

fail to distinguish itself from biosimilar competition; or

 

   

take actions that harm our reputation or restrict our ability to run our business.

Genentech’s degree of control over collaboration development and commercialization efforts may impact the amounts we receive under the Genentech Agreement. For example, Genentech may decide not to pursue commercialization of product candidates at all, or it may agree to pay royalties to third parties or adopt a pricing model that reduces the amount of royalties we might otherwise expect. It is also possible that effective cell therapies will not be developed under the Genentech Agreement or, if developed, approved by the FDA or comparable regulatory authorities outside of the United States. Genentech may also terminate the Genentech Agreement at its convenience, at any time and without cause.

We may not be able to perform our product research, development and commercialization related obligations under the Genentech Agreement, including performing TCR screening activities for product

 

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candidates being developed and commercialized under that agreement. For example, in the event a product is commercialized under the Genentech Agreement, as the volume of product sales grows, we will likely need to continue to increase our workflow capacity for sample intake, customer service and general process improvements, and expand our internal quality assurance program to support TCR screening on a larger scale within expected turnaround times. We will likely need additional certified laboratory scientists and other scientific and technical personnel for the Personalized Product to identify and target therapeutically relevant, patient-specific neoantigens. We will likely also need to acquire additional laboratory space and equipment, which can take several months or more to procure, set-up and validate. These process enhancements and increases in scale, expansion of personnel, laboratory space and equipment may not be successfully implemented, and we may not have adequate space in our existing laboratory facilities to accommodate the required expansion. If we cannot satisfy our obligations, Genentech is entitled to trigger a technology transfer of our TCR screening process (specific to the Personalized Product) or terminate the Genentech Agreement. In addition, due to our significant obligations under the Genentech Agreement, we may face challenges in keeping existing customers, collaborators and suppliers and obtaining new customers, including any biopharmaceutical customers that are actual or potential competitors with Genentech.

If we support the commercialization of one or more products under the Genentech Agreement, we may need to incorporate new equipment, implement new technology systems and laboratory processes and hire new personnel with different qualifications. Failure to manage this growth or transition could result in turnaround time delays, higher product costs, declining product quality, deteriorating customer service and slower responses to competitive challenges. A failure in any one of these areas could make it difficult for us to meet market expectations for our products, and could damage our reputation and the prospects for our business, both under the Genentech Agreement and otherwise. As a result, our relationship with Genentech may not result in the realization of its anticipated benefits.

We have limited experience with the development and commercialization of cellular therapeutics, and future TCR-based cellular therapies may never be successfully developed and commercialized as part of our Genentech collaboration.

We have limited experience with the development of cellular therapeutics, and no experience with the commercialization, marketing and distribution of cellular therapeutics. Our therapeutic product candidates are at an early stage of discovery and development under our Genentech collaboration, and we are continuing to develop our TruTCR process being used under that collaboration to develop TCR-based cellular therapies for the treatment of cancer. Under our Genentech collaboration, Genentech has invested significant financial resources to develop future TCR-based cellular therapies, including conducting preclinical studies and other early research and development activities, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. Our future success is dependent on our and Genentech’s ability to successfully develop therapeutic product candidates, and Genentech’s ability, where applicable, to obtain regulatory and marketing approval for, and then successfully commercialize, cellular therapeutics. We and Genentech have not yet developed and commercialized any cellular therapeutics, and we may not be able to do so.

We currently use, and in the future expect to increase our use of, collaborators for several aspects of our operations, and if we cannot maintain current and enter new relationships with collaborators, our business will suffer.

We have limited resources to conduct our life sciences research, clinical diagnostics and drug discovery operations and have not yet fully established infrastructure for sales, marketing or distribution in connection with our products and services. Accordingly, we have entered into collaboration agreements under which our collaborators have provided, and may in the future provide,

 

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funding and other resources for developing and potentially commercializing our products and services. In particular, we have entered into the Genentech Agreement, with the goal of accelerating the development and commercialization of T cell therapies for the treatment of a broad range of tumor types, and a strategic collaboration agreement with Microsoft (“Microsoft Agreement”), which provides us with access to Microsoft’s research and machine learning technologies that we are using to develop our TCR-Antigen Map. These collaborations may result in our incurring significant expenses in pursuit of potential products and services, and we may not be successful in identifying, developing or commercializing any potential products or services.

Our future success depends in part on our ability to maintain these relationships and to establish new relationships. Many factors may impact the success of such collaborations, including our ability to perform our obligations, our collaborators’ satisfaction with our products and services, our collaborators’ performance of their obligations to us, our collaborators’ internal priorities, resource allocation decisions and competitive opportunities, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, disagreements with collaborators, the costs required of either party to the collaboration and related financing needs, and operating, legal and other risks in any relevant jurisdiction. In addition to reducing our revenue or delaying the development of our future products and services, the loss of one or more of these relationships may reduce our exposure to research, data, clinical trials or computing technologies that facilitate the collection and incorporation of new information into our clinical immunomics database. All of the risks relating to product and service development, regulatory clearance, authorization or approval and commercialization described in this prospectus apply to us derivatively through the activities of our collaborators.

We engage in conversations with companies regarding potential collaborations on an ongoing basis. These conversations may not result in a commercial agreement. Even if an agreement is reached, the resulting relationship may not be successful, and any products and services developed as part of the collaboration may not produce successful outcomes. Speculation in the industry about our existing or potential collaborations can be a catalyst for adverse speculation about us, or our products or services, which can adversely affect our reputation and our business.

Significant additional research and development and, in certain instances, clinical trials or validation will be required before we can potentially seek regulatory clearance, authorization or approval for, or commercialize any of our products or services in development.

We are developing a pipeline of immune-driven diagnostics and therapeutics, including immunoSEQ Dx and cellular therapies in oncology, but significant additional research and development activity and clinical trials or validations could be required before we and our collaborators will have a chance to achieve additional commercially viable products. Our research and development efforts remain subject to all of the risks associated with the development of new products and services based on immune-driven diagnostics and immune-mediated therapies. Development of the underlying technology may be affected by unanticipated technical or other problems, among other research and development issues, and the possible insufficiency of funds needed to complete development of these products and services. Safety, regulatory and efficacy issues, clinical hurdles or other challenges may result in delays and cause us to incur additional expenses that would increase our losses. If we and our collaborators cannot complete, or if we experience significant delays in developing, our clinical diagnostics or cellular therapies, particularly after incurring significant expenditures, our business may fail and investors may lose the entirety of their investment.

Prior to obtaining regulatory clearances, authorizations or approvals for the commercial sale of any new products or services, we must demonstrate that our products and services are both safe and effective for use in each target disease indication. Clinical studies may be necessary to demonstrate that a product or service is safe and effective. Clinical testing or validation is expensive and can take

 

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many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time. For therapeutics, the results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of products and services in development may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials, and initial success in clinical trials may not be indicative of results obtained when clinical trials are completed. There is typically an extremely high rate of failure as therapeutic products in development proceed through clinical trials. Products in later stages of clinical trials or validation also may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy profile despite having progressed through nonclinical studies and initial clinical trials or validations. Any delays in the development of our products and services may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly.

Errors or defects in our products or services could harm our reputation, decrease market acceptance of our products or services or expose us to product liability claims.

We are creating new products and services, many of which are initially based on largely untested technologies. As all of our products and services progress, we or others may determine that we made product or service level scientific or technological mistakes. The testing processes utilizes a number of complex and sophisticated biochemical, informatics, optical and mechanical processes, many of which are highly sensitive to external factors. An operational or technology failure in one of these complex processes or fluctuations in external factors may result in less efficient processing or variation between testing runs. Refinements to our processes may initially result in unanticipated issues that reduce the efficiency or increase variability. In particular, sequencing, which is a key component of these processes, could be inefficient with higher than expected variability thereby increasing total sequencing costs and reducing the number of samples we can process in a given time period. Therefore, inefficient or variable processes can cause variability in our operating results and damage our reputation.

In addition, our laboratory operations could result in any number of errors or defects. Our quality assurance system may fail to prevent us from inadvertent problems with samples, sample quality, lab processes including sequencing, software, data upload or analysis, raw materials, reagent manufacturing, assay quality or design, or other components or processes. In addition, our assays may have quality or design errors, and we may have inadequate procedures or instrumentation to process samples, assemble our proprietary primer mixes and commercial materials, upload and analyze data, or otherwise conduct our laboratory operations. If we provide products or services with undiscovered errors to our customers, our clinical diagnostics may falsely indicate a patient has a disease or fail to detect disease in a patient who requires treatment. We believe our customers are likely to be particularly sensitive to product and service defects, errors and delays, including if our products and services fail to indicate the presence of residual disease with high accuracy from clinical specimens or if we fail to list or inaccurately indicate the presence or absence of disease in our test report. In drug discovery, such errors may interfere with our collaborators’ clinical studies or result in adverse safety or efficacy profiles for their products in development. This may harm our customers’ businesses and may cause us to incur significant costs, divert the attention of key personnel, encourage regulatory enforcement action against us, create a significant customer relations problem for us and cause our reputation to suffer. We may also be subject to warranty and liability claims for damages related to errors or defects in our products or services. Any of these developments could harm our business and operating results.

Our current and future products and services may never achieve significant commercial market acceptance.

Our success depends on the market’s confidence that we can provide immune-driven research, diagnostic and therapeutic products and services that improve clinical outcomes, lower healthcare costs and enable better biopharmaceutical development. Failure of our products and services, or those jointly developed with our collaborators, to perform as expected could significantly impair our operating

 

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results and our reputation. We believe patients, clinicians, academic institutions and biopharmaceutical companies are likely to be particularly sensitive to defects, errors, inaccuracies, delays and toxicities in or associated with our products and services. Furthermore, inadequate performance of these products or services may result in lower confidence in our immune medicine platform in general.

We and our collaborators may not succeed in achieving significant commercial market acceptance for our current or future products and services due to a number of factors, including:

 

   

our ability to demonstrate the clinical utility of our immune medicine platform and related products and services and their potential advantages over existing life sciences research, clinical diagnostic and drug discovery technologies to academic institutions, biopharmaceutical companies and the medical community;

 

   

our ability, and that of our collaborators, to secure and maintain FDA and other regulatory clearance, authorization or approval for our products;

 

   

the agreement by third-party payors to reimburse our diagnostics, the scope and extent of which will affect patients’ willingness or ability to pay for our diagnostics and will likely heavily influence physicians’ decisions to recommend our tests;

 

   

the rate of adoption of our immune medicine platform and related products and services by academic institutions, clinicians, key opinion leaders, advocacy groups and biopharmaceutical companies; and

 

   

the impact of our investments in product innovation and commercial growth.

Additionally, our customers and collaborators may decide to decrease or discontinue their use of our products and services due to changes in their research and development plans, failures in their clinical trials, financial constraints, the regulatory environment, negative publicity about our products and services, competing products or the reimbursement landscape, all of which are circumstances outside of our control. We may not be successful in addressing these or other factors that might affect the market acceptance of our products and services and technologies. Failure to achieve widespread market acceptance of our immune medicine platform and related products and services would materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We rely on a limited number of suppliers or, in many cases, single suppliers, for laboratory equipment and materials and may not be able to find replacements or immediately transition to alternative suppliers.

We rely on a limited number of suppliers, or in many cases single suppliers, to provide certain sequencers and equipment that we use in our laboratory operations, as well as reagents and other laboratory materials for our products and services. An interruption in our laboratory operations, kit distribution or technology transfer could occur if we encounter delays, quality issues or other difficulties in securing these sequencers, equipment, reagents or other materials, and if we cannot then obtain an acceptable substitute. In addition, we would likely be required to incur significant costs and devote significant efforts to find new suppliers, acquire and qualify new equipment, validate new reagents and revalidate aspects of our existing assays, which may cause delays in our processing of samples or development and commercialization of products and services. Any such interruption could significantly affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation.

In particular, we have purchased and rely on the Illumina NextSeq System. Illumina, Inc. (“Illumina”) supplies us with reagents that have been designed for use solely with this sequencer and Illumina is the sole provider of maintenance and repair services for the Illumina NextSeq System. We also license our laboratory information management software from Illumina and receive services from

 

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Illumina related to that software. We believe there are only a few other equipment manufacturers that are currently capable of supplying the equipment necessary for our laboratory operations, including sequencers and various associated reagents. The use of sequencers manufactured by a company other than Illumina would require us to alter our laboratory operations. Transitioning to and qualifying a new sequencer would be time-consuming and expensive, may result in interruptions in our laboratory operations, could affect the performance specifications of our laboratory operations or could require that we revalidate the reagents of our immunoSEQ kits, immunoSEQ Dx or clonoSEQ diagnostic testing services, and could require us to obtain additional clearance, authorization, approval, accreditation, or licensure for the changes. We may not be able to secure and implement alternative sequencers, associated reagents and other materials without experiencing interruptions in our workflow. In the case of an alternative supplier to Illumina, any replacement sequencers and various associated reagents may not be available or may not meet our quality control and performance requirements for our laboratory operations. If we should encounter delays or difficulties in securing, reconfiguring or revalidating the equipment and reagents we require for our products and services, our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation could be adversely affected. In addition, Illumina is not obligated to meet all of our requirements for reagent supply. In the event Illumina ceases or slows its production of, or is otherwise unwilling or unable to continue to supply the sequencer regents necessary for and currently used in our business at or near current pricing, we may be required to purchase different reagents from Illumina or to purchase from a different reagent vendor under terms and conditions which could be less favorable to us. Any disruption in Illumina’s operations or the suppliers of our reagents could impact our supply chain and laboratory operations of our immune medicine platform and our ability to conduct our business and generate revenue.

We have limited experience in marketing and selling products and services, and if we are unable to expand our direct sales and marketing force or partner with collaborators in certain product areas and markets to adequately address our customers’ needs, our business may be adversely affected.

We have limited experience in marketing and selling our research and diagnostic products and services and no experience marketing and selling therapeutic products and services. Accordingly, we or our collaborators may not be able to market and sell our current or future products and services effectively enough to support our planned growth.

Our research and diagnostic sales and marketing efforts are targeted at a large and diverse market with highly specialized segments, including department heads, laboratory directors, principal investigators, core facility directors, clinicians, payors and research scientists and pathologists at leading academic institutions, biopharmaceutical companies, research institutions and contract research organizations. As a result, we believe it is necessary for our sales representatives to have relevant, specialized market experience. Our internal sales organization is currently small, and competition for experienced sales and marketing personnel is intense. We may not be able to attract and retain personnel or be able to build or adequately train an efficient and effective sales organization, which could negatively impact sales and market acceptance of our clinical diagnostics and limit our revenue growth and potential profitability. We are also seeking distribution partners, particularly for our improved immunoSEQ RUO kit by researchers who want to perform immunosequencing in their local labs. We may not be able engage a distribution partner on favorable terms, or at all.

We established a collaboration with Genentech for the research, development, marketing, promotion, distribution and sale of TCR-based cellular therapies for the treatment of cancer. Under the Genentech Agreement, Genentech has the sole right and authority to commercialize products developed under that agreement. It will be Genentech’s responsibility to locate, qualify and engage distribution partners, clinicians and local hospitals with industry experience and knowledge to effectively market and sell products developed under that agreement. Genentech may not be able

 

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engage distribution partners, clinicians or hospitals on favorable terms, or at all. If Genentech’s sales and marketing efforts with respect to products developed under the Genentech Agreement are not successful, we may not achieve significant market acceptance for our drug discovery services and platform, which would materially and adversely impact our business operations.

If we or our collaborators experience any of a number of possible unforeseen events in connection with clinical trials, our or their ability to conduct further clinical trials of, obtain regulatory clearance, authorization or approval of or commercialize future products and services or improvements to current products and services, could be delayed or prevented.

We or our collaborators may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, clinical trials that could delay or prevent our or their ability to conduct further clinical trials or obtain regulatory clearance, authorization or approval of or commercialize future products and services or improvements to current products and services, including:

Evolving Regulatory Requirements and Policies

 

   

the area of “precision medicine” or “personalized medicine” and its regulation may be subject to ongoing changes in terms of regulatory requirements and governmental policies, in ways we cannot predict;

Trial Design

 

   

regulatory authorities or ethical review boards, including institutional review boards (“IRBs”), may not authorize commencement of a clinical trial or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site;

 

   

there may be delays in reaching or failure to reach agreement on acceptable clinical trial contracts or clinical trial protocols with prospective trial sites;

 

   

the FDA or other regulatory authorities may disagree with a clinical trial design or a sponsor’s interpretation of data and may change the requirements for product clearance, authorization or approval even after they have reviewed and commented on the clinical trial design;

 

   

differences in trial design between early stage clinical trials and later-stage clinical trials may make it difficult to extrapolate the results of earlier clinical trials to later clinical trials;

 

   

the FDA or other regulatory authorities may disagree about whether study endpoints are clinically meaningful;

 

   

the number of patients, or amount of data, required for clinical trials, or improvements to current products, may be larger than anticipated, patient enrollment in these clinical trials may be slower than anticipated or patients may drop out of clinical trials at a higher rate than anticipated;

Testing

 

   

changes may be made to product candidates after commencing clinical trials, which may require that previously completed stages of clinical testing be repeated or delay later stages of testing, for example, we, or our collaborators, may pursue one or more different product development pathways for our T cell immunotherapies;

 

   

clinical trials may fail to satisfy the applicable regulatory requirements of the FDA or other regulatory authorities responsible for oversight of the conduct of clinical trials in other countries;

 

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regulators may elect to impose a clinical hold, or governing IRBs, data safety monitoring board or ethics committees may elect to suspend or terminate our clinical research or trials for various reasons, including noncompliance with regulatory requirements or a finding that the participants are being exposed to unacceptable risks to their health or the privacy of their health information being disclosed;

 

   

the cost of clinical trials of future products and services, or improvements to current products and services, may be greater than we anticipate;

 

   

we may not have sufficient capacity in our laboratories to perform testing as requested or volumes requested or with the requested turnaround times necessary for clinical trials;

 

   

the supply or quality of materials or data necessary to conduct clinical trials of future products and services, or improvements to current products and services, may be insufficient or inadequate;

Trial Outcomes

 

   

the outcome of our collaborators’ preclinical studies and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results;

 

   

product candidates may be associated with negative or inconclusive results in clinical trials, and we or our collaborators may decide to deprioritize or abandon these product candidates, or regulatory authorities may require us to abandon them or impose onerous changes or requirements, which could lead to deprioritization or abandonment;

 

   

product candidates may have undesirable side effects which could lead to serious adverse events, or other unexpected characteristics. One or more of such effects or events could cause regulators to impose a clinical hold on the applicable trial, or cause us, our collaborators or their investigators, IRBs or ethics committees to suspend or terminate the trial of that product candidates;

 

   

clinical trials may suggest or demonstrate that products or services are not as efficacious or safe as other similar diagnostics or therapies; and

 

   

preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and our products and services in development may fail to obtain regulatory clearance, authorization or approval, even if they perform satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials.

Delays of this nature could also allow competitors to bring products to market before we or our collaborators do, potentially impairing our ability to successfully commercialize our products and services in development and harming our business and results of operations. Any delays in the development of our products and services or those jointly developed with our collaborators may significantly harm our business, financial condition and prospects. Many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory clearance, authorization or approval of products and services in development.

We will need to develop and expand our workforce, commercial infrastructure and laboratory operations to support anticipated growth in demand for our products and services, and we may encounter difficulties in managing this development and expansion and in meeting fluctuations in this demand.

We will need to expand our workforce, commercial infrastructure and laboratory operations to support anticipated growth in demand for our products and services. If we are unable to support

 

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fluctuations in the demand for our products and services, including ensuring that we have adequate capacity to meet increased demand, our business could suffer. As of March 22, 2019, we had 320 full-time employees and we expect to increase the number of employees and the scope of our operations as we continue to develop our clinical diagnostic products and services. As we and our collaborators commercialize additional products and services, we may need to incorporate new equipment, implement new technology systems and laboratory processes and hire new personnel with different qualifications. For example, in connection with our Genentech collaboration, we may need to procure additional laboratory space and personnel to allow us to increase TCR screening times with respect to product candidates being developed under the Genentech Agreement. Failure to manage this growth or transition could result in turnaround time delays, higher service costs, declining service quality, deteriorating customer service and slower responses to competitive challenges. A failure in any one of these areas could make it difficult for us to meet market expectations for our products and services, and could damage our reputation and the prospects for our business.

To manage our anticipated expansion, we must continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. Also, our management team may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from its day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these development activities. Due to our limited resources and early stage of growth, we may not be able to effectively manage this simultaneous execution and the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. This may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, operational mistakes, slower development of our products and services, missed or delayed milestone achievement, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees.

If our management is unable to effectively manage our expected development and expansion, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate or increase our revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance, and our ability to develop and commercialize our products and services and compete effectively, will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage our future development and expansion.

Our operating results may fluctuate significantly, which makes our future operating results difficult to predict and could cause our operating results to fall below expectations or any guidance we may provide.

Our financial condition and operating results have varied in the past and will continue to fluctuate from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year in the future due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. Factors relating to our business that may contribute to these fluctuations include the following, as well as other factors described elsewhere in this prospectus:

 

   

the timing of upfront payments from our collaborators;

 

   

our ability and that of our collaborators to develop and successfully commercialize our products and services;

 

   

our ability to achieve collaboration-based milestones on currently contemplated timelines, or at all;

 

   

availability and extent of reimbursement by governmental and private payors for our products and services;

 

   

the ability of our clinical sales teams to convert physicians from using incumbent products in the market to clonoSEQ and new diagnostic products and services we may develop;

 

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our ability to drive repeat usage of the clonoSEQ diagnostic test by physicians and get reimbursed for that repeat usage by commercial and government payors for monitoring of MRD;

 

   

the outcomes of research initiatives, clinical trials or other product development or approval processes conducted by us or our collaborators;

 

   

the level of demand for our products and services, which may vary significantly;

 

   

our relationships, and any associated exclusivity terms, with collaborators;

 

   

our ability to manage our growth;

 

   

our contractual or other obligations to provide resources to fund our products and services and to provide resources to our collaborations;

 

   

delays or failures in advancement of future products in clinical trials by us or our collaborators;

 

   

risks associated with the future international expansion of our business, including the potential to conduct clinical trials and commercialize our products and services in multiple international locations;

 

   

our ability and that of our collaborators to consistently manufacture our products;

 

   

our dependence on, and the need to attract and retain, key management and other personnel;

 

   

our ability to obtain, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights;

 

   

our ability to prevent the theft or misappropriation of our intellectual property, know-how or technologies;

 

   

our ability to obtain additional capital that may be necessary to expand our business;

 

   

our ability to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner;

 

   

business interruptions such as power outages, strikes, acts of terrorism or natural disasters; and

 

   

our ability to use our net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards to offset future taxable income.

The cumulative effects of factors discussed above could result in large fluctuations and unpredictability in our quarterly and annual operating results. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful. Investors should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance. In any particular period, our operating results could be below the expectations of securities analysts or investors, which could cause our stock price to decline.

While as a general matter we intend to periodically report on the status of our development initiatives, including anticipated next steps, we may not provide forward-looking guidance on the timing of those next steps. In addition, we do not control the timing of disclosure of any such milestones related to any of our products and services that are managed by our collaborators. Any disclosure by us or our collaborators of data that is perceived as negative may have a material adverse impact on our stock price or overall valuation. Our stock price may decline as a result of unexpected clinical trial results in one or more of our products and services, including adverse safety events reported for any of our products or services.

We have estimated the sizes of the markets for our current and future products and services, and these markets may be smaller than we estimate.

Our estimates of the annual addressable markets for our current products and services and those under development are based on a number of internal and third-party estimates, including, without

 

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limitation, the number of patients who have developed one or more of a broad range of cancers, the number of individuals who are at a higher risk for developing one or more a broad range of cancers, the number of individuals who have developed or are at a higher risk of developing certain autoimmune disorders, the number of individuals with certain infectious diseases we or our collaborators are able to treat through our products and services, the number of potential tests utilized per treatment course per patient and the assumed prices at which we can sell our current and future products and services for markets that have not been established. While we believe our assumptions and the data underlying our estimates are reasonable, these assumptions and estimates may not be correct and the conditions supporting our assumptions or estimates may change at any time, thereby reducing the predictive accuracy of these underlying factors. As a result, our estimates of the annual addressable market for our current or future products and services may prove to be incorrect. If the actual number of patients who would benefit from our products or services, the price at which we can sell future products and services or the annual addressable market for our products or services is smaller than we have estimated, it may impair our sales growth and have an adverse impact on our business.

If we do not compete effectively with scientific and commercial competitors, we may not be able to successfully commercialize our products and services.

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including the fields of life sciences research, clinical diagnostics and drug discovery are intense and highly competitive. These fields are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies and a strong emphasis on intellectual property. Given the breadth and promise of immune medicine, we face substantial competition from many different sources, including life sciences tools, diagnostics, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic research institutions and governmental agencies and public and private research institutions across various components of our platform and product and service offerings. Due to the significant interest and growth in immune-driven medicine more broadly, we expect the intensity of the competition to increase.

Specifically, in life sciences research, our immunoSEQ research services face competition from a number of companies, including, among others, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., ArcherDX, Inc., 10X Genomics, Inc., Invivoscribe, Inc., iRepertoire, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Takara Bio Inc., Fluidigm Corporation and Dolomite Bio (a brand of Blacktrace Holdings Ltd).

In clinical diagnostics, our clonoSEQ diagnostic test faces competition primarily from institutions performing flow cytometry in-house, particularly outside of the United States. Competitors with diagnostic technology platforms include Invivoscribe, Inc., ArcherDX, Inc. and Becton, Dickinson and Company. We may also face competition from companies developing early cancer detection testing, including GRAIL, Inc. Guardant Health, Inc., Exact Sciences Corporation and Natera, Inc.

In drug discovery, clinical trials of immune-driven medicines are being undertaken by a number of industry and academic players. Direct competitors with a pipeline of preclinical and clinical TCR-based cellular therapy candidates include GlaxoSmithKline plc, Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc, Kite Pharma, Inc./Gilead Sciences, Inc., Juno Therapeutics, Inc./Celgene Corporation, bluebird bio, Inc., Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, Neon Therapeutics, Inc. and several others.

Our competitors may have or will obtain the knowledge necessary to generate and characterize similar data to our known data for the purpose of identifying and developing products or services that could compete with any of our products or services. Further, immune medicine is being pursued by several biotechnology companies as well as by large-cap biopharmaceutical companies. Many of our current or potential competitors, either alone or with their collaboration partners, have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, regulatory approval and compliance, and sales and distribution than we do.

 

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We could be adversely affected if we do not develop our life sciences research, clinical diagnostic and drug discovery products and services, obtain required regulatory and other clearances, authorizations or approvals, obtain or enforce patents covering our discoveries and launch our products and services before our competitors. Moreover, our competitors may succeed in developing immunosequencing-based life sciences research, clinical diagnostics and drug discoveries that circumvent our technologies, products or services. Our competitors may succeed in developing and commercializing research or diagnostic products or services that are more accurate, more convenient to use or more cost-effective than our products or services or therapeutic products that prove to be more safe, more effective, more convenient to administer or more cost-effective than any therapeutic products we may develop with our collaborators or that would render our technologies, products and services less competitive or obsolete. We expect competition to intensify in the fields in which we are involved as technical advances in these fields occur and become more widely known. For additional information regarding our competition, see the “Business—Competition” section of this prospectus.

The life sciences industry is subject to rapid change, which could make our immune medicine platform and related products and services that we develop obsolete.

Our industry is characterized by rapid changes, including technological and scientific breakthroughs, frequent new product and service introductions and enhancements and evolving industry standards, all of which could make our current and future products and services obsolete. Our future success will depend on our ability to keep pace with the evolving needs of our customers on a timely and cost-effective basis and to pursue new market opportunities that develop as a result of scientific and technological advances. In recent years, there have been numerous advances in technologies relating to life sciences research and the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, other diseases and autoimmune disorders. There have also been advances in technologies used to computationally analyze very large amounts of biologic information. If we do not update our products and services to reflect new scientific knowledge about immunosequencing, immunology, computational biology, software development, new disease diagnostics and therapies or the diseases we seek to treat, our products and services could become obsolete and sales of our current products and services and any future products and services we develop based on our immune medicine platform could decline or fail to grow as expected.

The loss of any member of our senior management team or our inability to attract and retain highly skilled scientists, clinicians and salespeople could adversely affect our business.

Our success depends on the skills, experience and performance of key members of our senior management team, including Chad Robins, our Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Dr. Harlan Robins, our Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, and Julie Rubinstein, our President. The individual and collective efforts of these employees will be important as we continue to develop products and services based on our immune medicine platform. The loss or incapacity of existing members of our executive management team could adversely affect our operations if we experience difficulties in hiring qualified successors. Our executive officers have signed employment agreements with us, but their service is at-will and may end at any point in time.

Our research and development initiatives and laboratory operations depend on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled scientists, technicians and software engineers. We may not be able to attract or retain qualified scientists, technicians or software engineers in the future due to the competition for qualified personnel among life science and technology businesses, particularly near our headquarters located in Seattle, Washington and our laboratory facilities located in South San Francisco, California. We also face competition from universities and public and private research institutions in recruiting and retaining highly qualified scientific personnel. We may have difficulties locating, recruiting or retaining qualified sales people. Recruiting, training and retention difficulties can

 

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limit our ability to support our research and development and commercialization efforts. All of our employees are at-will, which means that either we or the employee may terminate their employment at any time.

In addition, we rely on consultants, contractors and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in formulating our research and development, regulatory and commercialization strategy. Our consultants and advisors may provide services to other organizations and may have commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us. The loss of the services of one or more of our current employees or advisors might impede the achievement of our research, development, regulatory and commercialization objectives. In addition, we have flexibly grown our workforce through the use of contractors and part time workers. We may not be able to retain the services of such personnel which might result in delays in the operation of our business.

If we lose the support of key thought leaders, it may be difficult to establish products and services enabled by our immune medicine platform as industry standards, which may limit our revenue growth and ability to achieve profitability.

We have established relationships with leading oncology, hematology, immunology, autoimmunity or inflammatory disease, transplantation and solid tumor thought leaders at premier academic and research institutions. If these key thought leaders determine that our immune medicine platform or our current or future products or services are not clinically effective, determine that alternative technologies are more effective or elect to use internally developed services, we could encounter significant difficulty validating our products or services, driving adoption or establishing our immune medicine platform as an industry standard, which would limit our revenue growth and our ability to achieve profitability. In addition, negative publications or reviews by clinicians, industry groups or other important stakeholders may negatively impact our revenue growth and ability to achieve profitability.

We depend on our information technology systems and any failure of these systems could harm our business.

We depend on information technology and telecommunications systems, including third-party cloud computing infrastructure, operating systems and artificial intelligence platforms, for significant elements of our operations, including our laboratory information management system, clinical immunomics database, immunoSEQ Analyzer, TCR-Antigen Map, laboratory workflow tools, customer and collaborator reporting and related functions. We also depend on our proprietary workflow software to support new product and service launches and regulatory compliance.

We use complex software processes and pipelines to manage samples and evaluate sequencing result data. These are subject to initial design or ongoing modifications which may result in unanticipated issues that could cause variability in patient results, leading to service disruptions or errors, resulting in liability.

We have installed, and expect to expand, a number of enterprise software systems that affect a broad range of business processes and functional areas, including systems handling human resources, financial controls and reporting, contract management, regulatory compliance and other infrastructure operations. In addition to these business systems, we have installed, and intend to extend, the capabilities of both our preventative and detective security controls by augmenting the monitoring and alerting functions, the network design and the automatic countermeasure operations of our technical systems. These information technology and telecommunications systems support a variety of functions, including laboratory operations, test validation, sample tracking, quality control, customer service support, billing and reimbursement, research and development activities, scientific

 

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and medical curation and general administrative activities. In addition, our third-party billing and collections provider depends upon technology and telecommunications systems provided by outside vendors.

Information technology and telecommunications systems are vulnerable to damage from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, malicious human acts and natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security and back-up measures, some of our servers are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. Despite the precautionary measures we have taken to prevent unanticipated problems that could affect our information technology and telecommunications systems, failures or significant downtime of our information technology or telecommunications systems or those used by our collaborators, collaborators and subcontractors could prevent us from conducting our comprehensive immunosequencing analysis, clinical diagnostics and drug discovery, preparing and providing reports to researchers, clinicians and our collaborators, billing payors, handling physician inquiries, conducting research and development activities and managing the administrative aspects of our business. Any disruption or loss of information technology or telecommunications systems on which critical aspects of our operations depend could have an adverse effect on our business and our reputation, and we may be unable to regain or repair our reputation in the future.

International expansion of our business exposes us to business, regulatory, political, operational, financial and economic risks associated with doing business outside of the United States.

Because we and our collaborators currently market our products and services outside of the United States and may market future products and services outside of the United States, if cleared, authorized or approved, our business is subject to risks associated with doing business outside of the United States, including an increase in our expenses and diversion of our management’s attention from the development of future products and services. Accordingly, our business and financial results in the future could be adversely affected due to a variety of factors, including:

 

   

multiple, conflicting and changing laws and regulations such as privacy security and data use regulations, tax laws, export and import restrictions, economic sanctions and embargoes, employment laws, anticorruption laws, regulatory requirements, reimbursement or payor regimes and other governmental approvals, permits and licenses;

 

   

failure by us, our collaborators or our distributors to obtain regulatory clearance, authorization or approval for the use of our products and services in various countries;

 

   

additional potentially relevant third-party patent rights;

 

   

complexities and difficulties in obtaining intellectual property protection and enforcing our intellectual property;

 

   

difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;

 

   

complexities associated with managing multiple payor reimbursement regimes, government payors or patient self-pay systems;

 

   

difficulties in negotiating favorable reimbursement negotiations with governmental authorities;

 

   

logistics and regulations associated with shipping samples, including infrastructure conditions and transportation delays;

 

   

limits in our ability to penetrate international markets if we are not able to conduct our immunosequencing or clinical diagnostic services locally;

 

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financial risks, such as longer payment cycles, difficulty collecting accounts receivable, the impact of local and regional financial crises on demand and payment for our products and services and exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

   

natural disasters, political and economic instability, including wars, terrorism and political unrest, outbreak of disease, boycotts, curtailment of trade and other business restrictions;

 

   

regulatory and compliance risks that relate to maintaining accurate information and control over sales and distributors’ activities that may fall within the purview of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), its books and records provisions, or its anti-bribery provisions, or laws similar to the FCPA in other jurisdictions in which we may now or in the future operate, such as the United Kingdom’s Bribery Act of 2010; and

 

   

onerous anti-bribery requirements of several member states in the European Union (“EU”) (e.g. United Kingdom’s Anti-Bribery Act, or France’s Sapin II Law) and other countries that are constantly changing and require disclosure of information to which U.S. legal privilege may not extend.

Any of these factors could significantly harm our future international expansion and operations and, consequently, our revenue and results of operations.

We may never obtain approval in the EU or in any other foreign country for any of our products or services and, even if we do, we or our collaborators may never be able to commercialize them in any other jurisdiction, which would limit our ability to realize their full market potential.

In order to eventually market any of our current or future products and services in any particular foreign jurisdiction, we must establish and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis regarding quality, safety, performance and efficacy. In addition, clinical trials or clinical investigations conducted in one country may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other countries, and regulatory clearance, authorization or approval in one country does not guarantee regulatory clearance, authorization or approval in any other country. Approval processes vary among countries and can involve additional product testing and validation and additional administrative review periods.

Seeking foreign regulatory clearance, authorization or approval could result in difficulties and costs for us and our collaborators and require additional preclinical studies, clinical trials or clinical investigations which could be costly and time-consuming. Regulatory requirements and ethical approval obligations can vary widely from country to country and could delay or prevent the introduction of our products and services in those countries. The foreign regulatory clearance, authorization or approval process involves all of the risks and uncertainties associated with FDA clearance, authorization or approval. We currently sell our RUO kits outside of the United States and have completed a technology transfer process for research use to a site in Toulouse, France, but have no experience in obtaining regulatory clearance, authorization or approval in international markets. If we or our collaborators fail to comply with regulatory requirements in international markets or to obtain and maintain required regulatory clearances, authorizations or approvals in international markets, or if those approvals are delayed, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of our products and services will be unrealized.

If our laboratory facilities become damaged or inoperable or we are required to vacate our existing facilities, our ability to conduct our laboratory processes and analysis and pursue our research and development efforts may be jeopardized.

We operate laboratory facilities located in Seattle, Washington and South San Francisco, California. Our facilities and equipment could be harmed or rendered inoperable by natural or

 

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man-made disasters, including war, fire, earthquake, power loss, communications failure or terrorism, which may render it difficult or impossible for us to operate our immune medicine platform for some period of time. The inability to perform our laboratory processes or to reduce the backlog of analysis that could develop if our facilities are inoperable, for even a short period of time, may result in the loss of customers or harm to our reputation, and we may be unable to regain those customers or repair our reputation in the future. Furthermore, our facilities and the equipment we use to perform our research and development work could be unavailable or costly and time-consuming to repair or replace. It would be difficult, time-consuming and expensive to rebuild our facilities, to locate and qualify new facilities or license or transfer our proprietary technologies to a third-party, particularly in light of licensure and accreditation requirements. Even in the unlikely event we are able to find a third party with such qualifications to enable us to conduct our laboratory processes, we may be unable to negotiate commercially reasonable terms.

We carry insurance for damage to our property and the disruption of our business, but this insurance may not cover all of the risks associated with damage or disruption to our business, may not provide coverage in amounts sufficient to cover our potential losses and may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.

We may need to raise additional capital to fund our existing operations, develop additional products and services, commercialize new products and services or expand our operations.

Based on our current business plan, we believe the net proceeds from this offering, together with our current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and anticipated cash flow from operations, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash requirements over at least the next 12 months from the date of this prospectus. If our available cash and investment balances, net proceeds from this offering and anticipated cash flow from operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, including because of lower demand for our products and services as a result of risks described in this prospectus, we may seek to sell common or preferred equity or convertible debt securities, enter into a credit facility or another form of third-party funding or seek other debt financing.

We may consider raising additional capital in the future to expand our business, to pursue strategic investments, to take advantage of financing opportunities or for other reasons, including to:

 

   

increase our sales and marketing efforts to drive market adoption of our life sciences research, clinical diagnostics and therapeutics;

 

   

fund development efforts for our current and future products and services;

 

   

expand our products and services into other disease indications and clinical applications;

 

   

acquire, license or invest in technologies;

 

   

acquire or invest in complementary businesses or assets; and

 

   

finance capital expenditures and general and administrative expenses.

Our present and future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:

 

   

our ability to achieve revenue growth;

 

   

our rate of progress in establishing payor coverage and reimbursement arrangements with domestic and international commercial third-party payors and government payors;

 

   

the cost of expanding our laboratory operations and offerings, including our sales and marketing efforts;

 

   

our rate of progress in, and cost of the sales and marketing activities associated with, establishing adoption of our immunoSEQ research services and kits, and reimbursement for

 

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our clonoSEQ diagnostic test, our immunoSEQ Dx early detection test and cellular therapies developed under the Genentech Agreement;

 

   

our rate of progress in, and cost of research and development activities associated with, products and services in research and early development;

 

   

the effect of competing technological, product and market developments;

 

   

costs related to international expansion; and

 

   

the potential cost of and delays in product development as a result of any regulatory oversight applicable to our products and services.

The various ways we could raise additional capital carry potential risks. If we raise funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to our shareholders could result. Any preferred equity securities issued also could provide for rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock. If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, those debt securities would have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock. The terms of debt securities issued or borrowings pursuant to a credit agreement could impose significant restrictions on our operations. If we raise funds through collaborations and licensing arrangements, we might be required to relinquish significant rights to our platform technologies or products and services or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

We have incurred net losses since our inception and we may never achieve or sustain profitability. Generally, losses incurred will carry forward until such losses expire (for losses generated prior to January 1, 2018) or are used to offset future taxable income, if any. Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in its equity ownership by certain shareholders over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research tax credits) to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. Under the newly enacted federal income tax law, federal NOL incurred in 2018 and in future years may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal NOL is limited. It is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to the newly enacted federal income tax law. If there should be an ownership change, our ability to utilize our NOL carryforwards and credits could be limited. We have completed a study of our ownership changes and related tax losses and do not believe $186.9 million of losses are subject to permanent limitation with the exception of losses incurred by Sequenta which need to be assessed for ownership changes under Sections 382 and 383. The approximate value of those losses subject to potential limitation is $38.5 million. We may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of shifts in our stock ownership (some of which shifts are outside our control), including in connection with this offering. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change NOL carryforwards to offset such taxable income will be subject to limitations. Similar provisions of state tax law may also apply to limit our use of accumulated state tax attributes. As a result, even if we attain profitability, we may be unable to use a material portion of our NOL carryforwards and other tax attributes, which could adversely affect our future cash flows.

In addition, in December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) significantly reformed U.S. tax law. Among other things, the TCJA reduced the corporate tax rate from a top marginal tax rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21%, limited the tax deduction for net business interest expense to 30% of adjusted taxable income, limited the deduction for NOLs generated during or after 2018 to 80% of annual taxable income, eliminated NOL carrybacks and modified or repealed many business

 

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deductions and credits (including reducing the business tax credit for certain clinical testing expenses incurred in the testing of certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions generally referred to as “orphan drugs”). The U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) have already issued and are expected to continue to provide guidance on the implementation of the TCJA. We continue to examine the impact this tax reform legislation may have on our business and the operations of our collaborators. However, the effect of the TCJA on our business and the operations of our collaborators, whether adverse or favorable, is uncertain and may not become evident for some period of time. We urge investors to consult with their legal and tax advisors regarding the implications of the TCJA on an investment in our common stock.

We could be adversely affected by violations of the FCPA and other worldwide anti-bribery laws.

As we expand geographically, commercialize our products and services, and attempt to obtain required clearances, authorizations or approvals required to offer products and services for sale, we may be deemed to do business outside the United States, including because international customers may be able to order our products and services. As a result, we or our collaborators would be subject to the FCPA, which prohibits companies and their intermediaries from making payments in violation of law to non-U.S. government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or securing any other improper advantage. In addition, our collaborators or any third party distributors could be deemed to be our agents and we could be held responsible for their actions, including violations of the FCPA. Other U.S. companies in the life sciences industry have faced criminal penalties under the FCPA for allowing their agents to deviate from appropriate practices in doing business with non-U.S. government officials. We may also become subject to similar anti-bribery laws in the jurisdictions in which we may operate, including the United Kingdom’s Bribery Act of 2010, which also prohibits commercial bribery and makes it a crime for companies to fail to prevent bribery. These laws are complex and far-reaching in nature, and we may be required in the future to alter one or more of our practices to be in compliance with these laws. Our expansion internationally will therefore demand a high degree of vigilance, and any violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our operations, involve significant management distraction, involve significant costs and expenses, including legal fees and could result in a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations. We could also suffer severe penalties, including criminal and civil penalties, disgorgement and other remedial measures.

We may acquire other businesses or form joint ventures or make investments in other companies or technologies that could negatively affect our operating results, dilute our shareholders’ ownership, increase our debt or cause us to incur significant expense.

We may pursue acquisitions of businesses and assets. We also may pursue joint ventures or investments that leverage our immune medicine platform and industry experience to expand our offerings or distribution. We have no experience forming joint ventures and little experience investing in or acquiring other companies. We may not be able to find suitable joint ventures, investment or acquisition candidates, and we may not be able to complete such transactions on favorable terms, if at all. If we make any acquisitions, we may not be able to integrate the acquired company successfully into our existing business, and we could assume unknown or contingent liabilities, including regulatory violations such as the FCPA or similar laws. Any future acquisitions also could result in the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities or future write-offs of intangible assets or goodwill, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Integration of an acquired company also may disrupt ongoing operations and require management resources that we would otherwise focus on developing our existing business. We may experience losses related to investments in other companies, which could have a material negative effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We may not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, technology license, collaboration or joint venture.

 

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To finance any acquisitions or joint ventures, we may choose to issue shares of our common stock as consideration, which would dilute the ownership of our shareholders. Additional funds may not be available on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. If the price of our common stock is low or volatile, we may not be able to acquire other companies or fund a joint venture project using our stock as consideration.

Unfavorable U.S. or global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and financial markets. The most recent global financial crisis caused extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn, such as the most recent global financial crisis, could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for our products and services and our ability to raise additional capital when needed on favorable terms, if at all. A weak or declining economy could strain our collaborators, possibly resulting in supply disruption, or cause delays in their payments to us. Any of the foregoing could harm our business and we cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the current economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.

We use biological and hazardous materials that require considerable expertise and expense for handling, storage and disposal and may result in claims against us.

We work with materials, including chemicals, biological agents, and compounds and samples that could be hazardous to human health and safety or the environment. Our operations also produce hazardous and biological waste products. Federal, state and local laws and regulations govern the use, generation, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and wastes. Compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations is expensive, and current or future environmental laws and regulations may restrict our operations. If we do not comply with applicable regulations, we may be subject to fines and penalties.

In addition, we cannot eliminate the risk of accidental injury or contamination from these materials or wastes, which could cause an interruption of our commercialization efforts, research and development programs and business operations, as well as environmental damage resulting in costly clean-up and liabilities under applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent. We cannot predict the impact of such changes and cannot be certain of our future compliance. While our property insurance policy provides limited coverage in the event of contamination from hazardous and biological products and the resulting cleanup costs, we do not currently have any additional insurance coverage for legal liability for claims arising from the handling, storage or disposal of hazardous materials. Accordingly, in the event of contamination or injury, we could be liable for damages or penalized with fines in an amount exceeding our resources and our operations could be suspended or otherwise adversely affected.

If we were to be sued for product liability or professional liability, we could face substantial liabilities that exceed our resources.

The marketing, sale and use of our products and services could lead to the filing of product or professional liability claims were someone to allege that our products or services identified inaccurate, incomplete or untimely information regarding the sequence or antigen specificities of TCRs, BCRs, or antigens analyzed or the clonality characterized, or MRD or malignancy detected, or that our products or services otherwise failed to perform as designed or intended. We could also be potentially exposed to claims relating to therapeutic failures of products commercialized under our collaborations, such as

 

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a cellular therapy marketed by Genentech that is manufactured based on TCR-related sequences and data we provide. We may also be subject to liability for errors in, a misunderstanding of or inappropriate reliance upon, the information we provide in the ordinary course of our business activities. A product liability or professional liability claim could result in substantial damages and be costly and time-consuming for us to defend. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, product liability and professional liability claims may result in:

 

   

decreased demand for any products, services or clinical solutions that we may develop;

 

   

loss of revenue;

 

   

substantial monetary awards to patients or their children;

 

   

significant time and costs to defend related litigation;

 

   

withdrawal of clinical trial participants;

 

   

the inability to commercialize any products, services or clinical solutions that we may develop; and

 

   

injury to our reputation and significant negative media attention.

We maintain product and professional liability insurance, but this insurance may not fully protect us from the financial impact of defending against product liability or professional liability claims. Any product liability or professional liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our insurance rates or prevent us from securing insurance coverage in the future. Additionally, any product liability lawsuit could damage our reputation, or cause current collaborators to terminate existing agreements and potential collaborators to seek other companies, any of which could impact our results of operations.

We or our collaborators may be adversely affected by natural or man-made disasters or other business interruptions such as cybersecurity attacks, and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans, or those of our collaborators, may not adequately protect us from the effects of a serious disaster.

Natural and man-made disasters and other events beyond our control could severely disrupt our operations or those of our collaborators and have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. If a natural disaster, power outage, cybersecurity attack or other event occurred that prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our headquarters, damaged critical infrastructure, such as our laboratory facilities, or those of our collaborators, limited our or our collaborators’ ability to access or use our respective digital information systems or that otherwise disrupted our respective operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible for us or our collaborators to continue our respective businesses for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity plans we and our collaborators have in place currently are limited and are unlikely to prove adequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar event. Our cybersecurity liability insurance may not cover any or all damages, depending on the severity and extent, we or our collaborators could sustain based on any breach of our respective computer security protocols or other cybersecurity attack. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited nature of our respective disaster recovery and business continuity plans, which could have a material adverse impact on our business.

 

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Risks Relating to Government Regulation

We conduct our business in a heavily regulated industry, and changes in regulations or violations of regulations may, directly or indirectly, reduce our revenue, adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and harm our business.

The life sciences industry is highly regulated, and the regulatory environment in which we and our collaborators operate may change significantly and adversely to us in the future. Areas of the regulatory environment that may affect our ability to conduct business include, without limitation, federal and state laws relating to:

 

   

laboratory testing, including the Federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (“CLIA”) and state laboratory licensing laws;

 

   

the development, testing, use, distribution, promotion and advertising of research services, kits, clinical diagnostics and cellular therapies, including certain LDTs, which are regulated by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”);

 

   

test ordering, documentation of tests ordered, billing practices and claims payment under the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) enforcing those laws and regulations;

 

   

cellular therapies, medical device and in vitro diagnostic clearance, marketing authorization or approval;

 

   

laboratory anti-mark-up laws;

 

   

the handling and disposal of medical and hazardous waste;

 

   

fraud and abuse laws such as the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”), the Criminal Health Care Fraud Statute and Stark Law (defined below);

 

   

Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules and regulations;

 

   

the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and other federal and state medical data privacy and security laws;

 

   

the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (“GINA”) and similar state laws; and

 

   

coverage and restrictions on coverage and reimbursement for research services, kits, clinical diagnostics and cellular therapies and Medicare, Medicaid, other governmental payors and private insurers reimbursement levels.

In particular, the laws, regulations and policies governing the marketing of RUO products, LDTs and clinical diagnostic tests and services are extremely complex and in many instances there are no significant regulatory or judicial interpretations of these laws and regulations. For example, our immunoSEQ research services and kits offered as RUO could, in the future be, subject to greater regulation by the FDA pursuant to the medical device provisions of the FDCA beyond the current regulations governing RUO labeling. The FDA defines a medical device to include any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent or other similar or related article, including a component, part or accessory, intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease, in man or other animals. Our clonoSEQ diagnostic tests and related clinical products, including our clinical laboratory tests that are in vitro diagnostic products, are diagnostic products that are considered by the FDA to be medical devices, and subject to the requirement for marketing authorization prior to commercialization (which we obtained for the device as currently commercially marketed through the FDA’s de novo review and authorization process). Among other things, pursuant to the FDCA and its implementing regulations,

 

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the FDA regulates the research, design, testing, manufacturing, safety, labeling, storage, recordkeeping, premarket clearance, authorization or approval, marketing and promotion and sales and distribution of medical devices in the United States to ensure they are safe and effective. In addition, the FDA regulates the import and export of medical devices. If we do not comply with these requirements, or later become subject to these requirements and fail to adequately comply, our business operations may be harmed. These requirements may additionally cause delays in our or our collaborators’ ability to market and sell our products or services, which may, directly or indirectly, reduce our revenue, adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and harm our business.

The insurance coverage and reimbursement status of newly-approved products and services, in a new category of diagnostics and therapeutics, is uncertain. Failure to obtain or maintain adequate coverage and reimbursement for current or future products and services could limit our ability, and that of our collaborators, to fully commercialize our products and services and decrease our ability to generate revenue.

The availability and extent of reimbursement by governmental and private payors is essential for most patients to be able to afford the clinical diagnostic tests and cellular therapeutics that we and our collaborators currently or plan to develop and sell. In addition, because our clinical diagnostics and therapeutic products and services represent new approaches to the research, diagnosis, detection and treatment of diseases, we cannot accurately estimate how our products and services and those jointly created with our collaborators would be priced, whether reimbursement could be obtained or any potential revenue generated. Sales of our products and services will depend substantially, both domestically and internationally, on the extent to which the costs of our products and services are paid by health maintenance, managed care, pharmacy benefit and similar healthcare management organizations, or reimbursed by government health administration authorities, private health coverage insurers and other third-party payors. If reimbursement is not available, or is available only to limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize some of our products or services. Even if coverage is provided, the approved reimbursement amount may not be high enough to allow us to establish or maintain pricing sufficient to realize a sufficient return on our investment in any of our products or services. Changes in the reimbursement landscape may occur which are outside of our control and may impact the commercial viability of our products and services.

There is significant uncertainty related to the insurance coverage and reimbursement of newly cleared, authorized or approved products and services. In the United States, many significant decisions about reimbursement for new diagnostics and medicines are typically made by CMS, an agency within the HHS, as CMS decides whether and to what extent a new diagnostic or medicine will be covered and reimbursed under Medicare. Private payors tend to follow CMS to a substantial degree. It is difficult to predict what CMS will decide with respect to reimbursement for novel products and services such as ours. Reimbursement agencies in Europe may be more conservative than CMS. For example, a number of cancer drugs have been approved for reimbursement in the United States and have not been approved for reimbursement, or have been approved under restricted conditions, in certain European countries.

Outside the United States, the reimbursement process and timelines vary significantly. Certain countries, including a number of member states of the EU, set prices and make reimbursement decisions for diagnostics and pharmaceutical products, or medicinal products, as they are commonly referred to in the EU, with limited participation from the marketing authorization or Conformité Européene (“CE”) mark holders, or may take decisions that are unfavorable to the authorization or CE mark holder where they have participated in the process. We cannot be sure that such prices and reimbursement decisions will be acceptable to us or our collaborators. If the regulatory authorities in these foreign jurisdictions set prices or make reimbursement criteria that are not commercially

 

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attractive for us or our collaborators, our revenues and the potential profitability of our products and services in those countries would be negatively affected. An increasing number of countries are taking initiatives to attempt to control the healthcare budget by focusing cost-cutting efforts on medicinal products, and to a lesser extent, medical devices, provided under their state-run health care systems. These international price control efforts have impacted all regions of the world, but have been most drastic in the EU. Additionally, some countries require approval of the sale price of a product before it can be marketed, and this price may be reviewed during the product lifecycle, or mandatory discounts or profit caps may be applied. In many countries, the pricing review period begins after marketing or product licensing approval is granted or the CE mark is obtained. As a result, we or our collaborators might obtain marketing approval for a product or service in a particular country, but then may experience delays in the reimbursement approval or be subject to price regulations that would delay the commercial launch of our product or service, possibly for lengthy time periods, which could negatively impact the revenues we are able to generate from the sale of that product or service in that particular country.

Moreover, increasing efforts by governmental and third-party payors, in the United States and abroad, to cap or reduce healthcare costs may cause such organizations to limit both coverage and level of reimbursement for newly cleared, authorized or approved devices and medicines and, as a result, they may not cover or provide adequate payment for our clinical diagnostics or the cellular therapies to be sold by us or our collaborators. For example, the U.S. government recently released a “blueprint,” or plan, to reduce the cost of drugs. This blueprint contains certain measures that HHS is already working to implement. At the state level, legislatures are increasingly passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological program pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing.

We expect to experience pricing pressures on our clinical diagnostics and cellular therapies sold by us and our collaborators due to the trend toward value-based pricing and coverage, the increasing influence of health maintenance organizations and additional legislative changes. The downward pressure on healthcare costs in general, particularly prescription drugs and surgical procedures and other treatments, has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products.

Our business could be harmed by the loss, suspension or other restriction on a license, certification or accreditation, or by the imposition of a fine or penalties, under CLIA, its implementing regulations or other state, federal and foreign laws and regulations affecting licensure or certification, or by future changes in these laws or regulations.

Federal law requires virtually all clinical laboratories to comply with CLIA, which generally involves becoming certified by the federal and state government for the testing that will be performed and complying with various operational, personnel, facilities administration, quality and proficiency testing requirements intended to ensure that testing services are accurate and reliable. CLIA certification is also a prerequisite to be eligible to bill state and federal health care programs, as well as many private third-party payors, for laboratory research and clinical diagnostic testing services. As a condition of our CLIA certification, our Seattle, Washington laboratory is subject to survey and inspection every other year, in addition to being subject to additional random inspections, as well as surprise inspections based on complaints received by state or federal regulators. The biennial survey is conducted by CMS; a CMS agent (typically a state agency); or, if the laboratory holds a CLIA certificate of accreditation, a CMS-approved accreditation organization, for example the College of American Pathologists (“CAP”). Sanctions for failure to comply with CLIA requirements, including proficiency testing violations, may include suspension, revocation or limitation of a laboratory’s CLIA certificate, which is necessary to

 

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conduct business, as well as the imposition of significant civil, administrative, or criminal sanctions against the lab, its owners and other individuals. In addition, we are subject to regulation under certain state laws and regulations governing laboratory licensure. Some states, including Washington, have enacted laboratory licensure and compliance laws that are more stringent than CLIA. Changes in state licensure laws that affect our ability to offer and provide research and diagnostic products and services across state or foreign country lines could materially and adversely affect our business. In addition, state and foreign requirements for laboratory certification may be costly or difficult to meet and could affect our ability to receive specimens from certain states or foreign countries.

Any sanction imposed under CLIA, its implementing regulations or state or foreign laws or regulations governing licensure, or our failure to renew a CLIA certificate, a state or foreign license or accreditation, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Changes in law relating to health insurance coverage and payment may adversely affect our business.

In the United States, there have been and continue to be a number of legislative initiatives to contain healthcare costs. For example, in March of 2010, the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) was passed, which substantially changes the way health care is financed by both governmental and private insurers, and significantly impacts the U.S. clinical diagnostic and biopharmaceutical industries. The ACA, among other things, increased the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and extended the rebate program to individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, established annual fees and taxes on manufacturers of certain branded prescription drugs and medical devices, including laboratory kits and promoted a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program. Considerable uncertainty remains regarding the implementation and impact of the ACA.

Some of the provisions of the ACA have yet to be fully implemented, while certain provisions have been subject to judicial and Congressional challenges. The TCJA includes a provision repealing the tax-based shared responsibility payment imposed by the ACA on certain individuals who fail to maintain qualifying health coverage for all or part of a year that is commonly referred to as the “individual mandate.” CMS has recently proposed regulations that would give states greater flexibility in setting benchmarks for insurers in the individual and small group marketplaces, which may have the effect of relaxing the essential health benefits required under the ACA for plans sold through such marketplaces. Further, on October 13, 2017, an Executive Order was signed terminating the cost-sharing reduction (“CSR”), subsidies that reimburse insurers under the ACA. The loss of the CSR payments is expected to increase premiums on certain policies issued by qualified health plans under the ACA. Another Executive Order was signed directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the ACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from or delay the implementation of any provision of the ACA that would impose a fiscal burden on states or a cost, fee, tax, penalty or regulatory burden on individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. More recently, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas struck down the ACA, deeming it unconstitutional given that Congress repealed the individual mandate in the Jobs Act. Although decision has been stayed pending outcome of an appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, so that the ruling does not have immediate effect, it is unclear how this decision, subsequent appeals and other efforts to repeal and replace the ACA will impact the ACA. It is also unclear how regulatory provisions and sub-regulatory guidance, which fluctuate continually, may affect interpretation and implementation of the ACA and its practical effects on our business.

The ACA has provided health insurance coverage or expanded Medicaid coverage for many Americans that were previously uninsured. Recent efforts to reduce the scope of the ACA, however, appear to have impeded the growth of the insured population, and the future outlook for insurance

 

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coverage, given challenges to the ACA at the federal and state levels, remains uncertain. Changes in the number of patients that can look to third-party payment to help afford our services may affect the demand for these services.

With the current presidential administration and Congress, there may be additional administrative or legislative changes, including reinstatement, modification, repeal or replacement of all, or certain provisions of, the ACA. However, it remains to be seen whether new legislation modifying the ACA will be enacted and, if so, precisely what the new legislation will provide, when it will be enacted and what impact it will have on the availability of healthcare and containing or lowering the cost of healthcare. The implications of a potential repeal or replacement of the ACA, for our and our collaborators’ business and financial condition, if any, are not yet clear.

The ACA imposed an excise tax of 2.3% of the sale price of medical devices sold in the United States, levied on any entity that manufactures or imports medical devices offered for sale in the United States. This tax included laboratory kits as medical devices. After being in effect for two years, the tax was temporarily suspended by law; the current suspension lasts until December 31, 2019. We do not know if the tax will be further suspended, repealed or revised. The potential financial impact this tax may have on our business is unclear and may be negative.

Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. For example, in August 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011, as amended, reduced funding under certain conditions to several government programs, including aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year, which remain in effect through 2027 unless the law is amended. In addition, the CMS has promulgated or amended a number of cost containment and value-based reimbursement measures in the ordinary course of business, and it is expected to continue revising its regulations and policies in response to changes in law, administration policy and market conditions.

Post approval or authorizations, the delivery of healthcare in the EU, including the establishment and operation of health services and the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and devices, is almost exclusively a matter for national, rather than EU, law and policy. National governments and health service providers have different priorities and approaches to the delivery of health care and the pricing and reimbursement of products in that context. In general, however, the healthcare budgetary constraints in most EU member states have resulted in restrictions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and devices by relevant health service providers. Coupled with ever-increasing EU and national regulatory burdens on those wishing to develop and market products and services, this could prevent or delay marketing approval of our and our collaborators’ products in development, restrict or regulate post-approval activities, and affect our ability to commercialize any products or services for which we obtain marketing approval.

We expect that additional foreign, state and federal healthcare reform measures or proposals will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our products and services or additional pricing pressures. In the event that the pricing structures for healthcare products change materially and limit payments for our products and services, our business will be adversely impacted as our products or services may no longer be commercially viable based on their expected net present value; we may have invested significant resources in products and services that cannot be commercially developed or marketed; or we may determine that products or services that have reached an early phase of development cannot or will not be taken into further development. In addition, development products or services that are part of our collaborations may no longer be deemed commercially viable to pursue based on our collaborators’ assessments of the impact of any proposed, announced or legislated pricing reforms.

 

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We cannot predict what healthcare reform initiatives may be adopted in the future. Further federal, state and foreign legislative and regulatory developments are likely, and we expect ongoing initiatives to increase pressure on drug and device pricing. Such reforms could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenues from our products and services, including those that we jointly develop with our collaborators and for which they may obtain regulatory clearance, authorization or approval, and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop our products and services.

Inadequate funding for the FDA, the SEC and other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, prevent new products and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from performing normal business functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.

The ability of the FDA to review and clear, authorize or approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory and policy changes. In addition, government funding of the SEC and other government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.

Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new drugs and devices to be reviewed and cleared, authorized or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the SEC, have had to furlough critical FDA, SEC and other government employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, upon completion of this offering and in our operations as a public company, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.

We must maintain compliance with FDA requirements for our products and services and failure to maintain compliance with FDA requirements may prevent or delay the marketing of our products and services.

Even after we have obtained marketing authorization, as we have for clonoSEQ, we must comply with the scope of that clearance, authorization or approval, and failure to comply with those limitations or the additional, extensive, ongoing post-marketing obligations imposed by the FDA or other regulatory requirements of other regulatory agencies could result in unanticipated compliance expenditures, a range of administrative enforcement actions, injunctions and criminal prosecution. FDA post-market obligations include, among other things, compliance with the FDA Quality System Regulation (“QSR”), establishment registration and device listing, labeling requirements, reporting of certain adverse events and malfunctions, and reporting of certain recalls. In addition, circumstances may arise that cause us to recall equipment used in connection with our products and services, and such recalls could have an adverse effect on our ability to provide those products and services, which in turn would adversely affect our financial condition. Our strategic collaborators will also be required to maintain FDA clearance, authorization or approval for the products and services that we jointly develop. Any failure by us or our strategic collaborators to maintain such clearance, authorization or approval could impair or cause a delay in our ability to profit from these collaborations.

 

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Products and services offered RUO may be subject to regulatory scrutiny.

Certain of our products are currently labeled and sold “For Research Use Only” and not for the diagnosis or treatment of disease. Because such products are not intended for diagnostic use, and the products do not include clinical or diagnostic claims or provide directions to use as diagnostic products, they are not subject to the same level of control by the FDA as medical devices. In particular, while the FDA regulations require that RUO products be appropriately labeled, “For Research Use Only,” the regulations do not subject such products to the FDA’s pre- and post-market controls for medical devices. Pursuant to FDA guidance on RUO products, a company may not make clinical or diagnostic claims about an RUO product or provide clinical directions or clinical support services to customers for RUO products. A product labeled RUO but deemed by the FDA to be intended for clinical diagnostic use may be viewed by the FDA as adulterated and misbranded under the FDCA and subject to FDA enforcement action. The FDA considers the totality of the circumstances surrounding distribution and use of a product labeled as RUO, including how the product is marketed and to whom, when determining its intended use. The FDA could disagree with our assessment of RUO status, which could create additional compliance costs or otherwise impact our business. If the FDA were to disagree with our RUO classification or modify its approach to regulating products labeled for RUO, it could reduce our revenue or increase our costs and adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition. In the event that the FDA requires marketing authorization of our RUO products in the future, the FDA may not ultimately grant any clearance, authorization or approval requested by us in a timely manner, or at all.

Future changes in FDA enforcement discretion for LDTs could subject our operations to much more significant regulatory requirements.

In addition to offering the FDA de novo marketing authorized version of clonoSEQ as a test for MRD in certain blood cancers, we also currently offer an LDT version of this test and other next generation sequencing based LDTs for MRD (“NGS-based MRD Test”). The FDA has a policy of enforcement discretion with respect to LDTs whereby the FDA does not actively enforce its medical device regulatory requirements for such tests. However, in July 2014, the FDA notified Congress of its intent to modify, in a risk-based manner, its policy of enforcement discretion with respect to LDTs. In October 2014, the FDA issued two draft guidance documents stating that the FDA intended to modify its policy of enforcement discretion with respect to LDTs in a risk-based manner consistent with the existing classification of medical devices. Although the FDA halted finalization of the guidance in November 2016 to allow for further public discussion on an appropriate oversight approach to LDTs and to give congressional authorizing committees the opportunity to develop a legislative solution, it is unclear if Congress or the FDA will modify the current approach to the regulation of LDTs in a way that would subject our current or future services marketed as LDTs to the enforcement of FDA regulatory requirements. The FDA Commissioner and the Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (“CDRH”) have expressed significant concerns regarding disparities between some LDTs and in vitro diagnostics that have been reviewed, cleared, authorized or approved by the FDA. If the FDA were to determine that NGS-based Tests offered as LDTs are not within the policy for LDTs for any reason, including new rules, policies or guidance, or due to changes in statute, our tests may become subject to extensive FDA requirements or otherwise impact our business. If the FDA were to disagree with our LDT status or modify its approach to regulating LDTs, it could reduce our revenue or increase our costs and adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition. If required, the regulatory marketing authorization process required to bring our current or future LDTs into compliance may involve, among other things, successfully completing additional clinical validations and submitting to and obtaining clearance from the FDA for a premarket clearance (510(k)) submission or authorization for a de novo or approval of a Premarket Approval Application (“PMA”). Furthermore, pending legislative proposals, if passed, such as the Verifying Accurate, Leading-edge IVCT Development Act of 2018 (“VALID Act”), could create new or different regulatory and compliance

 

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burdens on us and could have a negative effect on our ability to keep products on the market or develop new products which could have a material effect on our business. In the event that the FDA requires marketing authorization of our LDTs in the future, the FDA may not ultimately grant any clearance, authorization or approval requested by us in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, if the FDA inspects our laboratory in relation to marketing of our FDA-authorized clonoSEQ test, any enforcement action the agency takes might not be limited to the FDA-authorized clonoSEQ test and could encompass our LDT clonoSEQ testing service.

For each product and service we are developing that requires FDA premarket review prior to marketing, the FDA may not grant clearance, authorization or premarket approval of our future products and failure to obtain necessary clearances, authorizations or approvals for our future products would adversely affect our ability to grow our business.

Before we begin to manufacture, label and market additional clinical diagnostic products for commercial diagnostic use in the United States, we may be required to obtain either clearance, marketing authorization or approval from the FDA, unless an exemption applies or the FDA exercises its enforcement discretion and refrains from enforcing its requirements. For example, the FDA currently has a policy of refraining from enforcing its medical device requirements with respect to LDTs, which the FDA considers to be a type of in vitro diagnostic test that is designed, manufactured and used within a single properly licensed laboratory.

The process of obtaining PMA is much more rigorous, costly, lengthy and uncertain than the 510(k) clearance process. In the PMA approval process, the FDA must determine that a proposed device is safe and effective for its intended use based, in part, on extensive data, including, but not limited to, technical, pre-clinical, clinical trial, manufacturing and labeling data. In the 510(k) clearance process, the FDA must determine that a proposed device is “substantially equivalent” to a legally marketed “predicate” device in order for the product to be cleared for marketing. To be “substantially equivalent,” the proposed device must have the same intended use as the predicate device, and either have the same technological characteristics or if it has different technological characteristics as the predicate device, the proposed device must be as safe and effective as and not raise different questions of safety or effectiveness than the predicate device. Clinical data is sometimes required to support substantial equivalence. For lower-risk devices that would otherwise automatically be placed into Class III (and require a PMA) because no predicate device is available and the devices do not fall within an existing 510(k)-exempt classification, an applicant may submit a de novo request to down classify the device into Class II or Class I. In the de novo process, the FDA must determine that general and special controls are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of a device, which is low to moderate risk and has no predicate (in other words, the applicant must justify the “down-classification” to Class I or II for a new product type that would otherwise automatically be placed into Class III, but is lower risk). Clinical data may be required. For laboratory tests for which FDA clearance, authorization or approval is required, the FDA may also require data to support analytical and clinical validity.

The 510(k), de novo, and PMA processes can be expensive and lengthy and require the payment of significant fees, unless an exemption applies. The FDA’s 510(k) clearance pathway usually takes from three to 12 months from submission, but it can take longer, particularly for a novel type of product. The FDA’s de novo classification pathway usually takes from six to 12 months, but for many applicants can take even longer, up to 18 months or more.

The process of obtaining a PMA generally takes from one to three years, or even longer, from the time the PMA is submitted to the FDA until an approval is obtained. Any delay or failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances, authorizations or approvals would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.

 

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The FDA can delay, limit or deny clearance, authorization or approval of a device for many reasons, including:

 

   

the inability to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA that the products are safe or effective for their intended uses;

 

   

the disagreement of the FDA with the design, conduct or implementation of the clinical trials or the analysis or interpretation of data from preclinical studies, analytical studies or clinical trials;

 

   

serious and unexpected adverse device effects experienced by participants in clinical trials;

 

   

the data from preclinical studies, analytical studies and clinical trials may be insufficient to support clearance, authorization or approval, where required;

 

   

the inability to demonstrate that the clinical and other benefits of the device outweigh the risks;

 

   

an advisory committee, if convened by the FDA, may recommend against approval of a PMA or other application or may recommend that the FDA require, as a condition of approval, additional preclinical studies or clinical trials, limitations on approved labeling or distribution and use restrictions, or even if an advisory committee, if convened, makes a favorable recommendation, the FDA may still not approve the product;

 

   

the FDA may identify deficiencies in our marketing application, and in our or our collaborators’ manufacturing processes, facilities or analytical methods;

 

   

the potential for policies or regulations of the FDA or applicable foreign regulatory bodies to change significantly in a manner rendering clinical data or regulatory filings insufficient for clearance, authorization or approval; and

 

   

the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities may audit clinical trial data and conclude that the data is not sufficiently reliable to support a PMA application.

There are numerous FDA personnel assigned to review different aspects of marketing submissions, and uncertainties can be presented by their ability to exercise judgment and discretion during the review process. During the course of review, the FDA may request or require additional data and information, and the development and provision of these data and information may be time consuming and expensive. The process of obtaining regulatory clearances, authorizations or approvals to market a medical device can be costly and time-consuming, and we may not be able to obtain these clearances, authorizations or approvals on a timely basis, or at all for our proposed products. If we are unable to obtain clearance, authorization or approval for any products for which we plan to seek approval, our business may be harmed.

Modifications to our products with FDA marketing authorization may require new FDA clearances, authorizations or approvals, or may require us to cease marketing or recall the modified clinical diagnostic products or future clinical products until clearances are obtained.

Any modification to a 510(k)-cleared device that significantly affects its safety or effectiveness, or that constitutes a major change in its intended use, requires a new 510(k) clearance or, possibly, de novo authorization or approval or a PMA depending on the nature of the change. The FDA requires every manufacturer to make this determination in the first instance, but the FDA may review any manufacturer’s decision. The FDA may not agree with our decisions regarding whether new clearances, authorizations or approvals are necessary.

For any product approved pursuant to a PMA, we would be required to seek supplemental approval for many types of changes to the approved product. The FDA requires manufacturers in the first instance to determine whether a PMA supplement or other regulatory filing is needed or whether the change may be reported via the PMA Annual Report, but may disagree with a company’s assessment.

 

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If the FDA disagrees with our determination (which it may not review until an inspection or other inquiry, unless we actively seek agency feedback on our decision) and requires us to seek new clearance, authorization or approval for modifications to our previously cleared, authorized or approved clinical diagnostic products for which we have concluded that new clearances, authorizations or approvals are unnecessary, we may be required to cease marketing or distribution of these clinical diagnostic products or to recall the modified product in development until we obtain clearance, authorization or approval, and we may be subject to enforcement action, including, among other things, significant regulatory fines or penalties.

Our employees, principal investigators, consultants and collaborators may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards and requirements, and insider trading.

We are exposed to the risk of fraud or other misconduct by our employees, consultants and those of our collaborators. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional failures to comply with the regulations of the FDA and non-U.S. regulators; comply with healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations in the United States and abroad; report financial information or data accurately; or disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent improper marketing, fraud, misconduct, kickbacks, bribery, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Such misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical studies, which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. We currently have a code of conduct applicable to all of our employees, but it is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and our code of conduct and the other precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses, or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations. If any such investigations or actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could result in the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions, which could have a significant impact on our business. We currently have a compliance program in accordance with the elements of an effective program outlined by the OIG, which could help mitigate damages, but cannot prevent all misconduct. Whether or not we are successful in defending against such actions or investigations, we could incur substantial costs, including legal fees, and divert the attention of management in defending ourselves against any of these claims or investigations.

If third-party payors, including commercial payors and government healthcare programs, do not provide coverage of, or adequate reimbursement for, our clinical diagnostic products, our commercial success will be negatively affected.

Our revenue depends in part on achieving broad coverage and reimbursement for our diagnostic tests from payors, including both commercial and government payors. Certain large commercial payors have issued policies that non-cover testing methods that they regard as experimental or investigational. Other payors may issue similar non-coverage policies. If payors do not provide coverage of, or do not provide adequate reimbursement for, a substantial portion of the price of our diagnostic tests, we may need to seek payment from the patient where this is not precluded by law or contract, which may adversely affect demand for our tests. Coverage determinations by a payor may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to a payor’s determination that a certain diagnostic test is appropriate, medically necessary or cost-effective. If we are unable to provide payors with sufficient evidence of the clinical utility and validity of our diagnostic tests, they may not provide coverage, or may provide limited coverage, which will adversely affect our revenues and our ability to

 

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succeed. To the extent that more competitors enter our markets, the availability of coverage and the reimbursement rate for our tests and new diagnostic products may decrease as we encounter pricing pressure from our competitors.

Each payor makes its own decision regarding coverage of our tests and the applicable payment rates, and payors may not provide adequate coverage or reimbursement for our current or future products. We may contract with certain payors, but working with payors through contract or otherwise to assure reimbursement is time consuming and costly, and outcomes are uncertain. In addition, the determinations by a payor whether to cover our diagnostic product and the amount it will reimburse for them are often made on an indication-by-indication basis. In cases where there is no coverage policy or we do not have a contracted rate for reimbursement as a participating provider, the patient is typically responsible for a greater share of the cost of the test, which may result in further delay of our revenue, increase our collection costs or decrease the likelihood of collection. Our Adaptive Assist Patient Support Program has a program for indigent patients under which we provide clonoSEQ diagnostic tests for reduced rates or without charge to qualified low-income patients that may result in payors requiring us to provide evidence of eligibility of such patients to pay reduced out of pocket amounts.

Our claims for reimbursement from payors may be denied upon submission, and we may need to take additional steps to receive payment, such as appealing the denials. Such appeals and other processes are time-consuming, expensive and may not result in payment. Payors may perform audits of historically paid claims and attempt to recoup funds years after the funds were initially distributed if the payors believe the funds were paid in error or determine that our clonoSEQ diagnostic tests or other clinical diagnostic products were medically unnecessary. In addition, similar to federal payors, state and federal laws permit commercial payors to seek civil and criminal penalties against a manufacturer if they feel they have been defrauded. If a payor audits our claims and issues a negative audit finding, and we are not able to overturn the audit findings through appeal, the recoupment may result in a material adverse effect on our revenue. Additionally, in some cases commercial payors for whom we are not a participating provider may elect at any time to review claims previously paid and determine the amount they paid was too much. In these situations, the payor will typically notify us of their decision and then offset whatever amount they determine they overpaid against amounts they owe us on current claims. We do not have a mechanism to dispute these retroactive adjustments and we cannot predict when, or how often, a payor might engage in these reviews.

Future Medicare payment rates are uncertain.

In March 2018, CMS issued a National Coverage Determination (“NCD”) for molecular diagnostic laboratory testing services utilizing a next generation sequencing methodology, which includes our clinical diagnostic products, for Medicare beneficiaries with advanced cancer (“NGS NCD”). In the NCD, CMS states that such tests are covered nationally when: (i) performed in a CLIA-certified laboratory, (ii) ordered by a treating physician, (iii) the patient meets certain clinical and treatment criteria, (iv) the test is approved or cleared by the FDA as a companion in vitro diagnostic for an FDA-approved or cleared indication for use in that patient’s cancer and (v) results are provided to the treating physician for management of the patient using a report template to specify treatment options. The NCD also states that each Medicare Administrative Contractor (“MAC”) may determine coverage of other next generation sequencing tests (e.g., those not explicitly covered under the above criteria) in its jurisdiction for patients with advanced cancer when the test is performed by a CLIA-certified laboratory, ordered by a treating physician and the patient meets the same clinical and treatment criteria required of nationally covered next generation sequencing tests under the NCD.

In January 2019, Noridian Healthcare Solutions (“Noridian”), the MAC that processes our laboratory’s Medicare Part B claims, issued written guidance based on the MAC authority to cover next

 

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generation sequencing tests not explicitly covered under the NCD that provides coverage for our FDA-authorized clonoSEQ test for assessment of MRD in patients with ALL or MM. Because all clonoSEQ tests are performed within Noridian’s jurisdiction, this policy applies to all of our testing billed under Medicare Part B. At the same time, three other MACs issued the same guidance.

Noridian’s guidance (A56270, clonoSEQ Assay for Assessment of MRD in Patients with Specific Lymphoid Malignancies) provides for payment for a single episode of testing and considers the testing for MRD with the clonoSEQ to constitute a series of assays to be billed at the start of the episode of testing. Medicare’s Part B payment rate for the clonoSEQ test, because the test is billed with a “miscellaneous” code, is determined by the MAC. Noridian has agreed to pay our claims for clonoSEQ at an adequate rate. Noridian indicates it will review its policy annually. We cannot be sure that this guidance will persist in its current form or that it will be necessarily followed by other MACs or Medicare Advantage (“MA”) plans. Furthermore, MA plans are not required to reimburse lab tests at the Medicare Part B rate to in-network labs. Accordingly, if we become in-network for an MA plan, our reimbursement may be lower than what we receive from Noridian. It is possible that Noridian will further limit or even withdraw coverage or reduce its reimbursement amount, which will negatively affect our revenue. It is also possible CMS will revise or clarify the NCD on next generation sequencing in a way that will further limit or withdraw coverage for clonoSEQ. Further, if in the future we were to develop kits for sale to other laboratories, Part B coverage of those tests would be governed by the coverage policies of the MACs where these laboratories are located, which might be different from Noridian’s policy or they might not cover clonoSEQ at all. Noridian’s policy has been adopted by three other MACs participating in the MolDx program, but it would not necessarily be followed by other MACs. Finally, if clinicians increase the frequency of testing for their Medicare-covered patients and our rate for a single episode of testing is not correspondingly increased, our costs would increase without a corresponding increase in revenue, and our financial results would be negative impacted.

Under Medicare Part B, payment for most diagnostic laboratory tests is made under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (“CLFS”), which assigns payment amounts to tests based on billing codes. Under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (“PAMA”), certain laboratories that receive the majority of their Medicare revenue from payments made under the CLFS or Medicare’s Physician Fee Schedule are required to report to CMS every three years (or annually for “advanced diagnostic laboratory tests”), commercial payor payment rates and volumes for tests they perform and that are assigned specific billing codes. (PAMA has special provisions relating to “advanced diagnostic laboratory tests,” as defined by the statute. These provisions affect the rate setting at time of launch and the periodicity of rate reporting and revision.) Laboratories that fail to report the required payment information may be subject to substantial civil monetary penalties. At present, the only test we offer commercially, the clonoSEQ test, is coded with a “miscellaneous” code, and under CMS’ guidance laboratories do not report rates and volumes for such tests. If, in the future, this or any of our tests are assigned a specific code we would be required to report commercial payor payment data on those tests. Payments for tests billed under miscellaneous codes are determined by the MACs, which also have discretion to change those payment rates.

CMS uses the data reported by laboratories to calculate a payment rate for each CLFS test (other than those coded with miscellaneous codes and certain others) based on the volume-weighted median of the private payor rates. These rates are applicable for three years except that payment rates for advanced diagnostic laboratory tests are applicable for one year. This rate-setting apparatus is not now applicable to the clonoSEQ test because it is coded with a miscellaneous code. If, in the future, this test is assigned a specific code or if we offer other tests with specific codes, this apparatus would apply. Under these circumstances, Medicare’s payment rate(s) would be determined by the rates we (and other laboratories, if any, with test(s) that share the specific code(s) we use) obtain from commercial payors. In that case, if we are unable to obtain and maintain adequate reimbursement rates from commercial payors, this may adversely affect our Medicare rate(s). If Noridian reduces our

 

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payment rate or MA plans pay us less than Noridian, it would have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow, and if MA plans pay us less than Noridian, it would adversely affect our revenue. In addition, CMS is considering changes to its NCD for molecular diagnostic laboratory testing services using a next generation sequencing methodology. Any changes made by CMS in this NCD could affect our Medicare rate(s) and those of other laboratory testing services covered by this NCD.

In some circumstances, our tests might be furnished to hospital inpatients and paid by Medicare under different rules. Such cases would arise when a specimen is obtained from a patient who is at the time classified by Medicare as a hospital inpatient. In these cases Medicare would not make a separate payment for the test, and we would have to look to the hospital for payment. We do not know how often this will occur or whether hospitals will resist paying us for our tests. In this situation, Medicare coverage would be determined by the MAC for the jurisdiction in which the hospital is located, which might not cover our tests.

Our RUO, clinical diagnostic and therapeutic products, and those jointly developed with our collaborators, may in the future be subject to product recalls. A recall of products, either voluntarily or at the direction of the FDA or another governmental authority, or the discovery of serious safety issues with our or our collaborators’ products, could have a significant adverse impact on us.

The FDA has the authority to require the recall of commercialized products that are subject to FDA regulation. Manufacturers may, under their own initiative, recall a product if any deficiency is found. The FDA requires that certain corrections and removals, including recalls intended to reduce a risk to health, be reported to the FDA within ten working days of initiating such correction or removal. For reportable corrections and removals, companies are required to make additional periodic submissions to the FDA after initiating the recall and often engage with the FDA on the recall strategy prior to initiating the recall. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us, one of our distributors or our collaborators could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component failures, failures in laboratory processes, malfunctions, manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects or other deficiencies and issues. Recalls of any of our commercialized products or those jointly developed with our collaborators would divert managerial and financial resources and have an adverse effect on our reputation, results of operations and financial condition. We may also be subject to liability claims, be required to bear other costs or take other actions that may have a negative impact on our future sales and our ability to generate profits. Companies are required to maintain certain records of corrections and removals, even if they do not require reporting to the FDA. We or our collaborators may initiate voluntary recalls involving our commercialized products in the future that we determine do not require notification of the FDA. If the FDA disagrees with our determinations, they could require us to report those actions as recalls. A future recall announcement by us or our collaborators could harm our reputation with customers and negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the FDA or other agency could take enforcement action for failing to report the recalls when they were conducted.

If we or our collaborators initiate a recall, including a correction or removal, for one of our commercialized products, issue a safety alert or undertake a field action or recall to reduce a risk to health posed by the product, this could lead to increased scrutiny by the FDA, other governmental and regulatory enforcement bodies and our or our collaborators’ customers regarding the quality and safety of our products and services and to negative publicity, including FDA alerts, press releases or administrative or judicial actions. Furthermore, the submission of these reports could be used against us by competitors and cause customers to delay purchase decisions or cancel orders, which would harm our reputation.

 

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Any additional commercialized products and services or any future products and services that obtain regulatory clearance, authorization, approval, accreditation or licensure will remain subject to regulatory scrutiny and our failure to maintain our regulatory clearances, authorizations, approvals, accreditations or licensures could adversely affect our reputation, business and results of operations.

Even if we or our collaborators obtain regulatory clearance, authorization, approval, accreditation or licensure in a jurisdiction for our products and services, the applicable regulatory authority may still impose significant restrictions on the indicated uses or marketing of our products and services, or impose ongoing requirements for potentially costly post-approval studies or post-market surveillance of our or our collaborators’ manufacturing and distribution. Advertising for certain devices and labeling, including promotional labeling, for all devices must comply with FDA requirements. In addition, device advertising and promotion may also be subject to other federal and state laws. For example, the FDA shares jurisdiction over the regulation of device advertising with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). Advertising for devices characterized as restricted by the FDA is subject to specified FDA requirements, while advertising for non-restricted devices is regulated by the FTC.

If we or our collaborators fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements following clearance, authorization, approval, accreditation or licensure of any of our products and services, a regulatory agency may:

 

   

initiate an inspection of our facilities;

 

   

issue an untitled or warning letter asserting that we or our collaborator is in violation of draft guidance or law;

 

   

seek an injunction or impose civil or criminal penalties or monetary fines;

 

   

suspend or withdraw regulatory clearance, authorization or approval or revoke a license or accreditation;

 

   

suspend any ongoing clinical studies;

 

   

delay or refuse clearance, authorization or approval of a pending regulatory submissions or supplements submitted by us or our collaborators;

 

   

impose restrictions on our cleared, authorized, approved, accredited or licensed products or services;

 

   

seize or recall of product;

 

   

partially suspend or totally shutdown our or our collaborators’ manufacturing or laboratory operations;

 

   

issue advisories or other field actions;

 

   

impose operating restrictions;

 

   

refuse to allow us or our collaborators to enter into supply contracts, including government contracts; or

 

   

refer matters to the Department of Justice or other enforcement or regulatory bodies.

Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response and could generate negative publicity. The occurrence of any event or penalty described above may inhibit our and our collaborators’ ability to commercialize any cleared, authorized or approved products and services and generate revenues.

 

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If any of our diagnostic products or services cause or contribute to a death or a serious injury, or malfunction in certain ways, we will be required to report under applicable medical device reporting regulations, which can result in voluntary corrective actions or agency enforcement actions.

Under the FDA medical device reporting (“MDR”) regulations, medical device manufacturers are required to report to the FDA information that a device has or may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or has malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to death or serious injury if the malfunction of the device or one of our similar devices were to recur. If in the future we or our collaborators are unable to demonstrate that such adverse events were caused by factors other than our or our collaborator’s products and services, regulatory authorities could order us to cease further development of, or deny clearance, authorization or approval of, any of our or our collaborators’ products and services for any or all targeted indications. Even if we and our collaborators are able to demonstrate that all future serious adverse events are not related to our products and services, such occurrences could affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled trial participants to complete the trial. Moreover, if we or our collaborators elect, or are required, to delay, suspend or terminate any clinical trial of any product in development, the commercial prospects of such product in development may be harmed and our ability to generate product revenues may be delayed or eliminated. Any of these occurrences may harm our and our collaborators’ ability to identify and develop products and services, and may significantly harm our business, financial condition, result of operations and prospects.

We are subject to various laws and regulations, such as healthcare fraud and abuse laws, false claim laws and health information privacy and security laws, among others, and failure to comply with these laws and regulations may have an adverse effect on our business.

Healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors often play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of any currently marketed products and services for which we may obtain clearance, authorization or approval. Our current and future arrangements with healthcare providers, physicians, hospitals and third-party payors, and our sales, marketing and educational activities, may expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations (at the federal and state level) that may constrain our business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we market, sell and distribute our products and services. In addition, our operations are also subject to various federal and state fraud and abuse, physician payment transparency and privacy and security laws, including, without limitation:

 

   

The AKS, which prohibits, among other things, persons and entities, including clinical laboratories, from knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in case or in kind, to induce or reward or in return for, or either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, lease, order or recommendation of, an item or service reimbursable, in whole or in part, under a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare or Medicaid programs. This statute has been interpreted broadly to apply to, among other things, arrangements between clinical laboratories on the one hand and prescribers and purchasers of our tests on the other hand. The term “remuneration” expressly includes kickbacks, bribes or rebates and also has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value, including, for example, gifts, discounts, waivers of payment, ownership interest and providing anything at less than its fair market value. We are also subject to the Beneficiary Inducement Statute in the civil monetary penalty provisions of the AKS. There are a number of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting certain common activities from prosecution or other regulatory sanctions, however, the exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly, and practices that do not fit squarely within an exception or safe harbor may be subject to scrutiny. The failure to meet all of the requirements of a particular applicable statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor does not make the conduct per se illegal under

 

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the AKS. Instead, the legality of the arrangement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on a cumulative review of all of its facts and circumstances to determine whether one purpose of the arrangement involving remuneration was to induce referrals or generate business that is payable by federal healthcare programs. A violation of the AKS may be grounds for the government or a whistleblower to assert that a claim for payment of items or services resulting from such violation constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal civil False Claims Act. Moreover, certain AKS safe harbor provisions that protect the rebates paid by device manufacturers to third parties may be repealed pursuant to a pending regulatory proposal. Our practices may not meet all of the criteria for safe harbor protection from AKS liability in all cases. A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the AKS or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation. In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the AKS constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act.

 

   

On October 25, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promoted Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act of 2018 (“SUPPORT Act”). Section 8122 of the SUPPORT Act, known as Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018 (“EKRA”), establishes an all-payor anti-kickback prohibition that extends to arrangements with recovery homes, clinical laboratories and clinical treatment facilities. EKRA includes a number of statutory exceptions, and directs agencies to develop further exceptions. Current exceptions in some cases reference and in others differ from the AKS safe harbors. Significantly, the prohibitions apply with respect to the soliciting or receipt of remuneration for any referrals to recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities or clinical laboratories, whether or not related to treating substance use disorders. Further, the prohibitions cover the payment or offer of remuneration to induce a referral to, or in exchange for, an individual using the services of, such providers. This new law creates additional risk that relationships with referral sources could be problematic.

 

   

The federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, including the False Claims Act, which prohibits individuals or entities from, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment to, or approval by, the federal government that are false, fictitious or fraudulent or knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. As a result of a modification made by the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, a claim includes “any request or demand” for money or property presented to the federal government. The False Claims Act also permits a private individual acting as a “whistleblower” to bring actions on behalf of the federal government alleging violations of the False Claims Act and to share in any monetary recovery. In addition, AKS violations implicate the False Claims Act. Conduct that results in a False Claims Act violation may also implicate various federal criminal statutes.

 

   

HIPAA, which imposes criminal and civil liability for knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud or to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any money or property owned by, or under the control or custody of, any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up by trick, scheme or device, a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services. Similar to the AKS, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation.

 

   

Under The Ethics in Physician Referrals Act, a federal law directed at “self-referral” (“Stark Law”), there are prohibitions, with certain exceptions, on referrals for certain designated health services (“DHS”), including laboratory services, that are covered by the Medicare and Medicaid

 

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programs by physicians who personally, or through a family member, have an investment or ownership interest in, or a compensation arrangement with, an entity performing the tests. The prohibition also extends to payment for any testing referred in violation of the Stark Law. The Stark Law is a strict liability statute, which means proof of specific intent to violate the law is not a required element of showing a violation. A person who engages in a scheme to circumvent the Stark Law’s referral prohibition may be fined up to $100,000 for each such arrangement or scheme. In addition, any person who presents or causes to be presented a claim to the Medicare or Medicaid programs in violation of the Stark Law is subject to civil monetary penalties of up to $15,000 per bill submission, an assessment of up to three times the amount claimed and possible exclusion from participation in federal governmental payor programs, and those claims are considered false claims and the parties to the arrangement may be liable under the False Claims Act. Bills submitted in violation of the Stark Law may not be paid by Medicare or Medicaid, and any person collecting any amounts with respect to any such prohibited bill is obligated to refund such amounts. Many states have comparable laws that are not limited to Medicare and Medicaid referrals. Stark Law also puts an annual cap ($416 for 2019) on the amount of non-monetary compensation (consisting of meal spend and educational items) that a company can spend on a physician in the aggregate. This requires careful tracking and coordination and if it is exceeded, as long as the amount exceeded is less than 50% of the total annual cap and it is recouped from the physician within 180 calendar days or before the end of the calendar year, it is not a violation. This “return” option may only be used once every three years with respect to the same referring physician. We occasionally enter into financial relationships (usually compensation relationships, such as a consulting arrangement) with physicians who refer patients for testing. These arrangements must meet the Stark Law requirements or any claims submitted to Medicare or Medicaid could violate the law, putting both the physician referral source and us at risk.

 

   

The administrative simplification provisions of HIPAA, and amended and supplemented by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (“HITECH”), which was passed as part of the American Recovery and Regulatory Act of 2009, and their respective implementing regulations, including the Final Omnibus Rule published by HHS on January 25, 2013, impose, among other things, obligations, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of protected health information (“PHI”) held by certain healthcare providers, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses, known as covered entities and their respective business associates. Among other things, HITECH made certain aspects of HIPAA’s rules (notably the “HIPAA Security Rule”) directly applicable to business associates, independent contractors or agents of covered entities that create, receive, maintain or transmit protected information in connection with providing a function on behalf of, or a service to, a covered entity. HITECH also created four new tiers of civil monetary penalties, amended HIPAA to make civil and criminal penalties directly applicable to business associates, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal court to enforce the federal HIPAA regulation and seek attorney’s fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”), has increased its focus on compliance and continues to train state attorneys general for enforcement purposes. The OCR has recently increased both its efforts to audit HIPAA compliance and its level of enforcement, with one recent penalty exceeding $16 million.

 

   

GINA restricts employers and health insurance companies from requiring or using the results of genetic tests in specific contexts and does not provide a private right of action. A number of states have also adopted laws regarding genetic tests, some aligned with GINA and some with broader applicability, including granting broader rights to individuals.

 

   

The federal physician payment transparency requirements (the “Physician Payments Sunshine Act”) created under the ACA, and its implementing regulations, which requires applicable

 

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manufacturers of covered drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to annually report to HHS information related to certain payments or other transfers of value made or distributed to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors) and teaching hospitals, or to entities or individuals at the request of, or designated on behalf of, the physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. The Physician Payments Sunshine Act has been extended to payments and transfers of value to physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other mid-level healthcare providers (with reporting requirements going into effect in 2022 for payments and transfers of value made to these practitioners in 2021). In addition, certain state and local laws may impose additional transparency and healthcare compliance requirements on medical device manufacturers, as well as certain restrictions or limits on interactions with healthcare professionals.

 

   

According to the FTC, failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal information secure constitutes unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 USC § 45(a) (“FTCA”). The FTC expects a company’s data security measures to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and complexity of its business, and the cost of available tools to improve security and reduce vulnerabilities. Medical data is considered sensitive data that merits stronger safeguards. The FTC’s guidance for appropriately securing consumers’ personal information is consistent with what is required by the HIPAA Security Rule. Some states, most notably Massachusetts and Nevada, also have adopted laws requiring the implementation of security measures to protect personal information and all 50 states (plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam) have adopted breach notification laws.

 

   

Analogous state laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback, self-referral and false claims laws, which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers, and in some cases even in self-pay scenarios. In addition, some state laws require life sciences companies to comply with the industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, or impose transparency requirements or restrictions on marketing activities.

 

   

Various state, federal and foreign laws and regulations govern our ability to communicate, prospect, advertise and market our products and services through email, phone, text messages, facsimile and online methods.

Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the exceptions and safe harbors available under them, it is possible that certain of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. The scope and enforcement of each of these laws is uncertain and subject to rapid change in the current environment of healthcare reform, especially in light of the lack of applicable precedent and regulations. Federal and state enforcement bodies have recently increased their scrutiny of interactions between healthcare companies and healthcare providers, which has led to a number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and settlements in the healthcare industry. Ensuring that business arrangements with third parties comply with applicable healthcare laws, as well as responding to possible investigations by government authorities, can be time- and resource-consuming and can divert management’s attention from the business.

If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the health regulatory laws described above or any other laws that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including, but not limited to, criminal, civil and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, individual imprisonment, possible exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, injunctions, private qui tam actions

 

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brought by individual whistleblowers in the name of the government and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, as well as additional reporting obligations and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.

Our collection, use and disclosure of personal information, including health and employee information, is subject to state, federal and foreign privacy and security regulations, and our failure to comply with those regulations or to adequately secure the information we hold could result in significant liability or reputational harm.

The privacy and security of personal information stored, maintained, received or transmitted, including electronically, is a major issue in the United States and abroad. While we strive to comply with all applicable privacy and security laws and regulations, including, in our case, our own posted privacy policies, legal standards for privacy, including but not limited to ‘‘unfairness’’ and ‘‘deception,’’ as enforced by the FTC and state attorneys general, these laws and regulations continue to evolve and any failure or perceived failure to comply may result in proceedings or actions against us by government entities or others, or could cause us to lose customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Recently, there has been an increase in public awareness of privacy issues in the wake of revelations about the data-collection activities of various government agencies and in the number of private privacy-related lawsuits filed against companies. Concerns about our practices with regard to the collection, use, retention, disclosure or security of personal information or other privacy-related matters, even if unfounded and even if we are in compliance with applicable laws, could damage our reputation and harm our business. Additionally, we receive personal information, including PHF from third parties, and if such third parties breach their representations to us regarding their compliance with applicable privacy and security laws, we could be exposed to proceedings or actions by government agencies or others.

Numerous foreign, federal and state laws and regulations govern collection, dissemination, use and confidentiality of personal information, including genetic, biometric and health information, including state privacy, data security and breach notification laws; federal and state consumer protection and employment laws; HIPAA; GINA; the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and other foreign data protection laws. These laws and regulations are increasing in complexity and number, may change frequently and sometimes conflict.

The HIPAA privacy, security and breach notification regulations, including the expanded requirements under HITECH, establish comprehensive federal standards with respect to the uses and disclosures of PHI by health plans, healthcare providers, including laboratories, and healthcare clearinghouses, in addition to setting standards to protect the confidentiality, integrity and security of PHI. The regulations establish a complex regulatory framework on a variety of subjects, including:

 

   

the circumstances under which uses and disclosures of PHI are permitted or required without a specific authorization by the patient;

 

   

a patient’s rights to access, amend and receive an accounting of certain disclosures of PHI;

 

   

requirements to notify individuals if there is a breach of their unsecured PHI;

 

   

the contents of notices that must be provided to patients regarding our privacy practices for PHI;

 

   

administrative, technical and physical safeguards required of entities that use or receive PHI; and

 

   

the safeguarding of PHI.

 

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Penalties for violations of these laws vary. For instance, penalties for failure to comply with a requirement of HIPAA and HITECH vary significantly, and include civil monetary penalties of up to $50,000 per violation, which cap has been increased to account for inflation, not to exceed $1.5 million per calendar year, which cap has been increased to account for inflation, for each provision of HIPAA that is violated and, in certain circumstances, criminal penalties with fines up to $250,000 per violation and imprisonment. However, a single breach incident can result in findings of violations of multiple provisions, leading to possible penalties in excess of $1.5 million for violations in a single year. A person who knowingly obtains or discloses protected health information in violation of HIPAA may face a criminal penalty of up to $50,000 and up to one-year imprisonment. The criminal penalties increase if the wrongful conduct involves false pretenses or the intent to sell, transfer or use identifiable health information for commercial advantage, personal gain or malicious harm. In addition, responding to government investigations regarding alleged violations of these and other laws and regulations, even if ultimately concluded with no findings of violations or no penalties imposed, can consume our resources and impact our business and, if public, harm our reputation.

Computer networks are vulnerable to breach and unauthorized persons may in the future be able to exploit weaknesses in the security systems of our computer networks and gain access to PHI. Additionally, we share PHI with third-party contractors, and while they are contractually obligated via Business Associate Agreements to safeguard and maintain the confidentiality of PHI, their indemnification of us would not insulate us from reputational harm. Unauthorized persons may be able to gain access to PHI stored in such third-party contractors’ computer networks. Any wrongful use or disclosure of PHI by us or our third-party contractors, including disclosure due to data theft or unauthorized access to our or our third-party contractors’ computer networks, could subject us to fines or penalties that could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Although the HIPAA statute and regulations do not provide for a private right of action, we could incur damages under state laws to private parties for the wrongful use or disclosure of confidential health information or other private personal information.

Further, various states, such as California and Massachusetts, have implemented similar privacy laws and regulations, such as the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, that impose restrictive requirements regulating the use and disclosure of health information and other personal information. These laws and regulations are not necessarily preempted by HIPAA, they afford greater protection to individuals than HIPAA. Where state laws are more protective, we and our collaborators must comply with the stricter provisions. In addition to fines and penalties imposed upon violators, some of these state laws also afford private rights of action to individuals who believe their personal information has been misused. California’s patient privacy laws, for example, provide for penalties of up to $250,000 and permit injured parties to sue for damages. The California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), which goes into effect January 1, 2020 and will be enforceable by the California Attorney General the sooner of six months after the publication of the final regulators or July 1, 2020, creates new data privacy obligations for covered companies and provides new privacy rights to California residents, including the right to access, delete, obtain and opt in or opt out of certain use, sharing or sale of their personal information and to sue for statutory damages for certain security breaches. Although, legislators have stated that they intend to propose amendments to the CCPA before its enforcement date, and the California Attorney General will issue clarifying regulations, there is no certainty that the statute’s burdens will be much altered. And although the law includes limited exceptions from its prescriptions, including exceptions for certain information collected as part of clinical trials as specified in the law and for protected health information collected by covered entities or business associates subject to HIPAA as specified in the law, the CCPA may regulate or impact our processing of PHI and other personal information depending on the context. It remains unclear what, if any, modifications will be made to this legislation or how it will be interpreted. The interplay of federal and state laws may be subject to varying interpretations by courts and government agencies, creating complex compliance issues for us and our clients and potentially exposing us to additional expense,

 

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adverse publicity and liability. Further, as regulatory focus on privacy, security and data use issues continues to increase and laws and regulations concerning the protection of personal information expand and become more complex, these potential risks to our immune medicine platform and related products and services could intensify. Changes in laws or regulations associated with the enhanced protection of certain types of sensitive data, such as PHI, along with increased customer demands for enhanced data security infrastructure, could greatly increase the cost of providing our products and services, decrease demand for our products and services, reduce our revenue and subject us to additional liabilities.

In addition, the interpretation and application of consumer, health-related and data protection laws, especially with respect to genetic samples and data, in the United States, the EU and elsewhere are often uncertain, contradictory and in flux. We may eventually operate in a number of countries outside of the United States whose laws may in some cases be more stringent than the requirements in the United States. For example, the EU has specific requirements relating to cross-border transfers of personal data to certain jurisdictions, including to the United States. In addition, some countries have stricter consumer notice or consent requirements relating to personal data collection, use or sharing, more stringent requirements relating to organizations’ privacy programs and provide stronger individual rights. Moreover, international privacy and data security regulations may become more complex and have greater consequences. For instance, as of May 25, 2018, GDPR, has replaced the EU Data Protection Directive with respect to the collection and use of personal data of data subjects in the EU and the European Economic Area (“EEA”). The GDPR applies extra-territorially under certain circumstances and imposes stringent requirements for controllers and processors of personal data, including, for example, requirements to: obtain consent or other legal bases from individuals to process their personal data, provide robust disclosures to individuals, accommodate a set of individual data rights, provide data security breach notifications within 72 hours after discovering the breach, limit retention of personal information, and apply enhanced protections to health data, and other special categories of personal data. The GDPR also applies to pseudonymized (defined as “the processing of personal data in such a way that the data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information”) data and imposes additional obligations when we contract with third-party processors in connection with the processing of any personal data. The GDPR provides that EU member states may make their own further laws and regulations limiting the processing of personal data, including genetic, biometric or health data, which could limit our ability to use and share personal data or could cause our costs to increase, and could harm our financial condition. Failure to comply with the requirements of GDPR and the applicable national data protection laws of the EU member states may result in fines of up to 20,000,000 or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding fiscal year, whichever is higher, and other administrative penalties. Further, as GDPR has only recently become enforceable, enforcement priorities and official interpretations of certain provisions are still unclear. To comply with the new data protection rules imposed by GDPR, we may be required to put in place additional mechanisms ensuring compliance and other substantial expenditures. This may be onerous and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and the profitability of our expanding suite of products and services. Failure to comply with GDPR and other countries’ privacy or data security-related laws, rules or regulations could result in material penalties imposed by regulators, affect our compliance with contracts entered into with our collaborators, partners and other third-party payors, and have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Currently, GDPR is only applicable to us as a processor, but as we continue to expand into the European market, GDPR will have direct applicability to us as a controller.

The GDPR also imposes strict rules on the transfer of personal data out of the EU to the United States. These obligations may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and may conflict with other requirements our practices. In addition, these rules are constantly under scrutiny. For example, following a decision of the Court of Justice of the EU in October 2015, transferring personal data to U.S. companies that had certified as members of the

 

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U.S. Safe Harbor Scheme (“Safe Harbor Scheme”) was declared invalid. In July 2016, the European Commission adopted the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework (“Privacy Shield Framework”) which replaces the Safe Harbor Scheme. However, the Privacy Shield Framework is reviewed by European authorities annually, and there is currently litigation challenging other EU mechanisms for adequate data transfers (i.e., the standard contractual clauses). It is uncertain whether the Privacy Shield Framework or the standard contractual clauses might similarly be invalidated by the European courts.

Organizations operating in Canada and covered by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”), or Canadian provincial equivalent laws, must obtain an individual’s consent when they collect, use or disclose that individual’s personal information. Individuals have the right to access and challenge the accuracy of their personal information held by an organization. Personal information can only be used for the purposes for which it was collected. If an organization is going to use it for another purpose, they must obtain consent again. Individuals should also be assured that their information will be protected by appropriate safeguards.

Because of the breadth of these data protection laws and the narrowness of their exceptions and safe harbors, it is possible that our business or data protection policies could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. The scope and enforcement of each of these laws is uncertain and subject to rapid change in the current environment of heightened sensitivity to data privacy and security issues. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other laws that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including, but not limited to, criminal, civil and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, individual imprisonment, possible exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, injunctions, private qui tam actions brought by individual whistleblowers in the name of the government, class action litigation and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, as well as additional reporting obligations and oversight if we become subject to a corrective action plan or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.

Security breaches, loss of data and other disruptions could compromise confidential, personal and sensitive information related to our business or prevent us from accessing critical information and expose us to liability, which could adversely affect our business and our reputation.

In the ordinary course of our business, we and our collaborators collect and store sensitive data, including PHI, personal information, credit card and other financial information, intellectual property and proprietary business information owned or controlled by ourselves or our customers, third-party payors, our collaborators, government entities, insurance companies and other parties. We manage and maintain our applications and data utilizing a combination of on-site systems and cloud-based data centers. We utilize external security and infrastructure vendors to manage parts of our data centers. We also transmit sensitive data, including patient data, telephonically, through our website and through relationships with multiple third-party vendors and their subcontractors. These applications and data encompass a wide variety of business-critical information, including research and development information, patient data, commercial information and business and financial information. We face a number of risks relative to protecting this critical information, including loss of access risk, unauthorized access, use, disclosure or modification and the risk of our being unable to adequately monitor and audit and modify our respective controls over our critical information. This risk extends to the data we entrust to third-party vendors and subcontractors who help us to manage this sensitive data or otherwise process it on our behalf.

The secure processing, storage, maintenance and transmission of this critical information are vital to our operations and business strategy, and we devote significant resources to protecting such

 

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information. Although we take reasonable measures to protect sensitive and proprietary data from unauthorized access, use or disclosure, no security measures can be perfect and our respective information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or viruses or breached due to employee error, malfeasance or other malicious or inadvertent disruptions. Any such breach or interruption could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed by unauthorized parties, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, breach or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, and liability under federal or state laws that protect the privacy of personal information, such as HIPAA or HITECH, and regulatory penalties. Notice of breaches may be required to be provided to affected individuals, the Secretary of HHS or other federal, state and foreign regulators, the media or state attorneys general. Such a notice could harm our reputation and ability to compete. Although we have implemented security measures and formal, dedicated enterprise security programs to prevent unauthorized access to patient and other personal data, such data is currently accessible through multiple channels, and we may experience one or more data breaches. Unauthorized access, loss or dissemination could also disrupt our operations and damage our reputation, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

No TCR-based cellular therapies have been approved in this new potential category of medicines and may never be approved as a result of efforts by others or us. TCR-based cellular therapy drug discovery has substantial clinical development and regulatory risks due to the novel and unprecedented nature of this new category of immune-driven medicines.

As a potential new category of medicines, no TCR-based cellular therapies have been approved to date by the FDA or other regulatory agency. Successful discovery and development of TCR-based cellular therapies by us and our collaborators is highly uncertain and depends on numerous factors, many of which are beyond our or their control. We and our collaborators have made and will continue to make a series of business decisions and take calculated risks to advance our development efforts and pipeline of immune-driven therapeutic product candidates, including those related to TCR-based cellular therapies, delivery technology and manufacturing processes which may be shown to be incorrect based on further work by us, our collaborators or others. Our cellular therapeutics product candidates that appear promising in the early phases of development may fail to advance, experience delays in the clinic, experience clinical holds or fail to reach the market for many reasons, including:

 

   

discovery efforts at identifying potential TCR-based cellular therapies may not be successful;

 

   

nonclinical or preclinical study results may show potential TCR-based cellular therapies to be less effective than desired or to have harmful or problematic side effects;

 

   

clinical trial results may show the TCR-based cellular therapies to be less effective than expected (e.g., a clinical trial could fail to meet one or more endpoint(s)) or to have unacceptable side effects or toxicities;

 

   

adverse effects relating to any one of our therapeutic product candidates or adverse effects relating to our TruTCR process may lead to delays in or termination of one or more of our products or services;

 

   

the insufficient ability of our translational models to reduce risk or predict outcomes in humans, particularly given that each component of our therapeutic product candidates, may have a dependent or independent effect on safety, tolerability and efficacy, which may, among other things, be species-dependent;

 

   

manufacturing failures or insufficient supply of current good manufacturing practices (“cGMP”) materials for future clinical trials, or higher than expected cost could delay or set back clinical trials, or make TCR-based cellular therapies commercially unattractive;

 

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our collaborators’ improvements in the manufacturing processes for this new class of potential immune-driven medicines may not be sufficient to satisfy the clinical or commercial demand of our jointly developed TCR-based cellular therapies or regulatory requirements for clinical trials;

 

   

changes that we or our collaborators make to optimize manufacturing, testing or formulating of cGMP materials could impact the safety, tolerability and efficacy of our therapeutic product candidates;

 

   

pricing or reimbursement issues or other factors that delay clinical trials or make any TCR-based cellular therapies uneconomical or noncompetitive with other immunotherapies;

 

   

failure to timely advance our or our collaborators’ therapeutic products or receive the necessary regulatory clearances, authorizations or approvals or a delay in receiving such clearances, authorizations or approvals, due to, among other reasons, slow or failure to complete enrollment in clinical trials, withdrawal by trial participants from trials, failure to achieve trial endpoints, additional time requirements for data analysis, data integrity issues, Biologics License Application (“BLA”) or the equivalent application, discussions with the FDA or the European Medicines Agency, a regulatory request for additional nonclinical or clinical data, or safety formulation or manufacturing issues may lead to our inability to obtain sufficient funding; and

 

   

the proprietary rights of others and their competing products and services that may prevent our TCR-based cellular therapies from being commercialized or threaten future commercialization activities.

Risks Relating to our Intellectual Property

We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining sufficient intellectual property protection for our products, services and technologies and uses thereof, and the scope of the intellectual property protection obtained may not be sufficiently broad.

As is the case with other companies engaged in the life sciences industry, our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain protection of the intellectual property we may own solely and jointly with others, or license from third parties, particularly patents, in the United States and other countries with respect to our products, services and technologies. We rely on patent protection in addition to trademark, copyright, trade secret and other intellectual property rights protection and contractual restrictions to protect our proprietary technologies, all of which provide limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or enable us to gain or maintain any competitive advantage. If we fail to protect our intellectual property, third parties may be able to compete more effectively against us. In addition, we may incur substantial litigation costs in our attempts to recover or restrict use of our intellectual property.

To the extent our intellectual property offers inadequate protection, or is found to be invalid or unenforceable, we would be exposed to a greater risk of direct competition. If our intellectual property does not provide adequate barriers to competition, e.g., through coverage of our competitors’ products, our competitive position could be adversely affected, as could our business.

We apply for or in-license patents covering our products and technologies and uses thereof, as we deem appropriate. However, obtaining and enforcing patents is costly, time-consuming and complex, and we may fail to apply for patents on important products, services and technologies in a timely fashion or at all, or we may fail to apply for patents in potentially relevant jurisdictions. We may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications, or maintain, enforce and license any patents that may issue from such patent applications, at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and

 

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development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection. We may not have the right to control the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications or to maintain the rights to patents licensed from third parties. Consequently, these patents and applications may not be prosecuted and enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business.

As of March 9, 2019, we own or have rights to 343 active patents and patent applications filed in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. Of these, there are 109 pending patent applications and 234 granted patents. Our pending patent applications may not result in issued patents in a timely fashion or at all. Even if patents are granted, they may not provide a basis for intellectual property protection of commercially viable products or services, may not provide us with any competitive advantages, or may be challenged and invalidated by third parties. It is also possible that others will design around our current or future patented technologies.

Some of our patents, licensed patents or patent applications may be challenged in the future, and we may not be successful in defending any such challenges. For example, we may be subject to a third-party pre-issuance submission of prior art to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), or become involved in opposition, derivation, reexamination, inter partes review, post-grant review or interference proceedings challenging our patent rights. Any successful third-party challenge to our patents could result in patent claims being narrowed, or patents being invalidated or held unenforceable, in whole or in part, which could lead to increased competition to our business. Conversely, we may have to challenge the patents or patent applications of third parties. The outcome of patent litigation or other proceeding can be uncertain, and any attempt by us to enforce our patent rights against others or to challenge the patent rights of others may not be successful, or, if successful, may take substantial time and result in substantial cost, and may divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business. In addition, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our patents and patent applications is threatened, regardless of the outcome, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize current or future products or services. The patent positions of biotechnology companies can be highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal principles remain unresolved. Inconsistent policies regarding the eligibility for patent protection and the breadth of patentable claims in such companies’ patents has emerged to date in the United States or elsewhere. Courts frequently render opinions in the biotechnology field that may affect the patentability of certain inventions or discoveries, including opinions that may affect the patentability of methods and compositions of matter useful in relation to immunosequencing.

In particular, the patent position of companies engaged in the development and commercialization of clinical diagnostic tests, like our clonoSEQ diagnostic test, are particularly uncertain. Various courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have rendered decisions that affect the eligibility and scope of patentability of certain inventions or discoveries relating to certain diagnostic tests and related technology. These decisions state, among other things, that a patent claim that recites an abstract idea, natural phenomenon or law of nature (for example, the relationship between particular immune receptors and cancer) may not be patentable. Precisely what constitutes a law of nature is uncertain, and it is possible that certain aspects of our clinical diagnostics would be considered natural laws. The evolving case law in the United States may adversely affect our ability to obtain patents or defend patents we have obtained or have licensed and may facilitate third-party challenges to any owned or licensed patents. The laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent or for the same subject matter as the laws of the United States, and we may encounter difficulties in protecting and defending such rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of many other countries do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents in such countries. Proceedings to enforce our

 

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patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on our products and services in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and we may encounter difficulties in protecting and defending such rights in foreign jurisdictions. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and may also export infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our products and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of many other countries do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents in such countries. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing, and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.

Changes in patent law in the United States and other jurisdictions could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products and services.

Changes in either the patent laws or in interpretations of patent laws in the United States or other countries or regions may diminish the value of our intellectual property. We cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be allowed or enforced in our patents or in third-party patents. In the United States, prior to March 16, 2013, assuming that other requirements for patentability were satisfied, the first to invent the claimed invention was entitled to the patent, while outside the United States, the first to file a patent application was entitled to the patent. On or after March 16, 2013, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (“America Invents Act”), enacted in September 16, 2011, the United States transitioned to a first inventor to file system in which, assuming that other requirements for patentability are satisfied, the first inventor to file a patent application will be entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether a third party was the first to invent the claimed invention. As such, a third party that files a patent application in the USPTO before us could be awarded a patent covering an invention of ours even if we had made the invention before it was made by such third party. This will require us to be cognizant of the time from invention to filing of a patent application. Since patent applications in the United States and most other countries are confidential for a period of time after filing or until issuance, we cannot be certain that we or our licensors were the first to either file any patent application related to our products or services or invent any of the inventions claimed in our or our licensor’s patents or patent applications.

The America Invents Act also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and also may affect patent litigation. These include allowing third-party

 

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submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review and derivation proceedings. Because of a lower evidentiary standard in USPTO proceedings compared to the evidentiary standard in U.S. federal courts necessary to invalidate a patent claim, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim invalid even though the same evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if first presented in a district court action. Accordingly, a third party may attempt to use the USPTO procedures to invalidate our patent claims that would not have been invalidated if first challenged by the third party as a defendant in a district court action. Therefore, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our owned or in-licensed patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our owned or in-licensed issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have also narrowed the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances and weakened the rights of patent owners in certain situations. In addition to increasing uncertainty with regard to our ability to obtain patents in the future, this combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the value of patents, once obtained. Depending on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing patents and patents that we might obtain in the future.

Issued patents covering our products and services could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged.

The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability and some of our patents or patent applications, including licensed patents, may be challenged, in courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad, in opposition, derivation, reexamination, inter partes review, post-grant review or interference. Additionally, if we and our licensing partners initiate or become involved in legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering one of our products or technologies, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering our product is invalid or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, counterclaims alleging invalidity or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including patent eligible subject matter, lack of novelty, obviousness or non-enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. In addition, the United States now awards patent priority to the first party to file a patent application, and others may submit patent claims covering our inventions prior to us. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art, of which we and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. A successful third-party challenge to our patents could result in the unenforceability or invalidity of such patents, which could have a material adverse impact on our business. Furthermore, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our patents and patent applications is threatened, regardless of the outcome, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize current or future products and services.

We may not be aware of all third-party intellectual property rights potentially relating to our immune medicine platform, products and services. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until approximately 18 months after filing or, in some cases, not until such patent applications issue as patents. We might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by each of our pending patent applications and we might not have been the first to file patent

 

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applications for these inventions. To determine the priority of these inventions, we may have to participate in interference proceedings, derivation proceedings or other post-grant proceedings declared by the USPTO. The outcome of such proceedings is uncertain, and other patent applications may have priority over our patent applications. Such proceedings could also result in substantial costs to us and divert our management’s attention and resources.

We rely on licenses from third parties in relation to certain products and services and if we lose these licenses then we may be subjected to future litigation.

We are a party to license agreements that grant us rights to use certain intellectual property, including patents and patent applications, typically in certain specified fields of use. Some of those licensed rights could provide us with freedom to operate for aspects of our products and services. We may need to obtain additional licenses from others to advance our research, development and commercialization activities.

Our success may depend in part on the ability of our licensors to obtain, maintain and enforce patent protection for our licensed intellectual property. Our licensors may not successfully prosecute the patent applications we license. Even if patents issue in respect of these patent applications, our licensors may fail to maintain these patents, may determine not to pursue litigation against other companies that are infringing these patents or may pursue such litigation less aggressively than we would. Without protection for the intellectual property we license, other companies might be able to offer substantially identical products for sale, which could adversely affect our competitive business position and harm our business prospects.

Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.

Moreover, disputes may also arise between us and our licensors regarding intellectual property subject to a license agreement, including:

 

   

the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues;

 

   

whether, and the extent to which, our products, services, technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the licensing agreement;

 

   

our right to sublicense patent and other rights to third parties under collaborative development relationships;

 

   

our diligence obligations under the license agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;

 

   

the inventorship and ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and our collaborators; and

 

   

the priority of invention of patented technology.

If we do not prevail in such disputes, we may lose any or all of our rights under such license agreements.

In addition, the agreements under which we currently license intellectual property or technology from third parties are complex and certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of any contract interpretation disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or increase what we believe to be our financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of

 

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operations and prospects. Moreover, if disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current licensing arrangements on commercially acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected product(s) or service(s), which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.

Absent the license agreements, we may infringe patents subject to those agreements, and if the license agreements are terminated, we may be subject to litigation by the licensor. Litigation could result in substantial costs to us and distract our management. If we do not prevail, we may be required to pay damages, including treble damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses and royalties or be enjoined from selling our products or services, which could adversely affect our ability to offer products or services, our ability to continue operations and our financial condition.

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.

In addition to patent protection, we take steps to protect our intellectual property and proprietary technology by entering into agreements, including confidentiality agreements, non-disclosure agreements and intellectual property assignment agreements, with our employees, consultants, collaborators, academic institutions, life sciences research partners and, when needed, our advisers as well as other third parties. However, we cannot be certain that such agreements have been entered into with all relevant parties, and we cannot be certain that our trade secrets and other confidential proprietary information will not be disclosed or that competitors will not otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques.

For example, any of these parties may breach the agreements and disclose our proprietary information, including our trade secrets, and we may not be able to obtain adequate remedies for such breaches. Such agreements may not be enforceable or may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or other proprietary information in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure or other breaches of the agreements, and we may not be able to prevent such unauthorized disclosure. If we are required to assert our rights against such party, it could result in significant cost and distraction. Monitoring unauthorized disclosure is difficult, and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to prevent such disclosure are, or will be, adequate. If we were to enforce a claim that a third party had illegally obtained and was using our trade secrets, it would be expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome would be unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the United States may be less willing to protect trade secrets.

We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our confidential proprietary information by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems. Besides the possibility that these security measures could be breached, such measures may not, for example, in the case of misappropriation of a trade secret by an employee or third party with authorized access, provide adequate protection for our proprietary information. Our security measures may also not prevent an employee or consultant from misappropriating our trade secrets and providing them to a competitor, and recourse we take against such misconduct may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, trade secrets may be independently developed by others in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. If any of our confidential or proprietary information, such as our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information was independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position could be harmed.

 

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Certain former employees have obtained employment with companies or academic institutions that could be considered competitive with us. This competition may be limited by contractual provisions which may or may not be enforceable by us in certain jurisdictions. In addition, we may not be aware of such competitive employment arrangements until after our trade secrets have been disclosed to potentially competitive companies.

We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information of third parties or that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.

We employ, and expect to employ in the future, individuals who were previously employed at universities or other companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants and independent contractors do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former employers or other third parties, or to claims that we have improperly used or obtained such trade secrets. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel, which could adversely impact our business. A loss of key research personnel work product could hamper or prevent our ability to commercialize potential products and services, which could harm our business. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.

We may not be able to protect and enforce our trademarks.

We have not yet registered certain of our trademarks in all of our potential markets, although we have registered Adaptive Biotechnologies, clonoSEQ, immunoSEQ, pairSEQ and TruTCR in the United States, the EU and a number of other countries and are seeking to register additional trademarks, including ADAPTIVE and immunoSEQ Dx. As we apply to register our unregistered trademarks in the United States and other countries, our applications may not be allowed for registration in a timely fashion or at all, and our registered trademarks may not be maintained or enforced. In addition, opposition or cancellation proceedings may be filed against our trademark applications and registrations, and our trademarks may not survive such proceedings. In certain countries outside of the United States, trademark registration is required to enforce trademark rights. If we do not secure registrations for our trademarks, we may encounter more difficulty in enforcing them against third parties than we otherwise would.

We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship or ownership of our patents and other intellectual property.

We or our licensors may be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in our owned or in-licensed patents, trade secrets or other intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor. Ownership disputes may arise, for example, from conflicting obligations of employees, consultants or others who are involved in developing our future products and services. Our co-founder, Dr. Harlan Robins, had dual employment with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (“Fred Hutch”) and us, and accordingly has had obligations to assign his rights to inventions to either Fred Hutch or us depending on how and where the inventions were conceived, reduced to practice, developed or created. Disputes may arise in the future between Fred Hutch and us regarding ownership of intellectual property generated by Dr. Robins’ work. Fred Hutch may claim to have ownership rights to company-owned intellectual property.

 

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Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and other claims by a third party challenging inventorship of our or our licensors’ ownership of our owned or in-licensed patents, trade secrets or other intellectual property. If we or our licensors fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of, or right to use, intellectual property that is important to our product or services. Alternatively, we may need to obtain one or more additional licenses from the third party which will be time-consuming and expensive and could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If we become involved in patent litigation or other proceedings related to a determination of rights, we could incur substantial costs and expenses, substantial liability for damages or be required to stop our development and commercialization efforts of our products and services.

There is a substantial amount of litigation, both within and outside the United States, involving patent and other intellectual property rights in the life sciences, clinical diagnostics and drug discovery industries, including patent infringement lawsuits, declaratory judgment litigation and adversarial proceedings before the USPTO, including interferences, derivation proceedings, ex parte reexaminations, post-grant review and inter partes review, as well as corresponding proceedings in foreign courts and foreign patent offices.

We are currently involved in appeals from Opposition Proceedings at the European Patent Office related to two company-owned patents: EP2364368 and EP2387627. We may, in the future, become involved with litigation or actions at the USPTO or foreign patent offices with various third parties. We expect that the number of such claims may increase as our industry expands, more patents are issued, the number of products or services increases and the level of competition in our industry increases. Any infringement claim, regardless of its validity, could harm our business by, among other things, resulting in time-consuming and costly litigation, diverting management’s time and attention from the development of the business, requiring the payment of monetary damages (including treble damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) or royalty payments.

It may be necessary for us to pursue litigation or adversarial proceedings before the patent office in order to enforce our patent and proprietary rights or to determine the scope, coverage and validity of the proprietary rights of others. The outcome of any such litigation might not be favorable to us, and even if we were to prevail, such litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.

As we move into new markets and expand our products or services offerings, incumbent participants in such markets may assert their patents and other proprietary rights against us as a means of slowing our entry into such markets or as a means to extract substantial license and royalty payments from us. In addition, future litigation may involve patent holding companies or other adverse patent owners who have no relevant product or service revenue and against whom our own patents may provide little or no deterrence or protection.

Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization. Given that clinical diagnostics and drug discovery fields are intense and highly competitive areas, there may be third-party intellectual property rights that others believe could relate to our immune medicine platform, products and services. We have been approached on four occasions with an offer from a third-party patent owner or licensee to license rights to us under patents relating to immune medicine. We have been contacted by Invivoscribe, Inc. regarding U.S. Pat. No. 7,785,783 on March 24, 2012;

 

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by Keygene NV regarding U.S. Pat. No. 9,453,256 on October 10, 2016; by MorphoSys AG regarding EP Patent 2243030 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,404,929 on October 10, 2018; and by DName-iT NV regarding EP Patent 2201143 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,318,434 in December 2018. In each instance, we have declined to pursue licenses to the patents. One or more of these or other third-party patent owners or licensees may pursue or threaten to pursue litigation against us to enforce one or more patents. It would be costly and time-consuming to defend such claims.

Because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending patent applications which may later result in issued patents that our current or future products, technologies and services may infringe. We cannot be certain that we have identified or addressed all potentially significant third-party patents in advance of an infringement claim being made against us. In addition, similar to what other companies in our industry have experienced, we expect our competitors and others may have patents or may in the future obtain patents and claim that making, having made, using, selling, offering to sell or importing our products or services infringes these patents. Defense of infringement and other claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of management and employee resources from our business. Parties making claims against us may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation more effectively than we can because they have substantially greater resources. Parties making claims against us may be able to obtain injunctive or other relief, which could block our ability to develop, commercialize and sell products or services and could result in the award of substantial damages against us, including treble damages, attorney’s fees, costs and expenses if we are found to have willfully infringed. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may be required to pay damages and ongoing royalties and obtain one or more licenses from third parties, or be prohibited from selling certain products or services. We may not be able to obtain these licenses on acceptable or commercially reasonable terms, if at all, or these licenses may be non-exclusive, which could result in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property. In addition, we could encounter delays in product or service introductions while we attempt to develop alternative products or services to avoid infringing third-party patents or proprietary rights. Defense of any lawsuit or failure to obtain any of these licenses could prevent us from commercializing products or services, and the prohibition of sale of any of our products or services could materially affect our business and our ability to gain market acceptance for our products or services.

Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. In addition, during the course of this kind of litigation, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock.

In addition, our agreements with some of our customers, suppliers or other entities with whom we do business require us to defend or indemnify these parties to the extent they become involved in infringement claims, including the types of claims described above. We could also voluntarily agree to defend or indemnify third parties in instances where we are not obligated to do so if we determine it would be important to our business relationships. If we are required or agree to defend or indemnify third parties in connection with any infringement claims, we could incur significant costs and expenses that could adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition.

Patent terms may be inadequate to protect our competitive position on our products and services for an adequate amount of time.

Patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, if all maintenance fees are timely paid, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years from its earliest U.S. non-provisional filing date.

 

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Various extensions may be available, but the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering our products and services are obtained, once the patent life has expired, we may be open to competition from competitive products. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new products and services, patents protecting such products and services might expire before or shortly after such products and services are commercialized. As a result, our owned and licensed patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to ours.

Risks Relating to our Common Stock and the Offering

An active trading market for our common stock may not develop.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. It is possible that an active trading market may not develop following completion of this offering or, if developed, may not be sustained. The lack of an active trading market may impair the value of your shares and your ability to sell your shares at the time you wish to sell them. An inactive trading market may also impair our ability to both raise capital by selling shares of common stock and acquire other complementary products, technologies or businesses by using our shares of common stock as consideration.

Upon closing of this offering, our common stock will be listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market. If we fail to satisfy the continued listing standards of The Nasdaq Global Select Market, however, we could be de-listed, which would negatively impact the price of our common stock.

The market price of our common stock is likely to be volatile and fluctuate substantially, and you may be unable to sell your shares at or above the offering price.

The initial public offering price for our shares of common stock will be determined by negotiations between us and representatives of the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the trading market. In addition, the market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile and may fluctuate substantially due to many factors, including:

 

   

the commencement or termination of our collaborations;

 

   

the timing of achievement of specified milestones in the development of our products and services;

 

   

introductions of new or expanded products or services or new pricing policies by us or by our competitors;

 

   

changes in the status of our regulatory clearances, authorizations, approvals or applications, or those jointly developed with our collaborators;

 

   

where required, the results of clinical trials of our future products and services, those jointly developed with our collaborators or those of our competitors;

 

   

the success of competitive products or technologies;

 

   

announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, collaborators or divestitures;

 

   

changes in governmental regulations and regulatory or legal developments in the United States and other countries;

 

   

developments or disputes concerning patent applications, issued patents or other proprietary rights;

 

   

the recruitment or departure of key personnel;

 

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actual or anticipated changes in estimates as to financial results, development timelines or recommendations by securities analysts;

 

   

variations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us;

 

   

changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems;

 

   

market conditions in the life sciences, clinical diagnostics or drug discovery industry;

 

   

general economic, industry and market conditions;

 

   

sales of our securities, including sales by our directors, officers or significant shareholders;

 

   

speculation about our business in the media or the investment community; and

 

   

other factors, including factors unrelated to our operating performance or the operating performance of our competitors.

In recent years, the stock markets generally have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of listed companies. If the market for stock in our industry or the stock market in general experiences uneven investor confidence, the market price of our common stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, operating results or financial condition. The market price of our common stock might also decline in reaction to events that affect other companies within, or outside, our industry even if these events do not directly affect us. If the market price of shares of our common stock after this offering does not ever exceed the initial public offering price, you may not realize any return on your investment in us and may lose some or all of your investment.

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in their stock price. This type of litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs to us and divert our management’s attention and resources, which could seriously harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or we are the subject of negative publicity, the price of our stock could decline.

If a trading market for our common stock develops, the trading market will depend, in part, on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not control these analysts. As a newly public company, we may be slow to attract research coverage and the analysts who publish information about our common stock may have had relatively little experience with us or our industry, which could affect their ability to accurately forecast our results and could make it more likely that we fail to meet their estimates. In the event securities or industry analysts initiate coverage, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock or publish inaccurate or unfavorable evaluations of our company or our stock, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports covering our company regularly, our stock may lose visibility in the market, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline. In addition, if we are the subject of negative publicity, whether from an analyst, academic, industry group or the general or financial press, our stock price may decline.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to “emerging growth companies” may make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an “emerging growth company,” we may take advantage of certain exemptions and relief from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging

 

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growth companies,” including (i) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), (ii) having the option of delaying the adoption of certain new or revised financial accounting standards, (iii) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus and our periodic reports and proxy statements and (iv) exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock. Further, pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act, as an emerging growth company, we have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. As a result, our operating results and financial statements may not be comparable to the operating results and financial statements of other companies who have adopted the new or revised accounting standards. It is possible that some investors will find our common stock less attractive as a result, which may result in a less active trading market for our common stock and higher volatility in our stock price.

We could remain an “emerging growth company” until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this initial public offering, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of any completed second fiscal quarter before that time, or if we have total annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more during any fiscal year before that time, or if we issue more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during any three-year period before that time.

If our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies are based on assumptions that change or prove to be incorrect, our operating results could fall below our publicly announced guidance or the expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the market price of our common stock.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. As we work toward adopting and implementing the new revenue accounting standard, management will make judgments and assumptions based on our interpretation of the new standard. The new revenue standard is principle-based and interpretation of those principles may vary from company to company based on their unique circumstances. It is possible that interpretation, industry practice and guidance may evolve as we work toward implementing the new standard. If our assumptions change or if actual circumstances differ from our assumptions, our operating results may be adversely affected and could fall below our publicly announced guidance or the expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the market price of our common stock.

If you purchase our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your shares.

Investors purchasing common stock in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share. As a result, investors purchasing common stock in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $             per share, based on the initial public offering price of $             per share, and our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2018.

 

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This dilution is due to the substantially lower price paid by our investors who purchased shares of our common stock prior to this offering, including on the exercise of options and warrants, as compared to the price to the public in this offering. In addition, we have, in the past, issued options and other securities to acquire our common stock at prices significantly below the initial public offering price. To the extent these outstanding securities are ultimately exercised, investors purchasing common stock in this offering will sustain further dilution. For more information on the dilution you may suffer as a result of investing in this offering, see the “Dilution” section of this prospectus.

A significant portion of our total outstanding shares are restricted from immediate resale but may be sold into the market in the near future. The large number of shares eligible for public sale or subject to rights requiring us to register them for public sale could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time, subject to certain restrictions described below. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares, could depress the market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We are unable to predict the effect that these sales may have on the prevailing market price of our common stock. Based on shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, we will have              shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering. This includes the shares that we are selling in this offering, which may be resold in the public market immediately without restriction, unless purchased by our affiliates. Of the remaining shares, substantially all are currently restricted as a result of securities laws, market standoff agreements or 180-day lock-up agreements, but will be able to be sold after the offering as described in the “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” section of this prospectus. Subject to certain limitations, based on shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, approximately              shares will become eligible for sale beginning 181 days after the date of this prospectus. Moreover, upon completion of this offering, shareholders owning an aggregate of up to approximately              shares of our common stock will have rights, subject to certain conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other shares as described in the “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights” section of this prospectus. We also intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register our shares of common stock issued or reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plans. Any such Form S-8 registration statements will automatically become effective upon filing with the SEC. Accordingly, shares of common stock registered under such registration statements will be available for sale in the open market, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates, vesting restrictions with us, and the market standoff agreements and lock-up agreements described in the “Underwriting” section of this prospectus.

Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing shareholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies, products or services.

We may seek additional capital through a combination of public and private equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or debt securities, your ownership interest will be diluted and the terms may include other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a shareholder. The incurrence of indebtedness, if obtained, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and could involve restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. If we raise additional funds through collaborations and alliances and licensing arrangements with third parties or through asset sales, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, products or services, or grant licenses on terms unfavorable to us.

 

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Our management and principal shareholders own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to shareholder approval.

As of March 22, 2019, our executive officers, directors and five percent or greater shareholders and their respective affiliates, beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 63.8% of our outstanding common stock on an as converted basis and, upon completion of this offering, that same group will beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately         % of our outstanding common stock. As a result, after this offering, these shareholders, if they act together, will be able to control the management and affairs of our company and most matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents and approval of any merger, sale of substantially all our assets or other significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock that you or other shareholders may feel are in your or their best interest as one of our shareholders.

We will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds to us from this offering and may not use them effectively or may allocate them in ways that you and other shareholders may not approve.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of this prospectus, and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management might not apply our net proceeds in ways that ultimately improve our results of operations or increase the value of your investment or in ways that you and other shareholders approve. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse impact on our business, cause the price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our products and services. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our shareholders.

We will incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives. We will be subject to financial reporting and other requirements for which our accounting and other management systems and resources may not be adequately prepared.

As a public company, and particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the federal securities laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, and rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC and The Nasdaq Global Select Market have imposed various requirements on public companies, including requirements to file annual, quarterly, and event driven reports with respect to their business and financial condition, and to establish and maintain effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. These rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make certain activities more time-consuming and costly, and require our management and other personnel to devote a substantial amount of time to compliance initiatives. Despite our best efforts, we may not be able to produce reliable financial statements or file such financial statements as part of a periodic report in a timely manner with the SEC or comply with The Nasdaq Global Select Market listing requirements. We also expect that these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance.

 

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Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting, including an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm, beginning with the first full year after the closing of this offering. However, while we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we will be engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. We will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants, adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that neither we nor our independent registered public accounting firm will be able to conclude within the prescribed timeframe that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements. We could also become subject to investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.

As a public company, we will also be required to maintain disclosure controls and procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures means our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. We believe a control system, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Due to the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and any design may not succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in our control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Provisions in our charter documents and under Washington law could make an acquisition of our company more difficult and limit attempts by our shareholders to replace or remove our current management.

Our articles of incorporation, our bylaws and Washington law contain provisions that may have the effect of deterring takeovers or delaying or preventing a change in control of us or changes in our management that a shareholder might deem to be in his or her best interest. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws, in each case, which will be in effect upon the closing of this offering, contain provisions that:

 

   

authorize “blank check” preferred stock, which could be issued by our board of directors without shareholder approval and may contain voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to our common stock;

 

   

create a classified board of directors whose members serve staggered three-year terms, with one class being elected each year by our shareholders;

 

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specify that special meetings of our shareholders can be called only by our board of directors, the Chairperson of our board of directors, our chief executive officer or our president;

 

   

provide that a director may only be removed from the board of directors for cause by the affirmative vote of our shareholders;

 

   

provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;

 

   

specify that only our board of directors may change the size of our board of directors;

 

   

prohibit shareholder action by written consent;

 

   

establish an advance notice procedure for shareholder approvals to be brought before an annual meeting of our shareholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors;

 

   

specify that no shareholder is permitted to cumulate votes at any election of directors;

 

   

expressly authorize our board of directors to modify, alter or repeal our bylaws; and

 

   

require supermajority votes of the holders of our common stock to amend specified provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws.

These provisions, alone or together, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in our management or our board of directors.

In addition, because we are incorporated in the State of Washington, we are governed by the provisions of Chapter 23B.19 of the Washington Business Corporation Act (“WBCA”), which prohibits certain business combinations between us and certain significant shareholders unless specified conditions are met. These provisions may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company.

Any provision of our articles of incorporation or bylaws or Washington law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our shareholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, a state court located within the State of Washington shall be the sole and exclusive forum for certain litigation that may be initiated by our shareholders, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, a state court located within the State of Washington shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the WBCA, our articles of incorporation or our bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our articles of incorporation or our bylaws or (v) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The choice of forum provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Shareholders who do bring a claim in a state court located in the State of Washington could face additional litigation costs in pursuing any such claim, particularly if they do not reside in or

 

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near the State of Washington. A state court in the State of Washington may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including courts where a shareholder considering an action may be located or would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments or results may be more favorable to us than to our shareholders. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

Claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.

Our articles of incorporation provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Washington law.

In addition, as permitted by Section 23B.08.510 through Section 23B.08.570 of the WBCA, our articles of incorporation and our indemnification agreements that we have entered into with our directors and officers provide that:

 

   

We will indemnify our directors and officers for serving us in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at our request, to the fullest extent permitted by Washington law. Washington law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful;

 

   

We may, in our discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law;

 

   

We are required to advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such directors or officers shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification;

 

   

The rights conferred in our articles of incorporation are not exclusive, and we are authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons; and

 

   

We may not retroactively amend our articles of incorporation provisions to reduce our indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.

Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be your sole source of gain.

We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business, and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Some of the statements in the “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” sections of this prospectus and elsewhere in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.

These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this prospectus, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

the success of our significant investments in our continued research and development of new products and services;

 

   

the success of developing, commercializing and achieving commercial market acceptance of clonoSEQ, immunoSEQ Dx, our TCR-Antigen Map, TCR-based cellular therapies and additional products and services beyond our current portfolio;

 

   

the potential for our identified research priorities to advance our proprietary immune medicine platform or our future products and services;

 

   

the success, cost and timing of our research development activities, preclinical and clinical studies and, in certain instances, clinical trials and clinical validations;

 

   

the potential benefits of collaborations, our ability to enter into collaborations or arrangements, and our ability to attract collaborators with development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization expertise;

 

   

the ability and willingness of our collaborators to continue development, manufacturing, distribution and commercialization activities relating to our jointly developed products and services;

 

   

our ability to identify research priorities and apply a risk-mitigated strategy to efficiently discover and develop products and services;

 

   

our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our products and services;

 

   

our ability, and that of our collaborators, to commercialize our products and services;

 

   

our ability to generate revenue and obtain funding for our operations, including funding necessary to complete further development of our current and future products and services, and if successful, commercialization;

 

   

the size and growth potential of the markets for our products and services, and our ability to serve those markets, either alone or in combination with others;

 

   

the rate and degree of market acceptance of our products and services;

 

   

our financial performance;

 

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the pricing and reimbursement of our products and services following approval where required;

 

   

our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our immune medicine platform, products, services and related technologies and the direction of such protection;

 

   

regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

 

   

the success of competing products or services that are or may become available;

 

   

developments relating to our competitors and our industry;

 

   

our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel;

 

   

the impact of laws and regulations;

 

   

our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and

 

   

our use of the proceeds from this offering.

In addition, you should refer to the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of other important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if the forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this prospectus represent our views as of the date of this prospectus. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this prospectus.

 

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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

This prospectus contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry and our business, as well as data regarding market size, estimates and forecasts prepared by our management. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which these data are derived. In that regard, when we refer to one or more sources of this type of data in any paragraph, you should assume that other data of this type appearing in the same paragraph is derived from the same sources, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $             million, or $             million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock, assuming an initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per share of common stock, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us by approximately $             million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares of common stock offered by us would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us by approximately $             million, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our financial flexibility, obtain additional capital to support our operations, create a public market for our common stock and to facilitate our potential future access to the public equity markets. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities on hand, primarily to fund our commercial and marketing activities associated with our clinical products and services, continued research and development for our pipeline candidates and drug discovery initiatives, ongoing investments into our immune medicine platform and scaling of our laboratory operations with our anticipated growth. The remainder, if any, will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

We believe our cash flows from operations and our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least the 12 months following the date of this prospectus.

We cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering. Due to uncertainties inherent in the development process, it is difficult to estimate the exact amounts of the net proceeds that will be used for any particular purpose. We may use our existing cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and the future payments, if any, generated from any future collaboration agreements to fund our operations, either of which may alter the amount of net proceeds used for a particular purpose. In addition, the amount, allocation and timing of our actual expenditures will depend upon numerous factors, including the results of our research and development efforts, the timing and success of our Genentech and Microsoft collaborations and the timing of regulatory submissions. Accordingly, we will have broad discretion in using these proceeds.

Pending their uses, we plan to invest the net proceeds of this offering in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends to our shareholders in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. Our future ability to pay cash dividends on our common stock may also be limited by the terms of any future debt securities, preferred stock or credit facility.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2018:

 

   

on an actual basis;

 

   

on a pro forma basis to reflect: (i) the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 92,790,094 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering; (ii) the issuance of 20,000 shares of common stock upon the exercise of an outstanding warrant to purchase our common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering that would otherwise expire; (iii) the conversion of an outstanding warrant to purchase our convertible preferred stock into a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 56,875 shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering; and (iv) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated articles of incorporation upon the closing of this offering; and

 

   

on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give further effect to the issuance and sale of                  shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $             per share of common stock, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

 

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The pro forma as adjusted information below is illustrative only and our capitalization following the closing of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read this information together with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the information set forth in the “Use of Proceeds,” “Selected Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of this prospectus.

 

     As of December 31, 2018  
     Actual     Pro Forma     Pro Forma
As Adjusted(1)
 
     (in thousands, except for share and
per share amounts)
 

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

   $ 165,018     $ 165,027     $                  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Convertible preferred stock warrant liability

   $ 336     $     $    

Convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 93,762,517 shares authorized, 92,790,094 issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized,                  issued or outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     560,858          

Shareholders’ (deficit) equity:

      

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, actual;                  shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

              

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 131,000,000 shares authorized, 12,841,536 shares issued and outstanding, actual;                  authorized, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted, 105,651,630 issued and outstanding, pro forma;                  shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     1       11    

Additional paid-in capital

     37,902       599,095    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (107     (107  

Accumulated deficit

     (295,908     (295,908  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity

     (258,112     303,091    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 303,082     $ 303,091     $    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per share of common stock, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities by approximately $             million, and our pro forma as adjusted amount of additional paid-in capital, total shareholders’ (deficit) equity and total capitalization by approximately $             million, assuming that the number of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares of common stock offered by us would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, additional paid-in capital, total shareholders’ (deficit) equity and total capitalization by approximately $             million, assuming that the assumed initial price to the public remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

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If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, additional paid-in capital, total shareholders’ (deficit) equity, total capitalization and shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018 would be $            , $            , $            , $             and                  shares, respectively.

The total number of shares of our common stock reflected in our actual, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted information set forth in the table above excludes:

 

   

56,875 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant to purchase shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, with an exercise price of $2.64 per share;

 

   

35,032 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant to purchase shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, with an exercise price of $0.33 per share;

 

   

264,677 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options to purchase shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018 under the Sequenta Plan with a weighted-average exercise price of $0.44 per share;

 

   

14,893,253 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2018 under the 2009 Plan with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.59 per share; and

 

   

                 shares of common stock that will become available for future issuance under the 2019 Plan (which includes all shares reserved for issuance under our 2009 Plan) upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.

Our historical net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 was a deficit of $390.7 million, or a deficit of $30.43 per share of our common stock. Our historical net tangible book value is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities. Historical net tangible book value per share represents historical net tangible book value divided by the 12,841,536 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018.

Our pro forma net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 was $170.5 million, or $1.61 per share of our common stock. Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents historical net tangible book value divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, after giving effect to: (i) the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 92,790,094 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering; (ii) the issuance of 20,000 shares of common stock upon the exercise of an outstanding warrant to purchase our common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering that would otherwise expire; and (iii) the conversion of outstanding warrant to purchase our convertible preferred stock into a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 56,875 shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering.

After giving further effect to the sale by us of                  shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public price of $             per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 would have been approximately $            , or $             per share. This amount represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $             per share to our existing shareholders and an immediate dilution of $             per share to new investors participating in this offering.

We determine dilution per share to investors participating in this offering by subtracting pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the assumed initial public offering price per share paid by investors participating in this offering. The following table illustrates this dilution:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

     $                

Historical net tangible book deficit per share as of December 31, 2018

   $  (30.43  

Pro forma increase in net tangible book value per share

     32.04    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2018

     1.61    

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors participating in this offering

    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

    
    

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering

     $                
    

 

 

 

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by $             per share and increase (decrease) the dilution per share to new investors by $             per share, assuming the number of

 

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shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

Similarly, each increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of common stock we are offering would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by approximately $             million, or $             per share, and decrease (increase) the dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering by $             per share, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price of $            , the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual initial public offering price, number of shares and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in this offering in full at the assumed initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value would be approximately $             per share, and the dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to investors in this offering would be approximately $             per share.

The table below summarizes, as of December 31, 2018, on a pro forma as adjusted basis, the number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration and the average price per share (i) paid to us by our existing shareholders and (ii) to be paid by new investors participating in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

 

     Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Average
Price Per
Share
 
     Number      Percent     Amount      Percent  

Existing shareholders

                                    $                                 $                

Investors in this offering

            
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

                         100.0                         100.0                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

In addition, if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, the number of shares held by existing shareholders will be reduced to         % of the total number of shares of common stock to be outstanding upon closing of this offering, and the number of shares of common stock held by new investors participating in this offering will be further increased to        , or         % of the total number of shares of common stock to be outstanding upon completion of the offering.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) total consideration paid by new investors by $             million, assuming the number of shares of common stock we are offering, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Each increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 in the number of shares of common stock offered by us would increase (decrease) total consideration paid by new investors by $            million, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price of $            , the midpoint of the estimated price

 

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range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

The above discussion and tables are based on shares of common stock issued and convertible outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and (i) includes the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 92,790,094 shares of our common stock and the issuance of 20,000 shares of common stock upon exercise of an outstanding common stock warrant, in each case, immediately prior to the closing of this offering and (ii) excludes:

 

   

56,875 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant to purchase shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, with an exercise price of $2.64 per share;

 

   

35,032 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant to purchase shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, with an exercise price of $0.33 per share;

 

   

264,677 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options to purchase shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018 under the Sequenta Plan with a weighted-average exercise price of $0.44 per share;

 

   

14,893,253 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2018 under the 2009 Plan with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.59 per share; and

 

   

                 shares of common stock that will become available for future issuance under the 2019 Plan (which includes all shares reserved for issuance under our 2009 Plan) upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

To the extent that outstanding stock options or warrants are exercised, new stock options or warrants are issued or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to new investors. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our shareholders.

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial data set forth below should be read together with our financial statements and the related notes to those statements, as well as the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of this prospectus. The statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 have been derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected in the future.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2017     2018  
     (in thousands, except
share and per share data)
 

Statements of Operations Data:

    

Revenue:

    

Sequencing revenue

   $ 22,759     $ 32,978  

Development revenue

     15,689       22,685  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     38,448       55,663  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

    

Cost of revenue

     15,680       19,668  

Research and development

     31,995       39,157  

Sales and marketing

     16,765       24,486  

General and administrative

     15,949       20,409  

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,694       1,699  

Restructuring

     840       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     82,923       105,419  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (44,475     (49,756

Interest and other income, net

     1,644       3,309  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (42,831   $ (46,447

Fair value adjustment to Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

     135       102  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

   $ (42,696   $ (46,345
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (3.50   $ (3.67
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

     12,196,998       12,629,778  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted(1)

     $ (0.44
    

 

 

 

Unaudited weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted(1)

       105,470,520  
    

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 17 to our financial statements appearing at the end of this prospectus for details on the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share and the calculation of basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share.

 

     As of December 31,  
     2017     2018  
     (in thousands)  

Balance Sheet Data:

    

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

   $ 201,055     $ 165,018  

Working capital(1)

     184,244     157,918

Total assets

     362,489     332,688

Total liabilities

     25,772     29,942  

Convertible preferred stock

     561,333     560,858

Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity

     (224,616     (258,112

 

(1)

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this prospectus, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.

Overview

We are a commercial-stage company advancing the field of immune-driven medicine by harnessing the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Our immune medicine platform applies our proprietary technologies to read the diverse genetic code of a patient’s immune system and understand precisely how it detects and treats disease in that patient. We capture these insights in our dynamic clinical immunomics database, which is underpinned by computational biology and machine learning, and use them to develop and commercialize clinical products and services tailored to each individual patient. These products and services are designed to diagnose, monitor and enable the treatment of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions and infectious diseases.

Our immune medicine platform is the foundation for our expanding suite of products and services. The cornerstone of our platform and core immunosequencing product, immunoSEQ, serves as our underlying research and development engine and generates revenue from academic and biopharmaceutical customers. Our first clinical diagnostic product, clonoSEQ, is the first test authorized by the FDA for the detection and monitoring of MRD in patients with MM and ALL and is being validated for patients with other blood cancers. Leveraging our collaboration with Microsoft to create the TCR-Antigen Map, we are also developing a diagnostic product, immunoSEQ Dx, that may enable early detection of many diseases from a single blood test. Our therapeutic product candidates, being developed under our collaboration agreement with Genentech, leverage our platform to identify specific immune cells to develop into cellular therapies in oncology.

Since our inception, we have devoted a majority of our resources to research and development activities to develop our immune medicine platform, which enables the delivery of our products and services for life sciences research, clinical diagnostics and drug discovery customers.

For our life science research customers, we provide two categories of products and services using immunoSEQ, our core sequencing and immunomics tracking technology. First, we provide immunosequencing services, the revenue from which we record as sequencing revenue. Second, we provide certain research customers professional support, for which we may receive payments upon those customers achieving specified milestones. We record these support activities as development revenue.

For our clinical diagnostics customers, we sell our clonoSEQ diagnostic tests, which include our immunosequencing services and are thus recorded as sequencing revenue. In the future we intend to sell other diagnostics products and services, which we also expect to record as sequencing revenue.

 

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For our current drug discovery collaborator, Genentech, we screen, identify and characterize TCRs in support of our collaboration. We plan to record revenue from this collaboration as development revenue.

Historically, we have sold immunoSEQ as a fee-for-service offering to academic centers and biopharmaceutical customers and further deepened those relationships over time by supporting their development initiatives. These research offerings have comprised the vast majority of our revenue to date, although our business is pursuing broader opportunities. As we continue to expand the use of our clonoSEQ diagnostic tests, develop and commercialize immunoSEQ Dx, and develop and commercialize therapeutic product candidates with our drug discovery collaborator, we expect our mix of revenue to shift to clinical products and services, which we believe will become our largest sources of revenue.

We are actively pursuing opportunities to deepen our relationships with current customers and initiate relationships with new customers. We have an experienced, specialty salesforce that is targeting department heads, laboratory directors, principal investigators, core facility directors, clinicians, payors and research scientists and pathologists at leading academic institutions, biopharmaceutical companies, research institutions and contract research organizations. We plan to continue to expand our life sciences research and clinical diagnostic revenue sources beyond the more than 2,000 academic researchers, 125 biopharmaceutical companies and 480 clinical trials that have used our technology for research purposes to date. We believe that, as MRD assessment becomes standard practice for patient management across a range of blood cancers, it will be essential for clinicians and patients to have access to a highly accurate, sensitive and standardized MRD assessment tool. We are focused on establishing collaborative relationships with payors, developing health economic evidence and building billing and patient access infrastructure to expand reimbursement coverage for our clinical diagnostics.

We generated revenue of $38.4 million in 2017 and $55.7 million in 2018, and we incurred net losses of $42.8 million in 2017 and $46.4 million in 2018. We have funded our operations to date principally from the sale of convertible preferred stock, and to a lesser extent sequencing and development revenue. As of December 31, 2018, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $165.0 million. In December 2018, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Genentech pursuant to which we received a $300.0 million initial upfront payment in February 2019, may be eligible to receive approximately $1.8 billion over time, including payments upon achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones and may receive additional royalties on sales of products commercialized under that agreement.

Components of Results of Operations

Revenue

We derive our revenue from two sources: (i) sequencing revenue and (ii) development revenue.

Sequencing revenue. Sequencing revenue reflects the amounts generated from providing sequencing services and testing services through immunoSEQ in research purposes, and clonoSEQ in clinical and research purposes.

For our research customers, which include biopharmaceutical customers and academic institutions, delivery of the sequencing results may include some level of professional support and analysis. Terms with biopharmaceutical customers generally include non-refundable upfront payments, which we record as deferred revenue. For all customers, we recognize revenue as we deliver sequencing results. From time to time, we offer discounts in order to gain rights and access to certain

 

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datasets. Revenue is recognized net of these discounts and costs associated with these services are reflected in cost of revenue.

For our clinical customers, we derive revenue from providing our clonoSEQ test report to ordering physicians. We bill commercial payors and medical institutions as we deliver test results to ordering physicians. Amounts paid for clonoSEQ diagnostic tests by commercial payors and medical institutions vary based on respective reimbursement rates and patient responsibilities, which may vary from our targeted list price. To date, the majority of our clonoSEQ diagnostic test revenue has been received from medical institutions. We recognize clinical revenue by evaluating customer payment history and estimating the amount of revenue that is collectible. As of December 31, 2018, we did not have reimbursement available to us through any government payors for clonoSEQ. In January 2019, clonoSEQ received Medicare coverage aligned with the FDA label and NCCN guidelines for longitudinal monitoring in MM and ALL.

Development revenue. Development revenue primarily represents regulatory or development support services, other than sequencing revenue, that we provide to biopharmaceutical customers who seek access to our platform to support their therapeutic development activities. Additionally, we generate development revenue from the achievement of regulatory milestones. We enter into collaboration and similar agreements with these customers. When these agreements include sequencing activities, we separately classify those activities as sequencing revenue. These agreements may also include substantial non-refundable upfront payments which we recognize as development revenue over time as we perform the respective services.

We expect revenue to increase over the long term, particularly as the mix of revenue migrates to clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. The pace by which this mix migrates will be determined by the level of customer adoption and frequency of use of our products and services. However, our revenue may fluctuate from period to period due to the uncertain nature of delivery of our product and services and milestone achievement.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue includes the cost of materials, personnel-related expenses (comprised of salaries, benefits and share-based compensation), shipping and handling, equipment and allocated facility costs associated with processing samples and professional support for our sequencing revenue. Allocated facility costs include depreciation of laboratory equipment, allocated facility occupancy and information technology costs. Costs associated with processing samples are recorded as expense, regardless of the timing of revenue recognition.

We expect cost of revenue to increase in absolute dollars as we grow our sequencing volume but the cost per sample to decrease over the long term due to the efficiencies we may gain as sequencing volume increases from improved utilization of our laboratory capacity, automation and other value engineering initiatives.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses comprise laboratory materials costs, personnel-related expenses, allocated facility costs, information technology and contract service expenses. Research and development activities support further development and refinement of existing assays and products, discovery of new technologies and investments into our immune medicine platform. We also include in research and development expenses the costs associated with software development activities to support laboratory scaling and workflow, as well as development of applications to support future commercial opportunities.

 

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A component of our research and development activities is supporting clinical and analytical validations to obtain regulatory approval for future clinical products and services. Some of these activities have generated and may in the future generate development revenue.

We expect our research and development expenses to continue to increase in absolute dollars as we innovate and expand the application of our platform. However, we expect research and development expenses to decrease as a percentage of revenue in the long term, and they may fluctuate as a percentage of revenue from period to period due to the timing and extent of our efforts needed to develop and commercialize new products and services.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses for commercial sales, account management, marketing, reimbursement, medical education and business development personnel that support commercialization of our platform products. In addition, these expenses include external costs such as advertising expenses, customer education and promotional expenses, market analysis expenses, conference fees, travel expenses and allocated facility costs.

We expect our sales and marketing expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we expand our commercial sales, marketing and business development teams, and increase marketing activities to drive awareness and adoption of our products and services. However, we expect sales and marketing expenses to decrease as a percentage of revenue in the long term, though they may fluctuate as a percentage of revenue from period to period due to the timing and magnitude of these expenses.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses, including share-based compensation, salaries and benefits for our personnel in executive, legal, finance and accounting, human resources and other administrative functions, including third party billing services. In addition, these expenses include external legal costs, accounting and tax service expenses, consulting fees and allocated facilities costs.

We expect our general and administrative expenses to continue to increase in absolute dollars as we increase headcount and incur costs associated with operating as a public company, including expenses related to legal, accounting, regulatory, maintaining compliance with exchange listing and requirements of the SEC, director and officer insurance premiums and investor relations. Though expected to increase in absolute dollars, we expect these expenses to decrease as a percentage of revenue in the long term.

 

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Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2018

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2017     2018  
     (in thousands)  

Revenue:

    

Sequencing revenue

   $ 22,759     $ 32,978  

Development revenue

     15,689       22,685  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     38,448       55,663  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

    

Cost of revenue

     15,680       19,668  

Research and development

     31,995       39,157  

Sales and marketing

     16,765       24,486  

General and administrative

     15,949       20,409  

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,694       1,699  

Restructuring

     840       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     82,923       105,419  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (44,475     (49,756

Interest and other income, net

     1,644       3,309  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (42,831   $ (46,447

Fair value adjustment to Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

     135       102  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

   $ (42,696   $ (46,345
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Change     Percent of Revenue  
(in thousands, except percentages)    2017      2018      $      %     2017     2018  

Revenue:

               

Sequencing revenue

   $ 22,759      $ 32,978      $ 10,219        45     59     59

Development revenue

     15,689        22,685        6,996        45       41       41  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

   $ 38,448      $ 55,663      $ 17,215        45       100     100
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue was $55.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $38.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $17.2 million, or 45%.

Sequencing revenue increased to $33.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, representing an increase of $10.2 million, or 45%. The increase in sequencing revenue was primarily attributable to a change in our sequencing revenue mix to higher priced products and services, particularly from biopharmaceutical customers utilizing clonoSEQ for research purposes. In 2018, we recognized $3.4 million in revenue related to cancelled customer projects that were previously deferred.

Research sequencing volume increased by 4% to 30,200 sequences delivered in 2018 from 29,106 sequences delivered in 2017. Additionally, clinical revenue also increased primarily due to more tests delivered to medical institutions with higher reimbursement rates, as well as increased volumes. Clinical sequencing volume increased by 32% to 6,867 clinical tests in 2018 from 5,220 clinical tests in 2017.

 

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Development revenue increased to $22.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, representing an increase of $7.0 million, or 45%. The increase was primarily attributable to the achievement of regulatory milestones of $10.0 million related to our biopharmaceutical MRD development projects utilizing clonoSEQ, offset by a $3.0 million decrease relating to support services for FDA submissions of clonoSEQ that occurred in 2017.

Cost of Revenue

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Change     Percent of Revenue  
(In thousands, except percentages)    2017      2018      $      %     2017     2018  

Cost of revenue

   $ 15,680      $ 19,668      $ 3,988        25     41     35

Cost of revenue was $19.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing an increase of $4.0 million, or 25%. The increase in cost of revenue was primarily attributable to an increase of $2.7 million in the cost of processing our samples as a result of expanding our production laboratory overhead and increased sample volumes. In addition, materials costs increased by $1.1 million, reflecting increases in samples processed year over year and a change in revenue our mix to our higher-cost clonoSEQ tests.

Research and Development

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Change     Percent of Revenue  
(in thousands, except percentages)    2017      2018      $      %     2017     2018  

Research and development

   $ 31,995      $ 39,157      $ 7,162        22     83     70

Research and development expenses were $39.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $32.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing an increase of $7.2 million, or 22%. The increase was primarily attributable to $4.5 million in additional cost of materials and production laboratory overhead to support the expansion of our platform, including for immunoSEQ Dx and our drug discovery efforts. This change also resulted from increases in personnel related costs of $0.9 million (including $0.5 million in share-based compensation), in software development expenses of $0.8 million (including cloud service costs), in rent costs of $0.5 million primarily related to the expansion of our South San Francisco, California facilities, and in depreciation cost of $0.3 million primarily related to additional investments in research and development equipment.

Sales and Marketing

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Change     Percent of Revenue  
(in thousands, except percentages)    2017      2018      $      %     2017     2018  

Sales and marketing

   $ 16,765      $ 24,486      $ 7,721        46     44     44

Sales and marketing expenses were $24.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $16.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing an increase of $7.7 million, or 46%. The increase was primarily attributable to $4.8 million in additional personnel-related costs (including a $1.5 million increase in share-based compensation) due to increased headcount mainly for expanding our clonoSEQ commercial and research business development teams, $1.8 million in marketing and medical education investments to support our clonoSEQ and corporate branding initiatives, $0.5 million in travel expenses and $0.4 million in consulting fees.

 

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General and Administrative

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Change     Percent of Revenue  
(in thousands, except percentages)    2017      2018      $      %     2017     2018  

General and administrative

   $ 15,949      $ 20,409      $ 4,460        28     41     37

General and administrative expenses were $20.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $16.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing an increase of $4.5 million, or 28%. The increase was primarily attributable to $3.3 million in additional personnel-related costs (including an increase in share-based compensation of $1.9 million) driven primarily by growth in salaries and related headcount. Legal and other professional support fees contributed $0.7 million of the increase.

Interest and Other Income, Net

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Change  
(in thousands, except percentages)    2017      2018      $      %  

Interest and other income, net

   $ 1,644      $ 3,309      $ 1,665        101

Interest income was $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing an increase of $1.7 million, or 101%. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in marketable securities during the year ended December 31, 2018 as a result of the cash received from our Series F-1 convertible preferred stock financing and rising interest rates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception, and as of December 31, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $295.9 million.

We have funded our operations to date principally from the sale of convertible preferred stock, and to a lesser extent sequencing and development revenue. As of December 31, 2018, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $165.0 million. In December 2018, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Genentech pursuant to which we received a $300.0 million initial upfront payment in February 2019, may receive approximately $1.8 billion over time, including payments upon achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones, and may receive additional royalties on sales of products commercialized under that agreement. In the first quarter of 2019, we expect to have cash flows from operations as a result of the $300.0 million upfront payment.

We believe our cash flows from operations and our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least the 12 months following the date of this prospectus. We may consider raising additional capital to expand our business, to pursue strategic investments, to take advantage of financing opportunities or for other reasons.

We plan to utilize the existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities on hand primarily to fund our commercial and marketing activities associated with our clinical products and services, continued research and development initiatives for our pipeline candidates and drug discovery initiatives, ongoing investments into our immune medicine platform and scaling of our laboratory operations with our anticipated growth. Cash in excess of immediate requirements is invested in

 

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accordance with our investment policy, primarily with a view to liquidity and capital preservation. Currently, our funds are held in money market funds and marketable securities consisting of U.S. government debt securities, U.S. government agency bonds, commercial paper and corporate bonds.

As revenue from sales of immunoSEQ and clonoSEQ is expected to grow, we expect our accounts receivable and inventory balances to increase. Any increase in accounts receivable and inventory may not be completely offset by increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses, which could result in greater working capital requirements. Moreover, following the completion of this offering, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company, including expenses related to legal, accounting, regulatory, Nasdaq listing and SEC compliance matters.

If our available cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balances, net proceeds from this offering and anticipated cash flow from operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may seek to sell additional common or preferred equity or convertible debt securities, enter into credit facility or another form of third-party funding or seek other debt financing. The sale of equity and convertible debt securities may result in dilution to our shareholders and, in the case of preferred equity securities or convertible debt, those securities could provide for rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of our common stock. The terms of debt securities issued or borrowings pursuant to a credit agreement could impose significant restrictions on our operations. Additional capital may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years presented (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2017     2018  

Cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   ($ 34,858   ($ 32,259

Cash provided by investing activities

     36,432       736  

Cash provided by financing activities

     50,034       1,248  

Operating Activities

Cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2018 was $32.3 million, which was primarily attributable to a net loss of $46.4 million, offset by non-cash share-based compensation of $11.1 million and non-cash depreciation and amortization of $4.8 million, and a net change in our operating assets and liabilities of $1.7 million. The net change in our operating assets and liabilities reflects an increase in inventory of $3.0 million to support growth in our laboratory, an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $2.2 million due to increased headcount, a decrease of $0.6 million in deferred revenue due to increased development revenue and a decrease $0.5 million in deferred rent due to increases in cash rental payments.

Cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 was $34.9 million, which was primarily attributable to a net loss of $42.8 million, offset by noncash share-based compensation of $7.0 million, non-cash depreciation and amortization of $6.1 million, and a net change in our operating assets and liabilities of $5.5 million. The net change in our operating assets and liabilities reflects an increase in inventory of $2.7 million to support growth in laboratory, a $2.5 million increase in deferred revenue due to MRD biopharmaceutical agreements entered into in 2017, an increase in accounts receivable of $2.4 million due to increased sequencing revenue, a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $1.5 million primarily due to the payment of severance amounts for restructuring activities initiated in 2016 and reductions in deferred rent of $1.1 million due to increased cash rent payments.

 

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Investing Activities

Cash provided by investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2018 was $0.7 million, which was primarily attributable to maturities of marketable securities of $153.5 million, partially offset by purchases of marketable securities of $146.5 million and purchases of property and equipment of $6.3 million.

Cash provided by investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 was $36.4 million, which was primarily attributable to maturities of marketable securities of $163.9 million, partially offset by purchases of marketable securities of $125.2 million and purchases of property and equipment of $2.4 million.

Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2018 was $1.2 million, which was primarily attributable to proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

Cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 was $50.0 million, which was primarily attributable to proceeds from issuance of Series F-1 convertible preferred stock of $49.8 million, net of issuance costs, and proceeds of $0.2 million from the exercise of stock options.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018, which represents contractually committed future obligations (in thousands):

 

            Expected payments by period  
     Total      2019      2020-2021      2022-2023      More than
5 years
 

Operating lease obligations(1)

   $ 19,924      $ 3,561      $ 7,736      $ 6,312      $ 2,315  

Purchase commitments(2)

     12,764        1,962        3,791        4,290        2,721  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $   32,688      $   5,523      $   11,527      $   10,602      $   5,036  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

We lease office and laboratory space in Seattle, Washington and South San Francisco, California. Please see Note 10 of our financial statements for additional information pertaining to operating lease commitments.

(2)

Purchase commitments include commitments for cloud data storage through our collaboration with Microsoft, commitments to support clinical trials utilizing clonoSEQ, software and service license commitments, and minimum commitments for one laboratory material supplier.

Net Operating Loss Carryforwards

Utilization of our NOL carryforwards and credits may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by Section 382 of the Code (“Section 382”) and similar state provisions. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of NOL carryforwards and credits before utilization. If there should be an ownership change, our ability to utilize our NOL carryforwards and credits could be limited. We have completed a Section 382 analysis and there are no permanent limitations on the utilization of approximately $186.9 million of our federal NOLs as of December 31, 2018. Approximately $38.5 million of federal NOLs were excluded from this study and maybe subject to limitation. Based on the available objective evidence, management determined that it was more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets would not be realizable as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. Accordingly, management applied a full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

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In December 2017, the TCJA became law. The TCJA decreases the U.S. corporate federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. The reduction in the tax rate resulted in a $25.0 million reduction in net deferred tax assets. There was no impact on recorded deferred tax balances as the remeasurement of net deferred tax assets was offset by a change in valuation allowance for the same amount. Under the TCJA, federal NOLs incurred in 2018 and in future years may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal NOLs is limited.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we have not had any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risk for changes in interest rates related primarily to our cash and cash equivalents, and marketable securities. As of December 31, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $55.0 million held primarily in cash deposits and money market funds. Our marketable securities are held in U.S. government debt securities, U.S. government agency bonds, commercial paper and corporate bonds. As of December 31, 2018, we had short-term marketable securities of $110.0 million. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of the interest rates in the United States. As of December 31, 2018, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates would have resulted in an approximate $0.3 million decline of the fair value of our available-for-sale securities. This estimate is based on a sensitivity model that measures market value changes when changes in interest rates occur.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have prepared our financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Our preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and related disclosures at the date of the financial statements, as well as revenue and expense recorded during the reporting periods. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and or other relevant assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates are used in several areas, including, but not limited to, estimates of progress to date for certain performance obligations and transaction price for certain contracts with customers, share-based compensation, including the fair value of common stock, and the provision for income taxes, including related reserves, among others. These estimates generally involve complex issues and require judgments, involve the analysis of historical results and prediction of future trends, can require extended periods of time to resolve and are subject to change from period to period. Actual results may differ materially from management’s estimates.

While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 2 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, we believe the following accounting policies to be critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Our development and sequencing revenue arrangements may include upfront payments for the performance of services in the future, which have both fixed and variable consideration. Non-refundable upfront fees and funding for related development services are generally considered fixed consideration, while milestone payments are identified as variable consideration.

 

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In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to recognize as we fulfill our obligations under these agreements, we perform the following steps to determine the amount of revenue to be recognized: (i) identification of contract or contracts; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations based on estimated selling prices; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation.

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606. Our performance obligations include sequencing services and services associated with regulatory submission and approval processes. Significant management judgment is applied to determine (1) the measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration, (2) the allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations and (3) the appropriate input or output based method to recognize revenue and the extent of progress to date.

We include the unconstrained amount of estimated variable consideration in the transaction price. The amount included in the transaction price is constrained to the amount for which it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, we re-evaluate the estimated variable consideration included in the transaction price and any related constraint and, if necessary, adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price.

To determine the allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations, we apply the adjusted market assessment approach. Using this approach, we evaluate the market in which we sell the services and estimate the price that a customer in that market would be willing to pay for those services.

To select the measure of progress, we consider the expectations of the performance period which may be based on customer dependent estimates of samples or internal estimates of the performance period based on both the customer and our expected development timeframes. We regularly review our expectations of the extent of progress, including if any variable consideration is no longer constrained, and if any changes in estimates are made recognize revenue using the cumulative catch-up method.

Share-Based Compensation

We measure share-based compensation expense for stock options granted to our employees and directors on the date of grant and recognize the corresponding compensation expense of those awards over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award.

We estimate the fair value of stock options granted to our employees and directors on the grant date, and the resulting share-based compensation expense, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of assumptions regarding a number of variables that are complex, subjective and generally require significant judgment to determine. The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of our stock options were:

Fair value of common stock

The fair value of the common stock issuable upon exercise of the stock options was determined by our board of directors, with input from management and independent third-party valuations, as discussed in “—Common Stock Valuations” below.

 

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Expected term

Our expected term represents the period that our stock options are expected to be outstanding and is determined using a simplified method (based on the midpoint between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term), as we do not have sufficient historical data to use any other method to estimate expected term.

Expected volatility

As there has been no public market for our common stock to date, and as a result we do not have any trading history of our common stock, expected volatility is estimated based on the average volatility for comparable publicly traded peer group companies in the same industry over a period equal to the expected term of the stock option grants. The comparable companies are chosen based on their similar size, stage in the life cycle or area of specialty.

Risk-free interest rate

The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of the stock option grants.

Expected dividend yield

We have no plans to pay dividends on our common stock. Therefore, we use an expected dividend yield of zero.

Black-Scholes assumptions

The weighted-average assumptions used in our Black-Scholes option-pricing model were as follows for our employee stock option grants for the periods presented:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2017     2018  

Grant date fair value

   $ 4.00     $ 4.15  

Expected term (in years)

     6.12       6.14  

Risk-free interest rate

     2.0     2.7

Expected volatility

     70.2     68.1

Expected dividend yield

            

As of January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) and elected to account for forfeitures as they occur rather than estimate expected forfeitures over the vesting period of the respective grant.

We use judgment in evaluating the assumptions related to our share-based compensation on a prospective basis. As we continue to accumulate additional data related to our common stock, we may have refinements to our estimates, which could materially impact our future share-based compensation expense. At December 31, 2018, unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options was $18.3 million that is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 2.72 years.

Common Stock Valuations

As there has been no public market for our common stock to date, the estimated fair value of the common stock issuable upon exercise of our stock options was determined by our board of directors,

 

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with input from management, considering our most recently available third-party valuations of common stock and our board of directors’ assessment of additional objective and subjective factors that it believed were relevant, and factors that may have changed from the date of the most recent valuation through the date of the grant, which intended all options granted to be exercisable at a price per share not less than the fair value per share of our common stock issuable upon exercise those options on the date of grant. We believe our board of directors has the relevant experience and expertise to determine the fair value of our common stock. Prior to our initial public offering, given the absence of a public trading market for our common stock, the valuations of our common stock were determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation. The assumptions we use in the valuation model are based on future expectations combined with management judgment. In the absence of a public trading market, our board of directors with input from management exercised significant judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of our common stock as of the date of each option grant, including the following factors:

 

   

independent valuations performed at periodic intervals by an independent third-party valuation firm;

 

   

the prices, rights, preferences and privileges of our convertible preferred stock relative to the common stock;

 

   

our operating and financial performance and forecast and capital resources;

 

   

current business conditions;

 

   

the hiring of key personnel;

 

   

our stage of commercialization;

 

   

the status of research and development efforts;

 

   

the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event for the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of these stock options, such as an initial public offering or sale of our company, given prevailing market conditions;

 

   

any adjustment necessary to recognize a lack of marketability for our common stock;

 

   

trends and developments in our industry;

 

   

the market performance of comparable publicly traded technology companies; and

 

   

the U.S. and global economic and capital market conditions.

In valuing our common stock, we utilized a hybrid methodology that includes a probability-weighted expected return method (“PWERM”) and an option pricing method (“OPM”), which is a highly complex and subjective valuation methodology. Under a PWERM, the fair market value of the common stock is estimated based upon an analysis of future values for the enterprise assuming various future outcomes. Within one of those potential outcomes, we utilized the OPM. The OPM treats the rights of the of the holders of convertible preferred stock and common stock as equivalent to that of call options on any value of the enterprise above certain break points of value based upon the liquidation preferences of the holders of preferred stock, as well as their rights to participation and conversion. Based on the timing and nature of an assumed liquidity event in each scenario, a discount for lack of marketability either was or was not applied to each scenario as appropriate. We then probability-weighted the value of each expected outcome to arrive at an estimate of fair value per share of common stock.

For valuations after the consummation of this offering, our board of directors plans to determine the fair value of each share of common stock based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant or other relevant determination date, as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market.

 

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JOBS Act Accounting Election

We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act. The JOBS Act allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period and, as a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. We also intend to rely on other exemptions provided by the JOBS Act, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (1) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (3) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

 

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BUSINESS

Overview

We are a commercial-stage company advancing the field of immune-driven medicine by harnessing the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease. We believe the adaptive immune system is nature’s most finely tuned diagnostic and therapeutic for most diseases, but the inability to decode it has prevented the medical community from fully leveraging its capabilities. Our immune medicine platform applies our proprietary technologies to read the diverse genetic code of a patient’s immune system and understand precisely how it detects and treats disease in that patient. We capture these insights in our dynamic clinical immunomics database, which is underpinned by computational biology and machine learning, and use them to develop and commercialize clinical products and services tailored to each individual patient. These products and services are designed to diagnose, monitor and enable the treatment of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions and infectious diseases. Since our inception in 2009, we have characterized over 20 billion immune receptors, established partnerships and commercial relationships with over 125 biopharmaceutical companies and launched two product lines. Our goal is to change the course of medicine by understanding and translating the adaptive immune system into new products with unprecedented scale, precision and speed.

Our immune medicine platform is the foundation for our expanding suite of products and services. The cornerstone of our platform and core immunosequencing product, immunoSEQ, serves as our underlying research and development engine and generates revenue from academic and biopharmaceutical customers. Our first clinical diagnostic product, clonoSEQ, is the first test authorized by the FDA for the detection and monitoring of MRD in patients with MM and ALL and is being validated for patients with other blood cancers. Leveraging our collaboration with Microsoft to create the TCR-Antigen Map, we are also developing a diagnostic product, immunoSEQ Dx, that may enable early detection of many diseases from a single blood test. Our therapeutic product candidates, being developed under our collaboration agreement with Genentech, leverage our platform to identify specific immune cells to develop into cellular therapies in oncology. We believe this approach has the potential to be applicable to patients across a wide range of cancers.

Immune-driven medicine is one of the largest global addressable markets in healthcare. We estimate the potential market opportunity for our portfolio to be $48.7 billion, including $1.0 billion for research products, $16.3 billion for clinical diagnostics and $31.4 billion for cellular therapy in oncology. We believe we are uniquely positioned to develop and commercialize a pipeline of immune-driven diagnostic and therapeutic products across multiple disease states by leveraging the cumulative learning from our immune medicine platform.

Our Immune Medicine Platform

The adaptive immune system is comprised of specialized cells, called T cells and B cells, which hold the instructions for diagnosing and treating most diseases. These instructions enable these cells to identify, bind and destroy pathogens or human cells presenting foreign antigens using receptors on their cell surface. Unlike all other genes in the human genome, the genetic sequences of TCRs and BCRs rearrange over time creating massive genetic diversity. The resulting diversity of the adaptive immune repertoire, which consists of over 100 million different genes in a healthy adult compared to approximately 30,000 genes in the static human genome, gives the immune system the ability to detect and respond to millions of different antigens associated with human disease.

Our immune medicine platform combines a suite of proprietary technologies, bioinformatics, software and machine learning to generate clinical immunomics data to decode the adaptive immune

 

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system. It extracts and interprets insights from the adaptive immune system with the scale, precision and speed required to enable the design of clinical products tailored to the specific genetics of each patient’s immune system.

Our Immune Medicine Platform

 

LOGO

Our Immune Medicine PlatformSEQUENCE MAP PAIR CHARACTERIZEQuantifying TCRs Mapping TCRs Pairing Identifying optimal & BCRs to antigens receptor chains therapeutic TCRs MIRA TruTCRCOMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY MACHINE LEARNINGCLINICAL IMMUNOMICS DATABASE>20 BILLION IMMUNE RECEPTORS

Our immune medicine platform performs the following key functions related to immune receptors:

 

   

Sequence. immunoSEQ sequences single chains of “Y-shaped” TCRs or BCRs using NGS, enabling us to understand the quantity and diversity of T and B cells in a biological sample. This provides deep insights into individual and collective immune responses at a scale that is thousands of times greater than was previously possible.

 

   

Map. MIRA (Multiplexed Identification of T cell Receptor Antigen Specificity) maps millions of TCRs to thousands of clinically relevant antigens. Combined with immunoSEQ, MIRA elucidates what potential diseases a patient’s immune system has been exposed to or is actively fighting.

 

   

Pair. pairSEQ builds on immunoSEQ by using a combinatorial strategy to accurately pair both chains of Y-shaped immune cell receptors at high-throughput, which is challenging to do at scale using other methods because the two chains of the Y-shaped receptors are located on different chromosomes. The ability to accurately pair both chains of the receptors in a sample enables us to reconstruct receptors for therapeutic purposes.

 

   

Characterize. TruTCR characterizes binding, cytotoxicity and safety properties of antigen-specific, paired TCRs to identify a subset that is therapeutic-grade, enabling the discovery and development of optimal clinical candidates to be engineered into TCR-mediated cellular therapies.

The massive amount of data generated by our immune medicine platform is stored in our dynamic clinical immunomics database of over 30 billion immune receptors, of which we have data rights to over 20 billion. We believe the application of machine learning, supported by our collaboration with Microsoft, has the potential to exponentially accelerate our ability to derive novel insights from this database and use them to inform our robust product development efforts.

 

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Our Current Products and Pipeline

Our current portfolio includes commercial products and services in life sciences research and clinical diagnostics, and we are developing products and services in both clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. Our commercial research product, immunoSEQ, primarily serves as our underlying research and development engine to develop and validate our clinical pipeline. We plan to continue to invest in our immune medicine platform to develop additional clinical products, which we prioritize based on clinical actionability, unmet medical need and commercial viability.

Life Sciences Research

Our immunoSEQ research service and kit are used to answer translational research questions and discover new prognostic and diagnostic signals. Our technology has been used for research purposes by over 2,000 academic researchers and more than 125 biopharmaceutical companies and incorporated into over 480 clinical trials since our inception in 2009. We intend to initiate development of a next generation, sample-type agnostic RUO kit, which we expect to enable global distribution of our research product. We are working to analytically validate the improved version of immunoSEQ so that all research data generated using immunoSEQ can be used for clinical validation of potential diagnostic applications.

Clinical Diagnostics

Our clonoSEQ diagnostic test detects and monitors the remaining number of cancer cells that are present in a patient’s body during and after treatment, known as MRD. clonoSEQ was granted marketing authorization from the FDA, under the de novo process, in September 2018 for patients with MM and ALL to monitor their MRD from bone marrow samples. In January 2019, clonoSEQ received Medicare coverage aligned with the FDA label and NCCN guidelines for longitudinal monitoring in MM and ALL. clonoSEQ is also available for use in other lymphoid cancers as an LDT. clonoSEQ testing has been ordered by clinicians in nearly 300 healthcare systems and institutions, including 27 of the 28 NCCN centers in the United States, and used by more than 30 biopharmaceutical companies in over 120 clinical trials. We continue to invest in the commercial success of clonoSEQ by establishing a specialized sales organization and infrastructure in the United States and by exploring partnerships with diagnostic companies in other parts of the world. We believe clonoSEQ has broad applicability and we intend to file to expand the clonoSEQ FDA label to multiple additional indications, starting with CLL in 2019, followed by NHL to further expand its usage. Importantly, we are also generating data for submission to validate the use of clonoSEQ to monitor MRD from blood samples, which is less invasive than bone marrow samples, and may facilitate more frequent monitoring and broader physician adoption.

Leveraging Microsoft’s machine learning capabilities to create the TCR-Antigen Map, we are developing a diagnostic product, immunoSEQ Dx, that may enable early detection of many diseases from a single blood test. Initially, we are validating early detection testing for a set of discrete diseases for which there is a significant unmet medical need for better diagnostic testing and early intervention, and where antigen specificity is well-known. These include certain prevalent cancer types and autoimmune disorders. In 2019, we plan to confirm the first indications to bring to the FDA for review while continuing signal validation in several additional indications. We believe we are uniquely positioned to rapidly identify signals for early detection across many disease states simultaneously because our immune medicine platform works with retrospective sample sets and uses machine learning and computational statistics to continuously improve our detection and accuracy without requiring large cohorts of prospective patients.

Drug Discovery

Our TruTCR process characterizes TCRs against shared antigens for use in the development of therapeutics. In December 2018, we entered into an exclusive collaboration with Genentech to

 

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leverage this capability for the development of cellular therapies in oncology. We are pursuing two product development pathways for novel T cell immunotherapies in which Genentech intends to use TCRs screened by our immune medicine platform to engineer and manufacture cellular medicines:

 

   

Shared Products. The shared products will use “off-the-shelf” TCRs identified against cancer antigens shared among patients.

 

   

Personalized Product. The personalized product will use patient-specific TCRs identified by real-time screening of TCRs against cancer antigens in each patient.

In parallel, we plan to evaluate an investment in facilities for the screening of patient-specific TCRs to shorten the time from patient blood draw to infusion of the Personalized Product. We believe this investment would position us to potentially pursue additional opportunities outside of this collaboration, including cellular therapy in other disease states and cancer vaccines.

Our Clinical Pipeline

 

LOGO

Our Clinical Product PortfolioDIAGNOSTIC SIGNAL CLINICAL FDA FDA REIMBURSE-PRODUCT PLAN VALIDATION VALIDATION SUBMISSION CLEARANCE MENTMultiple MyelomaAcute Lymphoblastic LeukemiaMonitor MRD: clonoSEQ Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Expected submission in 2019 Non-Hodgkins LymphomaEarly Detection: OncologySelect first indication for immunoSEQ Dx expected submission in 2019AutoimmuneDRUG DISCOVERY EARLY CLINICAL POCPh I Ph II PRODUCT PLAN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT GO/NO GO1st SharedTCR-Based2nd SharedCell Therapies*Personalized*Products in development as part of our worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Genentech

Our Market

Immune-driven medicine is one of the largest global addressable markets in healthcare. We estimate our total potential addressable market to be $48.7 billion based on our current products and pipeline. We believe this market will grow over time as clinicians increasingly appreciate the importance of the immune system in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and as our pipeline of products and services continues to expand.

Life Sciences Research

We estimate the life sciences research opportunity for immunosequencing is approximately $1.0 billion globally, comprised of $150.0 million from academic researchers and $850.0 million from biopharmaceutical companies. We base this market sizing on the number of current academic researchers and biopharmaceutical clinical trials across oncology, autoimmune disorders and

 

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infectious diseases that could benefit from immunosequencing. We anticipate this market will grow as immunosequencing continues to demonstrate clinical relevance, and we believe our penetration will deepen as we expand our customer base and move from earlier to later stage clinical trials with our existing collaborators.

Clinical Diagnostics

The current market opportunity for our clinical diagnostics portfolio is estimated to be $16.3 billion and is comprised of MRD monitoring in lymphoid malignancies and early detection in two representative indications we are currently assessing. The market opportunity for MRD monitoring is based on the more than 4.6 million newly diagnosed and surviving patients worldwide with lymphoid malignancies in which the cancerous cell is a T cell or B cell, such as MM, ALL, CLL and NHL. Taking into account geographic distinctions in pricing and testing frequency, we estimate the annual addressable market to be $1.2 billion and $3.3 billion in the United States and outside the United States, respectively. We base this market sizing on the population of both incident and prevalent patients in each disease state, the number of tests per line of therapy, the number of lines of therapy, and an estimated average selling price. We anticipate this market to continue to grow as approved therapeutics extend the lives of patients and testing can be conducted from blood samples, increasing the frequency of testing.

To determine the early detection opportunity for immunoSEQ Dx, while our initial indications have not yet been confirmed, we are targeting an addressable market based on two representative indications where we have developed preliminary data, celiac disease and ovarian cancer. Based on people at high risk for these representative diseases, we estimate a potential contribution of $11.8 billion to our annual addressable market. To assess the opportunity in ovarian cancer, we focus on high-risk women who are BRCA-mutation positive or who have been diagnosed or treated for breast cancer. To assess the opportunity in celiac disease, we focus on people who have undiagnosed gastrointestinal symptoms or who are first-degree relatives of people with a confirmed celiac diagnosis. In the future, if our TCR-Antigen Map enables us to read the immune system from a simple blood test, then this could potentially transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease and present one of the largest opportunities in healthcare.

Drug Discovery

The market opportunity for our Shared Products and Personalized Product being developed in collaboration with Genentech is estimated to be $31.4 billion based on over 100,000 metastatic patients with select tumor types who have at least one of the antigens that may be prioritized in the collaboration. While the Personalized Product is expected to be applicable to a broad range of tumor types, it is currently earlier in development than the Shared Products, leading to a larger expected addressable market for the Shared Products in the near term.

Because our immune medicine platform enables the high-throughput discovery of clinical-grade TCRs against any type of antigen by querying hundreds to thousands of TCRs from healthy donor or patient blood, we believe we are uniquely positioned to bring the promise of cellular therapy to a broad range of cancer patients. If proven, we intend to explore expanding the market opportunity for our TCR screening approach to the development of cellular therapies in autoimmune diseases as well.

 

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Our Addressable Market: $48.7B

 

LOGO

Our Addressable MarketLife Sciences Clinical Drug Research Diagnostics Discovery$16.7$0.15 $4.5$0.85$11.8 $14.7Pharma Academia MRD Monitoring1 Early Detection2 Shared Product Personalized Product$1.0B $16.3B $31.4BAddressable Market: $48.7B1. MRD monitoring in ALL, MM, CLL, and NHL globally. Assumes 2-4 MRD tests per treatment cycle depending on indication and geography. 2. Early detection includes ovarian cancer testing for high-risk women who are BRCA-mutation positive or who have been diagnosed or treated for breast cancer, and celiac disease testing for people who have undiagnosed gastrointestinal symptoms or who are first-degree relatives of people with a confirmed celiac diagnosis.

Our Competitive Strengths

We aim to harness the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to develop clinical products and services that improve human health by leveraging our core competitive strengths.

 

   

Our immune medicine platform is uniquely capable of supporting clinical products. We have developed a platform that is capable of reading and translating the massive genetic diversity of the adaptive immune system and its selective response to disease. Specifically, our platform sequences immune receptors and maps them to antigens for diagnostic applications, pairs receptor chains and characterizes antigen-specific, paired receptors to identify optimal clinical targets for therapeutic use. We are the only company that can perform all of these functions—and we do so at an unprecedented scale to develop novel clinical diagnostic and therapeutic products.

 

   

Our clinical immunomics database provides a robust product development engine. Our dynamic clinical immunomics database of over 20 billion immune receptors, now being annotated with antigens using machine learning, drives our ability to rapidly discover and develop potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Our aim is to translate the natural capabilities of the immune system into the clinic by capturing the millions of diverse unique receptors present in a patient’s blood.

 

   

Clinical applicability spans diagnostic and therapeutic product potential. Our ability to accumulate, synthesize and process billions of immunomic datapoints to generate multiple clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications across disease areas provides optionality to our commercial pipeline. Each of our products also has broad applicability, enabling robust product lifecycle extensions.

 

   

Regulatory and reimbursement expertise will help inform future clinical product development. Having successfully obtained FDA marketing authorization and Medicare coverage for clonoSEQ, we believe we have developed valuable core capabilities that will facilitate future

 

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product development through to regulatory approval and reimbursement. We believe this capability will inform future development of other clinical products, including our early detection tests.

 

   

Transformational collaborations with industry leaders validate our platform. Our collaborations with industry-defining leaders such as Genentech and Microsoft validate our unique approach to advancing the promise of immune-driven medicine. We will continue to seek opportunities to optimize our ever-growing clinical immunomics database to drive product development and commercial success and facilitate efficient use of capital.

 

   

Strong intellectual property protects our immune medicine platform and its applications. As of March 9, 2019, we have filed 375 patent applications, 234 of which have issued to date, covering improvements in sequencing methods and new ways to leverage adaptive immune receptors for life sciences research, clinical diagnostic and drug discovery applications.

Our Strategy

Our focus is to leverage our immune medicine platform and competitive strengths to develop transformative clinical solutions accessible to patients around the world.

 

   

Advance the promise of immune-driven medicine. We facilitate the development of the immune medicine field by providing a platform to encourage generation of immunomics data to facilitate a deeper understanding of, and biological discovery from, the adaptive immune system. We leverage the unique capability of our platform to translate a patient’s immune system with the scale, precision and speed required to enable the development of personalized products, including clinical diagnostic tests for disease monitoring and early detection, as well as immune-based therapeutics.

 

   

Rapidly identify and advance new products, leveraging foundational technology. Integrate proven chemistry into our clinical products in development, avoiding the need to re-engineer new products for every clinical application. We do this by serially identifying new applications of immunoSEQ Dx for early detection of disease using retrospective datasets without requiring live cells from large cohorts of patients, and by characterizing TCRs for therapeutic use. As our platform expands into new indications across cancer, autoimmune conditions and infectious diseases, we believe we will benefit from economies of scale and drive margin improvement over time.

 

   

Entrench our products and services in clinical drug development with biopharmaceutical collaborators. Position our platform as the gold standard for the validation of potential immune-driven clinical discoveries in late-stage clinical trials. Since inception, our products and services have been used by more than 125 biopharmaceutical companies and incorporated into over 480 clinical trials, and clonoSEQ has proven to be the MRD test of choice for select registrational trials. To deepen our established position as a partner of choice, we provide end-to-end support, including hypothesis-driven trial design, extensive data analyses, parallel regulatory support, compliant data transfers and novel target screening. These synergistic relationships advance the development and adoption of our own clinical products and also inform drug development for our partners.

 

   

Drive the commercial adoption of distributed, reimbursed and regulated clinical products. Expand distribution and drive usage of our products and services, including the development of clinical IVD kits. Leverage the commercial infrastructure built for clonoSEQ to submit clinical data for regulatory clearance of our products and services, engage in payor conversations and provide robust billing and patient access infrastructure for multiple clinical applications.

 

   

Maintain an entrepreneurial, scientifically rigorous, data-driven and inclusive corporate culture. Fuel the promise and potential that our platform offers to help patients better manage their

 

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disease by translating insights from our world-class team, which includes over 75 people with medical or doctoral degrees with expertise in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, software, drug discovery, development and commercialization, into clinical products and services. We plan to continue to expand our team to advance the promise of immune-driven medicine.

A Primer: The Adaptive Immune System

Over millions of years, the adaptive immune system has evolved an elegant solution to keeping people healthy. It recognizes and responds to most antigens, whether they come from outside the body, such as a virus, or inside the body, such as mutations that drive cancer.

The innate and adaptive immune systems both play a role in human immunity, but only the adaptive immune system provides a specific response to signals of disease, or antigens. These disease specific antigens are primarily fragments of proteins that are recognized as foreign, such as proteins from a virus. However, antigens can be recognized as foreign even if they are not from a pathogen. In cancer cells, antigens are generated from neoantigens, which are derived from mutations specific only to the cancer, or tumor associated antigens (“TAAs”), which are from aberrantly expressed normal proteins. For autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly recognizes normal protein fragments as foreign antigens and attacks otherwise healthy tissue.

The Adaptive Immune Response

The key cells of the adaptive immune system that enable our body to mount responses against antigens are called T cells and B cells. T cells can destroy target cells directly, and B cells secrete antibodies, activating other parts of the immune system to destroy targets.

Each T and B cell has a unique Y-shaped receptor, which can recognize one or a small number of the millions of antigens to which our bodies are continuously exposed. When an adaptive immune response is initiated against a particular disease, the T cells and B cells encoding the disease-specific targeting receptors rapidly multiply through clonal expansion, allowing for a powerful immune response. Some of these expanded cells directly attack the disease, and others form long-term memory to allow rapid recognition of the same antigens in the future and protect against reinfection.

 

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Unlike all other genes in the human genome, the genetic sequences of TCRs and BCRs rearrange over time through a complex biological process resulting in massive diversity. The diversity of these receptors is made possible by a unique reshuffling of their genetic code known as V(D)J recombination (V=Variable, D=Diversity, J=Joining). This recombination process only occurs in T cells and B cells, and it results in each cell clone having a unique receptor-associated deoxyribonucleic acid (“DNA”) sequence. This unique DNA sequence acts like a barcode that can be used to identify and track an individual receptor over time, as shown in the figure below:

 

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V(D)J Recombination informs the Identified and tracked unique genetic code of the T-cell receptor over timeATCGTCAGCATCAGCTCATCGTCAGCATCAGCTC TTCGCATCGCATCAGCATTCGCATCGCATCAGCAVD J CCTCAGCTCAGCTGCATCCTCAGCTCAGCTGCAT GCATCAGC TCGAATATGACGT CTAGCGCAGCATCGTCAGCATCAGCTCATCGTCAGCATCAGCTC TTCGCATCGCATCAGCATTCGCATCGCATCAGCA CCTCAGCTCAGCTGCATC TCGAATATGACGT C GCATCAGCTCAGCTAGCGCATCAGCTCAGCTAGUnique "barcode" of T-Cell ReceptorTC GA AT A T GA CG TT-Cell

The adaptive immune response requires millions of these unique receptors to be widely distributed and present in the blood at all times in order to have the ability to rapidly respond to many different diseases simultaneously. Even after a specific TCR binds to an antigen and clonally expands, the frequency of these expanded T cell clones containing the TCR remains relatively low in relation to the estimated trillions of other T cells that are circulating. We have demonstrated this by sequencing thousands of healthy individuals for control cohorts for our research and development efforts. We now know that disease-specific TCRs that are clonally expanded in a patient’s blood are present, on average, at less than 1 cell out of 100,000 cells. Despite their relatively low abundance, disease-specific TCRs can mount a systemic, persistent response to most perturbations because of the highly specialized properties of the immune response summarized in the table below:

 

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PROPERTIES DESCRIPTIONHigh The adaptive immune system identifies even a very small amount of antigen sensitivity in the body.High TCRs and BCRs specifically bind to this antigen or pieces of this antigen presented specificity on cells, respectively, but normally avoid binding to features on healthy cells.Natural Upon binding, the disease-specific T-cells and B-cells expand, or multiply exponentially. amplification So, even when the amount of antigen is small, the number of disease-specific T cells can become quite large and more easily measurable.Systemic These expanded T cells and B cells then circulate throughout the body to identify and protect expansion the body systemically, making them readily accessible in blood and other tissues.Persistence A fraction of these disease-specific T cells, and the B cells that they direct, move into long term memory and can be found in the blood decades after the disease is cleared.

 

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In order to fully leverage these inherent properties of the immune system to develop clinical products, this enormous diversity and scale must be taken into consideration to be able to reliably and repeatedly measure the relative frequency of each disease-specific T cell in the blood. For example, cancer-specific TCRs circulating in the blood of a cancer patient are only present at 1 out of 100,000 cells. Auto-reactive T cells specific to any given autoimmune disorder circulating in the blood are only present at 1 out of 1,000,000 cells. Accordingly, the ability to detect disease-specific T cells requires a technology that can quantitatively probe a minimum of hundreds of thousands to millions of blood cells from each sample.

Our Immune Medicine Platform

We built a platform that can reveal and translate these properties of the adaptive immune system with the scale, precision and speed required to enable the development of personalized products, including disease monitoring, clinical diagnostic tests for early detection and immune-based therapeutics. Our immune medicine platform combines a suite of proprietary technologies, bioinformatics, software and machine learning to generate clinical immunomics data to decode the adaptive immune system and transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The massive amount of data generated by our immune medicine platform is stored in our dynamic clinical immunomics database of over 30 billion immune receptors, of which we have data rights for over 20 billion. We believe the application of machine learning with Microsoft has the potential to exponentially accelerate the growth of novel insights from this database, which we expect will further inform our product development efforts.

Sequence with immunoSEQ

immunoSEQ sequences single chains of Y-shaped TCRs and BCRs using NGS. NGS generally describes several modern sequencing technologies that enable more efficient DNA and ribonucleic acid (“RNA”) sequencing than prior technologies. The key innovation in the development of immunoSEQ, pioneered by Dr. Harlan Robins and a team of leading immunologists at Fred Hutch, was a novel approach utilizing a two-step multiplex polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) amplification process, hybridization and sequencing of rearranged TCRs to determine the sequences in millions of rearranged TCR genes, as shown in the figure below. We apply a similar approach for BCR sequencing. All of the data generated by immunoSEQ is uploaded to our clinical immunomics database and accessed through our proprietary cloud-based visualization and analytic tool called the immunoSEQ Analyzer.

 

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RECOMBINED RECEPTOR AMPLIFICATION + REFERENCE GENE AMPLIFICATIONV segments D segments J segmentsGene specific primers select and amplify rearranged receptorsVN D N J Gene specific primers select and amplify reference genesReference GenesA Multiplex Multiplex 1st PCRPCR PCRAmpilcon flanked by universal adapter sequences Ampilcon flanked by universal adapter sequencesUniversal Adapter Universal AdapterB 2nd PCRSequencing-ready library Sequencing-ready libraryCSequencing Barcode Barcode Sequencing Sequencing Barcode Barcode Sequencing Adapter Adapter Adapter AdapterFigure 1. V, D, and J gene segments are recombined on the human TCRB locus. A) Multiplex PCR to capture the highly variable reference gene (autosomal loci). B) PCR to add barcodes and adapter sequences for high-throughput sequencing. C) Sequencing-ready libraries.

One of the biggest challenges of any multiplex PCR technique is controlling for PCR amplification bias, which is critical for accuracy. We solved for this problem by creating a synthetic immune repertoire that mimics rearranged immune receptor loci for all V and J genes. By identifying specific primers that are either under or over amplified, titrating the primer concentrations and computationally adjusting residual bias, we optimize quantitation. The accuracy and reproducibility of our bias control methodology was demonstrated in our lab and independently in a multi-center, lab-to-lab concordance study using our immunoSEQ RUO kit. The ability to generate an unbiased TCR or BCR sequencing read-out is paramount for any clinical product and will be required for the utility and reliability of clinical kits.

immunoSEQ enables us to observe the majority of receptors involved in a real human immune response, providing deep insights into a complex biological system that was previously challenging to understand.

Map with MIRA

Our proprietary MIRA technology enables the identification of TCRs specific to thousands of antigens simultaneously. The MIRA technology leverages a multiplexed, combinatorial approach to mapping TCRs to antigens in four steps:

 

  1.

Identify and query antigens of interest which can include neoantigens, tumor-associated, viral, infectious, autoimmune or other antigens.

 

  2.

Pool the antigens of interest and incubate them with immune cells from multiple donors whereby antigen specificities are determined based on the antigen pool design.

 

  3.

Sort T cells by marker of interest.

 

  4.

Match T cell clones to specific antigens based on the presence of specific sequences in designated pools.

 

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Combined with immunoSEQ, MIRA elucidates what diseases a patient’s immune system has been exposed to or is actively fighting at a scale that is one thousand times more sensitive than standard immunological techniques such as ELISPOT, or enzyme-linked immunospot.

Pair with pairSEQ

Our proprietary pairSEQ technology builds on immunosequencing by using a combinatorial strategy to accurately pair the two chains of Y-shaped immune cell receptors at higher throughput than can be achieved with single cell sequencing. Pairing is difficult because the two chains of the Y-shaped receptor are located on different chromosomes, which get separated when DNA is extracted from a cell for sequencing. By pairing TCRs, we rapidly detect thousands of complete chain sequences to develop new TCR-mediated cellular therapies. Additionally, this technology may be used for downstream target discovery for novel therapies. pairSEQ has also been developed for BCRs which may enable improvements to current methods of antibody development and engineering.

Characterize with TruTCR

TruTCR characterizes binding, cytotoxicity and safety properties of antigen-specific, paired TCRs to identify a select subset that are therapeutic-grade, enabling the development of optimal clinical candidates to be engineered into TCR-mediated cellular therapies. Our comprehensive TCR characterization process utilizes advanced cellular immunology to measure TCRs against a variety of metrics to determine the optimal clinical candidates. Antigen-specific, paired TCRs undergo evaluation for avidity, cytokine release, cytotoxicity and safety. Those TCRs that pass the first safety filter are then evaluated for TCR reactivity against T cell lines and primary cells. To date, we have identified and characterized to different stages more than 1,200 unique antigen-specific TCRs against 600 different clinically relevant targets, constituting our pipeline of possible clinical candidates. TCR characterization using TruTCR is summarized in the figure below.

 

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INPUT TCR IDENTIFICATION TCR CHARACTERIZATIONTruTCRSequencing TCR Cells Functional Avidity 1Cytolytic Activity IND-ENABLINGTCR STUDIESAntigens 2 Mapping In Vitro Safety Evaluations TCR3PairingTCRX

In collaboration with Genentech, we plan to apply a similar process to screen, identify and characterize in real-time what we believe are the most promising patient-specific TCRs targeting the patient’s specific cancer antigens, advancing the next generation of cellular therapy in oncology.

Clinical Immunomics Database

We are developing a large, dynamic clinical immunomics database, which currently contains over 30 billion immune receptors, of which we have data rights for over 20 billion. We use our proprietary software and core competency in computational biology to structure and store data and to create tools for rapid analysis and easy visualization. All immunosequencing data is processed and uploaded to a secure cloud-based database.

 

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The record of diseases a person has encountered, both past and present, is recorded in their TCR repertoire. This comprehensive disease information is contained in the immunosequencing data that we generate from each sample, which we believe will be revealed over time by our TCR-Antigen Map. We plan to map, both directly and through machine learning, an estimated 1015 TCRs to millions of clinically-relevant antigens, which we believe will allow us to annotate this immunosequencing data with information about disease states, increasing the value of the data over time.

We leverage our database to fuel our pipeline of immune-driven medicine products. With data rights for over 20 billion immune receptors, our platform enables us to work with retrospective samples which serve as training sets to which our Microsoft collaborators apply machine learning and computational statistics to improve the accuracy of certain of our clinical products and services.

Platform Validated by Peer-Reviewed Publications

From inception, one of our core principles has been to focus on ensuring our immune medicine platform is recognized and validated, distinguishing ourselves significantly from others in the industry. Our immune medicine platform has been used for research that has been published in over 360 peer-reviewed publications to date. These publications further validate our immune-driven applications in life sciences research, clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. In 2018 alone, our platform was leveraged to support 73 new publications, 44 of which were in high impact journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature and Cell.

Our Products and Services

Our current portfolio includes commercial products and services in life sciences research and clinical diagnostics, and we are developing products and services in both clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. Our commercial research product, immunoSEQ, primarily serves as our underlying research and development engine to develop and validate our clinical pipeline. The technologies underlying our current research and diagnostic products, immunoSEQ and clonoSEQ, respectively, leverage the sequencing and tracking capabilities of our immune medicine platform and comprise our sequencing revenue. Our pipeline of clinical diagnostics for early detection and our TCRs for drug discovery are informed by the mapping function of our platform, which we are optimizing with Microsoft’s machine learning capabilities. The selection of TCRs for drug discovery also leverages the pairing and characterization components of our platform. We plan to rapidly scale our drug discovery efforts in 2019 to expedite the path to the clinic for the cellular therapy product candidates we are developing in collaboration with Genentech, which generates most of our development revenue. We plan to continue to invest in our platform to develop additional clinical applications, which we prioritize based on rigorous data requirements for clinically actionability, unmet medical need and commercial viability.

Life Sciences Research

immunoSEQ for Research Use Only

Our immunoSEQ technology, which we offer to customers as a service and a kit, is the core of our immune medicine platform. immunoSEQ utilizes multiplex, bias-controlled PCR to accurately and quantitatively sequence millions of immune receptors at high-throughput directly from DNA. We believe immunoSEQ is positioned to become the global standard for immunosequencing due to the quality and reliability of our data and the analytics and data visualization tools that are easily accessible to customers in the immunoSEQ Analyzer, whether sequenced as a service or a kit.

Since inception, immunoSEQ has been used for research purposes by over 2,000 academic researchers and more than 125 biopharmaceutical companies and incorporated into over 480 clinical

 

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trials to answer translational research questions relating to the adaptive immune system, monitor response to therapies and discover new prognostic and diagnostic signals. These research questions are answered by using the data generated by immunoSEQ and uploaded to the immunoSEQ Analyzer to study different properties and dynamics of all of the sequences in an immune repertoire, such as frequency or abundance, and by tracking specific sequences over time in clinical trials. Graphical representations of the Analyzer output are shown in the figure below:

 

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Frequency Frequency Post Clone RankPre Post PreRepertoire Properties Repertoire Dynamics Clone Tracking

immunoSEQ provides a growing revenue stream. However, we also use immunoSEQ as the foundational technology for our clinical diagnostic and therapeutic products. To fuel innovation, we also provide immunoSEQ to select research and development collaborators who gain access to immunoSEQ and significant computational and analytical support, co-share and co-publish the data with us, and contribute to the validation of potential clinical diagnostic discoveries. For example, we work closely with our collaborators to conduct translational research to explore the use of immunosequencing to predict responders to novel immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors.

Our immunoSEQ Analyzer is housed on a secure cloud-based database and is the visualization gateway to our clinical immunomics database that currently has billions of TCR and BCR sequences which are often annotated and accompanied by samples with associated metadata. We offer computational services to assist our customers in realizing the power of their data and to compare their data to other publicly available datasets in our clinical immunomics database. We contribute some of our own research and development sequences into the publicly available datasets and customers are offered the option to make their data public using one of our tools on our immunoSEQ Analyzer, called immuneACCESS, through which researchers can expedite and streamline the peer-review process by sharing their data with reviewers prior to manuscript submission. The ongoing analysis of immune receptor data from an expanding database tagged with clinical metadata, when possible, has led to approximately 360 peer-reviewed publications referencing immunoSEQ and potential clinical signals to explore.

In 2018, we launched an improved version of immunoSEQ to our research customers and we expect to incorporate these chemistry changes into a new RUO kit. Importantly, we expect this service and kit offering to become the technology upon which we clinically validate the early detection diagnostics we are developing using our TCR-Antigen Map. These changes will further enhance the quantitation of the data and allow for any sample type to be used, including stored cancer tumor tissue sections, which is more readily available globally amongst researchers in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

 

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Strategy to Become a Standard for Immunosequencing

To become the global standard for immunosequencing, we are focused on several key commercial initiatives:

 

   

Offer a clinical-grade research product. We are working to analytically validate the improved version of immunoSEQ so that all research data generated using immunoSEQ can be used for clinical validation of potential diagnostic applications.

 

   

Deepen relationships with existing customers. By delivering reliable and meaningful results, we aim to move from earlier to later stage clinical trials and from a focus in oncology to other disease states, with the potential for conversion from fee-for-service to diagnostic and translational collaborations.

 

   

Create ubiquity through broad global reach. We are actively seeking distribution partners to drive availability and adoption of our improved immunoSEQ RUO kit by researchers who want to perform immunosequencing in their local labs.

 

   

Develop accreditation program for high-complexity labs to run immunoSEQ. In addition to growing our prospecting and collaboration efforts with our biopharmaceutical customers, we are also considering enabling select high-complexity labs to run the sequencing portion of our RUO product in an effort to broaden the inclusion of immunosequencing in non-registrational clinical trials.

Clinical Diagnostics

We aim to be a global leader in immune-driven diagnostics for early detection, prognosis and monitoring of disease, which represents an estimated $16.3 billion market opportunity for our early products and services. To achieve this long-term goal, we are focused on leveraging the sequencing and mapping functions of our immune medicine platform to develop diagnostic tests that meet regulatory standards, are widely reimbursed and are accessible to patients all around the world.

Monitoring MRD with clonoSEQ

Our first diagnostic product, clonoSEQ, is an FDA-cleared test for the detection and NGS-based monitoring of MRD in bone marrow samples in patients with MM and ALL. In these blood cancers and others, such as CLL and NHL, the malignant cell is derived from a T cell or B cell. MRD refers to the presence and number of these malignant T or B cells that may remain in a patient’s body during and following treatment. Because our technology quantifies the frequency of every T cell or B cell in a sample, we can monitor MRD accurately at a sensitivity of 1 out of 1,000,000 cells, given sufficient sample input. By taking a baseline measurement prior to starting therapy and then tracking the number of cells at several time points following therapy initiation, hematologists can improve their ability to detect relapse early, help predict patient outcomes and monitor response to therapy.

NCCN Guidelines recommend using a validated test to measure MRD to define the burden of disease and assess response to therapy in MM and ALL after each treatment stage. NGS-based MRD testing has been added to these guidelines and we plan to seek expansion of the recommendations to include additional time points in each disease state and to incorporate clonoSEQ specific data.

MRD monitoring is becoming increasingly important in the hematologic oncology field because highly effective new therapies are extending survival. This has created a need for more sensitive tools to monitor the disease status of patients over longer periods of time and has introduced the potential for MRD to be included as a surrogate or primary endpoint in registrational clinical trials. We believe we are uniquely positioned to benefit from these industry dynamics with both our clinical and biopharmaceutical customers.

 

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clonoSEQ testing has been ordered by clinicians in nearly 300 healthcare systems and institutions, including 27 of the 28 NCCN centers in the United States. We believe increased adoption of clonoSEQ will now be possible due to the recent Medicare coverage decision in January 2019 to assess MRD at multiple time points throughout therapy in MM and ALL. Due to our FDA marketing authorization, we believe clonoSEQ will remain the preferred commercial test among biopharmaceutical companies using MRD in their registrational trials. In addition, clonoSEQ is being used by more than 30 biopharmaceutical companies in over 120 clinical trials. To continue demonstrating clinical utility across disease settings and lines of therapy, clonoSEQ is also being used in 40 ongoing prospective investigator-led clinical trials, and our MRD data have been included in over 38 peer-reviewed publications.

clonoSEQ is also currently available as an LDT for use across lymphoid malignancies and sample types, including those which are not yet authorized by the FDA. We intend to file for regulatory clearance in additional indications and sample types, with at least one planned submission for CLL in 2019.

The Technology

clonoSEQ is our FDA-cleared, NGS-based MRD technology that is designed to sequence all rearranged receptor sequences in a tumor in parallel to ensure accurate, sensitive and robust MRD monitoring.

A summary of the steps for FDA-cleared usage is as follows:

 

  1.

gDNA is extracted from bone marrow.

 

  2.

Extracted DNA quality is assessed, and rearranged immune receptors are amplified using a multiplex PCR.

 

  3.

Reaction-specific index barcode sequences for sample identification are added to the amplified receptor sequences by PCR.

 

  4.

Sequencing libraries are prepared from barcoded amplified DNA which are then sequenced by synthesis using NGS.

 

  5.

Raw sequence data are uploaded from the sequencing instrument to our analysis pipeline.

 

  6.

Sequence data is analyzed in a multi-step process, where a sample’s sequence data is first identified using the sample index sequences and the data is then processed using a proprietary algorithm with in-line controls to remove amplification bias.

 

  7.

Following completion of these data processing steps, a report is issued.

Clinical Report Forms

Patient test results can be accessed by the ordering physician within seven days for fresh specimens, or 14 days for stored specimens, of receiving the sample in our lab in Seattle, Washington via our secure ordering portal and can be incorporated into the patient’s medical record. There are two clonoSEQ report forms:

 

   

A Clonality or ID Report that identifies and quantifies DNA sequences specific to “dominant” clone sequences consistent with the presence of a lymphoid malignancy. This is the report that is issued upon initial testing.

 

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A Tracking MRD Report which is provided at multiple points in time when the patient is re-tested and the previously identified dominant clone sequences are detected and quantified to determine the sample MRD level which can be compared to the MRD level at previous time points.

 

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B-CELL TRACKING (MRD) REPORTClonoSEQFor In Vitro Diagnostic Use. Rx Only,PATENT NAMEDATE OF BIRTHMEDICAL RECORDGENDER REPORT DATE ORDERJane Doe01/02/2014256493216Female10/23/2017D-925327SPEnMEN TYPE/SPEC1MM SOURCECOLLEOION DATESDACTESECEIVEDSAMPLEIDFresh Bona Marrow10/15/201710/16/2017SP-657343C91.00 Acute lyrrphoblastic leukemia not having achieved remissionThe clonoSEQ(R) Assay Is an In vitro diagnostic that uses multiplex polyn identify and quantify rearranged IgH (VDJ), IgH(DJ), IgK, and Igj. recepto sequences In DNA extracted from bone marrow from patients with B-cellesidual Sequences DetectedResidual Sequences DetectedESTIMATEDMRDVALUE:ESTIMATED MRD VALUE:8 residual clonal cells per million nucle 8 residualclonalcellspermillionnucleatedcells (Range: 6 - 27)Sequence determining MRD result IGL Sequence 3Sequence determining MRD result: IGL Sequence BRESULTS SUMMARY" Genomic DNA was extracted from a bone marrow aspirate slide sample." 2 of the 2 dominant sequences Identified In a diagnostic sample from this pattern ware still present In this current sample." 15 copies of the dominant sequence determining the MRD result from this sample.o The results obtained from this away should always be used In history, and other finding10110601/01/201704/15/201708/01/201711/15/2017COLLECTION DATEAdaptive Biotechnologies Corporation 1551 Easdake Are East South 200, Se^ Clonallty Test IGL- Sequence B!Tracking Test: IGL - Sequence B

Adaptive Assist: Patient support program

Adaptive Assist is our patient support program to facilitate access to clonoSEQ testing services for patients who could benefit from the clinical insights provided by NGS-based MRD testing. Patients can call to discuss their individual circumstances with one of our dedicated patient support representatives in order to better understand their coverage prior to clonoSEQ testing and to navigate the insurance process, including appeals for denied claims. We also offer financial assistance for qualified uninsured and under-insured patients who cannot afford their patient financial responsibility for clonoSEQ.

Clinical Validation in FDA Filing for MM and ALL

Our clonoSEQ test has been shown to help better predict patient outcomes and add insight to the evaluation of disease response to therapy because we have clinically validated clonoSEQ’s ability to detect MRD at a sensitivity greater than the current recommended clinical standard for all lymphoid malignancies. clonoSEQ has demonstrated sensitivity of 1 out of 1,000,000 cells (10-6), given sufficient sample input, which is a deeper resolution than the current accepted standard of 1 out of 100,000 cells (10-5) or 1 out of 10,000 cells (10-4) for MM and ALL, respectively. Based on these results, as further illustrated below, we believe that clinical standards for MRD sensitivity may be increased to 10-6 to better predict patient outcomes.

 

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Clinical validation in MM was demonstrated in two studies. The first study, a 720 patient, randomized phase III trial conducted at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI 10-106), evaluated the ability to predict progression-free survival (“PFS”) and disease-free survival in patients who achieved complete response (“CR”) and the ability to predict PFS in all evaluable patients. This study demonstrates that MRD negativity for patients in CR significantly predicts PFS.

The second study, a 706 patient, randomized phase III trial sponsored by Janssen Biotech, Inc. (“ALCYONE”), evaluated Darzalex in patients with newly diagnosed MM who were transplant ineligible and served as the basis of the approval of Darzalex in combination with Bortezomib, Melphalan and Prednisone (“VMP”) in this patient population. This study provides evidence that our clonoSEQ diagnostic test is predictive of PFS, regardless of treatment received. Patients who were MRD negative at less than or equal to 10-5 had longer PFS and the group with persistent MRD negativity had the longest PFS overall.

Patients who were MRD negative by the clonoSEQ Assay had longer PFS

compared to MRD positive patients regardless of treatment.

 

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1.0VMP MRD-negative (N=22)0.8Progression D-VMP MRD-negative (N=78) Without 0.6 D-VMP MRD-positive (N=272)Surviving 0.4 VMP MRD-negative VMP MRD-positive (N=334)0.2 D-VMP MRD-negative VMP MRD-positive Proportion D-VMP MRD-positive 00 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 Time (Months)

Clinical validation in ALL was demonstrated in two Children’s Oncology Group studies, AALL0232 (high risk) and AALL0331 (standard risk) by evaluating the ability of clonoSEQ to predict event-free survival (“EFS”) at a primary cutoff of 10-4 and across a continuous MRD measure. Results demonstrate that patients with the lowest levels of MRD have better outcomes than patients with higher disease burden regardless of risk stratification.

 

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Patients with lower levels of MRD (less than 1/100,000 cells), using the increased

sensitivity of clonoSEQ, have a higher probability of EFS.

 

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Survival Probability 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.00 Strata MRD < 10-5 MRD > 10-4 10-5 < MRD <10-4 MRD < 10-5 165 152 134 46 5 10-5 < MRD <10-4 45 38 31 8 0 MRD > 10-4 63 49 38 16 1 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 Time (Days)

Strategy to Achieve Market Leadership

We aim to drive adoption and achieve market leadership for MRD monitoring with clonoSEQ for all lymphoid malignancies. To do so, we are executing against the following strategic initiatives:

 

   

Expand reimbursement with public and private payors. We are working with payors to develop appropriate coverage policies, generate healthcare economic information and provide robust billing and patient access infrastructure. Following our established Medicare coverage for clonoSEQ in its current FDA-cleared indications, we expect to seek broader coverage in line with our planned FDA label expansions. We continue to invest in health economic research and real-world evidence to demonstrate the benefits of including MRD testing across indications.

 

   

Entrench clonoSEQ in biopharmaceutical clinical trials. As the industry pursues the inclusion of MRD as a potential surrogate or primary endpoint in clinical trials for lymphoid malignancies, having a standardized and highly accurate and sensitive option for MRD testing to guide clinical decisions in late stage trials, including registrational trials, is valuable. Our goal is to position clonoSEQ for use by our biopharmaceutical collaborators as the MRD test of choice for these clinical trials.

 

   

Validate clonoSEQ in additional indications for use. With the end goal of clonoSEQ becoming a universal MRD test for all lymphoid malignancies, we have developed a robust lifecycle development plan to generate sufficient clinical evidence to support the extension of the FDA label beyond ALL and MM. We are accumulating clinical data in CLL, and we have plans to submit these data to the FDA in 2019.

 

   

Validate clonoSEQ in blood to offer a minimally invasive alternative. We expect to also submit data to the FDA in 2019 to add blood as a validated sample type to our FDA label, which would enable more frequent monitoring of patients over longer periods of time. Testing with blood is less invasive and less expensive as compared to MRD testing from bone marrow samples, and it may only be possible because of the deep sensitivity of our clonoSEQ diagnostic test.

 

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Invest in an experienced, specialty salesforce. We are building a sales organization to target key customer segments, including academic centers, integrated health networks and community clinicians, in a tiered manner based on patient volume. In 2019, we are focused on Tier 1 and Tier 2 accounts, which we estimate to drive 75% of the market potential. As coverage expands and usage builds, we have designed multiple field sizing scenarios to drive uptake in Tier 3 and Tier 4 accounts.

 

   

Develop a decentralized testing solution. We are developing a clonoSEQ IVD kit which we intend to sell to trained high complexity molecular labs to service the MRD opportunity in regions where local testing is needed or required. Between now and the launch of the clinical IVD kit, we plan to scale up our investment in physician education to establish the need for a fully standardized MRD solution.

 

   

Expand internationally. To enter European markets, we plan to transfer our technology to a few select centers to conduct investigational studies that are essential for reimbursement submissions. We have already completed one successful technology transfer for research use to a site in Toulouse, France in 2017 and have plans for additional select technology transfer sites for research use. We also expect to pursue CE marking and initiate the reimbursement process in Europe in 2019. These market development activities will also prepare us to launch of the clonoSEQ IVD kit in markets outside the United States over the next three to five years.

Early Detection with immunoSEQ Dx

By learning to read the antigen specificity of a patient’s immune system, we are developing the immunoSEQ Dx diagnostic test for early detection across a broad range of diseases, including certain prevalent cancer types and autoimmune disorders. We believe the adaptive immune system presents an ideal model for diagnostic tools for early detection of disease. Treatment is typically most effective early in the course of a disease, when there is a minimal amount of disease-specific antigen present. TCRs recognize this very small amount of antigen before it is detectable by conventional methods and then they expand exponentially. Given this large response in proportion to the amount of antigen present, we believe we will be able to see this signal of disease much sooner than is possible with other methods of early disease detection.

We are leveraging our existing immunoSEQ technology to develop immunoSEQ Dx for the early detection of many diseases simultaneously. This is possible because our platform works with retrospective sample sets and uses machine learning and computational statistics to continuously improve accuracy without requiring large cohorts of prospective patients. Before pursuing broad population screening tests, however, we are initially developing immunoSEQ Dx for the early detection of specific disease states that meet the following criteria:

 

   

Clinically relevant antigens are known and understood.

 

   

High unmet medical need for diagnosis.

 

   

Potential to improve patient outcomes with early intervention.

 

   

Availability of sample sets with patient outcomes.

We have initially chosen to pursue a small subset of indications that meet these criteria which together represent an estimated $11.8 billion of the addressable market we describe for our diagnostic opportunities. Our goal is to generate a confirmatory clinical signal for one or more of these indications in 2019 and to run analytical validation studies for the technology in parallel. We plan to repeat this process for additional disease states as we expand our knowledge about the antigen specificity of millions of TCRs in our clinical immunomics database. Using these clinical signals and validation studies, we then plan to pursue FDA approval of immunoSEQ Dx in one or more of these initial

 

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indications as an IVD conducted in our CLIA certified, CAP-accredited, ISO 13485-certified laboratory. We believe the same blood test will ultimately be able to be used to detect multiple diseases simultaneously.

The TCR-Antigen Map

In order to detect disease from a blood sample, the TCRs sequenced by immunoSEQ must be annotated with their disease-specific antigens by cross-referencing our TCR-Antigen Map in the cloud. We are building our TCR-Antigen Map as part of our strategic collaboration with Microsoft established in December 2017. Together we are using immunosequencing, proprietary computational modeling and machine learning to map TCR sequences to the antigens they bind. Using these data, we aim to translate the natural diagnostic capability of the immune system into the clinic.

Proof of Concept

For proof of concept of the ability of our technology to detect infectious disease exposure in patients, our researchers profiled the T cell repertoire of more than 660 subjects with known cytomegalovirus (“CMV”) status and identified a set of TCRs across that population that are specific for CMV. This set of CMV-specific TCRs was then tested as a method for CMV diagnosis in a new cohort of 120 people. Using this TCR set, we were able to confirm CMV infection in up to 93% of blood samples evaluated. These data represents a significant step forward for the potential use of TCR sequences to detect exposure to pathogens or other diseases with distinct T cell profiles.

By combining the power of our clinical immunomics database with a machine learning technique known as pseudo-labeling, we are rapidly scaling the identification and validation of antigen-specific TCRs for diagnostic applications. For example, we have already iteratively scaled the identification of additional CMV-specific TCRs to improve the diagnostic accuracy in our proof of concept study to 98% with a minimal false positive rate. We believe this approach has the potential to significantly reduce the time and number of individuals, and ultimately the cost, required to accurately validate our clinical diagnostics across different diseases.

Strategic Plan to Evolve Early Detection of Disease

To achieve our goal of developing a diagnostic test for early detection across a broad range of diseases, we are pursuing the following strategic steps:

 

   

Apply machine learning to high-throughput mapping to generate the TCR-Antigen Map.

 

   

Demonstrate proof of concept for early detection using mapped TCRs in select indications.

 

   

Launch one TCR sequencing technology, immunoSEQ Dx, for initial indications.

 

   

Broaden utility to a wide range of diseases without requiring large prospective trials.

Drug Discovery

Our aim is to develop immune-mediated therapies in oncology and other disease areas by using the full functionality of our immune medicine platform, including TruTCR for TCR characterization. We are currently working to leverage our TCR discovery capabilities to enable commercialization of novel therapies by collaborators. In the future, we may explore expanding our end-to-end capabilities for the development of cellular therapies and vaccines.

TCR Discovery for Cellular Therapy

We have developed a high-throughput TCR screening process that allows for the discovery of antigen-specific TCRs that occur in low frequencies in healthy individuals. We believe this provides a

 

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set of naturally-occurring TCRs with a more favorable safety profile in comparison to engineered TCRs. We then further characterize these naturally-occurring TCRs for binding avidity and cytotoxic potency. To date, we have identified and characterized to different stages more than 1,200 unique antigen-specific, paired TCRs against 600 different clinically relevant targets, constituting our pipeline of possible clinical candidates. We complete a data package for each characterized TCR that we believe meets the thresholds for therapeutic evaluation. These thresholds are divided into a series of seven key steps covering antigen specificity, functional avidity, cytolysis and safety assessment. A package is considered complete when the TCR meets the rigorous criteria for all seven steps and the data are compiled to support an investigational new drug (“IND”) package. As a proof of concept, we compared our fully characterized TCR against WT-1, a TAA often overexpressed in various cancers, to a benchmark WT-1 TCR. A gold standard for testing TCR efficacy is killing of cells that naturally express the target antigen at low levels. Using a cancer cell line that is known to express low levels of WT-1, our candidate WT-1 TCR was over four times more effective at killing cancer cells than the benchmark TCR. The complete data package for our lead WT-1 TCR candidate demonstrates improved avidity, cytolysis and a promising safety profile.

Our high-throughput screening technologies enable us to discover TCRs against any type of antigen which opens up the potential to develop novel TCR-mediated cellular therapies for any type of cancer. As compared to cellular therapies that target T cell surface antigens that are not specific to cancer, we believe our approach to TCR cellular therapies may mitigate the risk of off-target side effects. Therefore, we believe our approach may be applicable to the vast majority of solid tumors, even those where the tissue of origin is vital to survival such as lung or renal.

In December 2018, Genentech selected our platform to develop, manufacture and commercialize novel neoantigen directed T cell therapies for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. Our ultimate goal is to harness the vast majority of therapeutically relevant, patient-specific TCRs against neoantigens and advance the next generation of cellular therapies in oncology. We believe our TCR discovery capabilities may also facilitate the development of cellular therapies in disease areas beyond cancer, which we can commercialize outside of the Genentech collaboration.

In addition to cellular therapy applications, we believe our TCR screening capabilities can guide the design and development of next-generation vaccines by characterizing the immunogenicity of hundreds of antigens at a time. Our platform can also be used to then monitor early signs of antigen-specific immune response in patients treated with novel vaccines.

Strategic Collaboration with Genentech

Through our worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, we plan to develop, manufacture and commercialize novel neoantigen directed T cell therapies for the treatment of a broad range of cancers to advance the next generation of cellular therapies in oncology. We are pursuing two product development pathways for novel T cell immunotherapies in which Genentech intends to use TCRs screened by our immune medicine platform to engineer and manufacture cellular medicines:

 

   

Shared Products. The Shared Products will use “off-the-shelf” TCRs identified against cancer antigens shared among patients.

 

   

Personalized Product. The Personalized Product will use patient-specific TCRs identified by real-time screening of TCRs against cancer antigens in each patient.

 

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LOGO

SHARED PRODUCT PERSONALIZED PRODUCTProfile DNA in patient tumor Profile DNA in patient tumor to 1 to determine immunogenic 1 determine immunogenic antigens and neoantigens TUMOR antigens and neoantigens, TUMOR BLOODand sequence blood for TCRs Select TCRs against shared antigens CANCER2 PATIENTfrom TruTCR Library Screen in real-time for TCRs against patient-2 specific neoantigens using Adaptives TCR discovery platformTruTCR LIBRARY Screen donor blood Engineer cell therapy with patient-specific TCRs, against shared antigens 3 using TruTCR criteria manufacture in real-time for each patient BLOODDeliver TCRs to patient whose tumor Deliver fully personalized therapeutic 3 expresses shared antigen(s) 4 TCRs to patientDUAL TCR CELLULAR THERAPY APPROACHES

Under the terms of the agreement, we received a $300.0 million initial upfront payment in February 2019, may be eligible to receive approximately $1.8 billion in aggregate milestone payments upon achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Additionally, we may receive royalties on sales of products commercialized under that agreement. Genentech will be responsible for clinical, regulatory and commercialization efforts. We will be responsible for the screening and identification of TCRs that can most effectively recognize and directly target specific cancer antigens, including neoantigens.

In parallel, we plan to evaluate an investment in facilities for the screening of patient-specific TCRs to shorten the time from patient blood draw to infusion of the Personalized Product. We believe this investment would position us to potentially pursue additional opportunities outside of this collaboration, including developing and commercializing cancer vaccines and cellular therapies in other disease states.

People and Culture

Our employees, internally referred to as “Adapters,” are passionate about immune-driven medicine, empowered by scientific discipline and fueled by our foresight and curiosity about the adaptive immune system.

As of March 22, 2019, we had 320 full-time employees of which 136 had advanced degrees, including 78 who hold medical or doctoral degrees. None of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement and we have not experienced any work stoppages. We believe relations with our employees are good.

Our talented employees drive our mission and share core values that both stem from and define our culture, which plays an invaluable role in our execution at all levels in our organization. Our core values are used in candidate screening and in employee evaluations to help reinforce their importance in our organization:

 

   

Make it happen. Individual ownership and accountability keep us moving forward.

 

   

Innovate fearlessly. Push against boundaries and think boldly to achieve world-changing results.

 

   

Debate openly. Value discussions inspired by different points of view.

 

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Work together. Demonstrate you care about the success of others. The same goes for our partners and customers—together we can achieve more.

 

   

Follow True North. Show up with integrity and do the right thing.

 

   

Have fun. Fun makes everything better.

We believe our employees are highly engaged, and we were recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of Washington State’s Best Places to Work in 2018.

Strategic Collaborations and Other Agreements

Genentech Agreement

In December 2018, we entered into the Genentech Agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize novel neoantigen directed T cell therapies for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. Pursuant to the Genentech Agreement, we are responsible for the screening and identification of TCRs that can most effectively recognize and directly target specific neoantigens, while Genentech is responsible for clinical, regulatory and commercialization efforts. During the term of the Genentech Agreement, we have agreed to certain defined exclusivity obligations or restrictions with respect to the development and commercialization of certain cell therapies.

In February 2019, we received a $300.0 million upfront payment from Genentech. We are also eligible to receive approximately $1.8 billion in aggregate milestone payments upon the achievement of development, commercial and regulatory milestone events, and Genentech will also pay us tiered royalties at a rate ranging from the mid-single digits to the mid-teens on aggregate worldwide net sales of the Shared Products and the Personalized Product arising from the strategic collaboration, subject to certain reductions, with aggregate minimum floors.

The Genentech Agreement will continue until the expiration of all royalty payments, but may be terminated by mutual agreement, upon an uncured material breach by either party, upon insolvency of either party, or by Genentech for convenience upon prior written notice.

Microsoft Agreement

In December 2017, we entered into the Microsoft Agreement to map TCR sequences to the antigens they bind with the goal of developing diagnostic tests for early detection of many diseases from a single blood test.

Pursuant to the Microsoft Agreement, Microsoft applies machine learning and computational statistics to our clinical immunomics data in order to produce predictive models that allow us to map TCR sequences to the antigens they bind. Under the Microsoft Agreement, we retain all rights to these predictive models and the data underlying our TCR-Antigen Map, including the right to commercialize clinical products using our TCR-Antigen Map. We and Microsoft have granted each other certain licenses to one another’s intellectual property rights and have agreed to certain defined exclusivity obligations with respect to collaborations and projects that are substantially similar to the Microsoft Agreement.

During the term of the Microsoft Agreement, we have agreed to exclusively use Microsoft’s Azure cloud services at standard volume pricing with a minimum Azure consumption requirement. We have also agreed to host each diagnostic product developed as a direct result of the Microsoft Agreement on Azure throughout the term of the Microsoft Agreement and for a period of five years thereafter. In addition, we have agreed to exclusively use Microsoft’s immunomics artificial intelligence services for TCR-antigen mapping in connection with all of our technology, products and services developed as a direct result of our collaboration with Microsoft throughout the term of the Microsoft Agreement.

 

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The Microsoft Agreement has a seven-year term and may be terminated by mutual agreement or by either party upon an uncured material breach. Concurrently with entry into the Microsoft Agreement, Microsoft purchased shares of our Series F-1 convertible preferred stock.

Processing and Manufacturing

We process both clinical and research use samples in our laboratory in Seattle, Washington. Our Seattle laboratory is CLIA certified, CAP-accredited and ISO 13485-certified. After we intake samples sent to us from healthcare providers or research and biopharmaceutical customers, we extract DNA from the sample if required, amplify it and otherwise prepare it for our sequencing and data analysis. Throughout our processes, we apply a rigorous quality management system, which is designed to comply with the QSR and the requirements of CLIA, CAP and other applicable state licensing and accreditation requirements.

In order to process samples submitted to us using immunoSEQ or clonoSEQ, we utilize a combination of proprietary primer mixes and commercial materials, including a multiplex PCR master mix, enzymes, high throughput multi-cycle sequencing reagents and other materials, which we obtain and assemble as needed from various third party vendors on customary terms. A number of our processing steps utilize automated equipment to help ensure consistency and efficiency. Sequencing is performed using the Illumina NextSeq System, which we have appropriately qualified for the intended uses of our products and services. We also work with a third-party vendor to manufacture our immunoSEQ RUO kit using our proprietary primer mix and other materials.

For our TCR-Antigen Map and drug discovery initiatives, we conduct our current operations at our laboratories in Seattle, Washington and South San Francisco, California. These laboratories have cell sorting, tissue culture and other processing equipment.

We use a limited number of suppliers, or in some cases single suppliers, for our laboratory equipment and materials. We manage this concentration risk by targeting levels of surplus stock that, we believe, would allow us to locate alternative suppliers if needed. However, if one of our suppliers fails to perform adequately or fulfill our needs, we may be required to incur significant costs and devote significant efforts to find new suppliers and may face delays in processing samples or developing and commercializing our products and services. In particular, we have purchased the Illumina NextSeq System, and Illumina also supplies us with reagents that have been designed for use solely with this sequencer. While we acquire these reagents from Illumina on customary terms, if we had to replace the reagents we use we may also need to acquire and qualify a replacement sequencer, validate the reagents and potentially revalidate aspects of our existing assays.

Distribution

We processed our first immunoSEQ samples in 2011 and issued our first clonoSEQ report in 2013. Since then, we have focused on expanding our customer base. We sell our products and services primarily through our own internal sales force. Our sales and marketing efforts are targeted at department heads, laboratory directors, principal investigators, core facility directors, clinicians, payors and research scientists and pathologists at leading academic institutions, biopharmaceutical companies, research institutions and contract research organizations. We seek to increase awareness of our products and services among our target customers through direct sales calls, trade shows, seminars, academic conferences, web presence and other forms of internet marketing. Our drug discovery efforts are focused on large biopharmaceutical companies.

We intend to launch an improved RUO kit that can be used with various sample types, which we expect to enable global distribution of our research product. We plan to utilize a third party global

 

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distributor. We may not be able to engage a distributor in a timely manner or on commercially reasonable terms.

Intellectual Property

We have an extensive global portfolio of intellectual property rights to protect our immune medicine platform, the products and services that draw on it and our reputation in the industry.

As of March 9, 2019, we currently own or control 343 active patents and patent applications whose claims are intended to cover what we do, what we plan to do and what others might do to compete with us. From our earliest patent filings in 2009, our portfolio has been tailored to reflect our efforts to harness the adaptive immune system for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Our patent claims extend to not only adaptive immune receptor molecules, but also to uniquely powerful techniques for sequencing immune cell receptors, determining clonality and immune competency, diagnosing disease, predicting responses to immunotherapy and identifying new drug candidates. Our patent protections generally expire in years ranging from 2029 to 2038.

Critical know-how we develop is protected by a trade secrecy program to ensure against inappropriate disclosure or use. Encompassed in our know-how is our proprietary database of coding sequences, antigen reactivities and safety profiles for immune receptors, which is vast and growing. Even with collaborators, access to our immune medicine platform technology is limited and tightly controlled through contracts and careful communication. We own our immune medicine platform, including improvements we or collaborators make to it, and retain rights in data resulting from its use.

We also pursue trademark registration for our product and service names and promotional slogans in our existing and projected markets.

Intellectual Property Portfolio by the Numbers

 

   

375 patent applications filed worldwide directly or in conjunction with a co-owner or licensor since 2009.

 

   

109 pending patent applications.

 

   

234 issued patents across our immune medicine platform to date.

 

   

24 patent families directed to methods and tools useful in our immune medicine platform for non-target specific immunosequencing and research, including immunoSEQ.

 

   

10 patent families directed to methods and tools useful in diagnosis, prognosis and disease monitoring, including clonoSEQ and the TCR-Antigen Map.

 

   

12 patent families directed to methods and tools useful in drug discovery, including TruTCR, MIRA and pairSEQ.

 

   

19 trademarks registered and pending registration worldwide, as of March 28, 2019.

Patent Portfolio

We have developed an expansive patent portfolio in commercially important markets with claims to critical aspects of our technology, beginning with our first patent applications exclusively licensed from Fred Hutch in 2009. Our ongoing patent strategy is to generate a return on our patenting investments, which values substantive quality over volume to build a defensible moat around technology we use as well as what others might develop to design around our position.

 

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We prioritize pursuing patent claims with a reasonable likelihood of being granted. Where patentability for a particular invention is questionable, we often choose to protect it as a trade secret instead. In some instances, however, we may seek to push the patentability envelope when the state of the applicable patent laws are in flux, such as patent eligibility for naturally occurring molecules, including TCRs, in the United States.

Methods of Measuring Adaptive Immunity

In 2009, a U.S. provisional patent application was filed to pursue protection for immunosequencing by our co-founder, Dr. Harlan Robins. The invention broadly relates to methods for assessing the adaptive immune system status of individuals. Rearranged V and J segment genes of TCRs or BCRs are targeted as biomarkers for assessing the status of the immune system at one or more points in time. Granted claims extend to the use of particular sets of amplification primers, while pending claims are being pursued to capture additional assessment techniques. Licensed exclusively to us by Fred Hutch, the application has since spawned 31 additional patent applications from which 12 patents have been granted as of March 9, 2019, including U.S. Patent No. 9,809,813.

Optimizing Nucleic Acid Amplification Reactions

Amplification of nucleic acids can result in over- or under-representation of the amplified molecules, misrepresenting the number present in the source material, such as a blood sample. Dr. Robins invented a method to correct for such bias, thereby improving the precision of PCR-based quantification of T cell and B cell receptor coding sequences in a sample. The claimed approach utilizes synthetic templates reflecting nucleic acid sequences for rearranged V and J receptor segments in the sampled cells. Twenty-eight related patent applications have since been filed, from which 16 patents have been granted as of March 9, 2019, including U.S. Patent Nos. 9,371,558 and 10,214,770.

Diagnosing and Monitoring Disease

In connection with our 2015 Sequenta Acquisition, we purchased Sequenta’s extensive patent portfolio. The portfolio includes 124 patent applications which disclose and claim methods to identify and quantify T cell-based immune responses to antigen exposure using NGS. T cell and B cell receptor DNA, RNA or cell-free DNA from samples, including blood and bone marrow, are used to detect, prognose and monitor disease, including autoimmune disease, infection and cancer. One hundred and one patents have been granted in the portfolio as of March 9, 2019, including U.S. Patent Nos. 8,628,927 and 8,236,503.

Our diagnostic methods also apply to the detection of MRD, the target of our clonoSEQ diagnostic test for assessing how disease burden changes in response to treatment or during remission. Nine patents have been granted from additional applications filed by us, including U.S. Patent No. 9,824,179.

TCR-Antigen Map

In connection with our Microsoft collaboration, we are developing a diagnostic product to detect cancer and other diseases at their earliest stage by learning the signals and responses of the activated immune receptors in a patient’s blood. Pre-collaboration, we filed 10 related patent applications for methods to produce antigen-exposed enriched T cell populations and identify their antigen specificities by comparison to a pre-exposure population of cells or by use of an algorithm. We expect to file additional patent applications relating to TCRs and algorithmic-based methods to characterize antigen specificities as our work proceeds with Microsoft.

 

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MIRA

We developed and are pursuing patent protection for bioinformatic-based methods to determine the antigen specificity of TCRs by exposing T cells to a panel of multiple antigens. Antigen exposure can be performed by incubation or presentation; e.g., via recombinant expression in another cell. These methods may also be used to pair the two TCR chains as well as to identify high avidity TCRs.

Eight related patent applications have been filed, from which two patents have been granted to date (U.S. Patent No. 10,066,265).

pairSEQ

In nature, TCRs and BCRs exist as a heterodimer of paired chains, each of which is encoded on a different chromosome. Immunosequencing reveals the nucleotide structure of each individual chain, but not which chains match as cognate pairs. We developed and are pursuing patent protection for multiple bioinformatic-based approaches to pairing the two chains of TCRs and BCRs, including one deployed in our pairSEQ technique. Our methods also allow for identification of receptor chain pairs which are specific to particular antigen targets. Fifty-four related patent applications have been filed, from which 21 patents have been granted as of March 9, 2019, including U.S. Patent No. 10,077,478.

Assessing Responsiveness to Immunotherapy

Leveraging our immunosequencing technologies, we developed methods for predicting responses to immunotherapy, vaccines and infection. To those ends, rearranged TCR or BCR sequences are quantified and their levels or frequencies compared at different points in time. Twenty-three related patent applications have been filed, from which 15 patents have been granted as of March 9, 2019, including U.S. Patent No. 10,077,478.

In-Licensed and Acquired Intellectual Property Rights

While we have developed the majority of our immune medicine platform, products and services, we occasionally license or acquire third-party owned inventions to bolster the strength of our patent estate and ensure freedom to operate.

Early work by Dr. Robins with Fred Hutch led to discoveries around immunosequencing methods and tools covered by 128 patents and patent applications in the United States and abroad which we exclusively licensed. Our rights are for all fields of use worldwide and are sublicensable. To the extent any licensed granted patent rights extend to products or services sold by us, we pay Fred Hutch a royalty rate of 0.75% of net sales on licensed products.

Through our Sequenta acquisition, we also obtained an exclusive paid-up license, with rights to sublicense, to patents filed in the United States, Europe, Australia and China owned by iRepertoire, Inc. The license is for worldwide use in diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and monitoring of any proliferative disorder for which rearranged nucleic acids capable of encoding an immune receptor, whether productive or unproductive, or functional or nonfunctional, of a cell, excluding tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, of the proliferative disorder can be used as markers for the disorder, including, but not limited to, lymphoid and myeloid proliferative disorders, such as acute lymphocytic leukemia, CLL, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, plasma cell neoplasms, such as MM, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis and myelodysplastic syndromes.

In addition to the patent estate acquired from Sequenta, we also acquired ownership of immunosequencing-related patent portfolios from Imdaptive, Inc. and ImmunID S.A.S.

 

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Trademarks

We own various trademarks, applications and unregistered trademarks in the United States and other important markets, including our company name, product and service names and other trade or service marks. Our trademark portfolio is designed to protect the brands for our products and services, both current and in the pipeline.

Trade Secrecy Program

We have a trade secrecy program to prevent disclosure of our trade secrets to others, except under stringent conditions of confidentiality when disclosure is critical to our business. Our trade secrets include the composition of certain reagents, assay protocols and immunosequencing-related data, such as immune receptor sequences. We protect trade secrets and know-how by establishing confidentiality agreements and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors, contractors and collaborators. These agreements provide that all confidential information developed or made known during the course of an individual or entities’ relationship with us must be kept confidential during and after the relationship. These agreements also provide that all inventions resulting from work performed for us or relating to our business and conceived or completed during the period of employment or assignment, as applicable, shall be our exclusive property. In addition, we take other appropriate precautions, such as physical and technological security measures, to guard against misappropriation of our proprietary information by third parties.

Although we take steps to protect our proprietary information and trade secrets, including through contractual means with our employees and consultants, third parties may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose our technology. Accordingly, we may not be able to meaningfully protect our trade secrets. For more information regarding the risks related to our intellectual property, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property.”

Competition

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including the fields of life sciences research, clinical diagnostics and drug discovery, are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on intellectual property. Given the breadth and promise of immune medicine, we face substantial competition from many different sources, including life sciences tools, diagnostics, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic research institutions and governmental agencies and public and private research institutions across various components of our platform and product and service offerings. Due to the significant interest and growth in immune-driven medicine more broadly, we expect the intensity of the competition to increase. However, we believe our scale, precision and speed, and the resulting clinical applicability, distinguish us from our competitors. In life sciences research, immunoSEQ faces competition from a number of companies, including Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., ArcherDX, Inc., 10X Genomics, Inc., Invivoscribe, Inc., iRepertoire, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Takara Bio Inc., Fluidigm Corporation and Dolomite Bio (a brand of Blacktrace Holdings Ltd).

In clinical diagnostics, clonoSEQ faces competition primarily from institutions performing flow cytometry in-house, particularly outside of the United States. Competitors with diagnostic technology platforms include Invivoscribe, Inc., ArcherDX, Inc. and Becton, Dickinson and Company. We may also face competition from companies developing early cancer detection testing, including GRAIL, Inc. Guardant Health, Inc. Exact Sciences Corporation and Natera, Inc.

In drug discovery, clinical trials in the field of immune-driven medicine are being pursued by a number of industry and academic players. Direct competitors with a pipeline of preclinical and clinical

 

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TCR-based cellular therapy candidates include GlaxoSmithKline plc, Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc, Kite Pharma, Inc./Gilead Sciences, Inc., Juno Therapeutics, Inc./Celgene Corporation, bluebird bio, Inc., Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, Neon Therapeutics, Inc. and several others.

Immune medicine is being pursued by several biotechnology companies as well as by large-cap biopharmaceutical companies. Many of our current or potential competitors, either alone or with their collaboration partners, have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, regulatory approval and compliance, and sales and distribution than we do. Mergers and acquisitions involving life sciences research, clinical diagnostics or drug discovery companies in the immune medicine space may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.

Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize research or diagnostic products or services that are more accurate, more convenient to use or more cost-effective than our products or services. Competitor therapeutic products could also prove more safe, more effective, more convenient to administer or more cost-effective than any therapeutic products we may develop with our collaborators. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the relevant market.

Government Regulation

Life Sciences Research Use Only Technologies

Our core research product, immunoSEQ, is an RUO tool in the United States that provides data to third parties such as biopharmaceutical companies that are themselves engaged in the research and development of potential diagnostic and therapeutic product and services for which they may later pursue investigation and marketing authorization from regulatory authorities, such as the FDA.

RUO products belong to a separate regulatory classification under a long-standing FDA regulation. From an FDA perspective, products that are intended for research use only and are labeled as RUO are not regulated by the FDA as in vitro diagnostic devices and are therefore not subject to the regulatory requirements discussed below for clinical diagnostic products. Thus, RUO products may be used or distributed for research use without first obtaining FDA clearance, authorization or approval. The products must bear the statement: “For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.” RUO products cannot make any claims related to safety, effectiveness or diagnostic utility, and they cannot be intended for human clinical diagnostic use. Accordingly, a product labeled RUO but intended or promoted for clinical diagnostic use may be viewed by the FDA as adulterated and misbranded under the FDCA and subject to FDA enforcement action. The FDA will consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding distribution and use of an RUO product, including how the product is marketed and to whom, when determining its intended use. If the FDA disagrees with a company’s RUO status for its product, the company may be subject to FDA enforcement activities, including, without limitation, requiring the company to seek clearance, authorization or approval for the products.

 

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Clinical Diagnostics in the United States

Our first diagnostic product, clonoSEQ, was granted marketing authorization by the FDA for the detection and monitoring of MRD in bone marrow samples in patients with MM and ALL under the de novo process, which classified clonoSEQ and future DNA-based tests to measure MRD in hematological malignancies as Class II devices, as explained further below.

In the United States, medical devices are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA under the FDCA and its implementing regulations, and other federal and state statutes and regulations. The FDA regulates the design, development, pre-clinical, analytical and clinical testing, manufacture, safety, effectiveness, clearance, authorization or approval, record-keeping, packaging, labeling, storage, adverse event reporting, advertising, promotion, marketing, sales, distribution and import and export of medical devices. IVDs are a type of medical device and include reagents and instruments used in the diagnosis or detection of diseases, conditions or infections, including, without limitation, the presence of certain chemicals, genetic information or other biomarkers. Predictive, prognostic and screening tests can also be IVDs.

Devices must undergo premarket review by and receive clearance, authorization or approval from the FDA prior to commercialization, unless the device is of a type exempted from such review by statute, regulation or pursuant to the FDA’s exercise of enforcement discretion. For example, the FDA, to date, has generally exercised enforcement discretion over most LDTs, which are tests that are designed, manufactured, validated and used within a single laboratory, subject to certain other limitation such as the LDT not being offered directly to consumers.

Pursuant to the FDCA, medical devices are subject to varying degrees of regulatory control and are classified in one of three classes depending on the controls the FDA determines necessary to reasonably ensure their safety and effectiveness. Class I devices are deemed to be low risk. Class II devices are deemed to be moderate risk. Class III devices are generally the highest risk devices and are subject to the highest level of regulatory control to provide reasonable assurance of the device’s safety and effectiveness.

Class I devices are those for which reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness can be provided by adherence to the FDA’s “general controls” for medical devices. General controls apply to all classes of devices and include FDA’s QSR, labeling requirements, premarket review, establishment registration and device listing, the MDR regulation, which requires that manufacturers report to the FDA if their device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if it were to recur, and the Reports of Corrections and Removals regulation, which requires manufacturers to report recalls and field actions to the FDA if initiated to reduce a risk to health posed by the device or to remedy a violation of the FDCA. Most Class I devices are exempt from premarket regulation; however, some Class I devices require premarket clearance by the FDA through the 510(k) premarket notification process described below.

Class II devices are subject to the FDA’s general controls, and any other “special controls,” such as performance standards, post-market surveillance and the FDA guidelines, deemed necessary by the FDA to provide reasonable assurance of the devices’ safety and effectiveness. Premarket review and clearance by the FDA for Class II devices are accomplished through the 510(k) premarket notification pathway, although some Class II devices are exempt from the 510(k) requirements. Premarket notifications are subject to user fees, unless a specific exemption applies. To obtain 510(k) clearance, a manufacturer must submit a premarket notification demonstrating that the proposed device is “substantially equivalent” to a legally marketed predicate device, which is usually a previously 510(k)-cleared device. In determining substantial equivalence, the FDA assesses whether the

 

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proposed device has the same intended use as the predicate device, and the same technological characteristics as the predicate device, or, if the proposed device has different technological characteristics, that the information submitted in the premarket notification demonstrates the proposed device is as safe and effective as and does not raise different questions of safety and effectiveness than the predicate device. Premarket notifications typically include bench, analytical, and pre-clinical data, and sometimes include clinical data. The 510(k) pathway usually takes from three to nine months from the time of submission to the FDA, but it can take longer, particularly for a novel type of product. If the FDA determines that the device is substantially equivalent to the predicate device(s), the subject device may be marketed. However, if the FDA makes a not substantially equivalent determination, then the device would be regulated as a Class III device, discussed below. If a manufacturer obtains a 510(k) clearance for its device and then makes a modification that could significantly affect the device’s safety or effectiveness or constitutes a major change or modification in the intended use of the device, a new clearance, authorization or approval may be required.

Class III devices are deemed by the FDA to pose the greatest risk, such as those for which reasonable assurance of the device’s safety and effectiveness cannot be assured solely by the general controls and special controls described above and that are life-sustaining or life-supporting. Some pre-amendment Class III devices, for which the FDA has not yet required a PMA, require the FDA’s clearance of a premarket notification in order to be marketed. However, most Class III devices are required to undergo the PMA process in which the manufacturer must demonstrate reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its proposed intended use to the FDA’s satisfaction. The PMA pathway is costly, lengthy and uncertain. A PMA application must provide valid scientific evidence, typically extensive preclinical, analytical and clinical trial data and information about the device and its components regarding, among other things, device design, manufacturing and labeling. PMA applications, and supplemental PMA applications, are subject to significantly higher user fees than are 510(k) premarket notifications. Some PMA applications are exempt from a user fee, for example a small business’ first PMA. As part of its PMA review process, the FDA will typically inspect the manufacturer’s facilities for compliance with QSR requirements, which impose elaborate testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures. The PMA review process typically takes one to three years from submission but can take longer.

Novel devices are placed in Class III by default if the device type was not previously classified by the FDA and has no predicate. Manufacturers of such novel devices may request that the FDA reclassify the device to Class II or Class I via a de novo request. The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 established a route to market for low to moderate risk medical devices that are automatically placed into Class III due to the absence of a predicate device, called the “Request for Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation,” or the de novo classification procedure. This procedure allows a manufacturer whose novel device is automatically classified into Class III to request down-classification of its medical device into Class I or Class II on the basis that the device presents low or moderate risk, rather than requiring the submission and approval of a PMA. Prior to the enactment of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (“FDASIA”) in July 2012, a medical device could only be eligible for de novo classification if the manufacturer first submitted a 510(k) premarket notification and received a determination from the FDA that the device was not substantially equivalent. FDASIA streamlined the de novo classification pathway by permitting manufacturers to request de novo classification directly without first submitting a 510(k) premarket notification to the FDA and receiving a not substantially equivalent determination. FDASIA sets a review time for the FDA of 120 days following receipt of the de novo application, but the FDA does not routinely meet this timeline and has publicly only committed to a review of 150 days for 55% of applications. If the manufacturer seeks reclassification into Class II, the manufacturer must include a draft proposal for special controls that are necessary to provide a reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the medical device. The FDA may reject the reclassification petition if it identifies a legally marketed predicate device that would be appropriate for a 510(k) or determines that the device is not low to moderate risk or that

 

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general and special controls would be inadequate to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device. If the FDA agrees with the down-classification, the FDA will grant the device market authorization and establish a classification regulation for the device type. The device can then be used as a predicate device for future 510(k) submissions by the manufacturer or a competitor. In December 2018, the FDA issued proposed regulations to govern the de novo classification process, which include requirements beyond what has historically been required in de novo submissions. If finalized, these regulations could further impact this path to market.

A clinical trial may be required in support of a 510(k) or de novo submission and generally is required for a PMA application. These trials require an Investigational Device Exemption (“IDE”) approved by the FDA for a specified number of patients and sites, unless the product is exempt from IDE requirements or deemed a non-significant risk device eligible for more abbreviated IDE requirements. Most clinical studies of IVDs are exempt from the IDE requirements, if certain requirements are met. The IDE application must be supported by appropriate data, such as animal and laboratory testing results, showing that it is safe to test the device in or on humans and that the testing protocol is scientifically sound. Clinical trials may begin 30 days after the submission of the IDE application unless the FDA disapproves the IDE or places the trial on clinical hold. Additionally, clinical trials may not begin until their protocol and informed consent receive approval from the appropriate ethical review boards, including IRBs. Unless an exemption applies, clinical trials intended to assess the safety or efficacy of a device must be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s IDE requirements. Clinical investigations that are not assessing safety and effectiveness but are being used to generate other data to support FDA submissions are subject to the more broadly applicable informed consent and IRB regulations.

Even if regulatory clearance, authorization or approval of a device is granted, the FDA may impose limitations on the uses and indications for which the device may be labeled and promoted, and the device remains subject to significant regulatory requirements. Medical devices may be marketed only for the uses and indications for which they are cleared, authorized or approved.

After a device, including a device exempt from FDA premarket review, is placed on the market, numerous post-market regulatory requirements apply. These requirements as discussed above in the general controls. Some manufacturers also may be subject to post-market surveillance regulations. Facility records and manufacturing processes are subject to periodic unscheduled inspections by the FDA.

Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in enforcement action by the FDA, which may include, among other things: untitled letters, public warning letters, fines, injunctions, civil or criminal penalties, recall or seizure of products, operating restrictions, partial suspension or total shutdown of production, delays in or refusals of 510(k), de novo or PMA submissions, withdrawing existing clearance, authorization and approval, and a recommendation by the FDA to disallow a device manufacturer from entering into government contracts. If certain conditions are met, the FDA also has the authority to order manufacturers to repair, replace or refund the cost of any devices that present an unreasonable risk of substantial harm to the public health. In the event that a supplier fails to maintain compliance with FDA or the device manufacturer’s quality requirements, the manufacturer may have to qualify a new supplier and could experience manufacturing delays as a result.

Position in the European Union

In the EU, IVDs can be placed on the market by obtaining a “CE mark,” which demonstrates conformity with the In vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Directive (“IVDD”). The requirements under the Directive include:

 

   

Essential Requirements. The IVDD specifies “essential requirements” that all medical devices must meet to demonstrate the product is safe and effective under normal conditions of use.

 

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The requirements are similar to those adopted by the FDA relating to quality systems and product labeling.

 

   

Conformity Assessment. The requirements to obtain a CE mark are risk-based, and follow a similar classification system as in the United States. However, unlike the United States, which requires virtually all devices to undergo some level of premarket review by the FDA, the IVDD currently allows manufacturers to bring many devices to market using a process in which the manufacturer self-certifies that the device conforms to the applicable essential requirements.

 

   

Vigilance. The IVDD specifies requirements for post market reporting similar to those adopted by the FDA.

On May 26, 2017, the EU released a new regulatory framework, the In vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (“IVDR”), which will replace the IVDD. Our products in the EU will have to comply with the IVDR requirements after May 26, 2022, subject to the applicable transitional provisions before full compliance is required. The IVDR is considerably stricter in regulatory oversight than the IVDD and will require more IVD devices to be reviewed by the relevant body before being placed on the market. Until that time, our products must continue to meet the requirements of IVDD for commercialization in the EU.

Laboratory Developed Tests in the United States

clonoSEQ is available as an LDT for use in assessing MRD for other lymphoid malignancies, including CLL and NHL, at our Seattle, Washington laboratory. LDTs have generally been considered to be tests that are designed, developed, validated and used within a single laboratory. The FDA takes the position that it has the authority to regulate such tests as medical devices under the FDCA, but the FDA has historically exercised enforcement discretion and has not required clearance or approval of LDTs prior to marketing. Laboratories certified as “high complexity” under CLIA may develop, manufacture, validate and run LDTs. The CLIA requirements are discussed below in “—United States Federal and State Regulation of Laboratories.”

Although we believe we are within the scope of the FDA’s policy on enforcement discretion for laboratory-developed tests, the initial commercialization and continued commercial availability of an LDT is subject to uncertainty given the FDA’s latitude in interpreting and applying its laws and policies. For example, the FDA does not consider tests to be subject to its LDT enforcement discretion if they were or are designed or manufactured completely, or partly, outside of the laboratory that offers and uses them, or if they are offered “over-the-counter,” as opposed to being available to patients only when prescribed by a health care provider. Even for tests that appear to fall within the FDA’s previously stated enforcement discretion, the FDA may decide to take action against certain LDTs on a case-by-case basis at any time if the FDA views them as presenting a risk to patients. The FDA Commissioner and the Director of the CDRH have expressed significant concerns regarding potential disparities in accuracy and quality between some LDTs and IVDs that have been reviewed and cleared, authorized or approved by the FDA. In addition, the U.S. Congress has been considering various legislative proposals that would reform the FDA’s regulation of laboratory tests, and such legislation might lead to heightened FDA scrutiny of LDTs, particularly new LDTs, in the future. Whether such legislation will pass and, if so, what effect it may have on how the FDA regulates laboratory tests, including LDTs, is unknown. If the FDA disagrees with a laboratory test’s LDT status, the FDA may consider the test to be an unapproved medical device, may subject us to FDA enforcement action, including, without limitation, requiring the company to seek clearance, authorization or approval for the laboratory test.

On October 3, 2014, the FDA issued two draft guidance documents proposing a new regulatory paradigm for oversight of LDTs. These draft guidance documents proposed more active review of

 

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LDTs. The draft guidance documents were the subject of considerable controversy, and in November 2016, the FDA announced that it would not be finalizing the 2014 draft guidance documents. On January 13, 2017, the FDA issued a discussion paper which laid out elements of a possible revised future LDT regulatory framework, but did not establish any regulatory requirements.

The FDA’s recent efforts to regulate LDTs have prompted the drafting of legislation governing diagnostic products and services that seeks to substantially revamp the regulation of both LDTs and IVDs. The U.S. Congress may act to provide further direction to the FDA on the regulation of LDTs and substantially modify the regulation of IVDs, which might result in heightened FDA scrutiny of LDTs, particularly new LDTs, in the future.

U.S. Federal and State Regulation of Laboratories

Given that aspects of our business at certain facilities involve acting as a clinical laboratory, we are required to hold certain federal and state licenses, certifications and permits to conduct our business.

As to federal certifications, CLIA establishes rigorous quality standards for all laboratories that perform testing on specimens derived from humans for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of disease, or the impairment of, or assessment of health. As a clinical laboratory, we must obtain a CLIA certificate based on the complexity of testing performed at the laboratory, such as a Certificate of Compliance for high-complexity testing. CLIA also mandates compliance with various operational, personnel, facilities administration, quality and proficiency requirements, intended to ensure that their clinical laboratory testing services are accurate, reliable and timely. CLIA compliance and certification is also a prerequisite to be eligible to bill for services provided to government payors and for many private payors. Furthermore, we are subject to survey and inspection every two years to assess compliance with program standards, and may be subject to additional unannounced inspections. Laboratories performing high-complexity testing are required to meet more stringent requirements than laboratories performing less complex tests.

In addition to CLIA requirements, we elect to participate in the accreditation program of the CAP. CMS, the agency that oversees CLIA, has deemed CAP standards to be equally or more stringent than CLIA regulations and has approved CAP as a recognized accrediting organization. Inspection by CAP is performed in lieu of CMS inspections for accredited laboratories. Therefore, because we are accredited by the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, we are deemed to also comply with CLIA.

CLIA provides that a state may adopt laboratory regulations that are more stringent than those under federal law, and a number of states have implemented their own more stringent laboratory regulatory requirements. Select states, including Washington, have laboratory regulations that have been deemed by the federal government to be at least as stringent as CLIA, and thus laboratories licensed under those state regimes are exempt from CLIA and the state Department of Health is permitted to issue a CLIA number, along with a state Medical Test Site license, rather than a certificate being issued by CMS. Our laboratory holds the required Washington license. State laws may require that laboratory personnel meet certain qualifications, specify certain quality control procedures, facility requirements or prescribe record maintenance requirements.

Several states additionally require the licensure of out-of-state laboratories that accept specimens from those states. For example, New York requires a laboratory to hold a permit which is issued after an on-site inspection and approval of each LDT offered by a laboratory, and has various, more stringent requirements than CLIA and CAP, including those for personnel qualifications, proficiency testing, physical facility and equipment and quality control standards. Our laboratory holds the required licenses for Maryland, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and California. We are currently in the process of

 

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seeking a permit in the State of New York, and currently operate under the New York non-permitted laboratory test request program.

From time to time, other states may require out-of-state laboratories to obtain licensure in order to accept specimens from the state. If we identify any other state with such requirements, or if we are contacted by any other state advising us of such requirements, we intend to follow instructions from the state regulators as to how we should comply with such requirements.

If a clinical laboratory is found to be out of compliance with CLIA certification, CAP accreditation or a state license or permit, the applicable regulatory agency may, among other things, suspend, restrict or revoke the certification, accreditation, license or permit to operate the clinical laboratory, assess civil money penalties and impose specific corrective action plans, among other sanctions.

Federal and State Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Laws

Many state and federal laws govern the processing of personally identifiable information or individually identifiable health information. At the federal level, under the administrative simplification provisions of HIPAA and HITECH, the HHS issued regulations that establish standards for protecting the privacy and security of “protected health information” used or disclosed by certain health care providers and other “covered entities” and their “business associates.” Three principal data protection-related regulations with which we are required to comply have been issued in final form under HIPAA and HITECH: privacy regulations, security regulations and security breach notification regulations.

The privacy regulations govern the use and disclosure of “protected” health information by covered health care providers, as well as health insurance plans. They also set forth certain rights that an individual has with respect to his or her protected health information maintained by a covered health care provider, including the right to access or amend certain records containing protected health information or to request restrictions on the use or disclosure of protected health information. The security regulations establish requirements for safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of protected health information that is electronically transmitted or electronically stored. HITECH, among other things, established certain health information security breach notification requirements. A covered entity must notify HHS and each affected individual of a breach of unsecured protected health information as well as the media if the breach involves more than five hundred individuals.

HIPAA violations are subject to civil and criminal penalties. Additionally, to the extent that we submit electronic health care claims and payment transactions that do not comply with the electronic data transmission standards established under HIPAA and HITECH, payments to us may be delayed or denied. Although there is no private right of action, HIPAA has been used as the standard of care in negligence actions brought under state law.

Section 5(a) of the FTCA has also been used to regulate data privacy and security at the federal level. According to the FTC, failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal information secure or using or disclosing personal information in violation of a company’s privacy notice may constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of the FTCA. The FTC expects a company’s data security measures to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and complexity of its business and the cost of available tools to improve security and reduce vulnerabilities.

In addition, certain state laws govern the privacy and security of health information, some of which are more stringent than HIPAA and many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. In addition, there are state breach notification laws in every state. The HIPAA regulations establish a federal “floor” of protection and do

 

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not supersede state laws that may be more stringent or provide individuals with greater rights with respect to the privacy or security of, and access to their records containing health information. Failure to comply with these laws, where applicable, can result in the imposition of significant civil or criminal penalties and private litigation. For example, California recently enacted legislation, the CCPA, which goes into effect January 1, 2020 and will be enforceable as of July 1, 2020. The CCPA, among other things, creates new data privacy obligations for covered companies and provides new privacy rights to California residents, including the right to opt out of certain disclosures of their information. The CCPA also creates a private right of action with statutory damages for certain data breaches, thereby potentially increasing risks associated with a data breach.

General Data Protection Regulation in the EU

The GDPR is a legal framework that sets requirements for the collection and processing of personal information of individuals within the EEA. The GDPR sets out the principles for data management and the rights of the individual, while also imposing very significant fines that can be revenue-based. It applies to U.S. companies that process personal information of persons in the EEA in connection with the offer of products or services to those persons, or the monitoring of such persons’ behavior. It may also apply when a U.S. company processes personal information in the context of the activities of an entity established in the EEA. The GDPR became enforceable on May 25, 2018. The regulation applies to the human resources record of employees and even the Intellectual Property addresses of people using online services. The GDPR builds upon data rights that the EU had previously advocated, such as the right of an individual to be forgotten and the right to data portability.

Federal, State and Foreign Fraud and Abuse Laws

In the United States, there are various fraud and abuse laws with which we must comply and we are subject to regulation by various federal, state and local authorities, including CMS, other divisions of HHS, such as the OIG, the U.S. Department of Justice and individual U.S. Attorney offices within the Department of Justice, and state and local governments. We also may be subject to foreign fraud and abuse laws.

In the United States, the AKS prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce or in return for patient referrals for, or purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of, any health care item or service reimbursable under a governmental payor program. Courts have stated that a financial arrangement may violate the AKS if any one purpose of the arrangement is to encourage patient referrals or other federal health care program business, regardless of whether there are other legitimate purposes for the arrangement. The definition of “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value, including gifts, discounts, meals, travel, credit arrangements, payments of cash, consulting fees, waivers of co-payments, ownership interests and providing anything at less than its fair market value. Recognizing that the AKS is broad and may technically prohibit many innocuous or beneficial arrangements within the health care industry, the OIG issued a series of regulatory “safe harbors.” These safe harbor regulations set forth certain provisions, which, if met, will assure health care providers and other parties that they will not be prosecuted under the AKS. The failure of a transaction or arrangement to fit within a specific safe harbor does not necessarily mean that the transaction or arrangement is illegal or that prosecution under the AKS will be pursued. In those instances, arrangements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether enforcement will be pursued. Penalties for AKS violations are severe and can include imprisonment, criminal fines, civil money penalties and exclusion from participation in federal health care programs. The regulations establishing safe harbor protection are subject to change and could affect future operations. Many states also have anti-kickback statutes, some of which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers as well as patient self-pay. A violation of the AKS

 

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may be grounds for the government or a whistleblower to assert that a claim for payment of items or services resulting from such violation constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal civil False Claims Act.

The civil monetary penalties statute is another potential statute under which a clinical laboratory may be subject to enforcement. Among other things, the civil monetary penalties statute imposes fines against any person who is determined to have presented, or caused to be presented, claims to a federal healthcare program that the person knows, or should know, is for an item or service that was not provided as claimed or is false or fraudulent. The civil monetary penalties statute also prohibits a person from offering or providing remuneration to any Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary that is likely to influence the individual to order or receive its items or services from a particular provider or supplier.

The exclusion statute requires the exclusion of entities and individuals who have been convicted of federal-program related crimes or health care felony fraud or controlled substance charges. The statute also permits the exclusion of those that have been convicted of any form of fraud, the AKS, for obstructing an investigation or audit, certain controlled substance offenses, those whose health care license has been revoked or suspended and those who have filed claims for excessive charges or unnecessary services. If we were to be excluded, our products and services would be ineligible for reimbursement from any federal programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, and no other entity participating in those programs would be permitted to enter into contracts with us. In order to preserve access to beneficial healthcare items and services, the government may elect to exclude officers and key employees of manufacturers, rather than excluding the organization. Such enforcement actions would prohibit us from engaging those individuals, which could adversely affect operations and result in significant reputational harm.

Congress has also enacted statutes that impose criminal liability for health care fraud and abuse. The Health Care Fraud Statute prohibits knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any health care benefit program, including private payors. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or exclusion from governmental payor programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The false statements statute prohibits knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefit programs, items or services-public or private. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or exclusion from governmental payor programs.

The False Claims Act imposes liability on any person or entity that, among other things, knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment by a federal governmental payor program. The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act allow a private individual to bring actions on behalf of the federal government alleging that the defendant has defrauded the federal government by submitting a false claim to the federal government and permit such individuals to share in any amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. Qui tam complaints are filed under seal, and the cases may progress for a number of years before a complaint is unsealed and a healthcare provider or supplier becomes aware of its existence. When an entity is determined to have violated the False Claims Act, it may be required to pay up to three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties ranging from $11,181 to $22,363 for each false claim. The False Claims Act is the federal government’s primary civil tool in healthcare fraud cases. False Claims Act liability is not limited to direct providers of health items or services. The government has asserted liability under the False Claims Act against manufacturers and other third parties who caused another party to file a false claim.

In addition, various states have enacted false claim laws analogous to the federal False Claims Act, although many of these state laws apply where a claim is submitted to any third-party payor and not merely a governmental payor program.

 

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On October 25, 2018, the SUPPORT Act was enacted. The SUPPORT Act included EKRA, which establishes an all-payor anti-kickback prohibition that extends to arrangements with recovery homes, clinical laboratories and clinical treatment facilities. EKRA includes a number of statutory exceptions, and directs agencies to develop further exceptions. Current exceptions in some cases reference and in others differ from the AKS safe harbors. Significantly, the prohibitions apply with respect to the soliciting or receipt of remuneration for any referrals to recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities, or clinical laboratories, whether or not related to treating substance use disorders. Further, the prohibitions cover the payment or offer of remuneration to induce a referral to, or in exchange for, an individual using the services of, such providers. This new law creates additional risk that relationships with referral sources could be problematic.

For anti-corruption legislation, the FCPA is the most widely enforced law. It is the first to introduce corporate liability, responsibility for third parties and extraterritoriality for corruption offences, meaning companies and persons can be held criminally and civilly responsible for corruption offences committed abroad. It was enacted for the purpose of making it unlawful for certain classes of persons and entities to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. With the enactment of certain amendments in 1998, the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA now also apply to foreign firms and persons who cause, directly or through agents, an act in furtherance of such a corrupt payment to take place within the territory of the United States. The FCPA also requires companies whose securities are listed in the United States to meet its accounting provisions, which were designed to operate in tandem with the anti-bribery provisions, require corporations covered by the provisions to (a) make and keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the corporation and (b) devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls.

In Europe, various countries have adopted anti-bribery laws providing for severe consequences, in the form of criminal penalties or significant fines, for individuals or companies committing a bribery offence. Violations of these anti-bribery laws, or allegations of such violations, could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and reputation. For instance, in the United Kingdom, under the Bribery Act 2010, which came into effect in July 2011, a bribery offense occurs when a person offers, gives or promises to give a financial or other advantage to induce or reward another individual to improperly perform certain functions or activities, including any function of a public nature. Bribery of foreign public officials also falls within the scope of the Bribery Act 2010. Under this regime, an individual found in breach of the Bribery Act 2010 faces imprisonment of up to 10 years. In addition, the individual can be subject to an unlimited fine, if found to have committed an offense, as can commercial organizations that are found to have failed to prevent bribery. Most recently, France has passed an anti-bribery and compliance law (“Sapin II”), and the new French anti-corruption agency (“AFA”) has been established. The Sapin II law makes it compulsory for companies within the scope of the law to implement internal procedures to fight corruption. One of the items that must be prepared is a corruption risk map, as well as an anti-corruption code of conduct. These documents are subject to investigation by the AFA and failure to comply with the requirements can lead to a fine of up to 1.0 million for a company and 200,000 for executives.

Currently, we are not subject to the jurisdictional requirements of the UK Bribery Act or Sapin II as we do not have offices in either country and do not employ a requisite amount of employees in these countries. If we were to have future growth in the European market, these laws could potentially apply to us.

U.S. Physician Referral Prohibitions

The Stark Law prohibits physicians from referring patients to entities with which the physician or an immediate family member has a financial relationship, such as ownership, investment or

 

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compensation, for DHS payable by Medicare and Medicaid, unless the financial arrangement meets an applicable exception. DHS includes clinical laboratory tests. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Government Regulation—We are subject to various laws and regulations, such as healthcare fraud and abuse laws, false claim laws and health information privacy and security laws, among others, and failure to comply with these laws and regulations may have an adverse effect on our business.”

Corporate Practice of Medicine in the U.S.

Numerous states have enacted laws prohibiting business corporations, such as us, from practicing medicine and employing or engaging physicians to practice medicine, generally referred to as the prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine. These laws are designed to prevent interference in the medical decision-making process by anyone who is not a licensed physician. For example, California’s Medical Board has indicated that determining what diagnostic tests are appropriate for a particular condition and taking responsibility for the ultimate overall care of the patient, including providing treatment options available to the patient, would constitute the unlicensed practice of medicine if performed by an unlicensed person. Violation of these corporate practice of medicine laws may result in civil or criminal fines, as well as sanctions imposed against us or the professional through licensure proceedings. Typically such laws are only applicable to entities that have a physical presence in the state.

Other Regulatory Requirements

Our laboratory is subject to federal, state and local regulations relating to the handling and disposal of regulated medical waste, hazardous waste and biohazardous waste, including chemical, biological agents and compounds, blood and bone marrow samples and other human tissue. Typically, we use outside vendors who are contractually obligated to comply with applicable laws and regulations to dispose of such waste. These vendors are licensed or otherwise qualified to handle and dispose of such waste.

Our partners in the development of therapeutic agents are responsible for developing and manufacturing those products. In so doing, they are subject to FDA and Medicare regulatory requirements related to, among other things, manufacture, promotion, price reporting and fraud and abuse laws.

Our laboratories are subject to extensive requirements related to workplace safety established by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These include requirements to develop and implement programs to protect workers from exposure to blood-borne pathogens by preventing or minimizing any exposure through needle stick or similar penetrating injuries.

U.S. Healthcare Reform

In the United States, a number of recent legislative and regulatory changes at the federal and state levels have sought to reduce healthcare costs and improve the quality of healthcare. For example, in March 2010, the ACA became law. This law substantially changed the way health care is financed by both commercial and government payors, and it has significantly impacted our industry. Since 2016 there have been efforts to repeal all or part of the ACA. For example, the TCJA, among other things, removes penalties for not complying with the ACA’s individual mandate to carry health insurance. The U.S. Congress may take further action regarding the ACA, including, but not limited to, repeal or replacement. Additionally, all or a portion of the ACA and related subsequent legislation may be modified, repealed or otherwise invalidated through judicial challenge, which could result in lower numbers of insured individuals, or reduced coverage for insured individuals, and which could adversely affect our business. However, it remains to be seen whether or when new legislation modifying the

 

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ACA will be enacted, what any such the new legislation might provide and what impact it might have on the size and coverage of the insured population or on efforts to contain or lower the cost of healthcare. We cannot predict the implications, if any, of such legislation on our and our collaborators’ businesses and financial conditions.

We anticipate there will continue to be proposals by legislators at both the federal and state levels, regulators and commercial payors to reduce costs while trying to expand individual healthcare benefits. If enacted, some such proposals could expand or contract the insured population, increasing or decreasing demand for our products and services. On the other hand, some proposals could impose additional limitations on the prices we will be able to charge for our tests or on the coverage of or the amounts of reimbursement available for our tests from payors, including commercial payors and government payors.

The Physician Payments Sunshine Act and its implementing regulations, which requires applicable manufacturers of covered drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, with certain exceptions, to annually report to HHS information related to certain payments or other transfers of value made or distributed to physicians, defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors, and teaching hospitals, or to entities or individuals at the request of, or designated on behalf of, the physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. The SUPPORT Act, under a provision entitled “Fighting the Opioid Epidemic with Sunshine,” extends the Physician Payments Sunshine Act to payments and transfers of value to physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other mid-level healthcare providers, with reporting requirements going into effect in 2022 for payments and transfers of value made to these practitioners in 2021.

Coverage and Reimbursement Generally

Patients who have diagnostic tests ordered or are prescribed treatments and providers performing the prescribed services generally rely on third party payors to reimburse all or part of the associated healthcare costs. Sales of our products and services will therefore depend substantially, both domestically and abroad, on the extent to which the costs of our products and services will be paid by third party payors, including health maintenance, managed care and similar healthcare management organizations, or reimbursed by government health administration authorities, such as Medicare and Medicaid, private health insurers.

In the United States, our ability to commercialize and the commercial success of our product and service offerings will depend in part on the extent to which governmental payor programs at the federal and state levels, including Medicare and Medicaid, private health insurers and other third-party payors provide coverage for and establish adequate reimbursement levels for these offerings. Government authorities, private health insurers and other organizations generally decide which devices they will pay for and establish reimbursement levels for healthcare. Medicare is a federally funded program for the elderly and disabled managed by CMS, through local contractors that administer coverage and reimbursement for certain healthcare items and services. Medicaid is an insurance program for certain categories of patients whose income and assets fall below state defined levels that is funded jointly by federal and state governments and managed by each state. Similarly, the federal government manages other healthcare programs, including the Veterans Health Administration, the Indian Health Service, and Tricare, the health care program for military personnel, retirees and related beneficiaries. Many states have also created pharmacy assistance programs for individuals who do not qualify for federal programs. In the United States, private health insurers and other third-party payors often provide reimbursement for products and services based in part on the coverage and payment rates set by the Medicare or Medicaid programs.

 

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Certain countries, including a number of member states of the EU, set prices and make reimbursement decisions for diagnostics and pharmaceutical products, or medicinal products, as they are commonly referred to in the EU. In addition, an increasing number of countries are taking initiatives to attempt to control the healthcare budget by focusing cost-cutting efforts on medicinal products, and to a lesser extent, medical devices, provided under their state-run health care systems. These international price-control efforts have impacted all regions of the world, but have been most drastic in the EU. Additionally, some countries require approval of the maximum sale price of a product before it can be marketed, and this price may be reviewed during the product lifecycle, or mandatory discounts or profit caps may be applied. In many countries, the pricing review period begins after marketing or product licensing approval is granted or the CE mark is obtained.

Federal programs in the United States also sometimes impose price controls through mandatory ceiling prices on purchases by federal agencies and federally funded hospitals and clinics and mandatory rebates on retail pharmacy prescriptions paid by Medicaid and Tricare. These restrictions and limitations influence the purchase of healthcare services and products. Legislative proposals to reform healthcare or reduce costs under government programs may result in lower reimbursement for our products and services or exclusion of our products and services from coverage. In addition, government programs like Medicaid include what are in effect substantial penalties for increasing commercial prices of certain products over the rate of inflation which can affect realization and return on investment.

Increasing efforts by governmental and third-party payors, in the United States and abroad, to cap or reduce healthcare costs may cause such organizations to limit both coverage and level of reimbursement for newly approved health care products. At the state level, legislatures are increasingly passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological program pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing.

As a result of the above trends, we may need to conduct expensive studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost effectiveness of our products and services, in addition to the costs required to obtain the FDA and other comparable foreign regulatory authority approvals. Our products and services may not be considered medically necessary or cost effective, or the discount percentages required to secure coverage may not yield an adequate margin over cost.

There is often pressure to renegotiate pricing and reimbursement levels, including, in particular, in connection with changes to Medicare coverage and reimbursement. Third-party payors continue to demand discounted fee structures, and the trend toward consolidation among third-party payors tends to increase their bargaining power over price structures. If third-party payors reduce their rates for our products and services, then our revenue and profitability may decline and our operating margins will be reduced. Because some third-party payors rely on all or portions of Medicare payment systems to determine payment rates, changes to government healthcare programs that reduce payments under these programs may negatively impact payments from third-party payors. Our inability to maintain suitable financial arrangements with third-party payors could have a material adverse impact on our business. Additionally, the reimbursement process is complex and can involve lengthy delays. Third party payors may disallow, in whole or in part, providers’ requests for reimbursement based on determinations that certain amounts are not reimbursable under plan coverage, that the services provided were not medically necessary or that additional supporting documentation is necessary. Retroactive adjustments may change amounts realized from third party payors. Delays and uncertainties in the reimbursement process may adversely affect market acceptance and utilization of our candidate products, resulting in reduced revenue. The unavailability or inadequacy of third-party coverage and reimbursement could negatively affect the market acceptance of our products and

 

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services and the future revenue we may expect to receive from those products and services. In addition, we are unable to predict what additional legislation or regulation relating to the healthcare industry or third-party coverage and reimbursement may be enacted in the future, or what effect such legislation or regulation would have on our business.

Many hospitals implement a controlled and defined process for covering and approving diagnostic tests and medical devices. Any marketing efforts that are determined to have violated such policies could result in the denial or removal of our products from that hospital’s list of approved products.

Moreover, a payor’s decision to provide coverage for a device does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in device development. Legislative proposals to reform healthcare or reduce costs under government insurance programs may result in lower reimbursement for our products and services or exclusion of our products and services from coverage. The cost containment measures that healthcare payors and providers are instituting and any healthcare reform could significantly reduce our revenue from the sale of any approved products and services. We cannot provide any assurances that we will be able to obtain and maintain third-party coverage or adequate reimbursement for our products and services in whole or in part.

For additional information on coverage and reimbursement, see “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Government Regulation—Future Medicare payment rates are uncertain.”

Our Compliance Program

Our compliance program is intended to prevent and detect violations of law or our policies. It was developed in view of both adopting the principles of the AdvaMed Code of Ethics and addressing the HHS OIG’s elements of a compliance program. We have designed our compliance program to fit the size, resources, market position and other unique aspects of our company. Our code of conduct is our statement of ethical and compliance principles that guide our daily operations. In addition, we have developed policies and procedures, and corresponding education and training, to effectively communicate our standards to employees as it relates to job functions and legal obligations under applicable state and federal health care program requirements, as well as those outside the United States. We regularly perform live and process monitoring activities on a risk-based approach, and audit capabilities are built into our transparency procedures. We maintain a hotline available via multiple channels to report any known or suspected compliance violations, and we have a strict non-retaliation policy for all claims brought forward in good faith.

Facilities

Our corporate headquarters are located in Seattle, Washington, where we currently lease approximately 58,380 square feet of laboratory and office space. Our Seattle lease expires in June 2023, subject to two options to extend the lease for seven years. We also lease approximately 13,431 square feet of laboratory and office space in South San Francisco, California, pursuant to lease expiring in March 2026. We intend to add new facilities or expand existing facilities as we add employees and scale our operations, and we believe suitable additional or substitute space will be available as needed.

 

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Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings. We are not currently a party to or aware of any proceedings that we believe will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our executive officers as of March 22, 2019 who, subject to rights pursuant to any employment agreements, serve at the pleasure of our board of directors:

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Chad Robins

     44      Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, Director and Chairman

Julie Rubinstein

     47      President

Harlan Robins, PhD.

     45      Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder

Chad Cohen

     44      Chief Financial Officer

Sean Nolan

     50      Chief Technical Officer

Charles Sang

     51      Senior Vice President, Clinical Diagnostics

Sharon Benzeno, PhD.

     45      Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery

Nancy Hill

     55      Senior Vice President, Operations

The following is a biographical summary of the experience of our executive officers.

Chad Robins co-founded our company in September 2009 and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors since incorporation. Prior to co-founding our company, Mr. Robins held numerous executive-level positions in medical technology, investment and real estate companies. Mr. Robins holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Managerial Economics from Cornell University. We believe Mr. Robins is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors based on our review of his experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, including co-founding our company and his executive leadership experience in the biotechnology industry.

Julie Rubinstein has served as our President since February 2018. Prior to becoming our President, Ms. Rubinstein served as our Chief Business Officer from January 2016 to February 2018, and our head of Corporate and Business Development from April 2011 to January 2016. Prior to joining us, Ms. Rubinstein held various worldwide commercial development roles at Pfizer Inc.’s Oncology division, primarily focusing on cancer immunotherapy. She also served in various roles with Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., including in Europe. Ms. Rubinstein currently serves on the Board of Trustees for The Valerie Fund, a pediatric oncology organization in New Jersey and New York. Ms. Rubinstein holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and dual undergraduate degrees from The Wharton School and Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania.

Harlan Robins, PhD, co-founded our company in September 2009 and has served as either our Chief Scientific Officer or our Head of Innovation since incorporation. Dr. Robins has served in various roles in the Computational Biology Program at Fred Hutch, including as an Assistant Faculty Member from 2006 to 2011, as an Associate from 2011 to April 2016, and as a Full Member and the Head of the program from April 2016 to June 2019. Dr. Robins holds a BS in Physics from Harvard University and a master’s degree and PhD in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley with a visiting appointment to the California Institute of Technology. Dr. Robins received postdoctoral appointments in the particle theory group at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and at the Institute for Advance Study at Princeton University. At Princeton, Dr. Robins developed bioinformatics algorithms for micro ribonucleic acid targets and bacterial genome analysis.

Chad Cohen has served as our Chief Financial Officer since August 2015. Prior to joining us, Mr. Cohen served as the Chief Financial Officer of Zillow Group, Inc., a public company that operates a

 

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real estate marketplace, from March 2011 to August 2015, where he also served as Corporate Controller from June 2006 to March 2011 and Vice President of Finance from September 2010 to March 2011. Prior to joining Zillow, Mr. Cohen served as Assistant Controller and Financial Integrity Manager at Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. from 2003 to 2006. Prior to becoming our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Cohen served on our board of directors from February 2015 to August 2015. Mr. Cohen currently serves on the board of directors of Trupanion, Inc., a public pet insurance company, including as chair of the audit committee. Mr. Cohen holds a BS in Business Administration from Boston University.

Sean Nolan has served as our Chief Technical Officer since July 2014. Prior to joining us, Mr. Nolan served as the General Manager and Distinguished Engineer of Microsoft’s HealthVault and Health Solutions Group from January 2006 to May 2014, ran his own consulting firm from January 2002 to January 2006, and served as Chief Technology Officer and Software Development Manager at Drugstore.com from 2000 to January 2002 and August 1998 to 2000, respectively. Mr. Nolan holds a BA in Computer Science from Dartmouth College.

Charles Sang has served as our Senior Vice President, Clinical Diagnostics since April 2016. Prior to joining us, Mr. Sang served as the Vice President of Global Diagnostics for Nanostring Technologies, Inc., a public biotechnology company, from November 2012 to April 2016, and as the Marketing Director at Seattle Genetics, a public biotechnology company, from July 2010 to November 2012. Mr. Sang holds a BA in Psychology and Human Services from National Louis University and a master’s degree in Social Work from New Mexico State University.

Sharon Benzeno, PhD, has served as our Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery since February 2018 and, before this, in business development roles of ascending responsibility with us since September 2014. Prior to joining us, Dr. Benzeno served as Senior Director at Elsevier Inc., a healthcare informatics company, from December 2013 to September 2014, as Senior Manager in the oncology practice at Capgemini, a public biotechnology company, from May 2011 to December 2013, as Oncology Alliance Manager and Senior Scientific Manager at AstraZeneca plc from September 2005 to May 2011. Dr. Benzeno holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from New York University School of Medicine, an MBA in Finance and Leadership from New York University Stern School of Business and a BA in Biochemistry from New York University. Dr. Benzeno completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer biology at the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center.

Nancy Hill has served as our Senior Vice President, Operations or other similar capacities since December 2013. Prior to joining us, Ms. Hill served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing and member of the executive team at Spiration, Inc. from 2007 to 2013. Ms. Hill also served at Berlex Oncology as Vice President, Marketing from 2004 to 2005 and as Marketing Director from 2002 to 2004. Prior to that time, Ms. Hill held various positions of increasing responsibility on the new products and oncology commercial teams at Immunex Corporation and Amgen Inc. Ms. Hill holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington.

 

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Non-Employee Directors

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our non-employees as of March 22, 2019 who serve on our board of directors:

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Eric Dobmeier

     50      Director

David Goel

     49      Director

Michelle Griffin

     53      Director

Robert Hershberg, PhD, MD

     55      Director

Peter Neupert

     63      Director

Michael Pellini, MD

     53      Director

Andris Zoltners, PhD

     73      Director

The following is a biographical summary of the experience of our non-employee directors.

Eric Dobmeier has served as a member of our board of directors since September 2016. From January 2018 to June 2018, Mr. Dobmeier served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Silverback Therapeutics, Inc. and from 2002 to 2017, Mr. Dobmeier held positions of increasing responsibility at Seattle Genetics, Inc., a public biotechnology company, most recently as Chief Operating Officer from June 2011 to December 2017. Prior to joining Seattle Genetics, Mr. Dobmeier was an attorney with the law firms of Venture Law Group and Heller Ehrman LLP, where he represented technology companies in connection with public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions and corporate partnering transactions. Mr. Dobmeier currently serves on the board of directors of Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc., a publicly-traded biotechnology company. He holds a JD from University of California, Berkeley School of Law and an AB in History from Princeton University. We believe Mr. Dobmeier is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive experience in the biotechnology industry as an executive officer and director.

David Goel has served on our board of directors since September 2016. Mr. Goel is Co-Founder and sole Managing General Partner of Matrix Capital Management Company, LP, an investment fund focused on technology and life sciences. Mr. Goel serves as a director on several private company boards and previously served as a director of Popular, Inc., a public financial services company. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Winsor School and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Goel holds a BA, magna cum laude, from Harvard University. We believe Mr. Goel is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive risk management, corporate governance and capital markets experience.

Michelle Griffin has served on our board of directors since March 2019. Ms. Griffin currently serves on the board of directors for Acer Therapeutics, Inc, a public company, including as chair of the audit committee. Ms. Griffin also currently serves on the board of directors of HTG Molecular Diagnostics, Inc., a public company, including as chair of the audit committee. Ms. Griffin previously served on the board of directors and as chair of the audit committee for PhaseRx, Inc., a public company, from 2016 to 2018, OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Nasdaq listed company, from 2008 to 2011 and Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public company, from 2004 to 2008. Ms. Griffin served as Executive Vice President, Operations, and Chief Financial Officer at OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2011 to 2013, served as Acting Chief Executive, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2009 until its acquisition in 2010 and as its Chief Financial Officer from 2006 to 2009; and served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dendreon Corp. from 2005 to 2006. Ms. Griffin holds a BS in marketing from George Mason University and an MBA from Seattle University. We believe Ms. Griffin is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors based on our review of her extensive operational experience in the biotechnology industry and deep experience in public company financial matters.

 

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Robert Hershberg, PhD, MD, has served on our board of directors since February 2013. Dr. Hershberg has been employed in positions of ascending responsibility at Celgene Corporation since August 2014, and currently serves as Executive Vice President, Business Development and Global Alliances. Dr. Hershberg previously served in several roles at VentiRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, which he co-founded in 2006, and was Chief Executive Officer of VentiRx from 2012 until the company’s acquisition by Celgene in February 2017. Dr. Hershberg currently serves on the board of directors of Nanostring Technologies, Inc., and as a clinical faculty member at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Hershberg holds a PhD in Biology from University of California, San Diego’s Affiliated PhD Program with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and an MD and a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles. We believe Dr. Hershberg is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive technical expertise and executive leadership in the biotechnology industry.

Peter Neupert has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2013. Mr. Neupert currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Fred Hutch. Mr. Neupert served as an Operating Partner at Health Evolution Partners, a private equity fund, from February 2012 to July 2014. Prior to joining Health Evolution Partners, Mr. Neupert served as Corporate Vice President, Health Solutions Group at Microsoft from August 2005 to January 2012, and as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Drugstore.com, which he founded in 1998. Mr. Neupert currently serves on the board of directors of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, a public clinical laboratory company, and he previously served as a member of the board of directors of NextGen Healthcare, Inc., a public software company, and several private companies. Mr. Neupert holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a BA in Philosophy from Colorado College. We believe Mr. Neupert is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive experience in leadership roles in the health services sector and as a member of the board of directors of several organizations in the biotechnology industry.

Michael Pellini, MD, has served on our board of directors since February 2018. Dr. Pellini currently serves as a Managing Partner of Section 32, LLC, a technology and life sciences-based venture capital fund. Dr. Pellini currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Personalized Medicine Coalition and the Mission Hospital Foundation and several private companies. Dr. Pellini previously served as chairman of the board of directors, Chief Executive Officer and President at Foundation Medicine, Inc., a molecular information company, which was acquired by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. in 2018. Dr. Pellini holds an MD from Jefferson Medical College, an MBA from Drexel University and a BA in Economics from Boston College. We believe Dr. Pellini is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his medical and clinical experience in the biotechnology industry.

Andris Zoltners, PhD, has served on our board of directors since December 2009. Dr. Zoltners currently serves as the co-chairman of ZS Associates, Inc., a global management consulting firm, which he co-founded in 1983. Dr. Zoltners currently serves as a professor emeritus of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and previously served as a member of the Business School Faculty at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Zoltners holds a PhD and a MSIA in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, a M.S. in Mathematics from Purdue University and a BS in Mathematics from the University of Miami. We believe Dr. Zoltners is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on our review of his experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, including his extensive executive leadership and marketing qualifications.

Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors consists of eight members. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or until the earlier of their resignation or removal. Our amended and

 

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restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective upon the closing of this offering also provide that our directors may be removed only for cause by the holders of the shares entitled to elect the director or directors whose removal is sought if, with respect to a particular director, the number of votes cast in favor of removing such director (or the entire board of directors) exceeds the number of votes cast against removal, and that any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.

Director Independence

Our board of directors has determined that all members of the board of directors, except Chad Robins, are independent directors for purposes of the rules of Nasdaq and the SEC. In making this determination, our board of directors considered the relationships that each non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances that our board of directors deemed relevant, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director. Mr. Robins is not an independent director under these rules because he is an executive officer of our company.

Upon the closing of this offering, we expect that the composition and functioning of our board of directors and each of our committees will comply with all applicable requirements of Nasdaq and the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Family Relationships

Chad Robins, our co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors, is the brother of Dr. Harlan Robins, our Chief Scientific Officer and other co-founder. There are no other family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Staggered Board

In accordance with the terms of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective upon the closing of this offering, our board of directors will be divided into three staggered classes of directors and each will be assigned to one of the three classes. At each annual meeting of the shareholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the directors of the same class whose terms are then expiring. The terms of the directors will expire upon the election and qualification of successor directors at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held during the years 2020 for Class I directors, 2021 for Class II directors and 2022 for Class III directors.

 

   

Our Class I directors will be                 and                ;

 

   

Our Class II directors will be                ,                and                 ; and

 

   

Our Class III directors will be                ,                and                 .

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective upon the closing of this offering will provide that the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by a resolution of the majority of our board of directors.

The division of our board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent shareholder efforts to effect a change of our management or a change in control.

 

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Voting Arrangements

The current members of our board of directors were elected pursuant to a sixth amended and restated voting agreement (the “Voting Agreement”) that we entered into with certain holders of our common stock and our convertible preferred stock, and the related provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation in effect prior to this offering.

Pursuant to the Voting Agreement and these provisions, our board of directors consists of:

 

   

our Chief Executive Officer, currently Mr. Robins;

 

   

a director designated and elected by the holders of a majority of our Series A convertible preferred stock, Series B convertible preferred stock and Series C convertible preferred stock, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis (the “Preferred Director”), currently Dr. Zoltners;

 

   

two directors designated and elected by the holders of a majority of our Series E-1 convertible preferred stock, voting as a separate class, currently Ms. Griffin and Dr. Pellini;

 

   

one director designated and elected by the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock and convertible preferred stock held by Mr. Robins, Dr. Robins and Chris Carlson, voting as a separate class, currently Mr. Dobmeier; and

 

   

four directors designated and elected by a majority vote of our board of directors and approved by the Preferred Director and the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock and convertible preferred stock held by Mr. Robins, Dr. Robins and Chris Carlson, voting as a separate class, which directors are currently Mr. Goel, Dr. Hershberg and Mr. Neupert, with one vacancy.

The holders of our common stock and convertible preferred stock who are parties to the Voting Agreement are obligated to vote for such designees indicated above. The provisions of the Voting Agreement will terminate upon the consummation of this offering and our current amended and restated articles of incorporation will be amended and restated, after which there will be no further contractual obligations or charter provisions regarding the election of particular directors.

Following this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee and our board of directors will consider a broad range of factors relating to the qualifications and background of nominees. Our nominating and corporate governance committee’s and our board of directors’ priority in selecting board members is the identification of persons who will further the interests of our shareholders through their established record of professional accomplishment, the ability to contribute positively to the collaborative culture among board members, knowledge of our business, understanding of the competitive landscape, and professional and personal experiences and expertise relevant to our growth strategy.

Board Leadership Structure

Our corporate governance guidelines provide our board of directors with flexibility to combine or separate the positions of Chairperson of our board of directors and Chief Executive Officer and to implement a lead independent director in accordance with its determination that using one or the other structure would be in our best interests. Chad Robins is the current Chairperson of our board of directors and Peter Neupert currently serves as the lead independent director of our board of directors. In addition, in his role as lead independent director, Mr. Neupert presides over the independent director sessions of our board of directors in which Mr. Robins, as our Chief Executive Officer, does not participate and serves as a liaison to management on behalf of the non-employee members of our board of directors.

 

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Our board of directors has concluded that our current leadership structure is appropriate at this time. Our board of directors believes that the combined role of Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer promotes united leadership and direction and provides management a clear focus to execute our strategy and business plans. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Robins is best suited to ensure that critical business issues are brought before our board of directors, which enhances our board of directors’ ability to develop and implement business strategies.

Mr. Neupert, as lead independent director, provides, in connection with our Chairperson, leadership and guidance to our board of directors, and also:

 

   

presides at all meetings of our board of directors at which our Chairperson is not present, including the executive sessions of the non-employee directors, and has the authority to call such executive sessions;

 

   

in consultation with our Chairperson, approves the agenda for each meeting of our board of directors, taking into account suggestions of other directors;

 

   

serves as liaison between our Chairperson and the non-employee directors, although all of the non-employee directors have complete and open access to our Chairperson and all members of management; and

 

   

serves as the contact for direct employee and shareholder communications with our board of directors.

In addition, all directors are encouraged to suggest the inclusion of agenda items and meeting materials, and any director is free to raise at any board meeting items that are not on the agenda for that meeting.

Our non-employee directors will regularly meet in executive session without the presence of any members of management. The lead independent director presides at these meetings and provides the guidance and feedback of our non-employee directors to our Chairperson and management team.

Committees of our Board of Directors

Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee, each of which will operate pursuant to a charter to be adopted by our board of directors and will be effective upon the closing of this offering. The board of directors may also establish other committees from time to time to assist the board of directors. Effective upon the closing of this offering, the composition and functioning of all of our committees will comply with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. Upon our listing on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, each committee’s charter will be available on our website at www.adaptivebiotech.com.

Audit Committee

Effective upon the closing of this offering,                 ,                  and                  will serve on the audit committee, which will be chaired by                 . Our board of directors has determined that each member of the audit committee is “independent” as that term is defined in the SEC and Nasdaq rules, meets the heightened independence requirements for audit committees required under Section 10A of the Exchange Act and related SEC and Nasdaq rules, and has sufficient knowledge in financial and auditing matters to serve on the audit committee. Our board of directors has designated                  as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC. The audit committee’s responsibilities include:

 

   

appointing, approving the compensation of and assessing the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

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pre-approving auditing and permissible non-audit services, and the terms of such services, to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

reviewing the overall audit plan with our independent registered public accounting firm and members of management responsible for preparing our financial statements;

 

   

reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures as well as critical accounting policies and practices used by us;

 

   

coordinating the oversight and reviewing the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

establishing policies and procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting-related complaints and concerns;

 

   

recommending based upon the audit committee’s review and discussions with management and our independent registered public accounting firm whether our audited financial statements shall be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K;

 

   

monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to our financial statements and accounting matters;

 

   

preparing the audit committee report required by SEC rules to be included in our annual proxy statement;

 

   

reviewing all related person transactions for potential conflict of interest situations and approving all such transactions; and

 

   

reviewing quarterly earnings releases.

Compensation Committee

Effective upon closing of this offering                 ,                  and                  will serve on the compensation committee, which will be chaired by                 . Our board of directors has determined that each member of the compensation committee is “independent” as that term is defined in SEC and Nasdaq rules, meets the heightened independence requirements for compensation committee purposes under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and related SEC and Nasdaq rules, and is a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The compensation committee’s responsibilities include:

 

   

reviewing and approving our philosophy, policies and plans with respect to the compensation of our chief executive officer;

 

   

making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to the compensation of our chief executive officer and our other executive officers;

 

   

reviewing and assessing the independence of compensation advisors;

 

   

overseeing and administering our equity incentive plans;

 

   

reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to director compensation; and

 

   

preparing the Compensation Committee reports required by the SEC, including our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” disclosure.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Effective upon the closing of this offering                 ,                  and                  will serve on the nominating and corporate governance committee, which will be chaired by                 . Our board of

 

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directors has determined that each member of the audit committee is “independent” as defined in Nasdaq rules. The nominating and corporate governance committee’s responsibilities include:

 

   

developing and recommending to the board of directors criteria for board and committee membership;

 

   

establishing procedures for identifying and evaluating board of director candidates, including nominees recommended by shareholders;

 

   

reviewing the composition of the board of directors to ensure that it is composed of members containing the appropriate skills and expertise to advise us;

 

   

identifying and screening individuals qualified to become members of the board of directors;

 

   

recommending to the board of directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to each of the board’s committees;

 

   

developing and recommending to the board of directors a code of business conduct and ethics and a set of corporate governance guidelines; and

 

   

overseeing the evaluation of our board of directors and management.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of our compensation committee has at any time during the prior three years been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past fiscal year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.

Code of Conduct

We have adopted a written code of business conduct, that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. Upon the closing of this offering, a current copy of the code will be posted on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.adaptivebiotech.com. If we make any substantive amendments to, or grant any waivers from, the code of business conduct and ethics for any officer or director, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website or in a current report on Form 8-K.

Non-Employee Director Compensation

The following table presents the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our board of directors and received compensation for such service during the year ended December 31, 2018. Other than as set forth in the table and described more fully below, we did not pay any compensation, make any additional equity awards or non-equity awards to or pay any other compensation to any of the non-employee members of our board of directors in 2018. We reimburse non-employee members of our board of directors for reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of our board of directors and committees of our board of directors.

We also do not, and do not expect to, provide separate compensation to our directors who are also our employees, such as Chad Robins, our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Robins’ compensation as

 

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our principal executive officer in 2018 is reported in the “Executive Compensation” section of this prospectus.

 

Name

   Option
Awards

($)(1)
     Total
($)
 

Eric Dobmeier(2)

   $ 62,634      $ 62,634  

David Goel(3)

     —          —    

Robert Hershberg, PhD, MD(4)

     62,634        62,634  

Arnold Levine, PhD(5)

     62,634        62,634  

Peter Neupert(6)

     417,557        417,557  

Michael Pellini, MD(7)

     626,336        626,336  

Tom Willis(8)

     62,634        62,634  

Andris Zoltners, PhD(9)

     62,634        62,634  

 

(1)

In accordance with SEC rules, amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant-date fair value of stock options granted during 2018 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, rather than the amounts paid or realized by the named individual. We provide information regarding the assumptions used to calculate the value of all stock options made to our directors in Note 13 to our financial statements.

(2)

As of December 31, 2018, Mr. Dobmeier held options to purchase 115,000 shares of our common stock; 68,750 of which were vested as of such date.

(3)

Mr. Goel did not hold any outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2018.

(4)

As of December 31, 2018, Dr. Hershberg held options to purchase 145,000 shares of our common stock; 142,500 of which were vested as of such date.

(5)

Dr. Levine resigned from our board of directors in March 2019. As of December 31, 2018, Dr. Levine held options to purchase 37,084 shares of our common stock; 34,584 of which were vested as of such date.

(6)

As of December 31, 2018, Mr. Neupert held options to purchase 280,000 shares of our common stock; 260,208 of which were vested as of such date.

(7)

As of December 31, 2018, Dr. Pellini held options to purchase 150,000 shares of our common stock; none of which were vested as of such date.

(8)

Mr. Willis resigned from our board of directors in January 2019. As of December 31, 2018, Mr. Willis held options to purchase 265,000 shares of our common stock; 231,250 of which were vested as of such date, and options to purchase 233,600 shares of our Series E-1 convertible preferred stock; all of which were vested as of such date.

(9)

As of December 31, 2018, Dr. Zoltners held options to purchase 165,000 shares of our common stock; 162,500 of which were vested as of such date.

Non-Employee Director Compensation

Our board of directors intends to compensate non-employee directors upon the completion of this offering at a level that is designed to enable us to attract and retain, on a long-term basis, highly qualified non-employee directors. We expect that this compensation will provide for annual cash or equity compensation to each director who is not an employee of ours from and after the closing of this offering, with additional amounts for those serving on our audit, compensation, and nominating and corporate governance committees, as set forth below:

 

     Member
Annual
Fee

($)
     Chairperson
Additional
Annual Fee

($)
 

Board of Directors

     

Audit Committee

     

Compensation Committee

     

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

     

 

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In addition, we expect to grant non-employee directors options to purchase that number of shares that has an aggregate grant date fair value of $                , using the assumptions described in Note 13 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. On the date of such director’s election or appointment to the board of directors, which will vest annually over                  years, subject to continued service through such vesting dates.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

This section discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for our executive officers who are named in the “—2018 Summary Compensation Table” below. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, our “named executive officers” and their positions were as follows:

 

   

Chad Robins, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder;

 

   

Julie Rubinstein, President; and

 

   

Harlan Robins, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder.

2018 Summary Compensation Table

The following table represents information regarding the total compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018:

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(2)
     Total ($)  

Chad Robins
CEO

    2018       422,815 (3)      2,505,343       266,500        3,194,658  

Julie Rubinstein
President

    2018       368,753 (4)      1,670,228       187,500        2,226,481  

Harlan Robins, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer

    2018       348,938 (5)      1,670,228       158,500        2,177,666  

 

(1)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of all awards granted in 2018 calculated using the assumptions described in Note 13 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Amounts do not reflect the amounts paid or realized by the named individual.

(2)

Represents bonuses based upon the board of directors’ assessment of the achievement of corporate performance objectives for the year ended December 31, 2018, which were paid in March 2019. See “—Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” below for details of the award plan and awards.

(3)

Following the completion of our annual performance and merit review cycle, Mr. Robins’ annual salary was increased from $412,000 to $426,420, effective April 1, 2018.

(4)

Following the completion of our annual performance and merit review cycle, Ms. Rubenstein’s annual salary was increased from $350,010 to $375,000, effective April 1, 2018.

(5)

Following the completion of our annual performance and merit review cycle, Dr. Robins’ annual salary was increased from $309,000 to $362,250, effective April 1, 2018.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards

We grant equity incentive awards intended to align the interests of our named executive officers with those of our shareholders and to motivate them to make important contributions to our performance. These awards are often subject to time-based vesting conditions. For more information see the “—Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2018” and “—Employee Benefit and Equity Compensation Plans” sections of this prospectus.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards

We grant non-equity incentive plan awards intended to create a direct correlation between the executive’s role and responsibilities and the ability to earn variable pay. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, our named executive officers were eligible to earn cash-based awards based on the achievement of corporate performance objectives. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018,

 

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Chad Robins, Julie Rubinstein and Dr. Harlan Robins had an annual bonus opportunity targeted at 50%, 40% and 35% of their respective base salary. For each of our named executive officers, their annual bonus opportunity was based entirely on the achievement of corporate performance goals. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, our compensation committee determined that the corporate performance goals were attained at a level of 125% and approved bonuses for the named executive officers at that level. The annual cash bonuses actually earned by each named executive officer for performance during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 are set forth above in the section titled “—2018 Summary Compensation Table” in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column.

Employment Arrangements with our Named Executive Officers

Chad Robins

Pursuant to the terms of his amended and restated employment agreement, which will be effective on the closing of this offering, Mr. Robins will continue in his current role, on an at-will basis, and will remain eligible to participate in our fringe benefit plans, including group health insurance and vacation programs. In addition, Mr. Robins may in the future be granted equity incentive awards under our 2019 Plan, which will be effective on the closing of this offering, and any equity incentive awards granted to him under our 2009 Plan will continue to be subject to the terms and provisions of the applicable award documentation. All future and existing equity incentive awards granted to Mr. Robins will also be subject to the terms set forth in the amended and restated employment agreement providing for 100% acceleration of vesting upon a termination of his employment by us other than for death, disability or “cause” within the period beginning three months prior to and 12 months following a “change in control.”

We have also entered into an employee nondisclosure and assignment agreement with Mr. Robins, under which Mr. Robins has agreed (1) not to compete with us for a period of one year after the termination of his or employment, (2) not to solicit our employees during his employment and for a period of one year after the termination of such employment, (3) to protect our confidential and proprietary information and (4) to assign to us related intellectual property developed during the course of his employment. Mr. Robins will continue to be subject to this agreement on the closing of this offering.

Julie Rubinstein

Pursuant to the terms of her amended and restated employment agreement, which will be effective on the closing of this offering, Ms. Rubinstein will continue in her current role, on an at-will basis, and will remain eligible to participate in our fringe benefit plans, including group health insurance and vacation programs. In addition, Ms. Rubinstein may in the future be granted equity incentive awards under our 2019 Plan, which will be effective on the closing of this offering, and any equity incentive awards granted to her under our 2009 Plan will continue to be subject to the terms and provisions of the applicable award documentation. All future and existing equity incentive awards granted to Ms. Rubinstein will also be subject to the terms set forth in the amended and restated employment agreement providing for 100% acceleration of vesting upon a termination of her employment by us other than for death, disability or “cause” within the period beginning three months prior to and 12 months following a “change in control.”

We have also entered into an employee nondisclosure and assignment agreement with Ms. Rubinstein, under which Ms. Rubinstein has agreed (1) not to solicit our employees during her employment and for a period of one year after the termination of such employment, (2) to protect our confidential and proprietary information and (3) to assign to us related intellectual property developed during the course of her employment. Ms. Rubinstein will continue to be subject to this agreement on the closing of this offering.

 

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Harlan Robins, PhD

Pursuant to the terms of his amended and restated employment agreement, which will be effective on the closing of this offering, Dr. Robins will continue in his current role, on an at-will basis, and will remain eligible to participate in our fringe benefit plans, including group health insurance and vacation programs. In addition, Dr. Robins may in the future be granted equity incentive awards under our 2019 Plan, which will be effective on the closing of this offering, and any equity incentive awards granted to him under our 2009 Plan will continue to be subject to the terms and provisions of the applicable award documentation. All future and existing equity incentive awards granted to Dr. Robins will also be subject to the terms set forth in the amended and restated employment agreement providing for 100% acceleration of vesting upon a termination of his employment by us other than for death, disability or “cause” within the period beginning three months prior to and 12 months following a “change in control.”

We have also entered into an employee nondisclosure and assignment agreement with Dr. Robins, under which Dr. Robins has agreed (1) not to compete with us for a period of one year after the termination of his or employment, (2) not to solicit our employees during his employment and for a period of one year after the termination of such employment, (3) to protect our confidential and proprietary information and (4) to assign to us related intellectual property developed during the course of his employment. Dr. Robins will continue to be subject to this agreement on the closing of this offering.

Certain Definitions

For purposes of the employment agreements of each of our named executive officers:

 

   

“Cause” means (i) theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit or falsification of any of our documents or records by the executive, (ii) the executive’s material failure to abide by our code of conduct or other policies, (iii) the executive’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of our assets or corporate opportunity, (iv) any intentional act by the executive which has a material detrimental effect on our reputation or business, (v) the executive’s repeated failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability, (vi) the executive’s material breach of any employment, service, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the executive and us, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement or (vii) the executive’s conviction of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the executive’s ability to perform his or her duties with us.

 

   

“Change in Control” means (i) any person or entity becoming a beneficial owner of our securities representing more than 50% of the total fair market value or total combined voting power of our then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless such degree of beneficial ownership results from (a) an acquisition by a person or entity who was a beneficial owner of more than 50% of such voting power on the effective date of our 2009 Plan, (b) any acquisition directly from us, (c) any acquisition by us, a trustee or other fiduciary under our employee benefit plan, or an entity owned by our shareholders in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of our voting securities; or (ii) an ownership change transaction in which our shareholders immediately before such transaction do not retain immediately after the transaction, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total combined voting power of our outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or the entity to which our assets were transferred; or (iii) our liquidation or dissolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “change of control” does not include a transaction described in (i) or (ii) in which a majority of

 

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the board of directors of the continuing, surviving or successor entity, or parent thereof, immediately after such transaction is comprised of our incumbent directors.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2018

The following table presents information regarding outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2018. All awards were granted under our 2009 Plan.

 

    Option Awards  

Name

  Grant
Date
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Option
Exercise
Price

($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
 

Chad Robins(1)

    12/20/2011       800,000 (2)      —         0.33       12/20/2021  

CEO

    6/9/2015       800,000 (3)      100,000       6.32       6/9/2025  
    2/7/2018       600,000 (4)      425,000       6.55       2/7/2028  

Julie Rubinstein(1)

    7/19/2011       100,000 (5)      —         0.33       7/19/2021  

President

    12/20/2011       25,000 (2)      —         0.33       12/20/2021  
    8/21/2012       70,000 (6)      —         0.45       8/21/2022  
    2/4/2013       100,000 (7)      —         0.45       2/4/2023  
    11/3/2013       65,000 (8)      —         0.84       11/3/2023  
    3/13/2014       360,000 (9)      —         0.84       3/13/2024  
    6/9/2015       500,000 (3)      62,500       6.32       6/9/2025  
    2/7/2018       400,000 (4)      283,334       6.55       2/7/2028  

Harlan Robins, PhD(1)

    6/9/2015       600,000 (3)      75,000       6.32       6/9/2025  

Chief Scientific Officer

    2/7/2018       400,000 (4)      283,334       6.55       2/7/2028  

 

(1)

Each equity award is subject to the acceleration of vesting provisions in each named executive officer’s amended and restated employment agreement, as set forth above in the section titled “—Employment Arrangements with our Named Executive Officers.”

(2)

The shares underlying this option vested 25% on January 1, 2013, then in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(3)

The shares underlying this option vested 25% on June 8, 2016, then in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(4)

The shares underlying this option vested 25% on November 1, 2018, then in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(5)

The shares underlying this option vested 25% on May 1, 2012, then in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(6)

The shares underlying this option vested 25% on July 1, 2013, then in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(7)

The shares underlying this option vested 25% on January 1, 2014, then in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(8)

The shares underlying this option vested 25% on November 3, 2014, then in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

(9)

The shares underlying this option vested 100% upon the date of grant on March 13, 2014.

Employee Benefit and Equity Compensation Plans

The principal features of our employee benefit and equity incentive plans are summarized below. These summaries are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual text of our plans, each of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

2019 Equity Incentive Plan

Our 2019 Plan was approved by our board of directors and our shareholders in                 , 2019. It is intended to make available incentives that will assist us to attract, retain and motivate employees,

 

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including officers, consultants and directors. We may provide these incentives through the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and units and other cash-based or share-based awards.

A total of                  shares of our common stock will be initially authorized and reserved for issuance under our 2019 Plan. This reserve will automatically increase on                  and each subsequent anniversary by an amount equal to the smaller of (a)         % of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or (b) an amount determined by our board of directors. In addition, this reserve will be increased to include up to                  shares that remained available for grant under our 2009 Plan upon its termination or that are subject to options granted under our 2009 Plan that expire or terminate without having been exercised in full.

Appropriate adjustments will be made in the number of authorized shares and other numerical limits in our 2019 Plan and in outstanding awards to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights in the event of a stock split or other change in our capital structure. Shares subject to awards which expire or are cancelled or forfeited will again become available for issuance under our 2019 Plan. The shares available will not be reduced by awards settled in cash or by shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations. Only the net number of shares issued upon the exercise of stock appreciation rights or options exercised by means of a net exercise or by tender of previously owned shares will be deducted from the shares available under our 2019 Plan.

Our 2019 Plan will be generally administered by our compensation committee. Subject to the provisions of our 2019 Plan, our compensation committee will determine in its discretion the persons to whom and the times at which awards are granted, the sizes of such awards and all of their terms and conditions. However, our compensation committee may delegate to one or more of our officers the authority to grant awards to persons who are not officers or directors, subject to certain limitations contained in our 2019 Plan and award guidelines established by our compensation committee. Our compensation committee will have the authority to construe and interpret the terms of our 2019 Plan and awards granted under it. Our 2019 Plan provides, subject to certain limitations, for indemnification by us of any director, officer or employee against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any legal action arising from such person’s action or failure to act in administering our 2019 Plan.

Our 2019 Plan will authorize our compensation committee, without further shareholder approval, to provide for the cancellation of stock options or stock appreciation rights with exercise prices in excess of the fair market value of the underlying shares of common stock in exchange for new options or other equity awards with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock or a cash payment.

Our 2019 Plan limits the grant date fair value of all equity awards and the amount of cash compensation that may be provided to a non-employee director in any fiscal year to an aggregate of $                     for the first year of service and $                     for each year of service thereafter.

Awards may be granted under our 2019 Plan to our employees, including officers, directors or consultants or those of any present or future parent or subsidiary corporation or other affiliated entity. All awards will be evidenced by a written agreement between us and the holder of the award and may include any of the following:

 

   

Stock options: We may grant nonstatutory stock options or incentive stock options (as described in Section 422 of the Code), each of which gives its holder the right, during a specified term (not exceeding 10 years) and subject to any specified vesting or other

 

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conditions, to purchase a number of shares of our common stock at an exercise price per share determined by the administrator, which may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.

 

   

Stock appreciation rights: A stock appreciation right gives its holder the right, during a specified term (not exceeding 10 years) and subject to any specified vesting or other conditions, to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our common stock between the date of grant of the award and the date of its exercise. We may pay the appreciation in shares of our common stock or in cash.

 

   

Restricted stock: The administrator may grant restricted stock awards either as a bonus or as a purchase right at such price as the administrator determines. Shares of restricted stock remain subject to forfeiture until vested, based on such terms and conditions as the administrator specifies. Holders of restricted stock will have the right to vote the shares and to receive any dividends paid, except that the dividends will be subject to the same vesting conditions as the related shares.

 

   

Restricted stock units: Restricted stock units represent rights to receive shares of our common stock (or their value in cash) at a future date without payment of a purchase price, subject to vesting or other conditions specified by the administrator. Holders of restricted stock units have no voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends unless and until shares of common stock are issued in settlement of such awards. However, the administrator may grant restricted stock units that entitle their holders to dividend equivalent rights subject to the same vesting conditions as the related units.

 

   

Performance shares and performance units: Performance shares and performance units are awards that will result in a payment to their holder only if specified performance goals are achieved during a specified performance period. Performance share awards are rights denominated in shares of our common stock, while performance unit awards are rights denominated in dollars. The administrator establishes the applicable performance goals based on one or more measures of business performance enumerated in our 2019 Plan, such as revenue, gross margin, net income or total shareholder return. To the extent earned, performance share and unit awards may be settled in cash or in shares of our common stock. Holders of performance shares or performance units have no voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends unless and until shares of common stock are issued in settlement of such awards. However, the administrator may grant performance shares that entitle their holders to dividend equivalent rights subject to the same vesting conditions as the related units.

 

   

Cash-based awards and other share-based awards: The administrator may grant cash-based awards that specify a monetary payment or range of payments or other share-based awards that specify a number or range of shares or units that, in either case, are subject to vesting or other conditions specified by the administrator. Settlement of these awards may be in cash or shares of our common stock, as determined by the administrator. Their holder will have no voting rights or right to receive cash dividends unless and until shares of our common stock are issued pursuant to the award. The administrator may grant dividend equivalent rights with respect to other share-based awards.

In the event of a change in control as described in our 2019 Plan, the acquiring or successor entity may assume or continue all or any awards outstanding under our 2019 Plan or substitute substantially equivalent awards. Any awards which are not assumed or continued in connection with a change in control or are not exercised or settled prior to the change in control will terminate effective as of the time of the change in control. Our compensation committee may provide for the acceleration of vesting of any or all outstanding awards upon such terms and to such extent as it determines, except that the vesting of all awards held by members of our board of directors who are not employees will

 

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automatically be accelerated in full in the event of a change in control. Our 2019 Plan will also authorize the compensation committee, in its discretion and without the consent of any participant, to cancel each or any outstanding award denominated in shares upon a change in control in exchange for a payment to the participant with respect to each share subject to the cancelled award of an amount equal to the excess of the consideration to be paid per share of common stock in the change in control transaction over the exercise price per share, if any, under the award.

Our 2019 Plan will continue in effect until it is terminated by the administrator, provided, however, that all awards will be granted, if at all, within 10 years of its effective date. The administrator may amend, suspend or terminate our 2019 Plan at any time, provided that without shareholder approval, our 2019 Plan cannot be amended to increase the number of shares authorized, change the class of persons eligible to receive incentive stock options or effect any other change that would require shareholder approval under any applicable law or listing rule.

Awards under our 2019 Plan generally may not be transferred or assigned except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator and subject to applicable securities laws.

2009 Equity Incentive Plan

Our 2009 Plan was originally adopted by our board of directors and approved by our shareholders on December 17, 2009. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued under our 2009 Plan is 22,848,899. Upon the closing of this offering, our board of directors will terminate our 2009 Plan and we will not grant any further awards under such plan, but our 2009 Plan will continue to govern outstanding awards granted thereunder. Our compensation committee administers our 2009 Plan and has the authority, among other things, to construe and interpret the terms of our 2009 Plan and awards granted thereunder.

Our 2009 Plan permits the grant of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock purchase rights, restricted stock bonuses, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, cash-based awards and other share-based awards. As of December 31, 2018, options to purchase 14,893,253 shares of common stock were outstanding under our 2009 Plan. Appropriate and proportionate adjustments will be made to the number of shares subject to outstanding awards to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights in the event of a recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares or similar change in our capital structure, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the our shareholders in a form other than shares (excepting normal cash dividends).

In its discretion, our compensation committee may provide for acceleration of the exercisability, vesting or settlement of awards in connection with a “change in control,” as defined under our 2009 Plan, of each or any outstanding award or portion thereof and common stock acquired pursuant thereto upon such conditions, including termination of the plan participant’s service prior to, upon or following such change in control, and to such extent as our compensation committee determines. In the event of a change in control, the surviving, continuing, successor or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be, may, without the consent of any plan participant, either assume or continue the rights and obligations under each or any award or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the change in control or substitute for each or any such outstanding award or portion thereof a substantially equivalent award with respect to its own stock, as applicable. Any award or portion thereof which is neither assumed nor continued by the surviving, continuing, successor or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof in connection with the change in control nor exercised or settled as of the time of consummation of the change in control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the change in control.

 

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Sequenta 2008 Stock Plan

In connection with our Sequenta Acquisition, we assumed the Sequenta Plan, including all awards that were then-outstanding under the Sequenta Plan. We have not granted any further awards following our assumption of the Sequenta Plan. The Sequenta Plan terminated pursuant to its terms in 2018, but all outstanding awards thereunder continue to be governed by their existing terms. Our compensation committee administers the Sequenta Plan and has the authority, among other things, to construe and interpret the terms of the Sequenta Plan and awards granted thereunder.

As of December 31, 2018, there were 264,677 stock options to purchase shares of our Series E-1 convertible preferred stock outstanding under the Sequenta Plan. In connection with the closing of this offering, all outstanding stock options to purchase shares of our Series E-1 convertible preferred stock under the Sequenta Plan will convert into stock options to purchase shares of our common stock. Appropriate and proportionate adjustments will be made to the number of shares subject to outstanding awards to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights in the event of a recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares or similar change in our capital structure, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to our shareholders in a form other than shares (excepting normal cash dividends). In the event of a merger or “change in control” (as defined in the Sequenta Plan), each outstanding award will be treated as the plan administrator determines, including, without limitation, that each award be assumed or an equivalent award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation, provided that in the event of a change of control in which the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for an award under such plan, an awardee shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise his or her outstanding awards, including shares as to which such award would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, and restrictions on all of the awardee’s restricted stock shall lapse.

401(k) Plan

Effective as of January 1, 2012, we adopted a tax-qualified retirement plan that provides eligible employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. All participants’ interests in their contributions are 100% vested when contributed. Under the plan, we can make discretionary matching contributions, although we did not do so in 2018. The retirement plan is intended to qualify under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code.

Health and Welfare Plans

All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans, including medical and dental benefits, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and life insurance.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters

Our amended and restated articles and our amended and restated bylaws which will be in effect upon the closing of this offering will provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the laws of the State of Washington. Under the WBCA, our amended and restated articles of incorporation may contain provisions not inconsistent with law that eliminate or limit the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages for conduct as directors, except for the following:

 

   

acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct by a director or a knowing violation of law by a director;

 

   

conduct violating RCW 23B.08.310 relating to unlawful distributions;

 

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any transaction from which the director will personally receive a benefit in money, property or services to which the director is not legally entitled; or

 

   

any act or omission occurring prior to the date when the provision eliminating or limiting the liability of our directors becomes effective.

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation, upon the closing of this offering, will also provide that if Washington law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Washington law, as so amended. We may also purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of our directors, officers, employees and agents. We currently maintain a liability insurance policy pursuant to which our directors and officers may be indemnified against liability incurred as a result of serving in their capacities as directors and officers, subject to certain exclusions.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers, and may enter into indemnification agreements with future directors and executive officers, to provide such directors and officers additional contractual assurances regarding the scope of the indemnification set forth in our amended and restated articles and amended and restated bylaws and to provide additional procedural protections.

We believe these charter provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and executive officers.

The above description of the relevant portions of Washington law, and the indemnification provisions of our amended and restated articles, our amended and restated bylaws and our indemnification agreements, is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the WBCA, our amended and restated articles, our amended and restated bylaws and the indemnification agreements between us and our directors and executive officers, each of which is filed as an exhibit to our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated articles and amended and restated bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our shareholders. Further, a shareholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers as required by these indemnification provisions.

The indemnification provisions in our amended and restated articles and amended and restated bylaws and the indemnification agreements entered into or to be entered into between us and each of our directors and executive officers may not be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our directors and executive officers for liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

There is no pending litigation or proceeding naming any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or officer.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Other than the compensation agreements and other arrangements described in the “Executive Compensation” section of this prospectus and the transactions described below, since January 1, 2016, there has not been and there is not currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were, or will be, a party in which the amount involved exceeded, or will exceed, $120,000 and in which any director, executive officer, holder of 5% or more of any class of our capital stock or any member of the immediate family of, or entities affiliated with, any of the foregoing persons, had, or will have, a direct or indirect material interest.

Private Placement of Securities

On December 11, 2017 we entered into a Series F-1 Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 4,686,649 shares of our Series F-1 convertible preferred stock at a price per share of $10.6686, for an aggregate purchase price of $49,999,984. The following table sets forth the number of shares of our Series F-1 convertible preferred stock that we issued to entities under common control with certain of our 5% shareholders and their affiliates in this transaction:

 

Name

   Shares of
Series F-1
Convertible
Preferred Stock
     Total
Purchase Price
 

Viking Global Entities(1)

     290,572      $ 3,099,996  

Matrix Capital Management Master Fund, LP(2)(3)

     84,359        899,992  

 

(1)

Viking Global Entities consists of Viking Global Equities Master Ltd., Viking Global Equities II LP, Viking Long Fund Master Ltd. and Viking Global Opportunities Illiquid Investments Sub-Master LP (“Viking Global Entities”), and collectively hold 5% or more of our capital stock.

(2)

David Goel, one of our directors, is the sole Managing General Partner of Matrix Capital Management Company, LP.

(3)

Matrix Capital Management Master Fund, LP is a holder of 5% or more of our capital stock.

Agreements with our Shareholders

In connection with our Series F-1 convertible preferred stock financing, we entered into a sixth amended and restated investors’ rights agreement and the Voting Agreement, in each case, with the purchasers of our Series F-1 convertible preferred stock and certain holders of our common and convertible preferred stock, including Viking Global Equities Master Ltd., Viking Long Fund Master Ltd., Viking Global Equities II LP and Matrix Capital Management Master Fund, LP. The Voting Agreement contains provisions with respect to the election of our board of directors and its composition. The Voting Agreement will terminate automatically upon the closing of this offering.

On                 , 2019, we entered into a seventh amended and restated investors’ rights agreement (the “Investors’ Rights Agreement”), which superseded our sixth amended and restated investors’ rights agreement. In addition to certain registration rights, the Investors’ Rights Agreement provides for certain information rights, rights of first offer and rights of first refusal.

See the “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights” section of this prospectus for more information regarding the registration rights provided in this agreement.

The provisions described above, except for the registration rights, will terminate automatically upon the closing of this offering. This is not a complete description of the Investors’ Rights Agreement and is qualified by the full text of the Investors’ Rights Agreement filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

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Side Letter Agreement

In connection with our Series F-1 convertible preferred stock financing, we entered into a side letter agreement with the Viking Global Entities, collectively a greater than 5% beneficial owner of our common stock, which we amended and restated in            2019 (the “Letter Agreement”). The Letter Agreement imposes on the Viking Global Entities certain standstill and support obligations until the earlier of our consummation of a change of control transaction, April 3, 2024, and the date on which they cease to have beneficial ownership of at least 10% of any class of our voting securities.

With respect to the standstill obligations, the Viking Global Entities have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to (i) acquire beneficial ownership of any additional shares of our common stock or other securities; (ii) transfer any shares of our common stock issued upon conversion of our convertible preferred stock to our competitors, or to any other person if, after the transfer, the transferee would beneficially own more than 10% of our capital stock and, to the knowledge of the transferor, be involved any of the actions prohibited by clauses (iii) or (iv); (iii) make, vote for or encourage any proposal to amend our amended and restated bylaws that our board of directors has recommended against, approve any shareholder proposal that our board of directors has recommended against or approve any “significant business transaction” as defined under the WBCA in which the Viking Global Entities would be a buyer in such transaction; (iv) encourage any third party to commence a tender offer for shares of our common stock, solicit shareholder proxies with respect to any matter, call a special meeting of our shareholders or make a request for a list of our shareholders; or (v) form, join in or participate in a “group” (within the meaning of the Exchange Act) for the purpose of acting in a concerted manner.

With respect to the support obligations, each of the Viking Global Entities has agreed that it will cause all of our shares of capital stock legally or beneficially owned by it to be voted in favor of any proposal that both (i) has been recommended by our board of directors and (ii) relates to a transaction that would constitute a change of control, but only, at the option of such Viking Global Entity, as recommended by our board of directors or in the same proportions as all of our other shareholders voting on such proposal. Each of the Viking Global Entities has granted our chief executive officer a proxy to vote its shares in accordance with the support obligations, subject to certain exceptions.

Adaptimmune Master Collaboration Agreement

We are party to a master collaboration agreement with Adaptimmune Limited, pursuant to which we provide Adaptimmune with certain services related to our ImmunoSEQ product and service pursuant to agreed upon project orders. David Goel, one of our directors, is sole Managing General Partner of Matrix Capital Management Master Fund, LP, which owns greater than 10% of the outstanding equity interest in Adaptimmune. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, Adaptimmune paid us $128,000 for services provided under the master collaboration agreement.

ZS Associates Master Services Agreement

We are party to a management services agreement, which was extended to August 2019 by amendment, with ZS Associates, pursuant to which ZS Associates provides us with certain sales and marketing services pursuant to agreed-upon work orders. Andris Zoltners, PhD, one of our directors, is a Co-Chairman and Founding Director of ZS Associates. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, we paid ZS Associates $143,000 for services provided under the management services agreement.

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors and executive officers. These agreements will, among other things, require us to indemnify these individuals for certain expenses

 

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(including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts reasonably incurred by such person in any action or proceeding, including any action by or in our right, on account of any services undertaken by such person on behalf of us or that person’s status as a member of our board of directors to the maximum extent allowed under Washington law.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

Our board of directors has adopted a written policy with respect to related person transactions, to be effective upon the closing of this offering, setting forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. Under the policy, related person transactions that are identified as such prior to the consummation or amendment of such transaction may be consummated or amended only if certain steps are taken, including review and approval by our audit committee. In the event we become aware of a related person transaction that has not been previously approved or previously ratified under the policy, the transaction is submitted to our audit committee for review and ratification, amendment, termination or rescission as the audit committee deems appropriate. For purposes of this policy, related person transactions mean transactions in which we were or are to be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. For purposes of this policy, a related person means a director, executive officer, nominee for director or greater than 5% beneficial owner of our common stock, in each case since the beginning of the most recently completed year, and such person’s immediate family members.

 

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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by:

 

   

each person or group of affiliated persons known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our capital stock;

 

   

each of our named executive officers;

 

   

each of our directors; and

 

   

all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Common stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of options, warrants or other rights to acquire common stock that are currently exercisable or convertible, or exercisable or convertible within 60 days of March 22, 2019 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the holder for the purpose of computing share and percentage ownership of that holder, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as indicated in the footnotes to the table below, and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.

In the table below, the percentage of beneficial ownership before this offering is based on 105,954,230 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 22, 2019, assuming the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 92,790,094 shares of common stock upon the closing of this offering, and the percentage of beneficial ownership after this offering further assumes the issuance of            shares of common stock in this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the individuals and entities named below is c/o Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, 1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200, Seattle, Washington 98102.

 

     Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned Prior
to Offering
     Percentage of
Shares

Beneficially Owned
 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Before
this
Offering
    After
this
Offering
 

5% and Greater Shareholders:

 

Viking Global Entities(1)

     38,156,607        36.0     %  

Matrix Capital Management Master Fund, LP(2)

     17,332,191        16.4    

Named Executive Officers and Directors:

       

Chad Robins(3)

     6,754,013        6.3    

Julie Rubinstein(4)

     1,359,583        1.3    

Harlan Robins, PhD(5)

     1,608,179        1.5    

Eric Dobmeier(6)

     84,583        *    

David Goel(2)

     17,332,191        16.4    

Michelle Griffin

     —          —      

Robert Hershberg, PhD, MD(7)

     148,750        *    

Peter Neupert(8)

     286,250        *    

Michael Pellini, MD(9)

     50,625        *    

Andris Zoltners, PhD(10)

     4,034,766        3.8    

All directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons)

     33,729,564        29.9    

 

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*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of our outstanding common stock.

(1)

Consists of (i) 26,405,953 shares of common stock held by Viking Global Equities Master Ltd. (“VGE Master”), (ii) 538,898 shares of common stock held by Viking Global Equities II LP (“VGE II”), (iii) 9,786,756 shares of common stock held by Viking Long Fund Master Ltd. (“VLF”) and (iv) 1,425,000 shares of common stock held by Viking Global Opportunities Illiquid Investments Sub-Master LP (“Viking Opportunities,” and together with VGE Master, VGE II, VLF and Viking Opportunities, the “Viking Global Entities”). VGE Master has the power to dispose of and vote the shares directly owned by it, which power may be exercised by its investment manager, Viking Global Performance LLC (“VGP”), and by Viking Global Investors LP (“VGI), which provides managerial services to VGE Master. VGE II has the power to dispose of and vote the shares directly owned by it, which power may be exercised by its general partner, VGP, and by VGI, which provides managerial services to VGE II. VLF has the power to dispose of and vote the shares directly owned by it, which power may be exercised by its investment manager, Viking Long Fund GP LLC (“VLFGP”), and by VGI, which provides managerial services to VLF. Viking Opportunities has the power to dispose of and vote the shares directly owned by it, which power may be exercised by its general partner, Viking Global Opportunities Portfolio GP LLC (“Viking Opportunities GP”), and by VGI, which provides managerial services to Viking Opportunities. O. Andreas Halvorsen, David C. Ott and Rose Shabet, as Executive Committee members of Viking Global Partners LLC (the general partner of VGI), VGP, VLFGP and Viking Opportunities GP, have shared power to direct the voting and disposition of investments beneficially owned by VGI, VGP, VLFGP and Viking Opportunities GP. The business address of each of the Viking Global Entities is c/o Viking Global Investors LP, 55 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830.

(2)

Matrix Capital Management Company, LP, the investment adviser of Matrix Capital Management Master Fund, LP (the “Matrix Fund”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by the Matrix Fund and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. David Goel, a member of our board of directors, in his capacity as the sole Managing General Partner of Matrix Capital Management Company, LP, may also be deemed to have investment and voting power over the shares held by the Matrix Fund. The registered office of Matrix Capital Management Master Fund, LP is c/o Matrix Capital Management Company, LP, 1000 Winter Street, Suite 4500, Waltham, MA 02451.

(3)

Consists of (i) 1,858,180 shares of common stock held directly by Chad Robins, (ii) 1,808,333 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2019, (iii) 2,237,500 shares of common stock held by South Dakota Trust Company, Trustee of the Harlan Robins 2017 Trust, for the benefit of Dr. Harlan Robins and his descendants and of which Mr. Robins is a trustee, (v) 500,000 shares of common stock held by HSR 2014 Mother’s Trust UTA dated June 17, 2014 for the benefit of Mr. Robins’ mother and daughter and of which Mr. Robins is a trustee and (vi) 350,000 shares of common stock held by HSR 2017 Trust for Descendants, u/a/d November 10, 2017 for the benefit of Dr. Robins’ descendants and of which Mr. Robins is trustee.

(4)

Consists of 1,359,583 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2019.

(5)

Consists of (i) 70,679 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Harlan Robins, (ii) 737,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2019, (iii) 300,000 shares of common stock held by CMR 2014 Brother’s Trust u/t/a dated July 2, 2014 for the benefit of Dr. Robins and of which Dr. Robins is a trustee and (iv) 500,000 shares of common stock held by CMR 2014 Mother’s Trust u/t/a dated July 2, 2014 for the benefit of Dr. Robins’ mother and Chad Robins’ daughter and of which Dr. Robins is a trustee.

(6)

Consists of 84,583 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2019.

(7)

Consists of 148,750 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2019.

(8)

Consists of 286,250 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2019.

(9)

Consists of 50,625 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2019.

(10)

Consists of (i) 3,866,016 shares of common stock and (ii) 168,750 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2019.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary describes our capital stock and the provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and amended and restated investors’ rights agreement that will be in effect upon the closing of this offering. Copies of these documents are filed with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The descriptions of our common stock and convertible preferred stock reflect changes to our capital structure that will occur in connection with the closing of this offering.

General

Upon the closing of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of                shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and                shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, all of which shares of preferred stock will be undesignated.

As of                 , 2019,                  shares of our common stock and                  shares of convertible preferred stock were outstanding and held by                  shareholders of record. This amount does not take into account the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into common stock upon the closing of this offering.

Common Stock

The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders. The holders of our common stock do not have any cumulative voting rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding convertible preferred stock. Our common stock has no preemptive rights, conversion rights or other subscription rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions.

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all debts and other liabilities and any liquidation preference of any outstanding convertible preferred stock. The shares to be issued by us in this offering will be, when issued and paid for, fully paid and non-assessable.

Convertible Preferred Stock

Upon the closing of this offering, all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock will be converted into shares of our common stock on a one-to-one basis. Following that conversion and the effectiveness of our amended and restated articles, our board of directors will have the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue up to                  shares of convertible preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting, or the designation of, such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. The issuance of our convertible preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon our liquidation. In addition, the issuance of convertible preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action. Immediately after consummation of this offering, no shares of convertible preferred stock will be outstanding, and we have no present plan to issue any shares of convertible preferred stock.

 

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Stock Options

As of December 31, 2018, options to purchase 264,667 shares of our Series E-1 convertible preferred stock were outstanding under the Sequenta Plan, of which 264,639 were vested and exercisable as of that date, and options to purchase 14,893,253 shares of our common stock were outstanding under our 2009 Plan, of which 10,062,291 were vested and exercisable as of that date. In addition,                  shares of common stock are reserved for future issuance under our 2019 Plan, which will become effective immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

Warrants

As of December 31, 2018, warrants to purchase a total of 55,032 shares of common stock were outstanding, with exercise prices ranging from $0.33 per share to $0.45 per share and an average exercise price of $0.37 per share. Of these, a warrant to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock will expire upon the closing of this offering unless earlier exercised, with the remaining warrant to purchase 35,032 shares of our common stock expiring in June 2022. In addition, as of December 31, 2018, a warrant to purchase 56,875 shares of our convertible preferred stock was outstanding, with an exercise price of $2.64 per share. This will become a warrant to purchase shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering, and will expire in April 2021.

Registration Rights

Upon the closing of this offering, holders of                  shares of our common stock, which shares we refer to as “registrable securities,” will be entitled to rights with respect to the registration of these registrable securities under the Securities Act. These rights are provided under the terms of the Investors’ Rights Agreement. The Investors’ Rights Agreement includes demand registration rights, short-form registration rights and piggyback registration rights.

All underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of registrable securities pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement shall be borne by the holders of registrable securities participating in such sale. Any additional expenses incurred in connection with exercise of registration rights under the Investors’ Rights Agreement, including all registration, filing and qualification fees, printers’ and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of our counsel shall be borne by us. We are also responsible for the reasonable fees and disbursements, not to exceed $100,000 (or such greater amount as agreed upon in the applicable underwriting agreement), of one counsel for the selling holders of registrable securities, and any legal expenses incurred by such selling holders in excess of $100,000 shall be borne by such holders.

Subject to certain exceptions contained in the Investors’ Rights Agreement, we and the underwriters may limit the number of shares included an underwritten offering by holders of registrable securities to the number of shares which we and the underwriters determine in our sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering.

Demand Registration Rights

Beginning six months after the completion date of this offering, the holders of registrable securities are entitled to demand registration rights under certain conditions. Under the terms of the Investors’ Rights Agreement, we will be required, upon the written request of (1) holders of at least 30% of registrable securities then outstanding or (2) the Viking Global Entities (so long as the Viking Global Entities remain a holder of at least 550,000 registrable securities), to use our best efforts to file a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-3 with respect to the registrable securities identified

 

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by the holders initiating such request so long as the anticipated aggregate offering price of such registrable securities pursuant to such registration would be at least $5.0 million in the aggregate. We are not obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to these demand registration rights (1) during the period that is thirty (30) days before our good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is sixty (60) days after the effective date of, a registration statement pertaining to an underwritten public offering of our securities or (2) after we have effected five (5) registrations pursuant to these demand registration rights if the initiating holder for at least two (2) of such registrations is one of the Viking Global Entities.

Short-Form Registration Rights

Pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement, beginning six months after the completion date of this offering, upon the written request of (1) holders of at least 20% of registrable securities then outstanding or (2) one of the Viking Global Entities (so long as one of the Viking Global Entities remains a holder of at least 550,000 registrable securities), we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect a registration of with respect to the registrable securities identified by the holders initiating such request by filing a shelf registration statement, on either Form S-3 or an evergreen registration statement on Form S-1, with the SEC. We are not obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to these short-from registration rights (1) if the holders of registrable securities intending to sell pursuant to such rights propose to sell registrable securities at an aggregate offering price to the public, net of selling expenses, of less than $2.0 million or (2) if we furnish to such initiating holders a certificate signed by the chair of our board of directors stating that in the good-faith judgment of our board of directors, after consultation with our outside counsel, it would be materially detrimental to us and our shareholders for such registration to be effected at such time, subject to certain limitations.

An offering or sale of registrable securities pursuant to a shelf registration statement may be initiated at any time by one or more holders of at least 550,000 shares of registrable securities, provided that the minimum market value of registrable securities that such holder(s) propose to sell in such offering must be equal to at least $1.0 million or such lower amount approved by our board of directors. The right to have such shares registered on a shelf registration statement is further subject to other specified conditions and limitations.

Piggyback Registration Rights

Pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement, if we register any of our securities either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, subject to certain exceptions, the holders of registrable securities are entitled to include their shares in the registration.

Expiration of Registration Rights

The demand registration rights, short form registration rights and piggyback registration rights granted to any holder of registrable securities under the Investors’ Rights Agreement will terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) the fifth anniversary of the closing of this offering or (ii) such time after this offering when the holder’s registrable securities may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 within a 90-day period; provided, however, that the demand registration rights, short-form registration rights and piggyback registration rights under the Investors’ Rights Agreement of any holder of at least 550,000 shares of registrable securities shall not terminate until such time as such holder holds no registrable securities.

 

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Anti-Takeover Effects of our Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Washington Law

Our amended and restated articles and amended and restated bylaws will include a number of provisions that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing another party from acquiring control of us and encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with our board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions include the items described below.

Board Composition and Filling Vacancies

Our amended and restated articles will provide for the division of our board of directors into three classes serving staggered three-year terms, with one class being elected each year. Our amended and restated articles will also provide that directors may be removed only for cause and then only if the number of votes of the holders of the shares entitled to elect the director cast in favor of removing such director exceeds the number of votes cast against removal. Furthermore, any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of our board, may only be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of our remaining directors. The classification of directors, together with the limitations on removal of directors and treatment of vacancies, has the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders to change the composition of our board of directors.

Unanimous Written Consent of Shareholders

Washington law limits the ability of shareholders from acting by written consent by requiring unanimous written consent for shareholder action to be effective. This limit may lengthen the amount of time required to take shareholder actions and would prevent the amendment of our amended and restated articles, our amended and restated bylaws or removal of directors by our shareholders without holding a meeting of shareholders.

Meetings of Shareholders

Our amended and restated articles and our amended and restated bylaws will provide that only our board of directors, our Chairperson of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our President may call special meetings of shareholders and only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of shareholders. Our amended and restated bylaws will limit the business that may be conducted at an annual meeting of shareholders to those matters properly brought before the meeting.

Advance Notice Requirements

Our amended and restated bylaws will establish advance notice procedures with regard to shareholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our shareholders. These procedures provide that notice of shareholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our corporate secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date that our proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting. Our amended and restated bylaws will specify the requirements as to form and content of all shareholders’ notices. These requirements may preclude shareholders from bringing matters before the shareholders at an annual or special meeting.

Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Any amendment of our amended and restated articles must first be submitted to our shareholders by us or our board of directors, and the amendment of certain articles or sections, including articles or

 

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sections relating to who may call special meetings of the shareholders, our board of directors, indemnification of our directors and officers, supermajority voting and amendments to our amended and restated bylaws, requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment voting together as a single group. Our amended and restated bylaws may be amended by our board of directors, subject to any limitations set forth in our amended and restated bylaws, and may also be amended by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment voting together as a single group.

Undesignated Preferred Stock

Our amended and restated articles will provide for authorized shares of preferred stock. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock may enable our board of directors to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in the best interests of our shareholders, our board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without shareholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent shareholder or shareholder group. In this regard, our amended and restated articles will grant our board of directors broad power to establish the rights and preferences of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance may also adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of these holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of us.

Choice of Forum

Our amended and restated bylaws that will become effective upon the closing of this offering will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal and state courts located in King County, Washington will be the sole and exclusive forum for: (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty or other wrongdoing by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our shareholders; (3) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the WBCA or our amended and restated articles or amended and restated bylaws; or (4) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Our amended and restated bylaws will also provide that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this choice of forum provision.

It is possible that a court of law could rule that the choice of forum provisions contained in our amended and restated bylaws are inapplicable or unenforceable if they are challenged in a proceeding or otherwise. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ articles of incorporation and bylaws has been challenged in legal proceedings.

Washington Anti-Takeover Law

Washington law imposes restrictions on some transactions between a corporation and significant shareholders. Chapter 23B.19 of the WBCA generally prohibits a target corporation from engaging in specified “significant business transactions” with an “acquiring person.” This statute could prohibit or delay the accomplishment of mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts with respect to us and, accordingly, may discourage unsolicited attempts to acquire us. An “acquiring person” is generally defined as a person or group of persons that beneficially owns the voting shares entitled to cast votes comprising 10% or more of the voting power of the target corporation. The target

 

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corporation may not engage in “significant business transactions,” as defined in Chapter 23B.19, for a period of five years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an acquiring person, unless (1) the significant business transaction or the acquiring person’s purchase of shares was approved by a majority of the members of the target corporation’s board of directors prior to the share acquisition causing the person to become an “acquiring person,” or (2) the significant business transaction was both approved by the majority of the members of the target corporation’s board of directors and authorized at a shareholder meeting by at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the outstanding voting shares (excluding the acquiring person’s shares or shares over which the acquiring person has voting control) at or subsequent to the acquiring person’s share acquisition. “Significant business transactions” include, among other things:

 

   

a merger or share exchange with, disposition of assets to or issuance or redemption of stock to or from, the acquiring person;

 

   

a termination of 5% or more of the employees of the target corporation employed in the State of Washington as a result of the acquiring person’s acquisition of 10% or more of the shares, whether at one time or over the five-year period following the share acquisition;

 

   

a transaction in which the acquiring person is allowed to receive a disproportionate benefit as a shareholder; or

 

   

liquidating or dissolving the target corporation.

After the five-year period, a “significant business transaction” may occur, as long as it complies with “fair price” provisions specified in the statute or is approved at a meeting of shareholders by a majority of the votes entitled to be counted within each voting group entitled to vote separately on the transaction, not counting the votes of shares as to which the acquiring person has beneficial ownership or voting control. A corporation may not opt out of this statute.

Nasdaq Global Select Market listing

We intend to apply to list our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ADPT.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock will be                 . The transfer agent and registrar’s address is                 .

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. Future sales of our common stock in the public market, or the availability of such shares for sale in the public market, could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time. As described below, only a limited number of shares will be available for sale shortly after this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale. Nevertheless, sales of our common stock in the public market after such restrictions lapse, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price at such time and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

Based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of                 , 2019, upon the closing of this offering,                  shares of our common stock will be outstanding assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock and no exercise of outstanding options or warrants. Of the outstanding shares of our common stock, all of the shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable, except that any such shares of our common stock acquired by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, may only be sold by them in compliance with the limitations described below. All remaining shares of our common stock held by existing shareholders immediately prior to the closing of this offering will be “restricted securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144. These restricted securities may be offered and sold to the public only if registered under the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, including the exemptions provided by Rule 144 or Rule 701, summarized below.

Subject to the provisions of Rule 144 or Rule 701, shares will be available for sale in the public market as follows:

 

   

beginning on the date of this prospectus, all of the shares sold in this offering will be immediately available for sale in the public market; and

 

   

beginning 181 days after the date of this prospectus,                  additional shares will become eligible for sale in the public market, of which                  shares will be held by affiliates and subject to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144, as described below.

Rule 144

In general, a person who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least six months may be entitled to sell the person’s securities, subject to certain conditions. If the person is not deemed to be one of our affiliates at the time of the sale or at any time during the 90 days preceding it, we have been subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days and we have made all filings under the Exchange Act necessary for the current public information requirements of Rule 144, then the non-affiliate may sell its shares. The non-affiliate may sell without regard to the current public information requirements of Rule 144 if it has beneficially owned the shares for 12 months and we have been subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days.

If the person is deemed to be one of our affiliates at the time of the sale or at any time during the 90 days preceding it, and the affiliate has beneficially owned the shares to be sold for at least six months, the affiliate may sell up to the following volume limitations in any three-month period:

 

   

1% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately                  shares immediately after this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, based on the number of shares outstanding as of                 , 2019; or

 

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the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale;

provided, in each case, that we have been subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days, we have made all filings under the Exchange Act necessary for the current public information requirements of Rule 144, and the affiliate complies with the manner of sale and notice provisions of Rule 144.

Rule 701

Rule 701 under the Securities Act, as in effect on the date of this prospectus, permits resales of stock in reliance upon Rule 144 but without compliance with certain restrictions of Rule 144, including the holding period requirement. Most of our employees, executive officers or directors who purchased shares under a written compensatory plan or contract may be entitled to rely on the resale provisions of Rule 701, but all holders of Rule 701 shares are required to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling their shares.

Lock-Up Agreements

We, our directors and executive officers and holders of substantially all of our common stock have signed lock-up agreements that prevent us and them from selling any of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock for a period of not less than 180 days from the date of this prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, subject to certain exceptions. See the “Underwriting” section of this prospectus for more information.

Registration Rights

Upon the closing of this offering, holders of                  shares of our common stock will be entitled to various rights with respect to registration of their shares of our common stock under the Securities Act. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares becoming fully tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration statement. See the “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights” section of this prospectus for more information.

Equity Incentive Plans

We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register shares of our common stock issued or reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plans. The first such registration statement is expected to be filed soon after the date of this prospectus and will automatically become effective upon filing with the SEC. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement will be available for sale in the open market, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions with us or the lock-up restrictions described above. As of                 , 2019, we estimate that such registration statement on Form S-8 will cover approximately of                  shares of our common stock.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. holders (as defined below) of the ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering. This discussion is not a complete analysis of all potential U.S. federal income tax consequences relating thereto, does not address the potential application of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income, and does not address any estate or gift tax consequences (other than those specifically set forth below) or any tax consequences arising under any state, local or foreign tax laws, or any other U.S. federal tax laws. This discussion is based on the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the IRS, all as in effect on the date of this prospectus. These authorities are subject to differing interpretations and may change, possibly retroactively, resulting in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such statements and conclusions.

This discussion is limited to non-U.S. holders who purchase our common stock pursuant to this offering and who hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to an individual holder in light of such holder’s particular circumstances. This discussion also does not consider any specific facts or circumstances that may be relevant to holders subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including:

 

   

certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

partnerships or other pass-through entities (and investors therein);

 

   

“controlled foreign corporations”;

 

   

“passive foreign investment companies”;

 

   

corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

   

banks, financial institutions, investment funds, insurance companies, brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

 

   

tax-exempt organizations and governmental organizations;

 

   

tax-qualified retirement plans;

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

   

persons subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code;

 

   

persons that own or have owned, actually or constructively, more than 5% of our common stock;

 

   

persons who have elected to mark securities to market; and

 

   

persons holding our common stock as part of a hedging or conversion transaction or straddle, or a constructive sale, or other risk reduction strategy or integrated investment.

If an entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships are urged to consult their tax advisors about the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of holding and disposing of our common stock.

 

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PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF ACQUIRING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR COMMON STOCK, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS AND ANY OTHER U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS. IN ADDITION, SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS WERE RECENTLY ENACTED. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD ALSO CONSULT WITH THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH CHANGES IN U.S. TAX LAW AS WELL AS POTENTIAL CONFORMING CHANGES IN STATE TAX LAWS.

Definition of Non-U.S. Holder

For purposes of this discussion, a non-U.S. holder is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is not a “U.S. person” or a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation (including any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust (1) whose administration is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

Distributions on Our Common Stock

If we distribute cash or other property on our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts distributed in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital and will first be applied against and reduce a holder’s tax basis in our common stock, but not below zero. Any distribution in excess of basis will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of our common stock and will be treated as described in the “Distributions on Our Common StockGain On Disposition of Our Common Stock” section below.

Subject to the discussion below regarding effectively connected income, backup withholding and FATCA (as defined below), dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty. To receive the benefit of a reduced treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must furnish us or our withholding agent with a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable form) certifying such non-U.S. holder’s qualification for the reduced rate. This certification must be provided to us or our withholding agent before the payment of dividends and must be updated periodically. If the non-U.S. holder holds our common stock through a financial institution or other agent acting on the non-U.S. holder’s behalf, the non-U.S. holder will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the agent, which then will be required to provide certification to us or our withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries.

If a non-U.S. holder holds our common stock in connection with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and dividends paid on our common stock are effectively connected with

 

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such holder’s U.S. trade or business (and are attributable to such holder’s permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States if required by an applicable tax treaty), the non-U.S. holder will generally be exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax, provided that the non-U.S. holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form) to the applicable withholding agent.

However, any such effectively connected dividends paid on our common stock generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such holder were a resident of the United States. A non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain items.

Non-U.S. holders that do not provide the required certification on a timely basis, but that qualify for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Gain on Disposition of Our Common Stock

Subject to the discussion below regarding backup withholding and FATCA, a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of our common stock, unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States;

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition, and certain other requirements are met; or

 

   

our common stock constitutes a “U.S. real property interest” by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”), for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for our common stock, and our common stock is not regularly traded on an established securities market during the calendar year in which the sale or other disposition occurs.

Determining whether we are a USRPHC depends on the fair market value of our U.S. real property interests relative to the fair market value of our other trade or business assets and our foreign real property interests. We believe we are not currently and we do not anticipate becoming a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, although there can be no assurance we will not in the future become a USRPHC.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such holder were a resident of the United States. A non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain items. Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a flat 30% rate (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), but may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided that the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses. Gain described in the third bullet point above will generally be subject to U.S.

 

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federal income tax in the same manner as gain that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business (subject to any provisions under an applicable income tax treaty), except that the branch profits tax generally will not apply.

Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

U.S. Federal Estate Tax

The estates of nonresident alien individuals generally are subject to U.S. federal estate tax on property with a U.S. situs. Because we are a U.S. corporation, our common stock will be U.S. situs property and, therefore, will be included in the taxable estate of a nonresident alien decedent, unless an applicable estate tax treaty between the United States and the decedent’s country of residence provides otherwise. The terms “resident” and “nonresident” are defined differently for U.S. federal estate tax purposes than for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of our common stock.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Annual reports are required to be filed with the IRS and provided to each non-U.S. holder indicating the amount of dividends on our common stock paid to such holder and the amount of any tax withheld with respect to those dividends. These information reporting requirements apply even if no withholding was required because the dividends were effectively connected with the holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, or withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty. This information also may be made available under a specific treaty or agreement with the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established.

Backup withholding, currently at a 24% rate, generally will not apply to payments to a non-U.S. holder of dividends on or the gross proceeds of a disposition of, our common stock provided the non-U.S. holder furnishes the required certification for its non-U.S. status, such as by providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8ECI, or certain other requirements are met. Backup withholding may apply if the payor has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person who is not an exempt recipient.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. If any amount is withheld under the backup withholding rules, the non-U.S. holder should consult with a U.S. tax advisor regarding the possibility of and procedure for obtaining a refund or a credit against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any.

Withholding on Foreign Entities

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), as reflected in Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code), imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on certain payments made to a “foreign financial institution” (as specially defined under these rules) unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding certain U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners) or an exemption applies. FATCA also generally will impose a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on certain payments made to a non-financial foreign entity

 

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unless such entity provides the withholding agent a certification identifying certain direct and indirect U.S. owners of the entity or an exemption applies. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. FATCA currently applies to dividends paid on our common stock. Subject to the recently released proposed Treasury Regulations described below, withholding under FATCA will also generally apply to gross proceeds from sales or other dispositions of our common stock after December 31, 2018. The U.S. Treasury Department recently released proposed regulations that, if finalized in their present form, would eliminate the federal withholding tax of 30% applicable to gross proceeds from sales or other dispositions of our common stock. In its preamble to such proposed regulations, the U.S. Treasury Department stated that taxpayers may generally rely on the proposed regulations until final regulations are issued.

Prospective investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our common stock.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We and the underwriters named below intend to enter into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of shares indicated in the following table. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are the representatives of the underwriters:

 

Name

   Number of
Shares
 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

                   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                   Incorporated

  

Cowen and Company, LLC

  

Guggenheim Securities, LLC

  

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

  

BTIG, LLC

  
  

 

 

 

Total

  
  

 

 

 

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the shares being offered, if any are taken, other than the shares covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional                  shares from us to cover sales by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than the total number set forth in the table above. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase                  additional shares.

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Share

   $                        $                    

Total

     

Shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $                 per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares of our common stock, the representatives may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the shares by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We and our officers, directors and holders of substantially all of our common stock and securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any of their common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of the representatives. This agreement does not apply to any existing employee benefit plans. See the “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” section of this prospectus for a discussion of certain transfer restrictions.

 

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Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for shares of our common stock. The initial public offering price will be negotiated among us and the representatives. Among the factors we expect to consider in determining the initial public offering price of shares of our common stock, in addition to prevailing market conditions, will be our historical performance, estimates of the business potential and our earnings prospects, an assessment of our management and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses.

We intend to apply to list our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ADPT.”

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional shares for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional shares pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional shares for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $                million. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses in an amount up to $                .

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory,

 

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investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the issuer and to persons and entities with relationships with the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the EEA which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”) an offer to the public of our common stock may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of our common stock may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive:

 

   

To any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

   

To fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

 

   

In any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer or shares of our common stock shall result in a requirement for the publication by us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to public” in relation to our common stock in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and our common stock to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase our common stock, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended), including by Directive 2010/73/EU and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

This EEA selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, this prospectus is only addressed to and directed at qualified investors who are (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets

 

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Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (“Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus relates is available only to relevant persons and will only be engaged in with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus or any of its contents.

Canada

Shares of our common stock may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption form, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to Section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Hong Kong

Shares of our common stock may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance”), or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Securities and Futures Ordinance”), or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of shares of our common stock may not be

 

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circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (“SFA”)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where shares of our common stock are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore, (“Regulation 32”).

Where shares of our common stock are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.

Japan

Shares of our common stock have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended) (“FIEA”). The shares may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US), Seattle, Washington. As of the date of this prospectus, partners of DLA Piper LLP (US) beneficially own an aggregate of less than 0.5% of our common stock. Fenwick & West LLP, Seattle, Washington is acting as counsel for the underwriters in connection with this offering.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements at December 31, 2017 and 2018, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, as set forth in their report. We’ve included our financial statements in the prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement in reliance of Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC this registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. For further information concerning us and the securities offered by this prospectus, please refer to the registration statement and to the exhibits filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

Upon the closing of the offering, we will be subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.adaptivebiotech.com. Upon the closing of the offering, you may access, free of charge, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendment to those reported filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

 

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ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2018

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Balance Sheets

     F-3  

Statements of Operations

     F-4  

Statements of Comprehensive Loss

     F-5  

Statements of Convertible Preferred Stock and Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity

     F-6  

Statements of Cash Flows

     F-7  

Notes to Financial Statements

     F-8  

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (the Company) as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the related statements of operations, comprehensive loss, convertible preferred stock and shareholders’ (deficit) equity, and cash flows, for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.

Seattle, Washington

March 29, 2019

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     December 31,     Unaudited
pro forma
 
     2017     2018     2018  

Assets

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 85,305     $ 55,030    

Short-term marketable securities

     106,845       109,988    

Accounts receivable, net

     5,582       4,807    

Inventory

     4,792       7,838    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,723       3,055    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total current assets

     205,247       180,718    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Property and equipment, net

     13,954       19,125    

Long-term marketable securities

     8,905       —      

Restricted cash and other assets

     86       247    

Intangible assets, net

     15,325       13,626    

Goodwill

     118,972       118,972    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total assets

   $ 362,489     $ 332,688    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Liabilities, convertible preferred stock and shareholders’ (deficit) equity

      

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

   $ 1,964     $ 1,793    

Accrued liabilities

     1,043       2,562    

Accrued compensation and benefits

     3,062       4,641    

Current portion of deferred rent

     886       1,109    

Current deferred revenue

     14,048       12,695    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total current liabilities

     21,003       22,800    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Convertible preferred stock warrant liability

     342       336    

Deferred rent liability, less current portion

     4,394       6,102    

Deferred revenue, less current portion

     —         704    

Other long-term liabilities

     33       —      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total liabilities

     25,772       29,942    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

      

Convertible preferred stock: $0.0001 par value, 93,762,517 shares authorized at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively; 92,656,029 and 92,790,094 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $572,057 and $572,866 at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively, no aggregate liquidation preference, no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 unaudited pro forma

     561,333       560,858       —    

Shareholders’ (deficit) equity:

      

Common stock: $0.0001 par value, 131,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively; 12,208,731 and 12,841,536 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively, 105,651,630 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 unaudited pro forma

     1       1       10  

Additional paid-in capital

     24,972       37,902       599,096  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (166     (107     (107

Accumulated deficit

     (249,423     (295,908     (295,908
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity

     (224,616     (258,112     303,091  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and shareholders’ (deficit) equity

   $ 362,489     $ 332,688     $    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2017     2018  

Revenue:

    

Sequencing revenue

   $ 22,759     $ 32,978  

Development revenue

     15,689       22,685  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     38,448       55,663  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

    

Cost of revenue

     15,680       19,668  

Research and development

     31,995       39,157  

Sales and marketing

     16,765       24,486  

General and administrative

     15,949       20,409  

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,694       1,699  

Restructuring

     840       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     82,923       105,419  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (44,475     (49,756

Interest and other income, net

     1,644       3,309  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (42,831     (46,447

Fair value adjustment to Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

     135       102  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

   $ (42,696   $ (46,345
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (3.50   $ (3.67
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

     12,196,998       12,629,778  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

     $ (0.44
    

 

 

 

Unaudited weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

       105,470,520  
    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
           2017                 2018        

Net loss

   $ (42,831   $ (46,447

Change in unrealized (loss) gain on investments

     (84     59  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (42,915   $ (46,388
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Statements of Convertible Preferred Stock and Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

    Convertible
preferred stock
   

 

Common stock

    Additional
paid-In

capital
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive

(loss) income
    Accumulated
deficit
    Total
shareholders’

(deficit)
equity
 
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Balance as of December 31, 2016

    87,797,854     $ 511,823       12,154,046     $ 1     $ 17,559     $ (82   $ (207,212   $ (189,734

Adjustments to accumulated deficit for adoption of guidance on accounting for revenue recognition

    —         —         —         —         —         —         485       485  

Issuance of common stock for cash upon exercise of stock options

    —         —         54,685       —         95       —         —         95  

Issuance of Series F-1 convertible preferred stock for cash, net of issuance costs

    4,686,649       49,827       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Issuance of Series E-1 convertible preferred stock for cash upon exercise of Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options at fair value

    171,526       127       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Vested Series E-1 convertible preferred stock option forfeitures

    —         (644     —         —         398       —         246       644  

Series E-1 convertible preferred stock option share-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         89       —         —         89  

Adjustment to redemption value for vested Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

    —         89       —         —         (89     —         —         (89

Change in redemption value for vested Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

    —         111       —         —         —         —         (111     (111

Common stock option share-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         6,920       —         —         6,920  

Other comprehensive loss

    —         —         —         —         —         (84     —         (84

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (42,831     (42,831
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2017

    92,656,029     $ 561,333       12,208,731     $ 1     $ 24,972     $ (166   $ (249,423   $ (224,616

Adjustments to accumulated deficit for adoption of guidance on accounting for share-based payment transactions

    —         —         —         —         140       —         (140     —    

Issuance of common stock for cash upon exercise of stock options

    —         —         632,805       —         1,168       —         —         1,168  

Issuance of Series E-1 convertible preferred stock for cash upon exercise of Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options at fair value

    134,065       100       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Vested Series E-1 convertible preferred stock option forfeitures

    —         (767     —         —         476       —         291       767  

Series E-1 convertible preferred stock option share-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         3       —         —         3  

Adjustment to redemption value for vested Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

    —         3       —         —         (3     —         —         (3

Change in redemption value for vested Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

    —         189       —         —         —         —         (189     (189

Common stock option share-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         11,146       —         —         11,146  

Other comprehensive gain

    —         —         —         —         —         59       —         59  

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (46,447     (46,447
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2018

    92,790,094     $ 560,858       12,841,536     $ 1     $ 37,902     $ (107   $ (295,908   $ (258,112
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
           2017                 2018        

Operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (42,831   $ (46,447

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation expense

     4,102       4,301  

Share-based compensation expense

     7,009       11,149  

Intangible assets amortization

     1,694       1,699  

Investment amortization

     342       (1,214

Asset impairment

     193       17  

Loss (gain) on equipment disposals

     125       (40

Fair value adjustment of convertible preferred stock warrant

     (23     (6

Other

     6       5  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable, net

     (2,427     775  

Inventory

     (2,697     (3,046

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (327     (318

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (1,517     2,185  

Deferred rent

     (1,058     (488

Deferred revenue

     2,527       (649

Other

     24       (182
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

   $ (34,858   $ (32,259
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

    

Purchases of property and equipment

   $ (2,421   $ (6,318

Proceeds from sales of equipment

     207       19  

Purchases of intangible assets

     (85     —    

Purchases of marketable securities

     (125,182     (146,503

Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities

     163,913       153,538  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

   $ 36,432     $ 736  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

    

Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs

   $ 49,827     $ —    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     222       1,268  

Other

     (15     (20
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     50,034       1,248  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

     51,608       (30,275

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

     33,758       85,366  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year

   $ 85,366     $ 55,091  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncash investing and financing activities

    

Purchases of equipment, included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 41     $ 832  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Landlord-funded leasehold improvements

   $ —       $ 2,419  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

1.

Organization and Description of Business

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (“we,” “us” or “our”) is a commercial-stage company advancing the field of immune-driven medicine by harnessing the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease. We believe the adaptive immune system is nature’s most finely tuned diagnostic and therapeutic for most diseases, but the inability to decode it has prevented the medical community from fully leveraging its capabilities. Our immune medicine platform is the foundation for our expanding suite of products and services. The cornerstone of our immune medicine platform and core immunosequencing product, immunoSEQ, serves as our underlying research and development engine and generates revenue from academic and biopharmaceutical customers. Our first clinical diagnostic product, clonoSEQ, is the first test authorized by the FDA for the detection and monitoring of minimal residual disease (“MRD”) in patients with select blood cancers.

We were incorporated in the State of Washington on September 8, 2009 under the name Adaptive TCR Corporation. On December 21, 2011, we changed our name to Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation. We are headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

 

2.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosures at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. We base our estimates on historical experience and other relevant assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates are used in several areas including, but not limited to, estimates of progress to date for certain performance obligations and transaction price for certain contracts with customers, share-based compensation including the fair value of stock, the provision for income taxes, including related reserves, among others. These estimates generally involve complex issues and require judgments, involve the analysis of historical results and prediction of future trends, can require extended periods of time to resolve and are subject to change from period to period. Actual results may differ materially from management’s estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are stated at fair value. Cash equivalents include only securities having an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase. We limit our credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents by placing our investments with banks that we believe are highly creditworthy and with highly rated money market funds. Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of bank deposits and investments in money market funds.

Restricted Cash

We are required to maintain certain balances under operating lease arrangements for our facilities. We have a certificate of deposit with a financial institution issued in favor of the lessor for $0.1 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2018. This amount is recorded as restricted cash and other assets in the accompanying balance sheets due to the long-term nature of the underlying facility lease.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

Investments in Marketable Securities

Marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and primarily consist of U.S. government debt securities, U.S. government agency bonds, commercial paper and corporate bonds, and are reported at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses are reflected as a separate component of shareholders’ (deficit) equity in accumulated other comprehensive loss until realized. Realized gains and losses on the sale of these securities are recognized in net income or loss. The cost of marketable securities sold is based on the specific identification method.

Concentrations of Risk

We are subject to a concentration of risk from a limited number of suppliers, or in some cases, single suppliers for some of our laboratory instruments and materials. This risk is managed by targeting a quantity of surplus stock.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk. We invest in money market funds, U.S. government debt securities, U.S. government agency bonds, commercial paper and corporate bonds with high-quality accredited financial institutions.

Significant customers are those which represent more than 10% of our total revenue or accounts receivable balance at each respective balance sheet date. Revenue from these customers reflects their purchase of our products and services and we do not believe their loss would have a material adverse effect on our business. For each significant customer, revenue as a percentage of revenue and accounts receivable as a percentage of accounts receivable were as follows:

 

     Revenue     Accounts Receivable  
     Year Ended December 31,     December 31,  
     2017     2018     2017     2018  

Customer A

     31     18     30     *

Customer B

     *       14       15       15  

Customer C

     *       15       *       13  

 

*

less than 10%

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of amounts due from customers for services performed. We review our accounts receivable regularly by analyzing the status of significant past due receivables to determine if any receivable will potentially be uncollectible and to estimate the amount of allowance for doubtful accounts necessary to reduce accounts receivable to its estimated net realizable value. Our allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.1 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2018.

Additionally, we had $1.4 million and $0.4 million of unbilled receivables as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The unbilled receivables are amounts that will become due for which we have an unconditional right to consideration.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

Inventory

Inventory consists of laboratory materials and supplies used in lab analysis. We capitalize inventory when purchased and record expense upon order fulfillment for servicing revenue or utilization in our research and development laboratories. Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market on a first-in, first-out basis. We periodically perform obsolescence assessments and write off any inventory that is no longer usable.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of computer equipment, computer software, laboratory equipment, leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures. Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method based on an estimated useful life. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and costs of improvements are capitalized.

Useful lives assigned to property and equipment are as follows:

 

Laboratory equipment    3 to 7 years
Leasehold improvements    Shorter of estimated useful life or remaining lease term
Computer equipment and software    3 years
Furniture and office equipment    5 to 10 years

We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. Gains and losses from asset disposals and impairment losses are classified within the statements of operations in accordance with the use of the asset, except those gains and losses recognized in conjunction with restructuring activities, which are classified within restructuring expense. We recognized $0.3 million of impairment expense in research and development for obsolete equipment in 2017 and $0.2 million of losses from asset disposals, impairment and accelerated depreciation in restructuring. See Note 14, Restructuring Charges.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the net amount of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination measured at fair value. We asses goodwill for impairment annually on October 1 and upon any occurrence of triggering events or substantive changes in circumstances that could indicate a potential impairment. We evaluate goodwill for impairment by assessing qualitative factors or performing a quantitative analysis in determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the net assets is below their carrying amounts. To date we have not recognized any impairment of goodwill.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recognized separately from goodwill and are initially recognized at their fair value at the acquisition date (which is regarded as their cost). Intangible assets may also result from the purchase of assets and intellectual property in a transaction that does not qualify as a business combination. Intangible assets are amortized over the estimated

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

useful life of the asset on a straight-line basis which approximates the usage pattern. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment at least annually or if indicators of potential impairment exist. We have not recognized any impairment losses on intangible assets.

Restructuring

We recognize a liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity under a restructuring project when the plan has been finalized. Employee termination benefits considered as post-employment benefits are accrued when the obligation is probable and estimable, such as benefits stipulated by human resource policies and practices or statutory requirements. One-time termination benefits are recognized at the date the employee is notified. If the employee must provide future service greater than 60 days, such benefits are recognized ratably over the future service period.

Asset impairments associated with a restructuring project are determined at the asset group level. An impairment may be recognized for assets that are to be abandoned or are to be sold for less than net book value. We may also recognize impairment on an asset group, which is held and used, when the carrying value is not recoverable and exceeds the asset group’s fair value. If the sale of an asset group under a restructuring project results in proceeds that exceed the net book value of the asset group, the resulting gain is recognized within restructuring expense in the statements of operations.

Leases

We have lease agreements for our laboratory and office facilities. These leases are classified as operating leases. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Incentives granted under our facility leases, including rent holidays, are capitalized and are recognized as adjustments to rental expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has defined fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, or an exit price, in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The FASB established a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available, and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The hierarchy defines three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

   

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

A financial instrument categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

Our financial instruments consist of Level 1 and Level 2 assets, and Level 3 liabilities. In certain cases, where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to valuation, financial instruments are classified as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy. The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments approximate fair value due to their short maturities.

We did not have any nonfinancial assets or liabilities that were measured or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2017 or 2018.

Convertible Preferred Stock Warrant Liability

We have issued a freestanding warrant to a venture capital firm to purchase 56,875 shares of Series C convertible preferred stock with an exercise price of $2.64 in connection with a $5.0 million credit facility entered into in 2014. The fair value of this warrant is classified as a non-current liability in the accompanying balance sheets, since the underlying convertible preferred stock has been classified as temporary equity in the accompanying balance sheets instead of in shareholders’ deficit in accordance with authoritative guidance for the classification and measurement of potentially redeemable securities. Upon certain change in control events that are outside of our control, including liquidation, sale or transfer of control, holders of the convertible preferred stock may cause its redemption. The warrant is subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date, with changes in estimated fair value recognized as a component of interest and other income, net on the statements of operations. We recorded income of $23,000 and $6,000 during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. We will continue to adjust the liability for changes in estimated fair value until the earlier of expiration of the warrant, exercise of the warrant or conversion of the warrant into equity upon the completion of a liquidation event, including the completion of an initial public offering.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606 (“ASC 606”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under ASC 606, for all revenue-generating contracts, we perform the following steps to determine the amount of revenue to be recognized: (i) identification of the contract or contracts; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations based on estimated selling prices; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation. The following is a summary of the application of the respective model to each of our revenue classifications.

Overview

Our revenue is generated from immunosequencing (“sequencing”) products and services (“sequencing revenue”) and from regulatory or development support services leveraging our immune medicine platform (“development revenue”). When revenue generating contracts have elements of both sequencing revenue and development revenue, we allocate revenue based on the nature of the performance obligation and the allocated transaction price.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

Sequencing Revenue

Sequencing revenue reflects the amounts generated from providing sequencing services and testing through our immunoSEQ and clonoSEQ products and services to our research and clinical customers, respectively.

For research customers, contracts typically include an amount billed in advance of services (“upfront”), and subsequent billings as sample results are delivered to the customer. Upfront amounts received are recorded as deferred revenue, which we recognize as revenue upon satisfaction of performance obligations. We have identified two typical performance obligations under the terms of our research service contracts: sequencing services and related data analysis. We recognize revenue for both identified performance obligations as sample results are delivered to the customer.

For other research customers who choose to purchase a research use only kit, the kits are sold on a price per kit basis with amounts payable upon delivery of the kit. Payments received are recorded as deferred revenue. For these customers we have identified one performance obligation: the delivery of sample results. We recognize revenue as the results are delivered to the customer based on a proportion of the estimated samples that can be reported on for each kit.

For clinical customers, we derive revenues from providing our clonoSEQ test report to ordering physicians, and we bill and receive payments from commercial third-party payors and medical institutions. In these transactions, we have identified one performance obligation: the delivery of a clonoSEQ report. As payment from the respective payors may vary based on the various reimbursement rates and patient responsibilities, we consider the transaction price to be variable and record an estimate of the transaction price, subject to the constraint for variable consideration, as revenue at the time of delivery. The estimate of transaction price is based on historical reimbursement rates with the various payors, which are monitored in subsequent periods and adjusted as necessary based on actual collection experience.

Development Revenue

We derive revenue by providing services through development agreements to biopharmaceutical customers who seek access to our immune medicine platform technologies. We generate revenues from the delivery of professional support activities pertaining to the use of our proprietary immunoSEQ and clonoSEQ services in the development of the respective customers’ initiatives. The transaction price for these contracts may consist of a combination of non-refundable upfront fees, separately priced sequencing fees, progress based milestones and regulatory milestones. The development agreements may include single or multiple performance obligations depending on the contract. For certain contracts, we may perform services to support the biopharmaceutical customers’ regulatory submission as part of their registrational trials. These services include regulatory support pertaining to our technology intended to be utilized as part of the submission, development of analytical plans for our sequencing data, participation on joint research committees and assistance in completing a regulatory submission. Generally, these services are not distinct within the context of the contract, and they are accounted for as a single performance obligation.

When sequencing services are separately priced customer options, we assess if a material right exists and, if not, the customer option to purchase additional sequencing services is not considered part of the contract. Except for any non-refundable upfront fees, the other forms of compensation

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

represent variable consideration. Variable consideration related to progress based and regulatory milestones is estimated using the most likely amount method where variable consideration is constrained until it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. Progress milestones such as first sample result delivered or final patient enrollment in a customer trial are customer dependent and are included in the transaction price when the respective milestone is probable of occurring. Milestone payments that are not within our customers’ control, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. Determining whether milestones are probable, relating to regulatory milestone payments, is an area that requires significant judgment. In making this assessment, we evaluate the scientific, clinical, regulatory and other risks that must be managed, and the level of effort and investment required to achieve the respective milestone.

The primary method used to estimate standalone selling price for performance obligations is the adjusted market assessment approach. Using this approach, we evaluate the market in which we sell our services and estimate the price that a customer in that market would be willing to pay for our services. We recognize revenue using either an input or output measure of progress that faithfully depicts performance on a contract, depending on the contract. The measure used is dependent on the nature of the service to be provided in each contract. Selecting the measure of progress and estimating progress to date requires significant judgment.

Contract Balances

In certain circumstances, billing may occur prior to services being performed. Upfront payments are recorded as deferred revenue (contract liabilities). We classify deferred revenue as current for sequencing revenue as we expect our performance obligations will be completed within the next twelve months, however, we do not control the timing of customer provided samples. For development services, we assess the performance obligations and recognize deferred revenue as current or non-current based upon forecasted delivery times which are customer coordinated. In certain circumstances, the customer project may be cancelled or terminated prior to the delivery of all related services covered by a customer’s upfront payment. In these circumstances, we recognize revenue when sufficient evidence is obtained that a reversal of revenue is not probable.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-based compensation includes compensation expense for stock option grants to employees and non-employees. Share-based compensation expense for employees represents grant date fair value of employee share option grants and is recognized over the requisite service period of the awards (usually the vesting period) on a straight-line basis, net of actual forfeitures. Share-based compensation to non-employees is subject to periodic revaluation over their vesting terms. We estimate the fair value of stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue includes the cost of materials, personnel-related expenses (comprised of salaries, benefits and share-based compensation), shipping and handling, equipment and allocated facility costs associated with processing samples and professional support for our sequencing revenue. Allocated facility costs include depreciation of laboratory equipment, allocated facility occupancy and information technology costs. Costs associated with processing samples are recorded as expense, regardless of the timing of revenue recognition.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses are comprised of laboratory materials costs, personnel-related expenses, allocated facility costs, information technology and contract service expenses. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Upfront payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are deferred and capitalized, then are recognized as an expense as the goods are consumed or the related services are performed.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses for commercial sales, account management, marketing, reimbursement, medical education and business development personnel that support commercialization of our platform products. In addition, these expenses include external costs such as advertising expenses, customer education and promotional expenses, market analysis expenses, conference fees, travel expenses and allocated facility costs.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and the operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the balance sheet date using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities due to a change in tax rates is recognized in the period such tax rate changes are enacted. Our net deferred tax assets are fully offset by a valuation allowance, because of our history of losses.

We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as a component of tax expense. We did not record any interest or penalties related to income tax during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.

Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet Information

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information as of December 31, 2018 assumes (i) the automatic conversion of all of our outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock at December 31, 2018 into an aggregate of 92,790,094 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering; (ii) the issuance of 20,000 shares of our common stock upon the exercise of an outstanding warrant to purchase our common stock, immediately prior to the closing of this offering that would otherwise expire; (iii) the conversion of an outstanding warrant to purchase our convertible preferred stock into a warrant to purchase 56,875 shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering; and (iv) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders

We calculate our basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders in conformity with the two-class method required for companies with participating securities. We consider our convertible preferred stock to be participating securities. In the event a dividend is declared or paid on common stock, holders of convertible preferred stock are entitled to a share of such dividend in proportion to the holders of common stock on an as-if converted basis. Under the two-class method, basic net loss per share attributable to common shareholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Net loss attributable to common shareholders is determined by allocating undistributed earnings between common and preferred shareholders. The diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders is computed by giving effect to all potential dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method. The net loss attributable to common shareholders was not allocated to the convertible preferred stock under the two-class method as the convertible preferred stock does not have a contractual obligation to share in our losses. For purposes of this calculation, convertible preferred stock, common stock warrants and stock options are considered common stock equivalents but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders as their effect is anti-dilutive.

Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders

We have presented the unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2018, which shows the assumed effect of an initial public offering, including (i) the conversion of all convertible preferred stock into shares of common stock as if the conversion had occurred as of the later of the beginning of the period or the original date of issuance; and (ii) the issuance of 20,000 shares of common stock upon the assumed exercise of a common stock warrant prior to the completion of an initial public offering. The pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders does not include proceeds to be received from nor does it include shares expected to be sold in the assumed initial public offering.

Segment Information

We have determined that our chief executive officer is the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”). The CODM reviews financial information presented on a regular basis. Resource allocation decisions are made by the CODM based on results. There are no segment managers who are held accountable by the CODM for operations, operating results and planning for levels or components below the entity. As such, we have concluded that we operate as one segment.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and created ASC 606, and added ASC Subtopic 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs—Contracts with Customers. The guidance in this update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance. We adopted this standard on January 1, 2017, applying the modified retrospective method to all contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2017. We recorded an increase in accounts receivable of $0.4 million and a decrease in deferred revenue of $0.1 million as of January 1, 2017, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated deficit. The impact of this adoption was primarily

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

related to our clinical customers. Prior to adoption, we recognized revenue for these customers on a cash basis. Upon adoption, we recognize revenue at time of delivery using an estimate of the transaction price subject to the constraint for variable consideration.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheets and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements using a modified retrospective approach. This guidance is effective for us in fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Although we are currently evaluating the impact that adopting this guidance will have on our financial statements, we currently believe the most significant changes will be related to the recognition of the right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities related to our operating leases on the balance sheets.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), intended to simplify the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, classification on the statements of cash flows, including allowing an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018 and elected to account for forfeitures as they occur. We utilized a modified retrospective transition method, recorded the cumulative impact of applying this standard, and recognized a cumulative increase to additional paid-in capital and an increase to accumulated deficit of $0.1 million.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, to simplify the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, goodwill impairment will be measured by the amount by which the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, without exceeding the carrying amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This guidance is effective January 1, 2022 and is required to be adopted on a prospective basis, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018 and this guidance did not have any impact on our financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other: Internal-Use Software, to provide additional guidance on the accounting for costs of implementation activities performed in a cloud computing arrangement. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption of the amendments in this update are permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

3.

Revenue

We disaggregate our revenue from contracts with customers by type of service, as we believe this best depicts how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of our revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by type of products and services (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2017      2018  

Sequencing revenue

   $ 22,759      $ 32,978  

Development revenue:

     

Development support

     15,689        12,685  

Regulatory milestones

     —          10,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total development revenue

     15,689        22,685  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenue

   $ 38,448      $ 55,663  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Translational Development Agreements

On December 18, 2015, we entered into a translational development agreement with a biopharmaceutical customer for access to certain of our oncology immunosequencing research datasets, including full-time employee support, to accelerate the customers preclinical, nonclinical and clinical trial testing. Under the terms of the agreement we could be entitled to up to $40.0 million over a period of four years which does not include any separately negotiated research sequencing contracts. If the biopharmaceutical customer terminates the agreement prior to the end of the initial four-year research term for any reason other than a material uncured breach by us, then the biopharmaceutical partner has agreed to pay us $0.8 million.

We identified one performance obligation under this agreement, as the services were determined to be highly interrelated. We determined that any separately negotiated sequencing contracts are not performance obligations under the contract as the contract did not contain any material rights related to such sequencing contracts. For the identified performance obligation, we assessed the work to be performed over the duration of the contract and determined that it is a consistent level of support throughout the period, therefore revenue has been recognized straight line over the contract term.

Revenue recognized from this translational development agreement, excluding separately negotiated research sequencing contracts, was $10.0 million and $9.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

In 2017, we entered into an agreement with a customer to provide services to accelerate their research initiatives. We identified one performance obligation under the agreement, as the services were determined to be highly interrelated. We determined that any separately negotiated sequencing contracts are not performance obligations under the contract as the contract did not contain any material rights related to such sequencing contracts. Revenue recognized from this agreement, excluding sequencing revenue, was $0.6 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.

 

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Table of Contents

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

MRD Development Agreements

In 2017 and 2018, we entered into agreements with biopharmaceutical customers to further develop and commercialize clonoSEQ and the biopharmaceutical customers’ therapeutics. Under each of the agreements, we received or will receive non-refundable upfront payments and could receive substantial additional payments upon reaching certain progress milestones or achievement of certain regulatory milestones pertaining to the customers’ therapeutic and our clonoSEQ test.

Under the contracts, we identify performance obligations, which may include: (i) obligations to provide services supporting the customer’s regulatory submission activities as they relate to our clonoSEQ test; and (ii) sequencing services for customer-provided samples for their regulatory submissions. The transaction price allocated to the respective performance obligations is estimated using an adjusted market assessment approach for the regulatory support services and a standalone selling price for the estimated immunosequencing services. At contract inception we fully constrained any consideration related to the regulatory milestones, as the achievement of such milestones is subject to third-party regulatory approval and the customers’ own submission decision-making. We recognize revenue relating to the sequencing services over time using an output method based on the proportion of sample results delivered relative to the total amount of sample results expected to be delivered and when expected to be a faithful depiction of progress. We use the same method to recognize the regulatory support services. When an output method based on the proportion of sample results delivered is not expected to be a faithful depiction of progress, we utilize an input method based on estimates of effort completed using a cost-based model.

In 2018, we earned $10.0 million in regulatory milestones upon the achievement of the regulatory milestones by us and our respective customers’ therapeutics. All $10.0 million was recognized as revenue as we determined these amounts were consistent with our estimated standalone selling price and the respective performance obligations were complete. We recognized $5.1 million and $12.8 million in development revenue related to these contracts in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

As of December 31, 2018, in future periods we could receive up to an additional $99.5 million in milestone payments if certain regulatory approvals are obtained by our customers’ therapeutics in connection with MRD data generated from our clonoSEQ test.

Genentech Collaboration Agreement

In December 2018, we entered into a collaboration with Genentech to leverage our capability to develop cellular therapies in oncology. Subsequent to receipt of regulatory approval in January 2019, we received an upfront payment of $300.0 million in February 2019 and may be eligible to receive more than $1.8 billion over time, including payments upon achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones and we are separately able to receive royalties on sales of products from the collaboration.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

4.

Fair Value Measurements

The following table sets forth the fair value of financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2017  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Financial assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 68,034      $ —        $ —        $ 68,034  

Commercial paper

     —          22,360        —          22,360  

U.S. government and agency securities

     —          83,717        —          83,717  

Corporate bonds

     —          21,264        —          21,264  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial assets

   $ 68,034      $ 127,341      $ —        $ 195,375  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial liabilities:

           

Convertible preferred stock warrant liability

   $ —        $ —        $ 342      $ 342  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

   $ —        $ —        $ 342      $ 342  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2018  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Financial assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 45,998      $ —        $ —        $ 45,998  

Commercial paper

     —          16,887        —          16,887  

U.S. government and agency securities

     —          85,623        —          85,623  

Corporate bonds

     —          7,478        —          7,478  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial assets

   $ 45,998      $ 109,988      $ —        $ 155,986  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial liabilities:

           

Convertible preferred stock warrant liability

   $ —        $ —        $ 336      $ 336  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

   $ —        $ —        $ 336      $ 336  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Level 1 securities include highly liquid money market funds, which we measure the fair value based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 securities consist of U.S. government debt securities, U.S. government agency bonds, commercial paper and corporate bonds, and are valued based on recent trades of securities in inactive markets or based on quoted market prices of similar instruments and other significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data. Level 3 liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis consist of convertible preferred stock warrant liability.

The fair value of the convertible preferred stock warrant liability is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Certain inputs were utilized in the option-pricing model as follows:

 

     December 31, 2017     December 31, 2018  

Fair value estimate

   $ 7.67     $ 8.27  

Expected term (in years)

     3.31       2.31  

Risk-free interest rate

     2.0     2.5

Expected volatility

     61.5     55.3

Expected dividend yield

     —         —    

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

5.

Investments

Available-for-sale investments consist of the following as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2017  
     Amortized
cost
     Unrealized
gain
     Unrealized
loss
    Estimated
fair value
 

Short-term marketable securities:

          

Commercial paper

   $ 10,769      $  —        $ —       $ 10,769  

U.S. government and agency securities

     74,937        —          (125     74,812  

Corporate bonds

     21,284        —          (20     21,264  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total short-term marketable securities

   $ 106,990      $ —        $ (145   $ 106,845  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term marketable securities:

          

U.S. government and agency securities

   $ 8,926      $ —        $ (21   $ 8,905  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term marketable securities

   $ 8,926      $ —        $ (21   $ 8,905  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2018  
     Amortized
cost
     Unrealized
gain
     Unrealized
loss
    Estimated
fair value
 

Short-term marketable securities:

          

Commercial paper

   $ 16,887      $  —        $ —       $ 16,887  

U.S. government and agency securities

     85,722        —          (99     85,623  

Corporate bonds

     7,486        —          (8     7,478  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total short-term marketable securities

   $ 110,095      $ —        $ (107   $ 109,988  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2018  
     Less than 12 months     12 months or greater  
     Fair
value
     Unrealized
loss
    Fair
value
     Unrealized
loss
 

Short-term marketable securities:

          

Corporate bonds

   $ 7,478      $ (8   $ —        $  —    

U.S. government and agency securities

     76,654        (85     8,969        (14
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total short-term marketable securities

   $ 84,132      $ (93   $ 8,969      $ (14
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

We evaluated our securities for other-than-temporary impairment and considered the decline in market value for the securities to be primarily attributable to current economic and market conditions. It is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the securities, and we do not intend to do so prior to the recovery of the amortized cost basis. Based on this analysis, these marketable securities were not considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2018.

All the corporate debt, U.S. government and agency securities, and commercial paper have an effective maturity date of less than one year.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

6.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2017     2018  

Laboratory equipment

   $ 12,330     $ 14,009  

Computer equipment

     1,507       1,819  

Furniture and equipment

     971       1,300  

Computer software

     464       429  

Construction in progress

     376       3,942  

Leasehold improvements

     7,631       10,078  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment, at cost

     23,279       31,577  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (9,325     (12,452
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

   $ 13,954     $ 19,125  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation expense was $4.1 million and $4.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

7.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Intangible assets subject to amortization as of the dates presented consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     Cost      Accumulated
Amortization
    Net  

Acquired developed technology

   $ 20,000      $ (4,969   $ 15,031  

Purchased intellectual property

     325        (31     294  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

   $ 20,325      $ (5,000   $ 15,325  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Acquired developed technology

   $ 20,000      $ (6,636   $ 13,364  

Purchased intellectual property

     325        (63     262  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

   $ 20,325      $ (6,699   $ 13,626  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The developed technology was acquired in connection with our acquisition of Sequenta, Inc. in 2015. The remaining balance of the acquired technology and the purchased intellectual property is expected to be amortized over the next eight years in the amount of $1.7 million per year. There have been no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill since its recognition in 2015.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

8.

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2017      2018  

Accrued legal and professional fees

   $ 598      $ 1,634  

Accrued royalties

     22        31  

Accrued travel and entertainment

     44        73  

Other vendor accruals

     379        824  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued liabilities

   $ 1,043      $ 2,562  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

9.

Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue by revenue classification was as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2017      2018  

Deferred sequencing revenue

   $ 11,747      $ 11,754  

Deferred development revenue

     2,301        1,645  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred revenue

   $ 14,048      $ 13,399  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The opening balance of deferred revenue was $10.4 million as of January 1, 2017. In 2018, as a result of cancelled customer sequencing contracts, we recognized $3.4 million of sequencing revenue.

Changes in deferred revenue were as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2018  

Balance as of January 1, 2018

   $ 14,048  

Deferral of revenue

     9,727  

Recognition of deferred revenue

     (10,376
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2018

   $ 13,399  
  

 

 

 

 

10.

Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

We have entered into various non-cancelable lease agreements for our office and laboratory spaces.

In July 2011, we entered into a non-cancelable lease agreement with a minority shareholder for laboratory and office space in Seattle, Washington. The lease terms were subsequently amended multiple times and most recently in June 2016. The lease terminates in June 2023. The lease also requires us to pay additional amounts for operating and maintenance expenses.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

In October 2016, we entered into an agreement to sublease certain laboratory and office space in South San Francisco, California. The lease commenced in October 2016 and terminates in March 2019. The lease requires us to pay additional amounts for operating and maintenance expenses.

In April 2018, we entered into a lease agreement to lease additional space in South San Francisco, California. The lease term is through March 2026 and provides for one five-year option. We will be responsible for our share of allocable operating expenses, tax expenses and utilities cost during the duration of the lease term. In connection with the lease, the landlord funded agreed-upon improvements prior to the lease commencement date of December 12, 2018. The landlord was solely responsible for the $2.4 million cost of such improvements, which we recognized as a leasehold improvement asset that depreciates beginning from the commencement date to the initial lease term, and a corresponding leasehold incentive obligation which is amortized over the life of the lease.

As of December 31, 2018, future minimum lease payments, exclusive of operating and maintenance costs, are as follows (in thousands):

 

2019

   $ 3,561  

2020

     3,819  

2021

     3,917  

2022

     4,017  

2023

     2,295  

Thereafter

     2,315  
  

 

 

 

Total future minimum lease payments

   $ 19,924  
  

 

 

 

Rent expenses, inclusive of operating and maintenance costs, were $3.7 million and $4.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Legal Proceedings

We are subject to claims and assessments from time to time in the ordinary course of business. We will accrue a liability for such matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. When only a range of possible loss can be established, the most probable amount in the range is accrued. If no amount within this range is a better estimate than any other amount within the range, the minimum amount in the range is accrued. We are not currently party to any material legal proceedings.

Indemnification Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, we may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to vendors, lessors, customers and other parties with respect to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with members of its board of directors and certain of its executive officers that will require us to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The maximum potential amount of future payments that we could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. We have not incurred any material costs as a result of such indemnifications and are not currently aware of any indemnification claims.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

11.

Convertible Preferred Stock

Convertible preferred stock at December 31, 2018 consists of the following (in thousands, except share data):

 

     Shares
authorized
     Shares issued
and
outstanding
     Amount     Liquidation
preference
 

Series A

     4,550,000        4,550,000      $ 12,405     $ 4,550  

Series B

     5,645,706        5,645,706        16,017       9,669  

Series C

     4,804,227        4,747,352        14,425       12,521  

Series D

     19,269,117        19,269,117        106,905       106,999  

Series E

     15,524,350        15,524,350        93,698       93,750  

Series E-1

     17,407,441        16,605,244        72,568 (1)       100,277  

Series F

     21,761,676        21,761,676        195,013       195,100  

Series F-1

     4,800,000        4,686,649        49,827       50,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total convertible preferred stock

     93,762,517        92,790,094      $ 560,858     $ 572,866  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes vested Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options of $1.8 million which are not included in the shares issued and outstanding.

Conversion

Each share of convertible preferred stock is convertible at the option of the holder into one fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock. The initial conversion price per share is $1.0000, $1.7127, $2.6374, $5.5529, $6.0389, $6.0389, $8.9653 and $10.6686 per share for the Series A convertible preferred stock, Series B convertible preferred stock, Series C convertible preferred stock, Series D convertible preferred stock, Series E convertible preferred stock, Series E-1 convertible preferred stock, Series F convertible preferred stock and Series F-1 convertible preferred stock, respectively.

Shares of convertible preferred stock are automatically converted into shares of the common stock upon the closing of a public offering, provided that our gross proceeds are not less than $25.0 million. Shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, Series B convertible preferred stock and Series C convertible preferred stock are automatically converted into shares of the common stock upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of such shares, voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis. Shares of Series D convertible preferred stock and Series E convertible preferred stock are automatically converted into shares of the common stock upon the affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of such shares voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis. Shares of Series E-1 convertible preferred stock are automatically converted into shares of common stock upon the affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of such shares on an as-converted basis. Shares of Series F convertible preferred stock and Series F-1 convertible preferred stock are automatically converted into shares of the common stock upon the affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of such shares, voting together as a single class on as-converted basis.

Dividends

The holders of convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to receive dividends, when and if declared by our Board of Directors, out of any assets legally available, prior and in preference to any

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

declaration or payment of any dividend on the common stock, equal to the greater of (a) in the case of the Series F-1 convertible preferred stock, $0.8535 per outstanding share per year from and after the date of first issuance of such share (subject to proportional adjustment in the event of a recapitalization), (b) in the case of the Series F convertible preferred stock, $0.7172 per outstanding share per year from and after the date of first issuance of such share (subject to proportional adjustment in the event of a recapitalization), (c) in the case of the Series E convertible preferred stock, $0.4831 per outstanding share per year from and after the date of first issuance of such share (subject to proportional adjustment in the event of a recapitalization) (d) in the case of the Series D convertible preferred stock, $0.4442 per outstanding share per year from and after the date of first issuance of such share (subject to proportional adjustment in the event of a recapitalization) and (e) in the case of all other junior convertible preferred stock, the dividend that would have been payable with respect to such share if it had first been converted to common stock.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any liquidation event, the holders of Series F convertible preferred stock and Series F-1 convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, on a pari passu basis, before any payment is made to the holders of the Series D convertible preferred stock and Series E convertible preferred stock or the common stock, an amount equal to the greater of (1) the applicable original issue price, plus any declared but unpaid dividends thereon or (2) such amount per share as would have been payable had each share been converted into common stock immediately prior to the liquidation event.

Upon completion of the distribution noted above, the holders of Series E convertible preferred stock and Series D convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, on a pari passu basis, before any payment is made to the holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock, Series B convertible preferred stock, Series C convertible preferred stock or the common stock, an amount equal to the greater of (1) applicable the original issue price, plus any declared but unpaid dividends thereon or (2) such amount per share as would have been payable had each share been converted into common stock immediately prior to the liquidation event.

Upon completion of the distribution noted above, the holders of Series A convertible preferred stock, Series B convertible preferred stock, and Series C convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, on a pari passu basis, before any payment is made to the holders of the Series E-1 convertible preferred stock or the common stock, an amount equal to the greater of (1) the applicable original issue price, plus any declared but unpaid dividends thereto, or (2) such amount per share as would have been payable had each share been converted into common stock immediately prior to the liquidation event.

Upon completion of the distribution noted above, our remaining assets available for distribution to shareholders shall be distributed with equal priority and pro rata among the holders of Series E-1 convertible preferred stock and common stock (not including the Series A convertible preferred stock, Series B convertible preferred stock, Series C convertible preferred stock, Series D convertible preferred stock, Series E convertible preferred stock, Series F convertible preferred stock and Series F-1 convertible preferred stock on an as-if converted basis).

Voting

Each holder of convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to a vote by shareholders and shall be entitled to that number of votes equal to the number of shares of

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

common stock into which such holder’s shares of convertible preferred stock are convertible, at the record date. Except as otherwise expressed, the holders of shares of convertible preferred stock and common stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters.

Redemption

So long as 4.0 million shares of our Series D convertible preferred stock, Series E convertible preferred stock, Series F convertible preferred stock and Series F-1 convertible preferred stock (“Senior Preferred Stock”) are outstanding, we cannot, without the consent of the majority of the holders of the Senior Preferred Stock, on an as-converted basis, purchase or redeem any other class or series of capital stock, including preferred stock.

Classification

We have classified convertible preferred stock as mezzanine equity in the balance sheets as the shares are contingently redeemable upon a deemed liquidation such as a change in control and in that event there is no guarantee that all shareholders would be entitled to receive the same form of consideration. No accretion was recorded during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 as a deemed liquidation event was not considered probable.

Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Stock Options

Included in convertible preferred stock is $1.8 million for the redemption value of outstanding Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options that are vested as of December 31, 2018. Upon the closing of a public offering these convertible preferred stock options will convert on a one-for-one basis to options in common stock with no adjustments to exercise price.

 

12.

Shareholders’ Deficit

Common Stock

We are authorized to issue 131,000,000 shares of common stock. Our common stock has a par value of $0.0001, no preferences or privileges and is not redeemable. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held.

We have reserved shares of common stock for the following as of December 31, 2018:

 

Shares to be issued upon conversion of all series of convertible preferred stock

     92,790,094  

Shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding common stock options

     14,893,253  

Shares available for future stock option grants

     6,827,996  

Shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

     264,677  

Shares to be issued upon conversion of Series C convertible preferred stock in connection with warrant exercise

     56,875  

Shares to be issued upon conversion of common stock warrants

     55,032  
  

 

 

 

Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance

     114,887,927  
  

 

 

 

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

Common Stock Warrants

In connection with two transactions in 2012 and 2013, we granted warrants to purchase up to 55,032 shares of common stock. The warrants are exercisable at any time for a period of ten years from the date of issuance at an average exercise price of $0.37, except in the case of warrants to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.45 per share that may expire if unexercised prior to the closing of a public offering.

 

13.

Share-Based Compensation

Adaptive 2009 Equity Incentive Plan

We adopted an equity incentive plan during 2009 (“2009 Plan”) that provides for the issuance of incentive and nonqualified common stock options, and other share-based awards for employees, directors and consultants. Under the 2009 Plan, the option exercise price for incentive and nonqualified stock options may not be less than the fair market value of our common stock at the date of grant as determined by the Board of Directors. Options expire no later than ten years from the grant date, and vesting is established at the time of grant. As of December 31, 2018, we have authorized 21,721,249 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2009 Plan.

A summary of our option and restricted stock unit (“RSU”) activity is as follows:

 

     Shares
available
for grant
    Shares
subject to
outstanding
options
    Weighted-
average
exercise price
per share
     Aggregate
intrinsic value

(in thousands)
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

     3,423,473       12,985,266     $ 3.46      $ 37,138  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

Authorized

     —         —         —       

Options granted

     (1,604,496     1,604,496       6.27     

RSUs forfeited

     880,487       (880,487     —       

Forfeited

     2,086,035       (2,086,035     5.80     

Exercised

     —         (54,685     1.73     
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

     4,785,499       11,568,555       3.70        32,970  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

Authorized

     6,000,000       —         —       

Options granted

     (4,764,625     4,764,625       6.55     

Forfeited

     807,122       (807,122     5.54     

Exercised

     —         (632,805     1.85     
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

     6,827,996       14,893,253       4.59        39,864  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

In 2016, we granted 880,487 RSUs. The vesting of the shares required the satisfaction of both a service and an event condition. In 2017, these RSUs were forfeited due to the employee’s termination prior to the occurrence of either conditions.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2018:

 

Exercise price     Options
outstanding
    Weighted-
average
remaining
contractual
life

(years)
    Options exercisable     Aggregate
intrinsic
value (in
thousands)
 
  $ 0.16       469,109       1.36       469,109    
  0.33       1,428,959       2.90       1,428,959    
  0.45       641,000       3.95       641,000    
  0.84       1,115,225       5.05       1,115,225    
  1.98       1,040,500       5.65       1,040,500    
  4.07       409,194       6.22       395,005    
  6.27       672,353       6.73       402,321    
  6.32       4,431,538       6.71       3,623,123    
  6.55       4,685,375       9.29       947,049    
 

 

 

     

 

 

   
    14,893,253       6.66       10,062,291     $ 36,089  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

The weighted-average exercise price for options exercisable as of December 31, 2018 was $3.68. The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted was $4.00 and $4.15 during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The total intrinsic value of awards exercised was $0.3 million and $3.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Sequenta, Inc. 2008 Stock Plan, as amended

In connection with our acquisition of Sequenta Inc. in January 2015, we assumed Sequenta’s Equity Incentive Plan (“2008 Plan”), including all outstanding options and shares available for future issuance under the 2008 Plan, which are all exercisable for Series E-1 convertible preferred stock.

A summary of our Series E-1 convertible preferred stock option activity is as follows:

 

     Convertible
preferred shares
subject to
outstanding
options
    Weighted-
average
exercise price
per share
     Aggregate
intrinsic
value (in
thousands)
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

     814,563     $ 0.56      $ 4,814  
  

 

 

      

Options granted

     —         —       

Forfeited

     (121,898     0.55     

Exercised

     (171,526     0.74     
  

 

 

      

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

     521,139       0.50        3,195  
  

 

 

      

Options granted

     —         —       

Forfeited

     (122,397     0.36     

Exercised

     (134,065     0.75     
  

 

 

      

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

     264,677       0.44        1,826  
  

 

 

      

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

The following table summarizes information about convertible preferred stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2018:

 

Exercise price

    Options
outstanding
    Weighted-
average
remaining
contractual

life
(years)
    Options exercisable     Aggregated
intrinsic
value (in
thousands)
 
$ 0.10       104,652       0.63       104,652    
  0.28       10,153       2.23       10,153    
  0.55       74,473       4.08       74,473    
  0.82       70,518       5.12       70,480    
  0.92       4,881       5.37       4,881    
 

 

 

     

 

 

   
    264,677       2.94       264,639     $ 1,826  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

There were no preferred options granted during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018. The total intrinsic value of awards exercised was $1.0 million and $0.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Fair value of options granted

The estimated fair value of options granted during 2017 and 2018 was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for our 2009 Plan:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2017     2018  

Expected term (in years)

     6.12       6.14  

Risk-free interest rate

     2.0     2.7

Expected volatility

     70.2     68.1

Expected dividend yield

     —         —    

The determination of the fair value of stock options on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model is affected by the estimated fair value of our common stock, as well as assumptions regarding a number of variables that are complex, subjective and generally require significant judgment to determine. The valuation assumptions were determined as follows:

Fair value of common stock—The grant date fair value of our common stock has been determined by our Board of Directors with input from management. The grant date fair value of the common stock was determined using valuation methodologies which utilizes certain assumptions, including probability weighting of events, volatility, time to liquidation, a risk-free interest rate and an assumption for a discount for lack of marketability (Level 3 inputs). In determining the fair value of the common stock, the methodologies used to estimate the enterprise value were performed using methodologies, approaches and assumptions consistent with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Accounting and Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.

Expected term—The expected life of options granted to employees is determined using the “simplified” method, as illustrated in ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, as we do not

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

have sufficient exercise history to determine a better estimate of expected term. Under this approach, the expected term is presumed to be the average of the weighted-average vesting term and the contractual term of the option.

Risk-free interest rate—We utilize a risk-free interest rate in the option valuation model based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues, with remaining terms similar to the expected term of the options.

Expected volatility—As we do not have any trading history for our common stock, the expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our publicly traded industry peers utilizing a period of time consistent with our estimate of expected term.

Expected dividend yield—We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future and, therefore, use an expected dividend yield of zero in the option valuation model.

Share-based compensation expense of $7.0 million and $11.1 million was recognized during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The compensation costs related to stock options are included in the statements of operations as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
          2017                2018       

Cost of revenue

   $ 237      $ 398  

Research and development

     2,375        2,896  

Sales and marketing

     1,344        2,891  

General and administration

     3,053        4,964  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation expense

   $ 7,009      $ 11,149  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

There were no stock option modifications during the year ended December 31, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2018, there was one option modification to extend the option exercise period which resulted in incremental stock compensation of $0.5 million. The total grant date fair value of the stock options that vested during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, excluding the impact of modifications, approximated the share-based compensation expense recorded during the respective periods.

At December 31, 2018, unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options was $18.3 million that is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of 2.72 years.

 

14.

Restructuring Charges

On June 17, 2016, we announced that we were consolidating our South San Francisco, California laboratory operations into our Seattle, Washington location to recognize cost savings. The transition of activities was completed in April 2017.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

The following table summarizes the activity within the restructuring related balance sheet accounts during the year ended December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

 

     One-time
termination
benefits
    Asset impairments
and net loss on sale
or disposal
    Other (1)     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2016

   $ 2,564     $ —       $ —       $ 2,564  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs incurred and charged to expense

     512       210       118       840  

Cash payments

     (3,076     —         (118     (3,194

Non-cash items

     —         (210     —         (210
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

“Other” primarily reflects activities associated with the consolidation of our facilities and manufacturing operations, including contract termination costs.

 

15.

Microsoft Collaboration Agreement

In December 2017, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft Agreement”) to computationally derive a comprehensive TCR antigen map for purposes of developing a universal diagnostic based on a single blood test.

Pursuant to the Microsoft Agreement, we provide Microsoft data and immunomics, diagnostic and bioinformatics expertise, at no charge to Microsoft, and Microsoft provides machine learning software and cloud services development support, at no charge, to develop immunomic artificial intelligence services. In addition, during the term of the Microsoft Agreement, we have agreed to exclusively use Microsoft’s Azure cloud services at standard volume pricing with a minimum Azure consumption requirement of $12 million over the seven-year term of the agreement which we expect to meet. We have also agreed to host each diagnostic product developed as a direct result of the Microsoft Agreement on Azure throughout the term of the Microsoft Agreement and for a period of five years thereafter.

During the term of the Microsoft Agreement, each party has granted each other certain licenses to one another’s intellectual property rights and have agreed to certain defined exclusivity obligations with respect to collaborations and projects that are substantially similar to the Microsoft Agreement.

Additionally, Microsoft made an equity investment of approximately $45.0 million as a part of the Series F-1 convertible preferred stock issuance.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

16.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2017     2018  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Net operating losses

   $ 47,840     $ 56,555  

Tax credit carryforward

     5,463       6,709  

Non qualifying stock options

     4,865       7,861  

Other

     3,774       4,523  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     61,942       75,648  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Valuation allowance

     (56,679     (70,722
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

     5,263       4,926  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Tangible and intangible assets

     (5,263     (4,926
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred taxes

   $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, requires that the tax benefit of net operating losses, temporary differences and credit carryforwards be recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses that realization is “more likely than not.” Realization of the future tax benefits is dependent on our ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryforward period. Because of our history of operating losses, management believes that recognition of the deferred tax assets arising from the above-mentioned future tax benefits is currently not likely to be realized and, accordingly, has provided a valuation allowance. The valuation allowance decreased $9.7 million and increased by $14.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) was signed into law, making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including a decrease in the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Taxpayers are required to recognize the effect of tax law changes in the period of enactment. The re-measurement resulted in a total decrease in these net assets equal to $25.0 million, which was fully offset by a corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance. As of December 31, 2018, we completed our assessment of the impact of the changes due to the TCJA and the provisional amounts recorded are final.

Federal tax laws impose substantial restrictions on the utilization of net operating loss and credit carryforwards in the event of an ownership change, as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, our ability to utilize these carryforwards may be limited due to such ownership change. We have completed a Section 382 analysis for approximately $186.9 million of our federal operating losses and there are no permanent limitations on the utilization of our federal net operating losses as of December 31, 2018. Net operating losses generated by Sequenta, Inc. of approximately $38.5 million prior to the our acquisition in January of 2015 were excluded from this analysis and maybe limited as we have not completed a Section 382 analysis. Under the newly enacted federal

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

income tax law, federal net operating losses incurred in 2018 and in future years may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal net operating losses is limited. Net operating losses generated prior to 2018 are eligible to carried forward up to 20 years. As of December 31, 2018, we had U.S. federal net operating losses of $47.3 million and U.S. federal tax credits of $6.0 million. The tax credit and net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2028.

The effective tax rate of our provision for income taxes differs from the federal statutory rate as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2017     2018  

Statutory rate

     34.00     21.00

State tax

     1.82       5.50  

Stock compensation

     (1.72     0.47  

Permanent items

     (0.08     0.48  

Credits

     2.69       2.68  

TCJA change in federal rate

     (58.36     —    

Other

     (0.66     0.16  

Change in valuation allowance

     22.31       (30.29
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     0.00     0.00
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

We recognize, in our financial statements, the effect of a tax position when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. We had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $1.3 million as of December 31, 2018. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits during the two years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at December 31, 2016

   $ 844  

Additions in 2017

     187  
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

     1,031  

Additions in 2018

     229  
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

   $ 1,260  
  

 

 

 

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, we recognized uncertain tax positions of $0.2 million related to a reduction of the research and development credit deferred tax asset. Unrecognized tax benefits may change during the next twelve months for items that arise in the ordinary course of business. We do not anticipate a material change to our unrecognized tax benefits over the next twelve months that would have an adverse effect on our operating results.

We recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. We had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2017 and 2018.

We file federal and certain state income tax returns, which provide varying statutes of limitations on assessments. However, because of net operating loss carryforwards, substantially all tax years since inception remain open to federal and state tax examination.

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

17.

Net Loss and Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders

Net Loss Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders (In thousands, except shares and per share amounts):

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2017     2018  

Net loss

   $ (42,831   $ (46,447

Fair value adjustments to redemption value for Series E-1 convertible preferred stock options

     135       102  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (42,696   $ (46,345
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share

     12,196,998       12,629,778  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (3.50   $ (3.67
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Since we were in a loss position for all periods presented, basic net loss per share attributable to common shareholders is the same as diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, as the inclusion of all potential shares of common stock outstanding would have been anti-dilutive. The following weighted-average common stock equivalents were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders for the periods presented as they had an anti-dilutive effect:

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2017      2018  

Convertible preferred stock (on as if converted basis)

     88,473,431        92,783,867  

2009 Plan stock options issued and outstanding

     12,022,454        14,368,063  

2008 Plan stock options issued and outstanding

     622,472        333,563  

Common stock warrants

     55,032        55,032  

Convertible preferred stock warrants

     56,875        56,875  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     101,230,264        107,597,400  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2018

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of the unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders (in thousands, except shares and per share amounts):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2018
 

Numerator:

  

Pro forma net loss attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (46,477
  

 

 

 

Denominator:

  

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

     12,629,778  

Weighted-average shares of common stock issued upon assumed conversion of convertible preferred stock in an IPO

     92,783,867  

Weighted-average shares of common stock issued upon assumed conversion of convertible preferred stock warrants in an IPO

     56,875  
  

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

     105,470,520  
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (0.44
  

 

 

 

 

18.

Retirement Plan

We maintain a salary deferral 401(k) plan (“401(k) Plan”), covering employees who have met certain eligibility requirements. Employees may defer up to 100% of their compensation to the 401(k) Plan, subject to federal limits. We did not make any discretionary contributions during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.

 

19.

Subsequent Events

In January 2019, clonoSEQ received Medicare coverage aligned with the FDA label and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for longitudinal monitoring in certain blood cancers.

In the first quarter of 2019, the Board of Directors approved additional stock option grants under our 2009 Plan of 2,045,000 shares to certain employees and 105,000 shares to non-employee directors. All option grants were issued with option exercise prices of $7.27 per share and subject to continuing service vesting conditions.

Management has reviewed and evaluated material subsequent events from the balance sheet date of December 31, 2018, through the date the financial statements were available to be issued, March 29, 2019. Other than the matters noted above, no subsequent events have been identified for disclosure.

 

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             Shares

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Common Stock

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC    J.P. Morgan    BofA Merrill Lynch
Cowen     Guggenheim Securities        
William Blair     BTIG

Through and including                 , 2019 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following is a statement of the costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, to be incurred by us in connection with the distribution of the securities registered under this registration statement. All amounts are estimated except the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and The Nasdaq Global Select Market listing fee.

 

Item

   Amount  

SEC Registration Fee

   $          

FINRA Filing Fee

             

The Nasdaq Global Select Market Listing Fee

             

Accounting Fees and Expenses

             

Legal Fees and Expenses

             

Transfer Agent Fees

             

Printing and Engraving Expenses

             

Miscellaneous

             
  

 

 

 

Total

   $          
  

 

 

 

 

*

To be completed by amendment.

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

RCW 23B.08.320 permits a Washington corporation to, through its articles of corporation, eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for conduct as a director, except for the following:

 

i.

acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct by a director or a knowing violation of law by a director;

 

ii.

conduct violating RCW 23B.08.310 relating to unlawful distributions;

 

iii.

any transaction from which the director will personally receive a benefit in money, property or services to which the director is not legally entitled; and

 

iv.

any act or omission occurring prior to the date when the provision in the articles of incorporation eliminating or limiting liability becomes effective.

RCW 23B.08.510 authorizes a Washington corporation to indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because the individual is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if:

 

i.

the individual acted in good faith; and

 

ii.

the individual reasonably believed (a) in the case of conduct in the individual’s official capacity with the corporation, that the individual’s conduct was in its best interests, and (b) in all other cases, that the individual’s conduct was at least not opposed to its best interests; and

 

iii.

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the individual had no reasonable cause to believe the individual’s conduct was unlawful.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, a Washington corporation may not indemnify a director under RCW 23B.08.510 in connection with (a) a proceeding by or on behalf of the corporation in which the director

 

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was adjudged liable to the corporation or (b) any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director, in which the director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the director. Additionally, where a proceeding is by or on behalf of the corporation, the indemnification permitted under RCW 23B.08.510 is limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.

RCW 23B.08.520 mandates a Washington corporation to indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because of being a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding, unless such indemnification is limited in the corporation’s articles of incorporation. Our amended and restated articles which will be in effect upon the closing of this offering will not contain any such limitation.

RCW 23B.08.540 permits court-ordered indemnification, unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation provides otherwise. Pursuant to this provision, in the absence of a contrary provision in a corporation’s articles of incorporation, a director who is a party to a proceeding may apply for indemnification or advance of expenses to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction, and such court may order indemnification or advance of expenses if it makes certain determinations.

Under RCW 23B.08.570, unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, an officer of a Washington corporation who is not a director is also entitled to mandatory indemnification under RCW 23B.08.520 and court-ordered indemnification under RCW 23B.08.540, each of which sections are summarized above, to the same extent as a director. Further, a Washington corporation may indemnify an officer, employee or agent of the corporation under RCW 23B.08.510, to the same extent as a director.

RCW 23B.08.580 permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any individual who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or who while a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, is or was serving at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against liability asserted against or incurred by the individual in that capacity or arising from the individual’s status as a director, officer, employee or agent, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify such individual against the same liability under RCW 23B.08.510 and 23B.08.520.

Our amended and restated articles and our amended and restated bylaws which will be in effect upon the closing of this offering will provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under Washington law.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers, and may enter into indemnification agreements with future directors and executive officers, to provide such directors and officers, additional contractual assurances regarding the scope of the indemnification set forth in our amended and restated articles and our amended and restated bylaws and to provide additional procedural protections.

We may also purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of our directors, officers, employees, and agents. We currently maintain a liability insurance policy pursuant to which our directors and officers may be indemnified against liability incurred as a result of serving in their capacities as directors and officers, subject to certain exclusions.

The underwriting agreement, to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto, is expected to provide for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers and directors, and by us of the underwriters, against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

 

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Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

The following sets forth information regarding all unregistered securities we have sold since March 30, 2016.

(a) Issuances of Capital Stock

In April 2016, we issued 27,886 shares of our common stock to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center pursuant to a common stock purchase agreement, at a price per share of $8.9653, for an aggregate purchase price of $250,006.36.

On December 11, 2017 we entered into a Series F-1 Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 4,686,649 shares of our Series F-1 convertible preferred stock at a price per share of $10.6686, for an aggregate purchase price of $49,999,984.

No underwriters were involved in the foregoing sales of securities. Unless otherwise stated, the sales of securities described above were deemed to be exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, including Regulation D and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. All of the purchasers in these transactions represented to us in connection with their purchase that they were acquiring the securities for investment and not distribution, that they could bear the risks of the investment and could hold the securities for an indefinite period of time. Such purchasers received written disclosures that the securities had not been registered under the Securities Act and that any resale must be made pursuant to a registration or an available exemption from such registration. All of the foregoing securities are deemed restricted securities for the purposes of the Securities Act.

(b) Grants and Exercises of Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units

In connection with our Sequenta acquisition, we assumed stock options to purchase an aggregate of 1,574,045 shares of our Series E-1 convertible preferred stock, which, to the extent such options are outstanding as of the closing of this offering, will each be converted into options to purchase one share of our common stock, with exercise prices ranging from $0.10 to $0.92 per share, to employees, directors and consultants pursuant to the Sequenta Plan. During the period beginning March 30, 2016 and ending March 29, 2019, 588,309 shares of Series E-1 convertible preferred stock were issued upon the exercise of stock options pursuant to the Sequenta Plan, which will each be converted into one share of our common stock upon the closing of this offering.

During the period beginning March 30, 2016 and ending March 29, 2019, we granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 11,897,845 shares of our common stock, with exercise prices ranging from $6.27 to $7.27 per share, to employees, directors and consultants pursuant to the 2009 Plan. During the period beginning March 30, 2016 and ending March 29, 2019, 820,097 shares of common stock were issued upon the exercise of stock options pursuant to the 2009 Plan. In April 2016, we granted an employee 880,487 restricted stock units pursuant to the 2009 Plan, subject to vesting conditions. In June 2017, the restricted stock units were forfeited due to a termination of the employee’s service prior to satisfying any of the vesting conditions.

The issuances of the securities described above were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act as transactions pursuant to compensatory benefit plans. The shares of common stock issued upon the exercise of options are deemed to be restricted securities for purposes of the Securities Act.

 

II-3


Table of Contents

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
    No.    

  

Exhibit Index

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement
  3.1*    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as currently in effect
  3.2*    Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (to be effective upon the closing of this offering)
  3.3    Bylaws of the Registrant, as currently in effect
  3.4*    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws (to be effective upon the closing of this offering)
  4.1*    Seventh Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement among the Registrant and certain of its shareholders, dated             , 2019
  4.2*    Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing shares of common stock
  4.3    Warrant to Purchase Stock, dated June 5, 2012, issued by the Registrant to Silicon Valley Bank
  4.4    Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated July 18, 2013, issued by the Registrant to Imdaptive, Inc.
  4.5    Warrant to Purchase Stock, dated April 21, 2014, issued by the Registrant to Alexandria Equities, LLC
  5.1*    Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US)
10.1*    Strategic Collaboration and License Agreement between Genentech, Inc. and the Registrant, dated December 19, 2018
10.2*    Strategic Collaboration Agreement between Microsoft Corporation and the Registrant, dated December 11, 2017
10.3*    Master Terms & Conditions of Sale between Illumina, Inc. and the Registrant, dated April     , 2019
10.4*    Master Collaboration Agreement between Adaptimmune Limited and the Registrant, dated July 10, 2015
10.5*    Amended and Restated Side Letter Agreement among Viking Global Equities LP, Viking Global Equities II LP, VGE III Portfolio Ltd., Viking Long Fund Master Ltd. and the Registrant, dated             , 2019
10.6    Master Services Agreement between ZS Associates, Inc. and the Registrant, dated August 5, 2015, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated April 24, 2017
10.7    Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation 2009 Equity Incentive Plan and form of award agreements thereunder
10.8*    Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of award agreements thereunder
10.9*    Form of Restated Non-Employee Director Change in Control Agreement between the Registrant and each of its non-employee directors, to be in effect upon the effectiveness of this Registration Statement
10.10    Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each of its directors and executive officers
10.11*    Form of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Registrant and certain of its executive officers, to be in effect upon the effectiveness of this Registration Statement
10.12    Lease Agreement between ARE-Seattle No. 11, LLC and Adaptive TCR Corporation, dated July 21, 2011, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated August 26, 2011, Amendment No. 2, dated June 30, 2014, Amendment No. 3, dated November 5, 2015, Amendment No. 4, dated December 23, 2015, and Amendment No. 5, dated June 6, 2016
23.1*    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

II-4


Table of Contents

Exhibit
    No.    

  

Exhibit Index

23.2*    Consent of DLA Piper LLP (US) (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto)

 

*

To be filed by amendment.

(b) Financial statement schedules. Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown either in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

  (1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  (2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-5


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, in the city of Seattle, State of Washington, on             , 2019.

 

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

By:

 

 

 

Chad Robins

Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Chad Robins and Chad Cohen, and each of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act without the other, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this registration statement on Form S-1, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

     

Chad Robins

 

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

              , 2019

     

Chad Cohen

 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

              , 2019

     

Eric Dobmeier

  Director               , 2019

     

David Goel

  Director               , 2019

     

Michelle Griffin

  Director               , 2019

     

Robert Hershberg, PhD, MD

  Director               , 2019

 

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Table of Contents

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

     

Peter Neupert

  Director               , 2019

     

Michael Pellini, MD

  Director               , 2019

     

Andris Zoltners, PhD

  Director               , 2019

 

II-7

EX-3.3

Exhibit 3.3

BYLAWS

OF

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

 

 

Originally adopted on September 14, 2009

Amendments are listed on p. i


ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

 

Article

  

Effect of Amendment

  

Date of

Amendment

II, Sec. 2.2    Board ratifies, confirms and approves that incorporator set the number of directors comprising the Board initially at one (1) member.    09/14/09
   Board ratifies, confirms and approves an amendment to reflect the name change from Adaptive TCR Corporation to Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, in connection with the filing of the Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation on December 21, 2011.    12/20/11
II, Sec. 2.2    Board ratifies, confirms and approves an amendment to increase the maximum number of directors comprising the Board from seven (7) to nine (9).    04/03/14
II, Sec. 2.2    Board ratifies, confirms and approves an amendment to increase the maximum number of directors comprising the Board from nine (9) to eleven (11).    12/19/14

I, Sec. 1.2; II,

Sec. 2.6 & 2.9;

III, Sec. 3.9

   Board ratifies, confirms and approves an amendment to replace all references therein to “the President” with reference to “the President or the Chief Executive Officer”.    02/07/18


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

              Page  

ARTICLE I

  

SHAREHOLDERS

     1  

1.1

  

Annual Meeting

     1  
  

1.1.1

 

Time and Place of Meeting

     1  
  

1.1.2

 

Business Conducted at Meeting

     1  

1.2

  

Special Meetings

     2  

1.3

  

Notice of Meetings

     3  
  

1.3.1

 

Notice of Special Meeting

     3  
  

1.3.2

 

Proposed Articles of Amendment, Merger, Exchange, Sale, Lease or Disposition

     3  
  

1.3.3

 

Proposed Dissolution

     4  
  

1.3.4

 

Declaration of Mailing

     4  
  

1.3.5

 

Waiver of Notice

     4  

1.4

  

Quorum; Vote Requirement

     4  

1.5

  

Adjourned Meetings

     5  

1.6

  

Fixing Record Date

     5  

1.7

  

Shareholders’ List for Meeting

     5  

1.8

  

Ratification

     6  

1.9

  

Telephonic Meetings

     6  

1.10

  

Execution of Consent by Less than Unanimous Consent of Shareholders

     6  

ARTICLE II

  

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     6  

2.1

  

Responsibility of Board of Directors

     6  

2.2

  

Number of Directors; Qualification

     7  

2.3

  

Election of Directors; Nominations

     7  
  

2.3.1

 

Election and Term of Office

     7  
  

2.3.2

 

Nominations for Directors

     7  

2.4

  

Vacancies

     8  

2.5

  

Removal

     9  

2.6

  

Resignation

     9  

2.7

  

Annual Meeting

     9  

2.8

  

Regular Meetings

     9  

2.9

  

Special Meetings

     9  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

              Page  

2.10

  

Notice of Meeting

     9  

2.11

  

Quorum of Directors

     10  

2.12

  

Dissent by Directors

     11  

2.13

  

Action by Directors Without a Meeting

     11  

2.14

  

Telephonic Meetings

     11  

2.15

  

Compensation

     11  

2.16

  

Committees

     11  

ARTICLE III

  

OFFICERS

     12  

3.1

  

Appointment

     12  

3.2

  

Qualification

     12  

3.3

  

Officers Enumerated

     13  
     3.3.1   Chairman of the Board    13  
     3.3.2   Chief Executive Officer    13  
     3.3.3   President    13  
     3.3.4   Vice Presidents    14  
     3.3.5   Secretary    14  
     3.3.6   Treasurer    15  
     3.3.7   Chief Scientific Officer    15  

3.4

  

Delegation

     15  

3.5

  

Resignation

     15  

3.6

  

Removal

     15  

3.7

  

Vacancies

     16  

3.8

  

Other Officers and Agents

     16  

3.9

  

Compensation

     16  

3.10

  

General Standards for Officers

     16  

ARTICLE IV

  

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DRAFTS

     16  

4.1

  

Contracts

     16  

4.2

  

Checks, Drafts, Etc

     17  

4.3

  

Deposits

     17  

ARTICLE V

  

STOCK

     17  

5.1

  

Issuance of Shares

     17  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

          Page  

5.2

  

Certificates of Stock

     17  

5.3

  

Stock Records

     18  

5.4

  

Restrictions on Transfer

     18  

5.5

  

Transfers

     18  

ARTICLE VI

  

RECORDS OF CORPORATE MEETINGS

     19  

ARTICLE VII

  

FINANCIAL MATTERS

     19  

ARTICLE VIII

  

DISTRIBUTIONS

     19  

ARTICLE IX

  

CORPORATE SEAL

     20  

ARTICLE X

  

MISCELLANY

     20  

10.1

  

Communications by Facsimile

     20  

10.2

  

Inspector of Elections

     20  

10.3

  

Rules of Order

     21  

10.4

  

Construction

     21  

10.5

  

Severability

     21  

ARTICLE XI

  

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

     21  

 

iii


BYLAWS OF

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

These Bylaws are promulgated pursuant to the Washington Business Corporation Act, as set forth in Title 23B of the Revised Code of Washington (the “Act”).

ARTICLE I

SHAREHOLDERS

1.1    Annual Meeting.

1.1.1    Time and Place of Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the corporation for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held each year at a place, day, and time to be set by the Board of Directors.

1.1.2    Business Conducted at Meeting.

(a)    At the annual meeting of shareholders, an item of business may be conducted, and a proposal may be considered and acted upon, only if such item or proposal is brought before the meeting (i) by, or at the direction of, the Board of Directors, or (ii) by any shareholder of the corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in the remainder of this Section 1.1.2. This Section 1.1.2 shall not apply to matters of procedure that, pursuant to Section 10.3(a) of these Bylaws, are subject to the authority of the chairman of the meeting.

(b)    For an item of business or proposal to be brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal office of the corporation (i) not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the date that the corporation’s proxy statement was first released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting; (ii) a reasonable time before the corporation begins to print and mail its proxy materials if the date of the current year’s annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date of the previous year’s meeting; or (iii) not more than seven (7) days following the mailing to shareholders of the notice of annual meeting with respect to the current year’s annual meeting, if the corporation did not release a proxy statement to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held during such year.

(c)    A shareholder’s notice to the Secretary under Section 1.1.2(b) shall set forth, as to each item of business or proposal the shareholder intends to bring before the meeting (i) a brief description of the item of business or proposal and the reasons for bringing it before the meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of the

 

1


shareholder and of any other shareholders that the shareholder knows or anticipates will support the item of business or proposal, (iii) the number and class of shares of stock of the corporation that are beneficially owned on the date of such notice by the shareholder and by any such other shareholders, and (iv) any financial interest of the shareholder or any such other shareholders in such item of business or proposal.

(d)    The Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, may reject a shareholder’s notice that is not timely given in accordance with the terms of Section 1.1.2(b). If the Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, determines that the information provided in a timely shareholder’s notice does not satisfy the requirements of Section 1.1.2(c) in any material respect, the Secretary of the corporation shall notify the shareholder of the deficiency in the notice. The shareholder shall have an opportunity to cure the deficiency by providing additional information to the Secretary within such period of time, not to exceed five (5) days from the date such deficiency notice is given to the shareholder, as the Board of Directors or such committee shall reasonably determine. If the deficiency is not cured within such period, or if the Board of Directors or such committee determines that the additional information provided by the shareholder, together with information previously provided, does not satisfy the requirements of Section 1.1.2(c) in any material respect, then the Board of Directors or such committee may reject the shareholder’s notice.

(e)    Notwithstanding the procedures set forth in Section 1.1.2(d), if a shareholder desires to bring an item of business or proposal before an annual meeting, and neither the Board of Directors nor any committee thereof has made a prior determination of whether the shareholder has complied with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.1.2 in connection with such item of business or proposal, then the chairman of the meeting shall determine and declare at the meeting whether the shareholder has so complied. If the chairman determines that the shareholder has so complied, then the chairman shall so state and ballots shall be provided for use at the meeting with respect to such item of business or proposal. If the chairman determines that the shareholder has not so complied, then, unless the chairman, in his sole and absolute discretion, determines to waive such compliance, the chairman shall state that the shareholder has not so complied and the item of business or proposal shall not be brought before the meeting.

This Section 1.1.2 shall not prevent the consideration and approval or disapproval at the annual meeting of reports of officers, directors and committees of the Board of Directors, but, in connection with such reports, no item of business may be conducted, and no proposal may be considered and acted upon, unless there has been compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.1.2 in connection therewith.

1.2    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or by the Chairman of the Board (if one be appointed) or by the President or the Chief Executive Officer or by one or more shareholders holding shares entitled to cast not less than one-tenth (1/10) of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at that meeting, to be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors or the Chairman (if one be appointed) or the President or the Chief Executive Officer may prescribe; provided, that, at any time when the corporation is

 

2


subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), special meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors (if one be appointed) or the President or the Chief Executive Officer or one or more shareholders holding not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of all the shares entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at that meeting.

If a special meeting is called by any person or persons other than the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board (if one be appointed) or the President or the Chief Executive Officer, then a written demand, describing with reasonable clarity the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or other facsimile transmission to the Secretary of the corporation. Upon receipt of such a demand, the Secretary shall cause notice of such meeting to be given, within thirty (30) days after the date the demand was delivered to the Secretary, to the shareholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.3 of these Bylaws. Except as provided below, if the notice is not given by the Secretary within thirty (30) days after the date the demand was delivered to the Secretary, then the person or persons demanding the meeting may specify the time and place of the meeting and give notice thereof.

1.3    Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided below, the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, or any transfer agent of the corporation shall give, in any manner permitted by law, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of any meeting of shareholders, written notice stating the place, day, and time of the meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. Written notice may be transmitted by mail, private carrier or personal delivery; telegraph, wire or wireless equipment that transmits a facsimile of the notice. If mailed, notice to a shareholder shall be effective when mailed, with first-class postage thereon prepaid, correctly addressed to the shareholder at the shareholder’s address as it appears on the current record of shareholders of the corporation. Otherwise, written notice may be given by any of the following means and shall be effective at the earliest of the following: (a) If sent to the person’s address, or facsimile number when dispatched by telegraph or facsimile equipment, (b) when received, (c) on the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and the receipt is signed by or on behalf of the addressee, or (d) on the next business day if transmitted electronically to an electronic address designated by the shareholder in a consent to receive notices electronically.

1.3.1    Notice of Special Meeting. In the case of a special meeting, the written notice shall also state with reasonable clarity the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting. No business other than that within the purpose or purposes specified in the notice may be transacted at a special meeting.

1.3.2    Proposed Articles of Amendment, Merger, Exchange, Sale, Lease or Disposition. If the business to be conducted at any meeting includes any proposed amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or any proposed merger or exchange of shares, or any proposed sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets

 

3


(with or without the goodwill) of the corporation not in the usual or regular course of its business, then the written notice shall state that the purpose or one of the purposes is to consider the proposed amendment or plan of merger, exchange of shares, sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition, as the case may be, shall describe the proposed action with reasonable clarity, and shall be accompanied by a copy of the proposed amendment or plan. Written notice of such meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record, whether or not entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than twenty (20) days before such meeting, in the manner provided in Section 1.3 above.

1.3.3    Proposed Dissolution. If the business to be conducted at any meeting includes the proposed voluntary dissolution of the corporation, then the written notice shall state that the purpose or one of the purposes is to consider the advisability thereof. Written notice of such meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record, whether or not entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than twenty (20) days before such meeting, in the manner provided in Section 1.3 above.

1.3.4    Declaration of Mailing. A declaration of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any shareholders’ meeting, executed by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, or any transfer or other agent of the corporation giving the notice, shall be prima facie evidence of the giving of such notice.

1.3.5    Waiver of Notice. A shareholder may waive notice of any meeting at any time, either before or after such meeting. Except as provided below, the waiver must be in writing, be signed by the shareholder entitled to the notice, and be delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. A shareholder’s attendance at a meeting in person or by proxy waives objection to lack of notice or defective notice of the meeting unless the shareholder at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. In the case of a special meeting, or an annual meeting at which fundamental corporate changes are considered, a shareholder waives objection to consideration of a particular matter that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice unless the shareholder objects to considering the matter when it is presented.

1.4    Quorum; Vote Requirement. A quorum shall exist at any meeting of shareholders if a majority of the votes entitled to be cast is represented in person or by proxy. Once a share is represented for any purpose at a meeting other than solely to object to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting, it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting unless a new record date is or must be set for that adjourned meeting. Subject to the foregoing, the determination of the voting groups entitled to vote (as required by law), and the quorum and voting requirements applicable thereto, must be made separately for each matter being considered at a meeting. In the case of any meeting of shareholders that is adjourned more than once because of the failure of a quorum to attend, those who attend the third convening of such meeting, although less than a quorum, shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing directors, provided that the percentage of shares represented at the third convening of such meeting shall not be less than one-third of the shares entitled to vote.

 

4


If a quorum exists, action on a matter (other than the election of directors) is approved by a voting group if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast within the voting group opposing the action unless a greater number of affirmative votes is required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation.

1.5    Adjourned Meetings. An adjournment or adjournments of any shareholders’ meeting, whether by reason of the failure of a quorum to attend or otherwise, may be taken to such date, time, and place as the chairman of the meeting may determine without new notice being given if the date, time, and place are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. However, if the adjournment is for more than one hundred twenty (120) days from the date set for the original meeting, a new record date for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed and a new notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.3 of these Bylaws. At any adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. Any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall be adjourned only from day to day until such directors are elected.

1.6    Fixing Record Date. For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders (or, subject to Section 1.5 above, any adjournment thereof), the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than seventy (70) days prior to the meeting. If no such record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, then the day before the first notice is delivered to shareholders shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders. If no notice is given because all shareholders entitled to notice have waived notice, then the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting shall be the date on which the last such waiver of notice was obtained. When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, except as provided in Section 1.5 of these Bylaws. If no notice is given because shareholders holding of record or otherwise entitled to vote in the aggregate not less than the minimum number of votes necessary in order to take such action by written consent have signed a consent, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to take action without a meeting is the date the first shareholder signs the consent.

1.7    Shareholders’ List for Meeting. The corporation shall cause to be prepared an alphabetical list of the names of all of its shareholders on the record date who are entitled to notice of a shareholders’ meeting or any adjournment thereof. The list must be arranged by voting group (and within each voting group by class or series of shares) and show the address of and the number of shares held by each shareholder. The shareholders’ list must be available for inspection by any shareholder, beginning ten (10) days prior to the meeting and continuing through the meeting, at the principal office of the corporation or at a place identified in the meeting notice in the city where the meeting will be held. Such list shall be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting. During such ten-day period, and during the whole time of the meeting, the shareholders’ list shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder, or the shareholder’s agent or attorney. In cases where the record date is fewer than ten (10) days

 

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prior to the meeting because notice has been waived by all shareholders, the Secretary shall keep such record available for a period from the date the first waiver of notice was delivered to the date of the meeting. Failure to comply with the requirements of this section shall not affect the validity of any action taken at the meeting.

1.8    Ratification. Subject to the requirements of RCW 23B.08.730 and 23B.19.040 (to the extent applicable), any contract, transaction, or act of the corporation or of any director or officer of the corporation that shall be authorized, approved, or ratified by the affirmative vote of a majority of shares represented at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, insofar as permitted by law, be as valid and as binding as though ratified by every shareholder of the corporation.

1.9    Telephonic Meetings. Shareholders may participate in a meeting by any means of communication by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other during the meeting, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

1.10    Execution of Consent by Less than Unanimous Consent of Shareholders. To the extent permitted by, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in, the Act, the taking of action by shareholders without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of all shareholders entitled to vote on the action shall be permitted.

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2.1    Responsibility of Board of Directors. The business and affairs and property of the corporation shall be managed under the direction of a Board of Directors. A director shall discharge the duties of a director, including duties as a member of a committee, in good faith, with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances, and in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. In discharging the duties of a director, a director is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by: (a) one or more officers or employees of the corporation whom the director reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; (b) legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters the director reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert competence; or (c) a committee of the Board of Directors of which the director is not a member, if the director reasonably believes the committee merits confidence. A director is not acting in good faith if the director has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance otherwise permitted above unwarranted. The creation of, delegation of authority to, or action by a committee does not alone constitute compliance by a director with the standards of conduct imposed by law upon directors. A director is not liable for any action taken as a director, or any failure to take any action, if the director performed the duties of the director’s office in compliance with this section.

 

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2.2    Number of Directors; Qualification. The number of directors of the corporation shall be between one (1) and eleven (11), the specific number to be set by resolution of the Board of Directors. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires. No director need be a shareholder of the corporation or a resident of Washington. Each director must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

2.3    Election of Directors; Nominations.

2.3.1    Election and Term of Office. At each annual meeting of shareholders, the shareholders shall elect directors. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, shareholders entitled to vote at any election of directors are entitled to cumulate votes for directors as permitted by RCW 23B.07.280. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, in any election of directors the candidates elected are those receiving the largest numbers of votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election, up to the number of directors to be elected by such shares. Each director shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting or, in the case of staggered terms as permitted by RCW 23B.08.060, for the term for which he or she is elected, and in each case until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified.

2.3.2    Nominations for Directors.

(a)    Nominations of candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of shareholders may only be made (i) by, or at the direction of, the Board of Directors or (ii) by any shareholder of the corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in the remainder of this Section 2.3.2.

(b)    If a shareholder proposes to nominate one or more candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal office of the corporation (i) not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the date that the corporation’s proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting; (ii) a reasonable time before the corporation begins to print and mail its proxy materials if the date of this year’s annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date of the previous year’s meeting; or (iii) not more than seven (7) days following the mailing to shareholders of the notice of annual meeting with respect to the current year’s annual meeting, if the corporation did not release a proxy statement to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held during such year.

(c)    A shareholder’s notice to the Secretary under Section 2.3.2(b) shall set forth, as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (iii) the number and class of shares of stock of the corporation that are beneficially owned on the date of such notice by such person and (iv) if the corporation at such time has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the

 

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Exchange Act, any other information relating to such person required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies with respect to nominees for election as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including, but not limited to, information required to be disclosed by Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A, and any other information that the shareholder would be required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the shareholder’s nomination of such person as a candidate for director or the shareholder’s opposition to any candidate for director nominated by, or at the direction of, the Board of Directors. In addition to the above information, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary under Section 2.3.2(b) shall (A) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of the shareholder and of any other shareholders that the shareholder knows or anticipates will support any candidate or candidates nominated by the shareholder and (ii) the number and class of shares of stock of the corporation that are beneficially owned on the date of such notice by the shareholder and by any such other shareholders and (B) be accompanied by a written statement, signed and acknowledged by each candidate nominated by the shareholder, that the candidate agrees to be so nominated and to serve as a director of the corporation if elected at the annual meeting.

(d)    The Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, may reject any shareholder’s nomination of one or more candidates for election as directors if the nomination is not made pursuant to a shareholder’s notice timely given in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3.2(b). If the Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, determines that the information provided in a shareholder’s notice does not satisfy the requirements of Section 2.3.2(c) in any material respect, the Secretary of the corporation shall notify the shareholder of the deficiency in the notice. The shareholder shall have an opportunity to cure the deficiency by providing additional information to the Secretary within such period of time, not to exceed five (5) days from the date such deficiency notice is given to the shareholder, as the Board of Directors or such committee shall reasonably determine. If the deficiency is not cured within such period, or if the Board of Directors or such committee determines that the additional information provided by the shareholder, together with information previously provided, does not satisfy the requirements of Section 2.3.2(c) in any material respect, then the Board of Directors or such committee may reject the shareholder’s notice.

(e)    Notwithstanding the procedures set forth in Section 2.3.2(d), if a shareholder proposes to nominate one or more candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting, and neither the Board of Directors nor any committee thereof has made a prior determination of whether the shareholder has complied with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.3.2 in connection with such nomination, then the chairman of the annual meeting shall determine and declare at the annual meeting whether the shareholder has so complied. If the chairman determines that the shareholder has so complied, then the chairman shall so state and ballots shall be provided for use at the meeting with respect to such nomination. If the chairman determines that the shareholder has not so complied, then, unless the chairman, in his sole and absolute discretion, determines to waive such compliance, the chairman shall state that the shareholder has not so complied and the defective nomination shall be disregard.

2.4    Vacancies. Except as otherwise provided by law, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors (whether caused by resignation, death, or otherwise) may be filled by the

 

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affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, or, if the directors in office constitute less than a quorum, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the directors in office. Notice shall be given to all of the remaining directors that such vacancy will be filled at the meeting. However, if the vacant office was held by a director elected by a voting group composed of less than all of the voting shareholders, then the Board of Directors shall not have the power to fill such vacancy. A director elected to fill any vacancy shall hold office until the next meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, and until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified.

2.5    Removal. One or more members of the Board of Directors (including the entire Board of Directors) may be removed, with or without cause, at a special meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose. A director (or the entire Board of Directors) may be removed if the number of votes cast in favor of removing such director (or the entire Board of Directors) exceeds the number of votes cast against removal; provided that, if a director (or the entire Board of Directors) has been elected by one or more voting groups, only those voting groups may participate in the vote as to removal. However, if the Articles of Incorporation grant shareholders the right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors, a director may not be removed if a number of votes sufficient to elect such director under cumulative voting (computed on the basis of the number of votes actually cast at the meeting on the question of removal) is cast against such director’s removal.

2.6    Resignation. A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board of Directors, its Chairman, the President or the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary. A resignation is effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.

2.7    Annual Meeting. The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be known as the annual meeting thereof and shall be held without notice immediately after the annual shareholders’ meeting or any special shareholders’ meeting at which a Board of Directors is elected. Such meeting shall be held at the same place as such shareholders’ meeting unless some other place shall be specified by resolution of the shareholders.

2.8    Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such place, day, and time as shall from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors without notice other than the delivery of such resolution as provided in Section 2.10 below.

2.9    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chairman of the Board (if one be appointed) or any two or more directors, to be held at such place, day, and time as specified by the person or persons calling the meeting.

2.10    Notice of Meeting. Notice of the place, day, and time of any meeting of the Board of Directors for which notice is required shall be given, at least two (2) days preceding the day on which the meeting is to be held, by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or by the person calling the meeting, in any manner permitted by law, including orally or via electronic

 

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transmission. Any oral notice given by personal communication over the telephone or otherwise may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the office of the director who, the person giving the notice has reason to believe, will promptly communicate it to the director. Notice shall be deemed to have been given on the earliest of (a) the day of actual receipt, (b) five (5) days after the day on which written notice is deposited in the United States mail, as evidenced by the postmark, with first-class postage prepaid, and correctly addressed, (c) on the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and the receipt is signed by or on behalf of the addressee, or (d) on the next business day if transmitted electronically during normal business hours of the director.

No notice of any regular meeting need be given if the place, day, and time thereof have been fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and a copy of such resolution has been given to each director, either by personally delivering the copy to the director at least two (2) days, or by depositing the copy in the United States mail with first class postage prepaid and correctly addressed to the director at the director’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation at least five (5) days (as evidenced by the postmark), prior to the day of the first meeting held in pursuance thereof.

Notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given to any director if it is waived by the director in writing, whether before or after such meeting is held. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting unless required by law, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws.

A director’s attendance at or participation in a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when a director attends or participates in a meeting for the express purpose of objecting on legal grounds prior to or at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon the director’s arrival) to the holding of the meeting or the transaction of any business and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting. Any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a legal meeting without any notice thereof having been given if all of the directors have received valid notice thereof, are present without objecting, or waive notice thereof, or any combination thereof.

2.11    Quorum of Directors. Except in particular situations where a lesser number is expressly permitted by law, and unless a greater number is required by the Articles of Incorporation, a majority of the number of directors specified in or fixed in accordance with these Bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If the number of directors in office at any time is less than the number specified in or fixed in accordance with these Bylaws, then a quorum shall consist of a majority of the number of directors in office; provided that in no event shall a quorum consist of fewer than one-third of the number specified in or fixed in accordance with these Bylaws.

Directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, provided such withdrawal does not reduce the number of directors attending the meeting below the level of a quorum.

 

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A majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn any meeting of the Board of Directors to another time and place. If the meeting is adjourned for more than forty-eight (48) hours, then notice of the time and place of the adjourned meeting shall be given before the adjourned meeting takes place, in the manner specified in Section 2.10 of these Bylaws, to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.

2.12    Dissent by Directors. Any director who is present at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless the director objects at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon the director’s arrival) to the holding of, or the transaction of business at, the meeting; or unless the director’s dissent or abstention shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting; or unless the director delivers written notice of the director’s dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or to the corporation within a reasonable time after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent or abstention shall not be available to any director who votes in favor of such action.

2.13    Action by Directors Without a Meeting. Any action required by law to be taken or which may be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if one or more consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed either before or after the action so taken by all of the directors and delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. Such consent shall have the same effect as a meeting vote. Action taken under this section is effective when the last director signs the consent, unless the consent specifies a later effective date.

2.14    Telephonic Meetings. Except as may be otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by any means of communication by which all directors participating in the meeting may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

2.15    Compensation. By resolution of the Board of Directors, the directors may be paid their expenses, if any, and may be paid a fixed sum or a stated salary as a director, for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

2.16    Committees. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by the greater of (a) a majority of all of the directors in office, or (b) the number of directors required by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws to take action may from time to time create, and appoint individuals to, one or more committees, each of which must have at least two (2) members. If a committee is formed for the purpose of exercising functions of the Board of Directors, the committee must consist solely of directors. If the only function of a committee is to study and make recommendations for action by the full Board of Directors, the committee need not consist of directors. Committees of directors may exercise the authority of the Board of Directors to the

 

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extent specified by such resolution or in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. However, no committee shall:

(a)    authorize or approve a distribution (as defined in RCW 23B.01.400) except according to a general formula or method prescribed by the Board of Directors;

(b)    approve or propose to shareholders action that by law is required to be approved by shareholders;

(c)    fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any of its committees;

(d)    amend the Articles of Incorporation;

(e)    adopt, amend, or repeal Bylaws;

(f)    approve a plan of merger not requiring shareholder approval; or

(g)    authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of shares, or determine the designation and relative rights, preferences, and limitations of a class or series of shares, except that the Board of Directors may authorize a committee of directors (or a senior executive officer of the corporation) to do so within limits specifically prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Committees shall be governed by the same provisions as govern the meetings, actions without meetings, notice and waiver of notice, quorum and voting requirements, and standards of conduct of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee (if one be established) shall meet periodically between meetings of the full Board of Directors. All committees shall keep regular minutes of their meetings and shall cause them to be recorded in books kept for that purpose at the office of the corporation.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

3.1    Appointment. The officers of the corporation shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting held after the annual meeting of the shareholders. If the appointment of officers is not held at such meeting, such appointment shall be held as soon thereafter as a Board of Directors meeting conveniently may be held. Except in the case of death, resignation, or removal, each officer shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

3.2    Qualification. None of the officers of the corporation need be a director, except as specified below. Any two or more of the corporate offices may be held by the same person.

 

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3.3    Officers Enumerated. Except as otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, the officers of the corporation and their respective powers and duties shall be as follows:

3.3.1    Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board (if such an officer be appointed) shall be a director and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors and in any employment agreement. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present. The Chairman may sign deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, and other instruments, except when the signing thereof has been expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the corporation or is otherwise required by law to be signed by some other officer or in some other manner. If the President dies or becomes unable to act, the Chairman shall perform the duties of the President, except as may be limited by resolution of the Board of Directors, with all the powers of and subject to all the restrictions upon the President.

3.3.2    Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the supervisory powers of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if such an officer be appointed) shall be a director and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors and in any employment agreement. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge of the business and affairs of the corporation. In the event a Chairman of the Board has not been appointed or, if appointed, is absent or unable to act, the Chief Executive Officer, if a director, shall preside over all meetings of the shareholders and over all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall keep the Board of Directors fully informed and shall freely consult with them concerning the business of the corporation. Except where a President has been appointed, or where a President who has been appointed is absent or unable to act, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform all the functions assigned to a President in these Bylaws and all such other duties as are customarily incident to the office of President. The Chief Executive Officer may sign, with the Secretary or any other officer of the corporation thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of the corporation, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments that the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these Bylaws, in the event a Chief Executive Officer has not been appointed, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and perform all the functions assigned to a Chief Executive Officer in these Bylaws and all such other duties as are customarily incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer.

3.3.3    President. Subject to such supervisory powers as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairman of the Board (if one be appointed) and Chief Executive Officer (if such an officer be appointed), the President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation unless some other officer is so designated by the Board of Directors and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee (if one be established), shall supervise and control all of the assets, business, and affairs of the corporation. The President may sign certificates for shares of the corporation, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, and other

 

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instruments, except when the signing thereof has been expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the corporation or is otherwise required by law to be signed by some other officer or in some other manner. The President shall vote the shares owned by the corporation in other corporations, domestic or foreign, unless otherwise prescribed by law or resolution of the Board of Directors. In general, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, and the Chief Executive Officer, the President, if a director, shall preside over all meetings of the shareholders and over all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present. The President shall have the authority to appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, as he or she deems necessary.

3.3.4    Vice Presidents. If no Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer has been appointed, in the absence or disability of the President, the Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors shall perform all the duties of the President and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the President; provided that no such Vice President shall assume the authority to preside as Chairman of meetings of the Board of Directors unless such Vice President is a member of the Board of Directors. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be respectively prescribed for them by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Chairman of the Board (if one be appointed).

3.3.5    Secretary. The Secretary shall:

(a)    have responsibility for preparing minutes of meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors and for authenticating records of the corporation;

(b)    see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of Sections 1.3, 1.5, 2.8, and 2.10 of these Bylaws and as required by law;

(c)    be custodian of the corporate records and seal of the corporation, if one be adopted;

(d)    keep a register of the post office address of each shareholder and director;

(e)    attest certificates for shares of the corporation;

(f)    have general charge of the stock transfer books of the corporation;

(g)    when required by law or authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors, sign with the President, or other officer authorized by the President or the Board of Directors, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, and other instruments; and

 

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(h)    in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.

In the absence of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary may perform the duties of the Secretary.

3.3.6    Treasurer. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors shall determine. The Treasurer (if one be appointed) shall:

(a)    have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation;

(b)    receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever and deposit all such moneys in the name of the corporation in banks, trust companies, or other depositories selected in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; and

(c)    in general, perform all of the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.

In the absence of the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer may perform the duties of the Treasurer.

3.3.7    Chief Scientific Officer. The Chief Scientific Officers or each Co-Chief Scientific Officer (if such an officer or officers be appointed) shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors and in any employment agreement.

3.4    Delegation. In case of the absence or inability to act of any officer of the corporation and of each person herein authorized to act in his or her place, the Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or other person whom it may select.

3.5    Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by delivering notice to the corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date. Unless otherwise specified therein, acceptance of such resignation by the corporation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

3.6    Removal. Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause. An officer empowered to appoint another officer or assistant officer also has the power with or without cause to remove any officer he or she would have the power to appoint whenever in his or her judgment the best interests of the corporation would be served thereby.

 

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The removal of an officer or agent shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the corporation or the person so removed. Appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.

3.7    Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, creation of a new office, or any other cause may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term or for a new term established by the Board of Directors.

3.8    Other Officers and Agents. One or more Vice Presidents and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or advisable may be appointed by the Board of Directors or, to the extent provided in Section 3.3.2 above, by the President. Such other officers and assistant officers shall hold office for such periods, have such authorities, and perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be provided by resolution of the Board of Directors. Any officer may be assigned by the Board of Directors any additional title that the Board of Directors deems appropriate. The Board of Directors may delegate to any officer or agent the power to appoint any such assistant officers or agents and to prescribe their respective terms of office, authorities, and duties.

3.9    Compensation. Compensation, if any, for officers and other agents and employees of the corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors, or by the President or the Chief Executive Officer to the extent such authority may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. No officer shall be prevented from receiving compensation in such capacity by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the corporation.

3.10    General Standards for Officers. Officers with discretionary authority shall discharge their duties under that authority in accordance with the same standards of conduct applicable to directors as specified in Section 2.1 above (except for subsection (c) thereof).

ARTICLE IV

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DRAFTS

4.1    Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers or agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Subject to the limitations set forth in RCW 23B.08.700 through 23B.08.730 and 23B.19.040, to the extent applicable:

(a)    The corporation may enter into contracts and otherwise transact business as vendor, purchaser, lender, borrower, or otherwise with its directors and shareholders and with corporations, associations, firms, and entities in which they are or may be or become interested as directors, officers, shareholders, members, or otherwise.

 

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(b)    Any such contract or transaction shall not be affected or invalidated or give rise to liability by reason of the director’s or shareholder’s having an interest in the contract or transaction.

4.2    Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts, and other orders for the payment of money, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or agent or agents of the corporation and in such manner as may be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

4.3    Deposits. All funds of the corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Treasurer, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, may select.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

5.1    Issuance of Shares. No shares of the corporation shall be issued unless authorized by the Board of Directors, which authorization shall include the maximum number of shares to be issued, the consideration to be received for each share, and, if the consideration is in a form other than cash, the determination of the value of the consideration.

5.2    Certificates of Stock. All shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates in such form, not inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. Certificates of stock shall be issued in numerical order, and each shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, attested to by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and sealed with the corporate seal, if any. If any certificate is manually signed by a transfer agent or a transfer clerk and by a registrar, the signatures of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Vice President, Secretary or Assistant Secretary upon that certificate may be facsimiles that are engraved or printed. If any person who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on a certificate no longer is an officer when the certificate is issued, the certificate may nevertheless be issued with the same effect as if the person were still an officer at the time of its issue. Every certificate of stock shall state:

(a)    The state of incorporation;

(b)    The name of the registered holder of the shares represented thereby;

(c)    The number and class of shares, and the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents;

(d)    If the corporation is authorized to issue different classes of shares or different series within a class, either a summary of (on the face or back of the certificate), or a statement that the corporation will furnish to any shareholder upon written request and without charge a summary of, the designations, relative rights, preferences, and limitations applicable to each class and the variations in rights, preferences and limitations determined for each series, and the authority of the Board of Directors to determine variations for future series; and

 

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(e)    If the shares are subject to transfer or other restrictions under applicable securities laws or contracts with the corporation, either a complete description of or a reference to the existence and general nature of such restrictions on the face or back of the certificate.

5.3    Stock Records. The corporation or its agent shall maintain at the registered office or principal office of the corporation, or at the office of the transfer agent or registrar of the corporation, if one be designated by the Board of Directors, a record of its shareholders, in a form that permits preparation of a list of the names and addresses of all shareholders in alphabetical order by class of shares showing the number and class of shares held by each. The person in whose name shares stand on the books of the corporation shall be deemed by the corporation to be the owner thereof for all purposes.

5.4    Restrictions on Transfer. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to issue shares of the capital stock of this corporation and the certificates therefor subject to such transfer restrictions and other limitations as it may deem necessary to promote compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, and to regulate the transfer thereof in such manner as may be calculated to promote such compliance or to further any other reasonable purpose. Except to the extent that the corporation has obtained an opinion of counsel acceptable to the corporation that transfer restrictions are not required under applicable securities laws, all certificates representing shares of the corporation shall bear the following legend (or a legend of substantially the same import) on the face of the certificate or on the reverse of the certificate if a reference to the legend is contained on the face:

NOTICE: RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER

The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered, sold, transferred, encumbered, or otherwise disposed of except upon satisfaction of certain conditions. Information concerning these restrictions may be obtained from the corporation or its legal counsel. Any offer or disposition of these securities without satisfaction of said conditions will be wrongful and will not entitle the transferee to register ownership of the securities with the corporation.

5.5    Transfers. Shares of stock may be transferred by delivery of the certificates therefor, accompanied by:

(a)    an assignment in writing on the back of the certificate, or an assignment separate from certificate, or a written power of attorney to sell, assign, and transfer the same, signed by the record holder of the certificate; and

 

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(b)    such additional documents, instruments, and other items of evidence as may be reasonably necessary to satisfy the requirements of any transfer restrictions applicable to such shares, whether arising under applicable securities or other laws, or by contract, or otherwise.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Bylaws, no shares of stock shall be transferred on the books of the corporation until the outstanding certificate therefor has been surrendered to the corporation. All certificates surrendered to the corporation for transfer shall be canceled, and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and canceled, except that, in case of a lost, destroyed, or mutilated certificate, a new one may be issued therefor upon such terms (including indemnity to the corporation) as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

ARTICLE VI

RECORDS OF CORPORATE MEETINGS

The corporation shall keep, as permanent records, minutes of all meetings of its shareholders and Board of Directors, a record of all actions taken by the shareholders or Board of Directors without a meeting, and a record of all actions taken by a committee of the Board of Directors exercising the authority of the Board of Directors on behalf of the corporation. The corporation shall keep at its principal office a copy of the minutes of all shareholders’ meetings that have occurred, and records of all action taken by shareholders without a meeting, within the past three (3) years. Any person dealing with the corporation may rely upon a copy of any of the records of the proceedings, resolutions, or votes of the Board of Directors or shareholders when certified by the President or Secretary.

ARTICLE VII

FINANCIAL MATTERS

The corporation shall maintain appropriate accounting records at its principal office and shall prepare the annual financial statements required by RCW 23B.16.200. Except to the extent otherwise expressly determined by the Board of Directors or otherwise required by law, the accounting records of the corporation shall be kept and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis from period to period. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be the calendar year unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Board of Directors may from time to time authorize, and the corporation may make, distributions (as defined in RCW 23B.01.400) to its shareholders to the extent permitted by RCW 23B.06.400, subject to any limitation in the Articles of Incorporation. A director who votes for or assents to a distribution made in violation of RCW 23B.06.400 is personally liable to

 

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the corporation for the amount of the distribution that exceeds that which could have been distributed without violating RCW 23B.06.400 if it is established that the director did not perform the director’s duties in compliance with Section 2.1 above.

ARTICLE IX

CORPORATE SEAL

The Board of Directors may, but shall not be required to, adopt a corporate seal for the corporation in such form and with such inscription as the Board of Directors may determine. If such a corporate seal shall at any time be so adopted, the application of or the failure to apply such seal to any document or instrument shall have no effect upon the validity or invalidity of such document or instrument under otherwise applicable principles of law.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANY

10.1    Communications by Facsimile. Whenever these Bylaws require notice, consent, or other communication to be delivered for any purpose, transmission by phone, wire, wireless equipment or electronic mail which transmits a facsimile of such communication shall constitute sufficient delivery for such purpose, provided that in the case of electronic mail, such notice is delivered to the recipient at the address designated by such recipient in a consent to receive electronic notice. Such communication shall be deemed to have been received by or in the possession of the addressee upon completion of the transmission.

10.2    Inspector of Elections. Before any annual meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may appoint an inspector of elections to act at the meeting and any adjournment thereof. If no inspector of elections is so appointed by the Board of Directors, then the chairman of the meeting may appoint an inspector of elections to act at the meeting. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the chairman of the meeting may, and upon the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy shall, appoint a person to fill that vacancy.

Such inspector of elections shall:

(a)    determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and, with the advice of legal counsel to the corporation, the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies pursuant to RCW 23B.07.220 and 23B.07.240 and any procedure adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to RCW 23B.07.230;

(b)    receive votes, ballots, or consents;

(c)    hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;

 

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(d)    count and tabulate all votes or consents;

(e)    determine the result; and

(f)    do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.

10.3    Rules of Order. The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern all meetings of shareholders and directors where those rules are not inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, subject to the following:

(a)    The chairman of the meeting shall have absolute authority over matters of procedure, and there shall be no appeal from the ruling of the chairman. If the chairman in his or her absolute discretion deems it advisable to dispense with the rules of parliamentary procedure for any meeting or any part thereof, the chairman shall so state and shall clearly state the rules under which the meeting or appropriate part thereof shall be conducted.

(b)    If disorder should arise which prevents continuation of the legitimate business of the meeting, the chairman may quit the chair and announce the adjournment of the meeting; upon so doing, the meeting shall be deemed immediately adjourned, subject to being reconvened in accordance with Section 1.5 of these Bylaws, as the case may be.

(c)    The chairman may ask or require that anyone not a bona fide shareholder or proxy leave the meeting of shareholders.

(d)    A resolution or motion at a meeting of shareholders shall be considered for vote only if proposed by a shareholder or duly authorized proxy and seconded by an individual who is a shareholder or duly authorized proxy other than the individual who proposed the resolution or motion.

10.4    Construction. Within these Bylaws, words of any gender shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular or plural number shall be construed to include the plural or singular, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires.

10.5    Severability. If any provision of these Bylaws or any application thereof shall be invalid, unenforceable, or contrary to applicable law, the remainder of these Bylaws, and the application of such provisions to individuals or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, unenforceable, or contrary to applicable law, shall not be affected thereby.

ARTICLE XI

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Subject to the requirements of RCW 23B.10.210 relating to supermajority quorum provisions for the Board of Directors, if applicable, the Bylaws of the corporation may be amended or repealed, or new Bylaws may be adopted, by: (a) the shareholders, even though the Bylaws may also be amended or repealed, or new Bylaws may also be adopted, by the Board of

 

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Directors; or (b) subject to the power of the shareholders of the corporation to change or repeal the Bylaws, the Board of Directors, unless such power is reserved, by the Articles of Incorporation or by law, exclusively to the shareholders in whole or in part or unless the shareholders, in amending or repealing a particular bylaw, provide expressly that the Board of Directors may not amend or repeal that bylaw. Any officer of the corporation may authenticate a restatement of the Bylaws and all amendments thereto adopted in the manner provided above.

 

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EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 5.3 AND 5.4 BELOW, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND LAWS OR IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM SUCH REGISTRATION.

WARRANT TO PURCHASE STOCK

Company: ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Number of Shares: 35,032

Type/Series of Stock: Common Stock

Warrant Price: $0.33 per share

Issue Date: June 5th, 2012

Expiration Date: June 5th, 2022 See also Section 5.1(b).

Credit Facility:   This Warrant to Purchase Stock (“Warrant”) is issued in connection with that certain Loan and Security Agreement of even date herewith between Silicon Valley Bank and the Company (the “Loan Agreement”).

THIS WARRANT CERTIFIES THAT, for good and valuablc consideration, SILICON VALLEY BANK (together with any successor or permitted assignee or transferee of this Warrant or of any shares issued upon exercise hereof, “Holder”) is entitled to purchase the number of fully paid and non-assessable shares (the “Shares”) of the above-stated Type/Series of Stock (the “Class”) of the above-named company (the “Company”) at the above-stated Warrant Price, all as set forth above and as adjusted pursuant to Section 2 of this Warrant, subject to the provisions and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Warrant. Reference is made to Section 5.4 of this Warrant whereby Silicon Valley Bank shall transfer this Warrant to its parent company, SVB Financial Group.

SECTION 1. EXERCISE.

1.1    Method of Exercise. Holder may at any time and from time to time exercise this Warrant, in whole or in part, by delivering to the Company the original of this Warrant together with a duly executed Notice of Exercise in substantially the form attached hereto as Appendix 1 and, unless Holder is exercising this Warrant pursuant to a cashless exercise set forth in Section 1.2, a check, wire transfer of same-day funds (to an account designated by the Company), or other form of payment acceptable to the Company for the aggregate Warrant Price for the Shares being purchased.

1.2    Cashless Exercise. On any exercise of this Warrant, in lieu of payment of the aggregate Warrant Price in the manner as specified in Section 1.1 above, but otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Section 1.1, Holder may elect to receive Shares equal to the value of this Warrant, or portion hereof as to which this Warrant is being exercised. Thereupon,

 

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the Company shall issue to the Holder such number of fully paid and non-assessable Shares as are computed using the following formula:

 

  X = Y(A-B)/A
    where:     
  X =    the number of Shares to be issued to the Holder;
  Y =    the number of Shares with respect to which this Warrant is being exercised (inclusive of the Shares surrendered to the Company in payment of the aggregate Warrant Price);
  A =    the Fair Market Value (as determined pursuant to Section 1.3 below) of one Share; and
  B =    the Warrant Price.

1.3    Fair Market Value. If the Company’s common stock is then traded or quoted on a nationally recognized securities exchange, inter-dealer quotation system or over-the-counter market (a “Trading Market”) and the Class is common stock, the fair market value of a Share shall be the closing price or last sale price of a share of common stock reported for the Business Day immediately before the date on which Holder delivers this Warrant together with its Notice of Exercise to the Company. If the Company’s common stock is not traded in a Trading Market, the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine the fair market value of a Share in its reasonable good faith judgment.

1.4    Delivery of Certificate and New Warrant. Within a reasonable time after Holder exercises this Warrant in the manner set forth in Section 1.1 or 1.2 above, the Company shall deliver to Holder a certificate representing the Shares issued to Holder upon such exercise and, if this Warrant has not been fully exercised and has not expired, a new warrant of like tenor representing the Shares not so acquired.

1.5    Replacement of Warrant. On receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form, substance and amount to the Company or, in the case of mutilation, on surrender of this Warrant to the Company for cancellation, the Company shall, within a reasonable time, execute and deliver to Holder, in lieu of this Warrant, a new warrant of like tenor and amount.

1.6    Treatment of Warrant Upon Acquisition of Company.

(a)    Acquisition. For the purpose of this Warrant, “Acquisition” means any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (i) the sale, lease, exclusive license, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company into or with another person or entity (other than a merger or consolidation effected exclusively to change the Company’s domicile), or any other corporate reorganization, in which the stockholders of the Company in their capacity as such immediately

 

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prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization, own less than a majority of the Company’s (or the surviving or successor entity’s) outstanding voting power immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization; or (iii) any sale or other transfer by the stockholders of the Company of shares representing at least a majority of the Company’s then-total outstanding combined voting power.

(b)    Treatment of Warrant at Acquisition. In the event of an Acquisition in which the consideration to be received by the Company’s stockholders consists solely of cash, solely of Marketable Securities or a combination of cash and Marketable Securities (a “Cash/Public Acquisition”), either (i) Holder shall exercise this Warrant pursuant to Section 1.1 and/or 1.2 and such exercise will be deemed effective immediately prior to and contingent upon the consummation of such Acquisition or (ii) if Holder elects not to exercise the Warrant, this Warrant will expire immediately prior to the consummation of such Acquisition.

(c)    The Company shall provide Holder with written notice of its request relating to the Cash/Public Acquisition (together with such reasonable information as Holder may reasonably require regarding the treatment of this Warrant in connection with such contemplated Cash/Public Acquisition giving rise to such notice), which is to be delivered to Holder not less than seven (7) Business Days prior to the closing of the proposed Cash/Public Acquisition. In the event the Company does not provide such notice, then if, immediately prior to the Cash/Public Acquisition, the fair market value of one Share (or other security issuable upon the exercise hereof) as determined in accordance with Section 1.3 above would be greater than the Warrant Price in effect on such date, then this Warrant shall automatically be deemed on and as of such date to be exercised pursuant to Section 1.2 above as to all Shares (or such other securities) for which it shall not previously have been exercised, and the Company shall promptly notify the Holder of the number of Shares (or such other securities) issued upon such exercise to the Holder and Holder shall be deemed to have restated each of the representations and warranties in Section 4 of the Warrant as the date thereof.

(d)    Upon the closing of any Acquisition other than a Cash/Public Acquisition defined above, the acquiring, surviving or successor entity shall assume the obligations of this Warrant, and this Warrant shall thereafter be exercisable for the same securities and/or other property as would have been paid for the Shares issuable upon exercise of the unexercised portion of this Warrant as if such Shares were outstanding on and as of the closing of such Acquisition, subject to further adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant.

(e)    As used in this Warrant, “Marketable Securities” means securities meeting all of the following requirements: (i) the issuer thereof is then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and is then current in its filing of all required reports and other information under the Act and the Exchange Act; (ii) the class and series of shares or other security of the issuer that would be received by Holder in connection with the Acquisition were Holder to exercise this Warrant on or prior to the closing thereof is then traded in Trading Market, and (iii) Holder would be able to publicly re-sell, within six (6) months following the closing of such Acquisition, all of the issuer’s shares and/or other securities that would be received by Holder in such Acquisition were Holder to exercise this Warrant in full on or prior to the closing of such Acquisition.

 

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SECTION 2.    ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SHARES AND WARRANT PRICE.

2.1    Stock Dividends, Splits, Etc. If the Company declares or pays a dividend or distribution on the outstanding shares of the Class payable in common stock or other securities or property (other than cash), then upon exercise of this Warrant, for each Share acquired, Holder shall receive, without additional cost to Holder, the total number and kind of securities and property which Holder would have received had Holder owned the Shares of record as of the date the dividend or distribution occurred. If the Company subdivides the outstanding shares of the Class by reclassification or otherwise into a greater number of shares, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be proportionately increased and the Warrant Price shall be proportionately decreased. If the outstanding shares of the Class are combined or consolidated, by reclassification or otherwise, into a lesser number of shares, the Warrant Price shall be proportionately increased and the number of Shares shall be proportionately decreased.

2.2    Reclassification, Exchange, Combinations or Substitution. Upon any event whereby all of the outstanding shares of the Class are reclassified, exchanged, combined, substituted, or replaced for, into, with or by Company securities of a different class and/or series, then from and after the consummation of such event, this Warrant will be exercisable for the number, class and series of Company securities that Holder would have received had the Shares been outstanding on and as of the consummation of such event, and subject to further adjustment thereafter from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant. The provisions of this Section 2.2 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, exchanges, combinations substitutions, replacements or other similar events.

2.3    Reserved.

2.4    Reserved.

2.5    No Fractional Share. No fractional Share shall be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and the number of Shares to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Share. If a fractional Share interest arises upon any exercise of the Warrant, the Company shall eliminate such fractional Share interest by paying Holder in cash the amount computed by multiplying the fractional interest by (i) the fair market value (as determined in accordance with Section 1.3 above) of a full Share, less (ii) the then-effective Warrant Price.

2.6    Notice/Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon each adjustment of the Warrant Price, Class and/or number of Shares, the Company, at the Company’s expense, shall notify Holder in writing within a reasonable time setting forth the adjustments to the Warrant Price, Class and/or number of Shares and facts upon which such adjustment is based. The Company shall, upon written request from Holder, furnish Holder with a certificate of its Chief Financial Officer, including computations of such adjustment and the Warrant Price, Class and number of Shares in effect upon the date of such adjustment.

 

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SECTION 3.    REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

3.1    Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Holder as follows:

(a)    The initial Warrant Price referenced on the first page of this Warrant is not greater than the price per share at which shares of the Class were valued in the most recent 409A valuation of Borrower’s stock.

(b)    All Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant shall, upon issuance pursuant to the terms hereof, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and free of any liens and encumbrances except for restrictions on transfer provided for herein under applicable federal and state securities laws or created by the Holder. The Company covenants that it shall at all times cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued capital stock such number of shares of the Class, common stock and other securities as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of this Warrant and the conversion of the Shares into common stock or such other securities.

(c)    The Company’s capitalization table attached hereto as Schedule 1 is true and complete, in all material respects, as of the Issue Date.

3.2    Notice of Certain Events. If the Company proposes at any time to:

(a)    declare any dividend or distribution upon the outstanding shares of the Class or common stock, whether in cash, property, stock, or other securities and whether or not a regular cash dividend;

(b)    offer for subscription or sale pro rata to the holders of the outstanding shares of the Class any additional shares of any class or series of the Company’s stock (other than pursuant to contractual pre-emptive rights);

(c)    effect any reclassification, exchange, combination, substitution, reorganization or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of the Class;

(d)    effect an Acquisition or to liquidate, dissolve or wind up; or

(e)    effect an IPO;

then, in connection with each such event, the Company shall give Holder:

(1)    at least seven (7) Business Days prior written notice of the date on which a record will be taken for such dividend, distribution, or subscription rights (and specifying the date on which the holders of outstanding shares of the Class will be entitled thereto) or for determining rights to vote, if any, in respect of the matters referred to in (a) and (b) above;

(2)    in the case of the matters referred to in (c) and (d) above at least seven (7) Business Days prior written notice of the date when the same will take place (and specifying the date on which the holders of outstanding shares of the Class will be entitled to exchange their shares for the securities or other property deliverable upon the occurrence of such event); and

 

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(3)    with respect to the IPO, at least seven (7) Business Days prior written notice of the date on which the Company proposes to file its registration statement in connection therewith.

Reference is made to Section 1.6(c) whereby this Warrant will be deemed to be exercised pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof if the Company does not give written notice to Holder of a Cash/Public Acquisition as required by the terms hereof. Company will also provide information requested by Holder that is reasonably necessary to enable Holder to comply with Holder’s accounting or reporting requirements.

SECTION 4.    REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OF THE HOLDER.

The Holder represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

4.1    Purchase for Own Account. This Warrant and the securities to be acquired upon exercise of this Warrant by Holder are being acquired for investment for Holder’s account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the public resale or distribution within the meaning of the Act. Holder also represents that it has not been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring this Warrant or the Shares.

4.2    Disclosure of Information. Holder is aware of the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and has received or has had full access to all the information it considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of this Warrant and its underlying securities. Holder further has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of this Warrant and its underlying securities and to obtain additional information (to the extent the Company possessed such information or could acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify any information furnished to Holder or to which Holder has access.

4.3    Investment Experience. Holder understands that the purchase of this Warrant and its underlying securities involves substantial risk. Holder has experience as an investor in securities of companies in the development stage and acknowledges that Holder can bear the economic risk of such Holder’s investment in this Warrant and its underlying securities and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that Holder is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in this Warrant and its underlying securities and/or has a preexisting personal or business relationship with the Company and certain of its officers, directors or controlling persons of a nature and duration that enables Holder to be aware of the character, business acumen and financial circumstances of such persons.

4.4    Accredited Investor Status. Holder is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Regulation D promulgated under the Act.

4.5    The Act. Holder understands that this Warrant and the Shares issuable upon exercise hereof have not been registered under the Act in reliance upon a specific exemption therefrom, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the

 

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Holder’s investment intent as expressed herein. Holder understands that this Warrant and the Shares issued upon any exercise hereof must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Act and qualified under applicable state securities laws, or unless exemption from such registration and qualification are otherwise available. Holder is aware of the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

4.6    Market Stand-off Agreement. The Holder agrees that the Shares shall be subject to the Market Standoff provisions in Section 2.12 of the Company’s Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2011, as amended.

4.7    No Voting Rights. Holder, as a Holder of this Warrant, will not have any voting rights until the exercise of this Warrant.

SECTION 5.    MISCELLANEOUS.

5.1    Term and Automatic Conversion Upon Expiration.

(a)    Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 1.6 above, this Warrant is exercisable in whole or in part at any time and from time to time on or before 6:00 PM, Pacific time, on the Expiration Date and shall be void thereafter.

(b)    Automatic Cashless Exercise upon Expiration. In the event that, upon the Expiration Date, the fair market value of one Share (or other security issuable upon the exercise hereof) as determined in accordance with Section 1.3 above is greater than the Warrant Price in effect on such date, then this Warrant shall automatically be deemed on and as of such date to be exercised pursuant to Section 1.2 above as to all Shares (or such other securities) for which it shall not previously have been exercised, and the Company shall, within a reasonable time, deliver a certificate representing the Shares (or such other securities) issued upon such exercise to Holder.

5.2    Legends. The Shares (and the securities issuable, directly or indirectly, upon conversion of the Shares, if any) shall be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THAT CERTAIN WARRANT TO PURCHASE STOCK ISSUED BY THE ISSUER TO SILICON VALLEY BANK DATED JUNE 5TH, 2012, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND LAWS OR IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER, SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM SUCH REGISTRATION.

5.3    Compliance with Securities Laws on Transfer. This Warrant and the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant may not be transferred or assigned in whole or in part except in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws by the transferor and the transferee

 

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(including, without limitation, the delivery of investment representation letters and legal opinions reasonably satisfactory to the Company, as reasonably requested by the Company). The Company shall not require Holder to provide an opinion of counsel if the transfer is to SVB Financial Group (Silicon Valley Bank’s parent company) or any other affiliate of Holder, provided that any such transferee is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Act. Additionally, the Company shall also not require an opinion of counsel if there is no material question as to the availability of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

5.4    Transfer Procedure. After receipt by Silicon Valley Bank of the executed Warrant, Silicon Valley Bank will transfer all of this Warrant to its parent company, SVB Financial Group. By its acceptance of this Warrant, SVB Financial Group hereby makes to the Company each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 hereof and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Warrant as if the original Holder hereof. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.3 and upon providing the Company with written notice, SVB Financial Group and any subsequent Holder may transfer all or part of this Warrant or the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant to any transferee, provided, however, in connection with any such transfer, SVB Financial Group or any subsequent Holder will give the Company notice of the portion of the Warrant being transferred with the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the transferee and Holder will surrender this Warrant to the Company for reissuance to the transferee(s) (and Holder if applicable); and provided further, that any subsequent transferee other than SVB Financial Group shall agree in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Warrant. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, at all times prior to the IPO, Holder may not, without the Company’s prior written consent, transfer this Warrant or any portion hereof, or any Shares issued upon any exercise hereof, to any person or entity who directly competes with the Company, except in connection with an Acquisition of the Company by such a direct competitor.

5.5    Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder from the Company to the Holder, or vice versa, shall be deemed delivered and effective (i) when given personally, (ii) on the third (3rd) Business Day after being mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (iii) upon actual receipt if given by facsimile or electronic mail and such receipt is confirmed in writing by the recipient, or (iv) on the first Business Day following delivery to a reliable overnight courier service, courier fee prepaid, in any case at such address as may have been furnished to the Company or Holder, as the case may be, in writing by the Company or such Holder from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.5. All notices to Holder shall be addressed as follows until the Company receives notice of a change of address in connection with a transfer or otherwise:

SVB Financial Group

Attn: Treasury Department

3003 Tasman Drive, HC 215

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Telephone: (408) 654-7400

Facsimile: (408) 988-8317

Email address: derivatives @svb.com

 

8


Notice to the Company shall be addressed as follows until Holder receives notice of a change in address:

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Attn: Chad Robins

1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200

Seattle, WA 98102

Telephone:

Facsimile:

Email:

5.6    Waiver. This Warrant and any term hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

5.7    Attorney’s Fees. In the event of any dispute between the parties concerning the terms and provisions of this Warrant, the party prevailing in such dispute shall be entitled to collect from the other party all costs incurred in such dispute, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

5.8    Counterparts; Facsimile/Electronic Signatures. This Warrant may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Any signature page delivered electronically or by facsimile shall be binding to the same extent as an original signature page with regards to any agreement subject to the terms hereof or any amendment thereto.

5.9    Governing Law. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to its principles regarding conflicts of law.

5.10    Headings. The headings in this Warrant are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of any provision of this Warrant.

5.11    Business Days. “Business Day” is any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which Silicon Valley Bank is closed.

[Remainder of page left blank intentionally]

[Signature page follows]

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Warrant to Purchase Stock to be executed by their duly authorized representatives effective as of the Issue Date written above.

 

“COMPANY”
ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Chad M. Robins

Name:  

Chad M. Robins

  (Print)
Title:  
“HOLDER”
SILICON VALLEY BANK
By:  

/s/ Jayson Davis

Name:  

Jayson Davis

  (Print)
Title:   Relationship Manager


APPENDIX 1

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

1.    The undersigned Holder hereby exercises its right purchase                      shares of the Common Stock of ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (the “Company”) in accordance with the attached Warrant To Purchase Stock, and tenders payment of the aggregate Warrant Price for such shares as follows:

 

 

check in the amount of $          payable to order of the Company enclosed herewith

 

 

Wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company’s account

 

 

Cashless Exercise pursuant to Section 1.2 of the Warrant

 

 

Other [Describe]                                                                              

2.    Please issue a certificate or certificates representing the Shares in the name specified

 

 

 

 

        Holder’s Name

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
          (Address)  

3.    By its execution below and for the benefit of the Company, Holder hereby restates each of the representations and warranties in Section 4 of the Warrant to Purchase Stock as of the date hereof.

 

HOLDER:

 

By:  

                                                                          

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

(Date):  

 

 

Appendix 1


SCHEDULE 1

Company Capitalization Table

See attached

 

Schedule 1

EX-4.4

Exhibit 4.4

Warrant

THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF APPLICABLE STATES. THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ACT AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. INVESTORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF THIS INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY PROPOSED TRANSFER OR RESALE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK OF

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

This certifies that for good and valuable consideration, Imdaptive, Inc. is entitled, subject to the terms and conditions of this Warrant, to purchase from Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, a Washington Corporation (the “Company”), at any time or from time to time prior to the earlier to occur of (i) the effective date of a Change of Control, (ii) the effective date of an Initial Public Offering, or (iii) 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on July 1, 2023 (the “Expiration Date”), up to 20,000 shares of Warrant Stock (as defined below) at a price per share equal to the Warrant Price (as defined below), upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal offices of the Company, together with a duly executed subscription form in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and simultaneous payment of the full Warrant Price for the shares of Warrant Stock so purchased in accordance with the terms hereof. The Warrant Price and the number and character of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable under this Warrant are subject to adjustment as provided herein.

1.    DEFINITIONS. The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this Warrant:

1.1    “Holder means any person who shall at the time be the registered holder of this Warrant.

1.2    “Initial Public Offering means the initial firm commitment underwritten public offering of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), covering the offer and sale of the Company’s Common Stock for the account of the Company.

1.3    “Change of Control shall mean each of: (a) any sale or exchange of the capital stock by the stockholders of the Company in one transaction or series of related transactions where more than 50% of the outstanding voting power of the Company is acquired by a person or entity or group of related persons or entities; (b) a consolidation, merger or other reorganization of

 

1


the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations in which the holders of the Company’s outstanding shares immediately before such consolidation, merger or other reorganization do not, immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization, retain stock representing a majority of the voting power of the surviving corporation of such consolidation, merger or reorganization as a result of their shareholdings in the Company immediately prior to the consolidation or merger; or (c) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not include an equity or debt financing the primary purpose of which is to raise working capital for the Company.

1.4    “Warrant Price” means $0.45 per share. The Warrant Price is subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

1.5    “Warrant Stock” means 20,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock subject to this Warrant. The number and character of shares of Warrant Stock are subject to adjustment as provided herein and the term “Warrant Stock shall include stock and other securities and property at any time receivable or issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with its terms.

2.    EXERCISE.

2.1    Exercisability. Holder may exercise this Warrant in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, on any business day before the Expiration Date, by surrendering this Warrant at the principal offices of the Company, with the subscription form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder, and payment of an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the number of shares of Warrant Stock to be purchased by the Holder by (ii) the Warrant Price or adjusted Warrant Price therefor, if applicable, as determined in accordance with the terms hereof.

2.2    Form of Payment. Payment may be made by (i) a check payable to the Company’s order, (ii) wire transfer of funds to the Company, (iii) cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Holder, (iv) net exercise as provided for in Section 2.6, or (v) any combination of the foregoing.

2.3    Partial Exercise. Upon a partial exercise of this Warrant the number of shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such exercise shall be reduced by (i) the aggregate number of shares of Warrant Stock issued upon such exercise of this Warrant and (ii) if applicable, the number of Warrants deemed surrendered in connection with a net exercise as provided for in Section 2.6.

2.4    No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares may be issued upon any exercise of this Warrant, and any fractions shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares. If upon any exercise of this Warrant a fraction of a share results, the Company will pay the cash value of any such fractional share.

2.5    Restrictions on Exercise. This Warrant may not be exercised if the issuance of the Warrant Stock upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws or other laws or regulations. As a condition to the exercise of this

 

2


Warrant, the Holder shall execute the subscription form attached hereto as Exhibit 1, confirming and acknowledging that the representations and warranties of the Holder set forth in Section 6 of this Warrant are true and correct as of the date of exercise.

2.6    Net Exercise Election. The Holder may elect to convert this Warrant, without the payment by the Holder of any additional consideration, by the surrender of this Warrant to the Company, with the net exercise election selected in the subscription form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder, into the number of shares of Warrant Stock that is obtained under the following formula:

 

Y = Y (A – B)

A

 

    where      X = the number of shares of Warrant Stock to be issued to the Holder pursuant to this Section 2.6.
     Y = the number of shares of Warrant Stock as to which this Warrant is then being net exercised
     A = the fair market value of one share of Warrant Stock, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors, as at the time the net exercise election is made pursuant to this Section 2.6.
  B =    the Warrant Price.

The Company will promptly respond in writing to an inquiry by the Holder as to the then current fair market value of one share of Warrant Stock.

3.    ISSUANCE OF STOCK. This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised immediately prior to the close of business on the date that a duly completed and executed Form of Subscription in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and payment of the full Warrant Price in accordance with this Warrant have been delivered to the Company, whereupon the person entitled to receive the shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon such exercise shall be treated for all purposes as the holder of record of such shares as of the close of business on such date. As soon as practicable on or after such date, but conditioned upon the receipt of this Warrant by the Company, the Company shall issue and deliver to the person or persons entitled to receive the same a certificate or certificates for the number of whole shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon such exercise.

4.    EARLY EXPIRATION. This Warrant shall automatically expire and be of no further force and effect without any action by the Company or the Holder immediately prior to the effective date of a Change of Control or Initial Public Offering. If the Company proposes at any time to effect a Change of Control or Initial Public Offering, then at least thirty (30) days prior to such event the Company shall mail to the Holder a notice specifying the date on which the Change of Control or Initial Public Offering is anticipated to become effective.

5.    ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS. The number and character of shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (or any shares of stock or other securities or property at the time receivable or issuable upon exercise of this Warrant) and the Warrant Price therefor,

 

3


are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of the following events between the date this Warrant is issued and the date it is exercised:

5.1    Adjustment for Stock Splits, Stock Dividends, Recapitalizations, etc. The Warrant Price of this Warrant and the number of shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (or any shares of stock or other securities at the time issuable upon exercise of this Warrant) shall each be proportionally adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or other similar event affecting the number of outstanding shares of Warrant Stock (or such other stock or securities).

5.2    Adjustment for Other Dividends and Distributions. In case the Company shall make or issue, or shall fix a record date for the determination of eligible holders entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable respect to the Warrant Stock that is payable in (a) securities of the Company (other than issuances with respect to which adjustment is made under Section 5.1), or (b) assets (other than cash dividends paid or payable solely out of retained earnings), then, and in each such case, the Holder, upon exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation, effective date or record date of such event, shall receive, in addition to the shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon such exercise prior to such date, the securities or such other assets of the Company to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such date if the Holder had exercised this Warrant immediately prior thereto (all subject to further adjustment as provided in this Warrant).

5.3    Adjustment for Reorganization, Consolidation, Merger. Other than any reorganization, consolidation or merger that constitutes a Change of Control, in case of any reorganization of the Company (or of any other corporation, the stock or other securities of which are at the time receivable on the exercise of this Warrant), after the date of this Warrant, or in case, after such date, the Company (or any such corporation) shall consolidate with or merge into another corporation or convey all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation and then distribute the proceeds to its shareholders, then, and in each such case, the Holder, upon the exercise of this Warrant (as provided in Section 2), at any time after the consummation of such reorganization, consolidation, merger or conveyance, shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the stock or other securities and property receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant prior to such consummation, the stock or other securities or property to which the Holder would have been entitled upon the consummation of such reorganization, consolidation, merger or conveyance if the Holder had exercised this Warrant immediately prior thereto, all subject to further adjustment as provided in this Warrant, and the successor or purchasing corporation in such reorganization, consolidation, merger or conveyance (if other than the Company) shall duly execute and deliver to the Holder a supplement hereto acknowledging such corporation’s obligations under this Warrant; and in each such case, the terms of this Warrant shall be applicable to the shares of stock or other securities or property receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant after the consummation of such reorganization, consolidation, merger or conveyance.

5.4    Notice of Adjustments. The Company shall promptly give written notice of each adjustment or readjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares of Warrant Stock or other securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The notice shall describe the adjustment or readjustment and show in reasonable detail the facts on which the adjustment or readjustment is based.

 

4


5.5    No Change Necessary. The form of this Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment in the Warrant Price or in the number of shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon its exercise.

5.6    Reservation of Stock. If at any time the number of shares of Warrant Stock or other securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall not be sufficient to effect the exercise of this Warrant, the Company will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Warrant Stock or other securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant as shall be sufficient for such purpose.

6.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDER. Holder hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company, that:

6.1    Purchase for Own Account. The Warrant and the Warrant Stock (collectively, the “Securities”) will be acquired for investment for Holder’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the public resale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the 1933 Act, and such Holder has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same.

6.2    Disclosure of Information. Holder has received or has had full access to all the information it considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the Securities. Holder further has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and to obtain additional information (to the extent the Company possessed such information or could acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify any information furnished to Holder or to which Holder had access.

6.3    Investment Experience. Holder understands that the purchase of the Securities involves substantial risk. Holder (i) has experience as an investor in securities of companies in the development stage and acknowledges that Holder is able to fend for itself, can bear the economic risk of Holder’s investment in the Securities and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that Holder is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment in the Securities and protecting its own interests in connection with this investment and/or (ii) has a preexisting personal or business relationship with the Company and certain of its officers, directors or controlling persons of a nature and duration that enables such Holder to be aware of the character, business acumen and financial circumstances of such persons.

6.4    Restricted Securities. Holder understands that the Securities are characterized as “restricted securities” under the 1933 Act and Rule 144 promulgated thereunder inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering, and that under the 1933 Act and applicable regulations thereunder such securities may be resold without registration under the 1933 Act only in certain limited circumstances. In this connection, Holder is familiar with Rule 144, as presently in effect, and understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the 1933 Act. Holder understands that the Company is under no obligation to register any of the securities sold hereunder. Holder understands that no public market now exists for any of the Securities and that it is uncertain whether a public market will ever exist for the Securities.

 

5


6.5    No Solicitation. At no time was the Holder presented with or solicited by any publicly issued or circulated newspaper, mail, radio, television or other form of general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of the Securities.

6.6    Further Limitations on Disposition. Without in any way limiting the representations set forth above, Holder further agrees not to make any disposition of all or any portion of the Securities unless and until: (a) there is then in effect a registration statement under the 1933 Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement; or (b) Holder shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition, and shall have furnished the Company with a statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and, upon request of the Company, with an opinion of counsel, at the expense of Holder or its transferee, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such disposition will not require registration of such securities under the 1933 Act. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, no such registration statement or opinion of counsel shall be required: (i) for any transfer of the Securities in compliance with Rule 144 or Rule 144A; or (ii) for any transfer of the Securities by Holder that is a partnership or a corporation to (A) a partner of such partnership or shareholder of such corporation, (B) a controlled affiliate of such partnership or corporation, (C) a retired partner of such partnership who retires after the date hereof, (D) the estate of any such partner or shareholder; or (iii) for the transfer by gift, will or intestate succession by Holder to his or her spouse or lineal descendants or ancestors or any trust for any of the foregoing; provided that in each of the foregoing cases the transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 6 to the same extent as if the transferee were an original Holder hereunder.

6.7    Legends. Such Holder understands and agrees that the certificates evidencing the Securities will bear legends substantially similar to those set forth below in addition to any other legend that may be required by applicable law, by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or by any agreement between the Company and such Holder:

(a)    THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF APPLICABLE STATES. THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ACT AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. INVESTORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF THIS INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY PROPOSED TRANSFER OR RESALE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.

(b)    Any legend required by the laws of the State of Washington, including any legend required by the Washington Department of Corporations and Sections 417 and 418 of the Washington Corporations Code or any other state securities laws.

The legend set forth in (a) above shall be removed by the Company from any certificate evidencing the Securities upon delivery to the Company of an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that a registration statement under the 1933 Act is at that time in

 

6


effect with respect to the legended security or that such security can be freely transferred in a public sale (other than pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145 under the 1933 Act) without such a registration statement being in effect and that such transfer will not jeopardize the exemption or exemptions from registration pursuant to which the Company issued the Securities. No opinion shall be required for routine transactions under Rule 144.

6.8    Market Stand-Off Agreement. Holder hereby agrees that it shall not, to the extent requested by the Company or an underwriter of securities of the Company, sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Securities or other shares of stock of the Company then owned by such Holder (other than to donees or partners of Holder who agree to be similarly bound) for up to one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the 1933 Act. For purposes of this Section 6.8, the term “Company shall include any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company into which the Company merges or consolidates. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company shall have the right to place the following restrictive legend on the certificates representing the shares subject to this Section and to impose stop transfer instructions with respect to the Securities and such other Company securities of Holder (and the shares or securities of every other person subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such period. Holder further agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing within any reasonable timeframe so requested.

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A 180 DAY MARKET STAND-OFF RESTRICTION AS SET FORTH IN A CERTAIN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SHARES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE ISSUER. AS A RESULT OF SUCH AGREEMENT, THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE TRADED PRIOR TO 180 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE ISSUER HEREOF. SUCH RESTRICTION IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.

7.    NO RIGHTS OR LIABILITIES AS SHAREHOLDER. This Warrant does not by itself entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder of the Company. In the absence of affirmative action by the Holder to purchase Warrant Stock by exercise of this Warrant, no provisions of this Warrant, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall cause the Holder to be a shareholder of the Company for any purpose.

8.    ATTORNEYS’ FEES. In the event any party is required to engage the services of any attorneys for the purpose of enforcing this Warrant, or any provision thereof, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable expenses and costs in enforcing this Warrant, including attorneys’ fees.

9.    TRANSFER. Except as expressly provided hereunder, neither this Warrant nor any rights hereunder may be assigned, conveyed or transferred by Holder, in whole or in part, without the Company’s prior written consent, which the Company may withhold in its sole discretion. The rights and obligations of the Company and the Holder under this Warrant shall be binding upon and benefit their respective permitted successors, assigns, heirs, administrators and transferees.

 

7


10.    GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed under the internal laws of the State of Washington as applied to agreements among Washington residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Washington, without reference to principles of conflict of laws or choice of laws.

11.    NOTICES. Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (i) at the time of personal delivery, if delivery is in person; (ii) one (1) business day after deposit with an express overnight courier for United States deliveries, or two (2) business days after such deposit for deliveries outside of the United States, with proof of delivery from the courier requested; or (iii) three (3) business days after deposit in the United States mail by certified mail (return receipt requested) for United States deliveries when addressed to the party to be notified at the address indicated for such party on the signature page hereto, or at such other address as any party or the Company may designate by giving ten (10) days’ advance written notice to all other parties.

12.    AMENDMENT; WAIVER. Any term of this Warrant may be amended, and the observance of any term of this Warrant may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and the Holder. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section shall be binding upon the Holder.

13.    SEVERABILITY. If one or more provisions of this Warrant are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision(s) shall be excluded from this Warrant and the balance of the Warrant shall be interpreted as if such provision(s) were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

14.    TERMS BINDING. By acceptance of this Warrant, the Holder accepts and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Warrant.

15.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Warrant constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, correspondence, warrants, agreements, understandings duties or obligations between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Warrant as of the date first above written.

 

THE COMPANY:
ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Chad Robins

Name:  

Chad Robins

Title:  

CEO & President

 

    Address:
                                                                                                                               1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200
    Seattle, WA 98102

 

AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED
THE HOLDER
IMDAPTIVE, INC.
By:  

/s/ Steven R. Wiley

Name:  

Steven R. Wiley

Title:  

President

Address:  

3010 NW 56th St.

 

9


EXHIBIT 1

FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION

(To be signed only upon exercise of Warrant)

To: Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

 

  (1)

The undersigned Holder hereby elects to purchase                      shares of Common Stock of Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (the “Warrant Stock”), pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant, and tenders herewith payment of the purchase price for such shares in full.

 

  (2)

Net Exercise Election. The undersigned Holder elects to convert the Warrant into shares of Warrant Stock by net exercise election pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Warrant. This conversion is exercised with respect to                      shares of Warrant Stock.

 

  (3)

In exercising the Warrant, the undersigned Holder hereby confirms and acknowledges that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of the Warrant as they apply to the undersigned Holder continue to be true and correct as of this date.

 

  (4)

Please issue a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Warrant Stock in the name or names specified below:

 

   

 

(Name)     (Name)

 

   

 

(Address)     (Address)

 

                        

 

(City, State, Zip Code)     (City, State, Zip Code)

 

   

 

(Federal Tax Identification Number)     (Federal Tax Identification Number)

 

   

 

(Date)     (Date)
EX-4.5

Exhibit 4.5

THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 5.3 AND 5.4 BELOW, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND LAWS OR IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM SUCH REGISTRATION.

WARRANT TO PURCHASE STOCK

Company: ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Number of Shares: 56,875

Type/Series of Stock: Series C Preferred Stock

Warrant Price: $2.6374 per share

Issue Date: April 21, 2014

Expiration Date: April 21, 2021 See also Section 5.1(b).

Credit Facility:

This Warrant to Purchase Stock (“Warrant”) is issued in connection with that certain Loan and Security Agreement of even date herewith between Alexandria Equities, LLC and the Company (the “Loan Agreement”).

THIS WARRANT CERTIFIES THAT, for good and valuable consideration, Alexandria Equities, LLC (together with any successor or permitted assignee or transferee of this Warrant or of any shares issued upon exercise hereof, “Holder”) is entitled to purchase the number of fully paid and non-assessable shares (the “Shares”) of the above-stated Type/Series of Stock (the “Class”) of the above-named company (the “Company”) at the above-stated Warrant Price, all as set forth above and as adjusted pursuant to Section 2 of this Warrant, subject to the provisions and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Warrant.

SECTION 1. EXERCISE.

1.1    Method of Exercise. Holder may at any time and from time to time exercise this Warrant, in whole or in part, by delivering to the Company the original of this Warrant together with a duly executed Notice of Exercise in substantially the form attached hereto as Appendix 1 and, unless Holder is exercising this Warrant pursuant to a cashless exercise set forth in Section 1.2, a check, wire transfer of same-day funds (to an account designated by the Company), or other form of payment acceptable to the Company for the aggregate Warrant Price for the Shares being purchased.

1.2    Cashless Exercise. On any exercise of this Warrant, in lieu of payment of the aggregate Warrant Price in the manner as specified in Section 1.1 above, but otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Section 1.1, Holder may elect to receive Shares equal to the value of this Warrant, or portion hereof as to which this Warrant is being exercised. Thereupon,

 

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the Company shall issue to the Holder such number of fully paid and non-assessable Shares as are computed using the following formula:

 

  X = Y(A-B)/A

where:

    
  X =    the number of Shares to be issued to the Holder;
  Y    the number of Shares with respect to which this Warrant is being exercised (inclusive of the Shares surrendered to the Company in payment of the aggregate Warrant Price);
  A =    the Fair Market Value (as determined pursuant to Section 1.3 below) of one Share; and
  B =    the Warrant Price.

1.3    Fair Market Value. If the Company’s common stock is then traded or quoted on a nationally recognized securities exchange, inter-dealer quotation system or over-the-counter market (a “Trading Market”) and the Class is common stock, the fair market value of a Share shall be the closing price or last sale price of a share of common stock reported for the Business Day immediately before the date on which Holder delivers this Warrant together with its Notice of Exercise to the Company. If the Company’s common stock is not traded in a Trading Market or the Class is not common stock, the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine the fair market value of a Share in its reasonable good faith judgment.

1.4    Delivery of Certificate and New Warrant. Within a reasonable time after Holder exercises this Warrant in the manner set forth in Section 1.1 or 1.2 above, the Company shall deliver to Holder a certificate representing the Shares issued to Holder upon such exercise and, if this Warrant has not been fully exercised and has not expired, a new warrant of like tenor representing the Shares not so acquired.

1.5    Replacement of Warrant. On receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form, substance and amount to the Company or, in the case of mutilation, on surrender of this Warrant to the Company for cancellation, the Company shall, within a reasonable time, execute and deliver to Holder, in lieu of this Warrant, a new warrant of like tenor and amount.

1.6    Treatment of Warrant Upon Acquisition of Company.

(a)    Acquisition. For the purpose of this Warrant, “Acquisition” means any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (i) the sale, lease, exclusive license, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company into or with another person or entity (other than a merger or consolidation effected exclusively to change the Company’s domicile), or any other corporate reorganization, in which the shareholders of the Company in their capacity as such immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization, own less than a majority of the Company’s (or the surviving or successor entity’s) outstanding voting power immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization; or (iii) any sale or other transfer by the shareholders of the Company of shares representing at least a majority of the Company’s then-total outstanding combined voting power.

(b)    Treatment of Warrant at Acquisition. In the event of an Acquisition in which the consideration to be received by the Company’s shareholders consists solely of cash,

 

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solely of Marketable Securities or a combination of cash and Marketable Securities (a “Cash/Public Acquisition”), either (i) Holder shall exercise this Warrant pursuant to Section 1.1 and/or 1.2 and such exercise will be deemed effective immediately prior to and contingent upon the consummation of such Acquisition or (ii) if Holder elects not to exercise the Warrant, this Warrant will expire immediately prior to the consummation of such Acquisition.

(c)    The Company shall provide Holder with written notice of its request relating to the Cash/Public Acquisition (together with such reasonable information as Holder may reasonably require regarding the treatment of this Warrant in connection with such contemplated Cash/Public Acquisition giving rise to such notice), which is to be delivered to Holder not less than seven (7) Business Days prior to the closing of the proposed Cash/Public Acquisition. In the event the Company does not provide such notice, then if, immediately prior to the Cash/Public Acquisition, the fair market value of one Share (or other security issuable upon the exercise hereof) as determined in accordance with Section 1.3 above would be greater than the Warrant Price in effect on such date, then this Warrant shall automatically be deemed on and as of such date to be exercised pursuant to Section 1.2 above as to all Shares (or such other securities) for which it shall not previously have been exercised, and the Company shall promptly notify the Holder of the number of Shares (or such other securities) issued upon such exercise to the Holder and Holder shall be deemed to have restated each of the representations and warranties in Section 4 of the Warrant as the date thereof.

(d)    Upon the closing of any Acquisition other than a Cash/Public Acquisition defined above, the acquiring, surviving or successor entity shall assume the obligations of this Warrant, and this Warrant shall thereafter be exercisable for the same securities and/or other property as would have been paid for the Shares issuable upon exercise of the unexercised portion of this Warrant as if such Shares were outstanding on and as of the closing of such Acquisition, subject to further adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant.

(e)    As used in this Warrant, “Marketable Securities” means securities meeting all of the following requirements: (i) the issuer thereof is then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and is then current in its filing of all required reports and other information under the Act and the Exchange Act; (ii) the class and series of shares or other security of the issuer that would be received by Holder in connection with the Acquisition were Holder to exercise this Warrant on or prior to the closing thereof is then traded in Trading Market, and (iii) Holder would be able to publicly re-sell, within six (6) months following the closing of such Acquisition, all of the issuer’s shares and/or other securities that would be received by Holder in such Acquisition were Holder to exercise this Warrant in full on or prior to the closing of such Acquisition.

SECTION 2. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SHARES AND WARRANT PRICE.

2.1    Stock Dividends, Splits, Etc. If the Company declares or pays a dividend or distribution on the outstanding shares of the Class payable in common stock or other securities or property (other than cash), then upon exercise of this Warrant, for each Share acquired, Holder shall receive, without additional cost to Holder, the total number and kind of securities and property which Holder would have received had Holder owned the Shares of record as of the date the dividend or distribution occurred. If the Company subdivides the outstanding shares of the

 

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Class by reclassification or otherwise into a greater number of shares, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be proportionately increased and the Warrant Price shall be proportionately decreased. If the outstanding shares of the Class are combined or consolidated, by reclassification or otherwise, into a lesser number of shares, the Warrant Price shall be proportionately increased and the number of Shares shall be proportionately decreased.

2.2    Reclassification, Exchange, Combinations or Substitution. Upon any event whereby all of the outstanding shares of the Class are reclassified, exchanged, combined, substituted, or replaced for, into, with or by Company securities of a different class and/or series, then from and after the consummation of such event, this Warrant will be exercisable for the number, class and series of Company securities that Holder would have received had the Shares been outstanding on and as of the consummation of such event, and subject to further adjustment thereafter from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant. The provisions of this Section 2.2 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, exchanges, combinations substitutions, replacements or other similar events.

2.3    No Fractional Share. No fractional Share shall be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and the number of Shares to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Share. If a fractional Share interest arises upon any exercise of the Warrant, the Company shall eliminate such fractional Share interest by paying Holder in cash the amount computed by multiplying the fractional interest by (i) the fair market value (as determined in accordance with Section 1.3 above) of a full Share, less (ii) the then-effective Warrant Price.

2.4    Notice/Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon each adjustment of the Warrant Price, Class and/or number of Shares, the Company, at the Company’s expense, shall notify Holder in writing within a reasonable time setting forth the adjustments to the Warrant Price, Class and/or number of Shares and facts upon which such adjustment is based. The Company shall, upon written request from Holder, furnish Holder with a certificate of its Chief Financial Officer, including computations of such adjustment and the Warrant Price, Class and number of Shares in effect upon the date of such adjustment.

SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

3.1    Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Holder as follows:

(a)    The initial Warrant Price referenced on the first page of this Warrant is not greater than the price per share at which shares of the Class were sold pursuant to the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2013.

(b)    All Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant shall, upon issuance pursuant to the terms hereof, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and free of any liens and encumbrances except for restrictions on transfer provided for herein, under applicable federal and state securities laws or created by the Holder. The Company covenants that it shall at all times cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued capital stock such number of shares of the Class, common stock and other securities as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of this Warrant and the conversion of the Shares into common stock or such other securities.

 

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(c)    Upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant to the terms hereof, the Holder shall be entitled to receive, with respect to the Shares, the registration rights set forth in that certain Third Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2014, by and among the Company and certain holders of the Company’s capital stock (the “IRA”).

3.2    Notice of Certain Events. If the Company proposes at any time to:

(a)    declare any dividend or distribution upon the outstanding shares of the Class or common stock, whether in cash, property, stock, or other securities and whether or not a regular cash dividend;

(b)    effect any reclassification, exchange, combination, substitution, reorganization or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of the Class;

(c)    effect an Acquisition or to liquidate, dissolve or wind up; or

(d)    effect an IPO;

then, in connection with each such event, the Company shall give Holder:

(1)    in the case of the matters referred to in (a) above at least seven (7) Business Days prior written notice of the date on which a record will be taken for such dividend or distribution (and specifying the date on which the holders of outstanding shares of the Class will be entitled thereto) or for determining rights to vote, if any, in respect of the matters referred to in (a) above;

(2)    in the case of the matters referred to in (b) and (c) above at least seven (7) Business Days prior written notice of the date when the same will take place (and specifying the date on which the holders of outstanding shares of the Class will be entitled to exchange their shares for the securities or other property deliverable upon the occurrence of such event); and

(3)    with respect to the IPO, at least seven (7) Business Days prior written notice of the date on which the Company proposes to file its registration statement in connection therewith.

Reference is made to Section 1.6(c) whereby this Warrant will be deemed to be exercised pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof if the Company does not give written notice to Holder of a Cash/Public Acquisition as required by the terms hereof. Company will also provide information requested by Holder that is reasonably necessary to enable Holder to comply with Holder’s accounting or reporting requirements.

 

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SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OF THE HOLDER.

The Holder represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

4.1    Purchase for Own Account. This Warrant and the securities to be acquired upon exercise of this Warrant by Holder are being acquired for investment for Holder’s account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the public resale or distribution within the meaning of the Act. Holder also represents that it has not been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring this Warrant or the Shares.

4.2    Disclosure of Information. Holder is aware of the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and has received or has had full access to all the information it considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of this Warrant and its underlying securities. Holder further has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of this Warrant and its underlying securities and to obtain additional information (to the extent the Company possessed such information or could acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify any information furnished to Holder or to which Holder has access.

4.3    Investment Experience. Holder understands that the purchase of this Warrant and its underlying securities involves substantial risk. Holder has experience as an investor in securities of companies in the development stage and acknowledges that Holder can bear the economic risk of such Holder’s investment in this Warrant and its underlying securities and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that Holder is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in this Warrant and its underlying securities and/or has a preexisting personal or business relationship with the Company and certain of its officers, directors or controlling persons of a nature and duration that enables Holder to be aware of the character, business acumen and financial circumstances of such persons.

4.4    Accredited Investor Status. Holder is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Regulation D promulgated under the Act.

4.5    The Act. Holder understands that this Warrant and the Shares issuable upon exercise hereof have not been registered under the Act in reliance upon a specific exemption therefrom, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the Holder’s investment intent as expressed herein. Holder understands that this Warrant and the Shares issued upon any exercise hereof must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Act and qualified under applicable state securities laws, or unless exemption from such registration and qualification are otherwise available. Holder is aware of the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

4.6    Market Stand-off Agreement. The Holder agrees that the Shares shall be subject to the Market Standoff provisions in Section 2.12 of the IRA.

4.7    No Voting Rights. Holder, as a Holder of this Warrant, will not have any voting rights until the exercise of this Warrant.

 

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SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS.

5.1    Term and Automatic Conversion Upon Expiration.

(a)    Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 1.6 above, this Warrant is exercisable in whole or in part at any time and from time to time on or before 6:00 PM, Pacific time, on the Expiration Date and shall be void thereafter.

(b)    Automatic Cashless Exercise upon Expiration. In the event that, upon the Expiration Date, the fair market value of one Share (or other security issuable upon the exercise hereof) as determined in accordance with Section 1.3 above is greater than the Warrant Price in effect on such date, then this Warrant shall automatically be deemed on and as of such date to be exercised pursuant to Section 1.2 above as to all Shares (or such other securities) for which it shall not previously have been exercised, and the Company shall, within a reasonable time, deliver a certificate representing the Shares (or such other securities) issued upon such exercise to Holder.

5.2    Legends. The Shares (and the securities issuable, directly or indirectly, upon conversion of the Shares, if any) shall be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THAT CERTAIN WARRANT TO PURCHASE STOCK ISSUED BY THE ISSUER TO ALEXANDRIA EQUITIES, LLC DATED APRIL 21, 2014, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND LAWS OR IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER, SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM SUCH REGISTRATION.

5.3    Compliance with Securities Laws on Transfer. This Warrant and the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant may not be transferred or assigned in whole or in part except in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws by the transferor and the transferee (including, without limitation, the delivery of investment representation letters and legal opinions reasonably satisfactory to the Company, as reasonably requested by the Company). The Company shall not require Holder to provide an opinion of counsel if the transfer is to an affiliate of Holder, provided that any such transferee is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under ,the Act. Additionally, the Company shall also not require an opinion of counsel if there is no material question as to the availability of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

5.4    Transfer Procedure. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.3 and upon providing the Company with written notice, the Holder and any subsequent Holder may transfer all or part of this Warrant or the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant to any transferee, provided, however, in connection with any such transfer, the Holder or any subsequent Holder will

 

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give the Company notice of the portion of the Warrant being transferred with the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the transferee and Holder will surrender this Warrant to the Company for reissuance to the transferee(s) (and Holder if applicable); and provided further, that any subsequent transferee shall agree in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Warrant. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, at all times prior to the IPO, Holder may not, without the Company’s prior written consent, transfer this Warrant or any portion hereof, or any Shares issued upon any exercise hereof, to any person or entity who directly competes with the Company, except in connection with an Acquisition of the Company by such a direct competitor.

5.5    Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder from the Company to the Holder, or vice versa, shall be deemed delivered and effective (i) when given personally, (ii) on the third (3rd) Business Day after being mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (iii) upon actual receipt if given by facsimile or electronic mail and such receipt is confirmed in writing by the recipient, or (iv) on the first Business Day following delivery to a reliable overnight courier service, courier fee prepaid, in any case at such address as may have been furnished to the Company or Holder, as the case may be, in writing by the Company or such Holder from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.5. All notices to Holder shall be addressed as follows until the Company receives notice of a change of address in connection with a transfer or otherwise:

Alexandria Equities, LLC

385 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 299

Pasadena, CA 91101

Email.:

With a copy to:

Alexandria Equities, LLC

385 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 299

Pasadena, CA 91101

Attn.:

Email:

Notice to the Company shall be addressed as follows until Holder receives notice of a change in address:

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Attn: Chad Robins

1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200

Seattle, WA 98102

Telephone:

Facsimile:

Email:

 

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5.6    Waiver. This Warrant and any term hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

5.7    Attorney’s Fees. In the event of any dispute between the parties concerning the terms and provisions of this Warrant, the party prevailing in such dispute shall be entitled to collect from the other party all costs incurred in such dispute, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

5.8    Counterparts; Facsimile/Electronic Signatures. This Warrant may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Any signature page delivered electronically or by facsimile shall be binding to the same extent as an original signature page with regards to any agreement subject to the terms hereof or any amendment thereto.

5.9    Governing Law. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to its principles regarding conflicts of law.

5.10    Headings. The headings in this Warrant are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of any provision of this Warrant.

5.11    Business Days. “Business Day” is any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banks are closed.

[Remainder of page left blank intentionally]

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Warrant to Purchase Stock to be executed by their duly authorized representatives effective as of the Issue Date written above.

 

“COMPANY”
ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By:  

    /s/ Chad Robins

Name:  

Chad Robins

  (Print)
Title:   CEO & President

“HOLDER”

ALEXANDRIA EQUITIES, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

 

By;  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.,

a Maryland corporation, managing member

  By:  

    /s/ Jennifer Banks

  Name:   Jennifer Banks
  Title:   EVP, General Counsel


APPENDIX 1

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

1.    The undersigned Holder hereby exercises its right purchase                      shares of the Series C Preferred Stock of ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (the “Company”) in accordance with the attached Warrant To Purchase Stock, and tenders payment of the aggregate Warrant Price for such shares as follows:

 

 

check in the amount of $         payable to order of the Company enclosed herewith

 

 

Wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company’s account

 

 

Cashless Exercise pursuant to Section 1.2 of the Warrant

 

 

Other [Describe]                                                                                                                       

2.    Please issue a certificate or certificates representing the Shares in the name specified below:

 

  

 

Holder’s Name

  
  

 

  
  

 

  
   (Address)   

3.    By its execution below and for the benefit of the Company, Holder hereby restates each of the representations and warranties in Section 4 of the Warrant to Purchase Stock as of the date hereof

 

HOLDER:

 

By:  

                                                                      

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

(Date):  

 

 

Appendix 1

EX-10.6

Exhibit 10.6

MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT

THIS MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) effective this 5th day of August, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), is made and entered into by and between Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, a Washington corporation having a business address at 1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98102, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries (together with its subsidiaries, “Client”), and ZS Associates, Inc. (“Contractor”), an Illinois corporation having a business address at 400 South El Camino Real, Suite 1500, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA. Client and Contractor may each be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

WHEREAS, Contractor has certain skills and knowledge and as such, is well suited to perform services for Client as further set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, Client desires that Contractor perform certain services for Client and Contractor desires to provide such services to Client.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual obligations specified in this Agreement, the Parties agree to the following:

1.    Services Engagement. Client hereby engages and Contractor accepts such engagement to perform the Services as specified from time to time on work orders in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Appendix A and signed by both Parties (each a “Work Order”).

a.    Services. Subject to other terms of this Agreement, Contractor shall provide services (“Services”) in connection with one or more projects (each a “Project and collectively, the “Projects”) as detailed in a Work Order document during the Term of this Agreement. Each Work Order shall set forth, at a minimum, (a) the specific project, meeting or other services to be performed or provided by Contractor, (b) the deliverables to be provided to Client in connection therewith, (c) the timeline for project milestones, (d) the term during which the Services will be provided (the “Project Term”), (e) a budget and (f) a payment schedule. To the extent that a project involves the provision of fees or benefits to a health care professional (“HCP”), the Work Order shall include a summary of approved (i) fair market-based participant fees and/or expenses (if any); and (ii) HCP contract template to be used with participants. Each Work Order shall include an express reference to this Agreement and shall be signed by authorized representatives of Contractor and Client. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and any Work Order, the terms of this Agreement shall govern, except to the extent that the applicable Work Order expressly and specifically states an intent to supersede the Agreement on a specific matter. Any changes in the general scope of a Project, whether initiated by Client or Contractor, must be made in writing and accepted by the Parties, If the Parties believe that an adjustment to compensation or any scheduled completion dates is justified as a result of a significant change, the Parties will negotiate in good faith and agree to an adjustment to the Work Order (a “Change Order”), Each Change Order shall detail the agreed changes to the applicable task, responsibility, duty, pricing, time line or other matter, The Change Order will become effective upon the execution of the Change Order by both Parties, and shall be made part of this Agreement and the applicable Work Order. Contractor shall not incur any costs or

 

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modify its performance of the Services based on the modifications set forth in a Change Order unless and until such Change Order is executed by the Parties or Client has otherwise authorized Contractor to begin performing the modified Services.

The Services performed under this Agreement shall be performed by employees or consultants provided by Contractor. Contractor understands and agrees that it is required to perform the Services (and any changes to the Services) with professional skill and care in the orderly progress of the Services. Affiliates of Client and Contractor may adopt this Agreement by entering into Work Orders under the Agreement. In such cases, all references in this Agreement to Client or Contractor, respectively, shall be deemed to be to the applicable affiliate of Client or Contractor, respectively.

b.    Performance and Time Commitment. Contractor shall render the Services at such times and for the duration as may be set forth in a Work Order.

c.    Professional Standards. The manner and means used by Contractor to perform the Services desired by Client are at the sole discretion and control of Contractor. Contractor’s Services, and the result thereof, will be performed with and be the product of a high degree of professional skill and expertise and in conformance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and guidelines (“Applicable Laws”). If, for any reason, Contractor personnel performing Services under this Agreement fail or are unable to perform the Services required hereunder to Client’s reasonable satisfaction, Client shall provide Contractor with written notice setting forth the nature and extent of Client’s issue and Contractor shall remove the personnel from Client’s Project as soon as reasonably possible and shall replace the personnel with another personnel of equivalent experience and qualifications,

d.    Independent Contractor Status. It is understood and agreed that Contractor is an independent contractor, is not an agent or employee of Client, and is not authorized to act on behalf of Client. Contractor agrees not to hold out as, or give any person any reason to believe that Contractor is, an employee, agent, joint venture or partner of Client. Contractor will not be eligible for any employee benefits, nor will Client make deductions from any amounts payable to Contractor of taxes or insurance. All payroll and employment taxes, insurance, and benefits shall be the sole responsibility of Contractor. Contractor retains the right to provide services for others during the term of this Agreement.

2.    Compensation. As compensation for Contractor’s Services and the discharge of all Contractor’s obligations hereunder, Client shall pay Contractor fees in the amount and according to the schedule agreed upon by the Parties and as stated in the applicable Work Order. Amounts outlined in the applicable Work Order will not be adjusted without prior written approval of Client through a Change Order. Pass-through expenses exceeding specific amounts that may be set forth in a Work Order will not be adjusted without prior written approval of Client.

During the term of this Agreement, Contractor will invoice Client in accordance with the compensation or payment provisions set forth in Work Order using an invoice format to be mutually agreed upon by the Parties. Client shall pay each invoice within thirty (30) days of the date of the invoice. If an undisputed invoice is not paid within thirty (30) days of the date of the

 

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invoice, Contractor may impose a finance charge of 1.0% monthly, applied to the outstanding balance due. If any portion of an invoice is disputed, then Client shall pay the undisputed amounts as set forth in the preceding sentence and shall provide Contractor with written notice setting forth the basis of the disputed invoice. The Parties shall use good faith efforts to reconcile the disputed amount as soon as practicable. If it is ultimately determined that the disputed amount should not have been paid by Client, Contractor shall refund the amount being due to Client.

3.    Expenses. Client shall reimburse Contractor for all reasonable expenses actually incurred by Contractor in performing the Services, including shipping, postage, federal express, supplies, copying and other printing as long as such expenses are reasonable and necessary and are set forth in a Work Order. Contractor shall maintain adequate books and records relating to any expenses to be reimbursed and shall submit requests for reimbursement in a timely manner.

In addition to Contractor compensation, Contractor shall, in accordance with the provisions set forth herein, be entitled to reimbursements for approved travel and other related expenses reasonably and properly incurred by Contractor in connection with Contractor’s performance of the Services (the “Reimbursable Expenses”). Reimbursable Expenses may not include any increased mark-up, burden, or uplift. No expenses beyond those specified in the applicable Work Order and within the approved budget stated therein shall be incurred without the Client’s prior written approval. All requests for reimbursement for expenses shall be set forth in an invoice.

Invoices for direct Contractor expenses are not required to include a breakdown of fees by person, copies of receipts of expenses nor an itemization of individual time records or expense items. Documentation of expenses will be retained by Contractor and made available for inspection at Contractor’s offices upon request during normal business hours. Invoices shall be sent to the following: Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, Attn: Accounts Payable, 1551 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98102. Soft copies of invoices may be submitted to: ap@adaptivebiotech.com.

4.    Maintaining Confidential Information.

a.    Client Information. During the term of this Agreement, each Party (a “Receiving Party”) may receive or otherwise be exposed to confidential and proprietary information relating to the other Party’s (the “Disclosing Party”) technology, know-how, software and tools, data, inventions, developments, plans, templates, forecasts, business practices or finances, clinical trials, chemical synthesis, methods of purification, compositions of matter and uses thereof, strategies, pricing, analytical techniques, methodologies and processes utilized to provide the Services. Such confidential and proprietary information (collectively referred to as “Confidential Information”) includes, but is not limited to, (i) confidential and proprietary information supplied by the Disclosing Party to the Receiving Party (including, but not limited to, those marked with the legend “Client Confidential”, “Contractor Confidential” or equivalent), (ii) the Disclosing Party’s marketing and customer support strategies, financial information (including sales, costs, profits and pricing methods), internal organization, employee information, and customer lists, (iii) the technology owned by or licensed to the Disclosing Party, including discoveries, inventions, research and development efforts, chemical synthesis,

 

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methods of purification, compositions of matter and uses thereof, data, software, trade secrets, processes, samples, media and/or cell lines (and procedures and formulations for producing any such samples, media and/or cell lines), vectors, viruses, assays, plasmids, formulas, methods, product and know-how and show-how, (iv) all derivatives, improvements, additions, modifications, and enhancements to any of the above, including any such information or material created or developed by Contractor under this Agreement, if derived from the Confidential Information and (v) information of third parties as to which the Disclosing Party has an obligation of confidentiality (provided Disclosing Party notifies Receiving Party of same).

The term “Confidential Information” shall not be deemed to include information which can be demonstrated by competent written proof (a) is now, or hereafter becomes, through no act or failure to act on the part of the Receiving Party, generally known or available, (b) is known by the Receiving Party at the time of receiving such information, as evidenced by its records, (c) is hereafter furnished to the Receiving Party by a third party, as a matter of right without restriction on disclosure, (d) was independently developed by the Receiving Party without use of or reference to the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information, and Receiving Party has documentation of such independent development, or (e) is the subject of a written permission to disclose provided by the Disclosing Party.

Receiving Party acknowledges the confidential and secret character of Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information and agrees that such Confidential Information is the sole, exclusive and extremely valuable property of the Disclosing Party. Accordingly, Receiving Party agrees not to reproduce any of the Confidential Information without the applicable prior written consent of the Disclosing Party, not to use such Confidential Information except in the performance of this Agreement, and not to disclose all or any part of the Confidential Information in any form to any third party except to its employees, affiliates, and contractors that are not competitors of the Disclosing Party, either during the term of this Agreement and after the termination or expiration of this Agreement for such time as the Confidential Information remains confidential and/or proprietary. Upon Disclosing Party’s request and expense, Receiving Party agrees to cease using and return to the Disclosing Party all whole and partial copies and derivatives of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information, whether in its possession or under its direct or indirect control, except copies that are legally required to be maintained. The Receiving Party shall be permitted to keep a limited number of backup copies as have been automatically created and archived by the Receiving Party’s standard backup processes and systems for information security purposes, provided however that any such backup copies shall always be subject to confidentiality obligations set forth hereunder.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, disclosure of the Confidential Information will not be precluded if such disclosure is in response to a valid order of a court or other governmental body of the United States; provided, however, that the Receiving Party shall give the Disclosing Party sufficient advance written notice to enable the Disclosing Party to seek a protective order or other remedy to protect such Confidential Information, and provided further that the Receiving Party may disclose only the minimum Confidential Information required to be disclosed, whether or not a protective order or other remedy is in place. If the Disclosing Party is, but the Receiving Party is not, a party to or subject of the judicial or administrative action that gives rise to such disclosure requirement, then the costs of any efforts by the Receiving Party to limit disclosure and of any subsequent production shall be borne by the Disclosing Party.

 

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b.    Other Employer Information. Contractor will not, during Contractor’s engagement with Client, improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets of Contractor’s former or current employers or companies (without consent), if any, and Contractor will not bring onto the premises of Client any unpublished documents or any property belonging to Contractor’s former or concurrent clients unless consented to in writing by said clients.

c.    Third Party Information. Each Party recognizes that the other Party has received and in the future will receive confidential or proprietary information from third parties and is subject to a duty to maintain the confidentiality of such information and, in some cases, to use it only for certain limited purposes. Each Party agrees that it owes the other Party and such third parties, both during the term of Contractor’s engagement and thereafter, a duty to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in confidence in accordance with the terms hereof and not to disclose it to any person, firm or corporation (except in a manner that is consistent with the Party’s agreement with such third party) or use it for the benefit of anyone other than the Party receiving such confidential or proprietary information from the third party or such third party.

5.    Services Product.

a.    Disclosure of Inventions. Contractor shall disclose to Client any and all ideas, improvements, inventions, techniques and works of authorship learned, conceived or developed by Contractor, specifically and directly related to Contractor’s Services for Client during Contractor’ retention hereunder and which are specifically identified as deliverables in the Work Order but excluding any Contractor Materials, except in those circumstances where the Word Order indicates that the deliverables will be licensed separately (the “Services Product”). Contractor’ obligation to disclose Services Product shall be satisfied by Contractor providing Client with any deliverable required pursuant to a Work Order.

b.    Services Product Assigned to Client. Subject to Section 5(d) below, Contractor agrees that any and all Services Product(s) shall be the sole and exclusive property of Client. Upon payment of the applicable fees and expenses, Contractor shall assign to Client all Contractor’s rights, title and interests in and to any and all Services Product(s).

c.    Obtaining Intellectual Property Protection. Contractor agrees to assist Client in every proper way to obtain and enforce United States and Foreign proprietary rights relating to the Services Product in any and all countries as reasonably requested by Client. To that end, at Client’s expense, Contractor agrees to execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts as Client may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining and enforcing such proprietary rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, Contractor agrees to execute, verify and deliver assignments of such proprietary rights to Client or its designee. Contractor’s obligations to assist Client with respect to proprietary rights in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of Contractor’s engagement, but Client shall compensate Contractor for all costs and fees incurred (including but not limited to reasonable attorney fees) for the time actually spent and costs incurred by Contractor at Client’s request on such assistance.

 

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d.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, to the extent any Services Product includes Contractor’s concepts, ideas, models, know-how, software, methodologies, technology, techniques, procedures, survey questions, Contractor benchmarking studies and data, management tools, workshops, manuals, macros, data files, inventions, templates, and other intellectual capital and property rights therein that Contractor has used, developed, created or acquired (including the right to license third party software to its clients) prior to, or independent of, performing Services under this Agreement and any Work Order hereunder or in the course of providing such Services unless specifically identified as a deliverable in the applicable Work Order, and does not contain Client’s Confidential Information (the “Contractor Materials”), Contractor shall retain exclusive ownership in such Contractor Materials. Upon payment of the applicable invoice, Contractor hereby grants Client a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable (except to affiliates or successors), perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license for it to use the Contractor Materials solely in connection with its use of the Services Product created by Contractor in connection with the Services.

6.    Term/Termination/Expiration. Either Party may terminate this Agreement or any applicable Work Order at any time by giving the other Party at least thirty (30) days prior written notice. Either Party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the other Party if: (a) the other Party commits a material breach of this Agreement, which is not cured within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice of the breach, or (b) immediately upon written notice if the other Party becomes insolvent, is dissolved or liquidated, makes general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, files or has filed against it a petition for bankruptcy, or has a receiver appointed for a substantial part of its assets. Contractor may also terminate this Agreement (and any Work Order) if any undisputed payment to Contractor by Client is not made when due and such payment is not made within thirty (30) days from the date of written notice from Contractor to Client of such nonpayment.

This Agreement shall expire two (2) years after the Effective Date or, if later, concurrently with the latest termination effective date or expiration date of any applicable Work Order, Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement, Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement or an applicable Work Order, all unpaid charges for Services rendered, expenses incurred or advanced through the termination or expiration date and reasonable non-cancelable obligations incurred for the Services by Contractor to the termination or expiration date shall be paid by Client within thirty (30) days. Any amounts prepaid by Client for Services not yet rendered or expenses not yet incurred prior to the termination or expiration date shall be refunded by Contractor to Client within thirty (30) days of the termination or expiration date. Upon either Party’s request and expense on termination or expiration, each Party shall return to the other Party all Confidential Information and materials from the other Party in its possession, subject to Section 4(a), and Contractor shall provide any completed Services Product to Client.

7.    Audits. Client shall have the right once per calendar year during normal business hours, with reasonable prior advance written notification to Contractor, to audit Contractor’s books and records as they directly pertain to the Services. Contractor shall maintain all records

 

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and accounts pertaining to the Services performed for a period of one (1) year after final payment by Client of Contractor’s invoice. All records and accounts relating to financial matters shall be kept in reasonable condition consistent with the practices of similar companies similarly situated. Client shall be solely responsible for all costs and fees associated with audits conducted pursuant to this Section 7. Such audit will be subject to Contractor’s obligations of confidentiality to its employees and other clients, shall not unreasonably interfere with Contractor’s business activities, and if performed by a third party, shall be subject to such auditor entering into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with Contractor and shall not be performed by a competitor of Contractor.

8.    Subcontractors. Except as may be otherwise set forth in a Work Order, Contractor may subcontract any of the services to be performed by it under this Agreement with Client’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided however that Contractor shall be permitted to utilize employees of its affiliates and temporary personnel to provide services without obtaining prior consent of Client. Identification of a subcontractor relationship in a Work Order executed by both parties shall constitute approval of use of the subcontractors. If Client does so consent, Contractor shall remain liable for the performance of any of its obligations hereunder that it delegates to a subcontractor.

9.    Compliance With Applicable Laws. Contractor warrants that all material supplied and Services performed under this Agreement complies with or will comply with Applicable Laws, including, but not limited to, all applicable privacy and data protection laws. Contractor shall protect as required by applicable law any data that may become accessible to Contractor when performing the Services against disclosure to any unauthorized third party and shall use data only for the provision of its Services hereunder and for no other purpose. Contractor shall report to Client any breach of the requirements under this paragraph that it identifies. Client warrants that it shall use any deliverable provided by Contractor pursuant to a Work Order only in accordance with and for purposes that comply with all Applicable Laws, Each Party further warrants that neither it nor any of its officers, directors, employees, or agents is presently debarred pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and, to the best of such Party’s knowledge, neither it nor any of its officers, directors, employees, or agents is presently under investigation by the United States Food & Drug Administration for any debarment action pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Each Party shall notify the other Party within a reasonable period of time after such Party receives any inquiry or learns of the commencement of any such proceeding regarding such Party or any of its officers, directors, employees, or agents.

10.    Representation/Warranty.

a.    Contractor represents and warrants that none of the Services and/or materials provided under this Agreement infringes the intellectual property rights of a third party, or, if so, that Contractor has the appropriate license to use such intellectual property as related to Services and/or materials as required to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. Further, Contractor represents and warrants that it is properly licensed, qualified, equipped, organized and financed to perform the Services and will do so in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and that Contractor’s performance of the Services and compliance with this Agreement do not breach or conflict with any other agreement, whether written or oral, entered into by Contractor. Contractor warrants that the person signing this Agreement on behalf of Contractor has the power and authority to execute this Agreement.

 

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b.    Client represents and warrants as follows:

i.    Client materials. Client owns or has all necessary lawful authority to use the trademarks used by Client in its products and in furtherance of marketing and selling its products. Client represents and warrants that none of the materials provided under this Agreement to Contractor infringes the intellectual property rights of a third party, or, if so, that Client has the appropriate license to use such intellectual property as related to the materials as required for either Party to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. If Client provides any data or information to Contractor that includes any third party data or information, Client hereby represents and warrants that it is authorized to provide Contractor with such data and information for use in connection with the applicable Work Order. Further, Client represents and warrants that Client’s performance of its obligations under, and compliance with, this Agreement do not breach or conflict with any other agreement, whether written or oral, entered into by Client. Client warrants that the person signing this Agreement on behalf of Client has the power and authority to execute this Agreement

ii.    Compliance with Laws. Client shall ensure all materials, documentation and information provided by it to Contractor are in compliance with all Applicable Laws.

iii.    Client shall cooperate with Contractor in Contractor’s performance of Services hereunder and shall be responsible for the performance of Client’s personnel and agents. The decision to implement any or all of Contractor’s recommendations shall be the responsibility of Client. Client shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all data and other information it provides to Contractor.

11.    Indemnification.

Indemnification by Contractor. Contractor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Client, its officers, directors, or employees, or agents from and against any and all third party liability, damages, loss or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of litigation) (collectively “Losses”) to the extent caused by: (i) a material breach of Contractor’s obligation to provide Services in accordance with this Agreement, or (ii) a claim by a third party that alleges that Contractor’s Services, Services Product or material infringes a third party intellectual property right; (iii) Contractor’s grossly negligent acts or omissions relating to its obligations hereunder, or (iv) Contractor’s willful misconduct or material breach of any representation, warranty or obligation hereunder, except to the extent such Losses arise out of the negligence or willful misconduct by Client. All indemnification rights described in this provision are expressly conditioned upon Client giving to Contractor prompt and timely notice of the claim for which indemnification is sought, sole authority to conduct the defense of the claim (including, without limitation, choice of legal counsel and settlement authority), though Contractor will not settle any claims requiring admission of fault or contribution by Client without the consent of Contractor, and all rights under counterclaims and defenses accruing to Client. In the event an infringement claim arises as a result of Client’s use of deliverables

 

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provided by Contractor under an applicable Work Order, or if Contractor reasonably believes that such a claim is likely to be made, Contractor, at its option and in lieu of indemnification, may: (i) modify the applicable deliverables so that they become non-infringing but still comply with the applicable specifications set forth in the Work Order; or (ii) replace the applicable deliverable with non-infringing functional equivalents; or (iii) obtain for Client the right to use such deliverable upon commercially reasonable terms at Contractor’s sole expense; or only if the three preceding remedies prove impractical or commercially impracticable, then (iv) remove the infringing or violating deliverables and refund to Client the fees paid for such deliverables that are the subject of such a claim less 20% for each year Client has had the use of such deliverables. Contractor shall have no obligation under this section or other liability for any infringement or misappropriation claim resulting or alleged to result from. (1) use of the deliverables in combination with any equipment or software not approved for use by Contractor; (ii) any claim arising from any instruction, information, design or other materials furnished by Client to Contractor hereunder; or (iii) Client continuing the allegedly infringing activity after being notified thereof or after being informed and provided with modifications that would have avoided the alleged infringement.

Indemnification by Client. Client agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Contractor, its officers, directors, employees, or agents from and against any Losses arising out of: (i) a claim by a third party that alleges that information or material provided by Client infringes a third party’s intellectual property right, (ii) Client’s negligent acts or omissions relating to its obligations hereunder, or (iii) Client’s willful misconduct or breach of any representation, warranty or obligation hereunder, except to the extent such Losses arise out of the negligence or willful misconduct of Contractor.

12.    Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED UPON A CLAIM OR ACTION OF CONTRACT, WARRANTY, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT_ EACH PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS LIMITATION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE PARTIES INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 11 OR 12 ABOVE. Client and Contractor agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each party’s liability to the other for any and all claims, losses, costs, damages of any nature whatsoever or claims expenses, including attorneys’ fees, arising out of the Services, the Services Product, or this Agreement, shall be limited to two times (2x) the amount of professional fees paid or payable in connection with the Services giving rise to the claim.

13.    Legal and Equitable Remedies. Each Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any actual or threatened disclosure of Confidential Information or Services Product without the prior express written consent of the other Party, each Party will suffer an irreparable injury, such that no remedy at law will afford it adequate protection against, or appropriate compensation for, such injury. Accordingly, the Parties hereby agree that each Party, in addition to any other remedies available to it at law or in equity, may be entitled to seek to obtain injunctive relief to enforce the terms of this section.

 

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14.    No Referral or Product Use Requirement Reporting. Client complies with all applicable laws and regulations (“Applicable Laws”) in specifying, participating in, or using the results of the Services, and endorses the principles and ethical standards promulgated by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) known as the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals (and all revisions thereto). The Parties hereto intend to conduct any engagements under this Agreement in compliance with the American Medical Association’s Guidelines on Gifts to Physicians from Industry. The Parties hereto acknowledge that the compensation paid hereunder has been determined through good faith and arms-length negotiation to be the fair market value of the Services rendered. No amount paid or reimbursed hereunder is intended to be, nor shall it be construed as, an offer or payment made, whether directly or indirectly, to induce the referral of patients or members, to purchase, lease or order of any item or service, or the recommending or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of any item or service provided, manufactured or distributed by Client. Contractor further acknowledges and agrees that Client has the right to disclose any and all compensation paid to Contractor pursuant to Client’s obligations under any Applicable Laws and that Contractor will provide Client with any information with respect to payments and pass-through expenses under this Agreement required to fulfill Client’s reporting obligations under Applicable Laws.

15.    Governing Law; Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, that provision shall be severed and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

16.    Assignment; Benefit. This Agreement is for the Services to be provided by Contractor and may not be assigned by either Party, without prior written consent of the other Party. Notwithstanding the above, either Client or Contractor may assign or transfer its rights, duties and obligations as part of an acquisition or purchase of Client or Contractor, as the case may be, without the prior written consent of the other Party when the assignment is to an affiliate under common control. Any permitted assignment of this Agreement and the rights and/or obligations hereunder will be in writing (satisfactory in form and substance to the other Party), and any permitted successor or assignee will expressly assume this Agreement and any existing Work Order and the rights and obligations hereunder and thereunder. The Parties’ rights and obligation under this Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors, heirs, executors, and administrators and permitted assigns.

 

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17.    Notices. Any notices required or permitted hereunder shall be given to the appropriate Party at the address specified below or at such other address as the Party shall specify in writing. Such notice shall be deemed given upon personal delivery to the appropriate address to be sent by overnight delivery, the next business day or certified or registered mail, three days after the date of mailing.

 

If to Client:

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp.

1551 Eastlake Avenue East Suite 200

Seattle, WA 98102

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (206)

  

If to Contractor:

ZS Associates, Inc.

400 South El Camino Real,

Suite 1500, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA

Attention: Steve Love, Principal

Fax:

  

With a copy to:

ZS Associates

1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 700

Evanston, IL 60201

Fax: 847-492-3556

Attention: Senior Legal Counsel

18.    Insurance. Each Party undertakes to maintain appropriate levels of insurance in commercially reasonable amounts with financially capable carriers and/or through self-insurance programs as is customary in their respective industry for the programs and activities to be conducted by it and/or as a result of the Services and shall maintain adequate levels of insurance to satisfy its respective obligations under this Agreement Each Party shall provide the other Party with a certificate of insurance upon request.

19.    Use of Name, Press and News Releases. Each Party agrees not to use the name, emblem, logo or marks of the other Party to this Agreement in any advertising, press or news release, or other publication or public statement, nor disclose the existence of the relationship or the fact of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the other Party, except as required by law.

20.    Complete Understanding/ Modification/ Counterparts. This Agreement (and any Work Order) constitutes the final, exclusive and complete understanding and agreement of Client and Contractor with respect to the subject matter hereof Any waiver, modification or amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only if in writing and signed by a Client officer. This Agreement (and any Work Order) may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same document, binding on all Parties notwithstanding that each of the Parties may have signed different counterparts. Signatures to this Agreement (including any Work Order) transmitted by fax, by electronic mail in “portable document format” (“.pdf’), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of the Agreement, shall have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.

The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.

 

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Appendix A

Work Order No.         

This Work Order dated as of                     ,          (this “Work Order”) between Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries (“Client”), and (“Contractor”) is an addendum to the Master Services Agreement between Client and Contractor dated                     ,          (the “Agreement”). All of the terms and conditions of the Agreement, to the extent not expressly modified herein, are hereby incorporated into the terms and conditions of this Work Order as if set out in full herein.

Project Description:

The Services to be provided by Contractor under this Work Order shall be as set forth in the following attached document, which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof:                      Insert name/title of attached proposal that describes the services and deliverables (the “Proposal”). If services include benefits conveyed to HCP participants, Contractor will provide to Adaptive Biotechnologies at the completion of the project: (i) what services/actions participants are being asked to provide; (ii) summary of agreed-upon compensation (e.g., estimated time spent by each participant x fair market value hourly rate); and (iii) a discussion of how HCP agreements will be handled (e.g., Client’s legal department will contract directly with participants or Contractor will have all participants sign an agreement in the form of the attached Exhibit A). For blinded market research, Contractor will not be required to provide Client’s legal department with a summary of participating HCPs or copies of their agreements. Such information will be required within a reasonable time of completing the Services for unblinded market research. As used herein, “unblinded market research” shall mean indirect payments or other transfers of value that qualify as an exclusion to reporting under the Federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act (42 CFR § 403.904 and the applicable state law, if any.

Timing for Performance and Completion:

Contractor shall use its best efforts to complete all Services under this Work Order in accordance with the performance schedule set forth in the Proposal and to complete final project reconciliation by                      Insert Completion Date.

Compensation and Payment Schedule:

As full and complete consideration for Contractor’s delivery of the Services in accordance with this Work Order and the Agreement, Contractor shall submit invoices to Client, and Client shall pay Contractor, as set forth in the Proposal and the Agreement. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties in a signed written amendment hereto, Client’s liability to Contractor for Services hereunder shall not exceed $         Insert Max dollar amount.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Work Order to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first set forth in this Work Order.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation     ZS Associates, Inc.
By:   /s/ Nancy L. Hill              By:   /s/ Steve Love
Name:   Nancy L. Hill     Name: Steve Love
Title:   SVP and GM, Research Products     Title: Principal


Exihibit 10.6

LOGO    © 2017 ZS Associates – CONFIDENTIAL

FIRST AMENDMENT TO MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”) is entered into as of this 24th day of April 2017 between ZS Associates, Inc. (“Contractor”) and Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (“Client”).

WHEREAS, Contractor and Client are parties to that certain Master Services Agreement effective as of August 5th, 2015 (the “Agreement”) expiring on August 4th, 2017, and Contractor and Client desire to amend and extend the Agreement as follows.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises as set forth below, Contractor and Client agree as follows:

 

1.

Defined Terms. Any capitalized term used herein but not defined shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Agreement.

 

2.

Amendment to Section 17 “Notices.” The subsection titled “With a copy to” of Section 17 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the current office address listed for Contractor and replacing it with the following:

With a copy to:

ZS Associates

One Rotary Center

1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 800

Evanston, IL 60201

Fax: +1 847 492 3606

Attention: Senior Legal Counsel

 

3.

Amendment to Section 6 “Term.” The first sentence of paragraph two of Section 6 of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

“This Agreement shall expire four (4) years after the Effective Date or, if later, concurrently with the latest termination effective date or expiration date of any applicable Work Order.”

 

4.

Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Amendment and the Agreement, this Amendment shall control.

 

5.

Continuation of Agreement. Except as specifically amended by this Amendment all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

 

6.

Counterparts. This Amendment may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Contractor and Client have executed this Amendment as of the date set forth above.

 

ZS Associates, Inc.    

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

By:   /s/ Steve Love              By:   /s/ Susan Bobulsky
Name:   Steve Love              Name:   Susan Bobulsky
Title:   Principal     Title:   VP, clonoSEQ Commercialization, Marketing
EX-10.7

Exhibit 10.7

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

2009 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page  
1.   Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan      1  
  1.1    Establishment      1  
  1.2    Purpose      1  
  1.3    Term of Plan      1  
2.   Definitions and Construction      1  
  2.1    Definitions      1  
  2.2    Construction      8  
3.   Administration      8  
  3.1    Administration by the Committee      8  
  3.2    Authority of Officers      9  
  3.3    Administration with Respect to Insiders      9  
  3.4    Powers of the Committee      9  
  3.5    Option or SAR Repricing      10  
  3.6    Indemnification      10  
4.   Shares Subject to Plan      10  
  4.1    Maximum Number of Shares Issuable      10  
  4.2    Share Counting      11  
  4.3    Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure      11  
5.   Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations      12  
  5.1    Persons Eligible for Awards      12  
  5.2    Participation in the Plan      12  
  5.3    Incentive Stock Option Limitations      12  
6.   Stock Options      13  
  6.1    Exercise Price      13  
  6.2    Exercisability and Term of Options      13  
  6.3    Payment of Exercise Price      13  
  6.4    Effect of Termination of Service      14  
  6.5    Transferability of Options      15  
7.   Stock Appreciation Rights      15  
  7.1    Types of SARs Authorized      15  
  7.2    Exercise Price      16  
  7.3    Exercisability and Term of SARs      16  
  7.4    Exercise of SARs      16  
  7.5    Deemed Exercise of SARs      16  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

              Page  
  7.6    Effect of Termination of Service      17  
  7.7    Transferability of SARs      17  
8.   Restricted Stock Awards      17  
  8.1    Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized      17  
  8.2    Purchase Price      17  
  8.3    Purchase Period      18  
  8.4    Payment of Purchase Price      18  
  8.5    Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer      18  
  8.6    Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions      18  
  8.7    Effect of Termination of Service      18  
  8.8    Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights      19  
9.   Restricted Stock Unit Awards      19  
  9.1    Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards      19  
  9.2    Purchase Price      19  
  9.3    Vesting      19  
  9.4    Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions      20  
  9.5    Effect of Termination of Service      20  
  9.6    Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards      20  
  9.7    Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards      21  
10.   Performance Awards      21  
  10.1    Types of Performance Awards Authorized      21  
  10.2    Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units      21  
  10.3    Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula      21  
  10.4    Measurement of Performance Goals      22  
  10.5    Settlement of Performance Awards      24  
  10.6    Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions      25  
  10.7    Effect of Termination of Service      25  
  10.8    Nontransferability of Performance Awards      26  
11.   Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards      26  
  11.1    Grant of Cash-Based Awards      26  
  11.2    Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards      26  
  11.3    Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards      26  
  11.4    Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards      27  
  11.5    Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions      27  
  11.6    Effect of Termination of Service      27  
  11.7    Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards      27  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

              Page  
12.   Standard Forms of Award Agreement      28  
  12.1    Award Agreements      28  
  12.2    Authority to Vary Terms      28  
13.   Change in Control      28  
  13.1    Effect of Change in Control on Awards      28  
  13.2    Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards      29  
  13.3    Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code      29  
14.   Compliance with Securities Law      30  
15.   Compliance with Section 409A      31  
  15.1    Awards Subject to Section 409A      31  
  15.2    Deferral and/or Distribution Elections      31  
  15.3    Subsequent Elections      31  
  15.4    Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation      32  
16.   Tax Withholding      34  
  16.1    Tax Withholding in General      34  
  16.2    Withholding in Shares      34  
17.   Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan      34  
18.   Miscellaneous Provisions      35  
  18.1    Repurchase Rights      35  
  18.2    Forfeiture Events      35  
  18.3    Provision of Information      35  
  18.4    Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director      35  
  18.5    Rights as a Stockholder      36  
  18.6    Delivery of Title to Shares      36  
  18.7    Fractional Shares      36  
  18.8    Retirement and Welfare Plans      36  
  18.9    Beneficiary Designation      36  
  18.10    Severability      36  
  18.11    No Constraint on Corporate Action      36  
  18.12    Unfunded Obligation      37  
  18.13    Choice of Law      37  

 

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Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

2009 Equity Incentive Plan

1.    ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.

1.1    Establishment. The Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan) is hereby established effective as of December 17, 2009, the date of its approval by the stockholders of the Company (the Effective Date).

1.2    Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Purchase Rights, Restricted Stock Bonuses, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.

1.3    Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Committee; provided, however, that all Awards shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

2.    DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

2.1    Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

(a)    Affiliate means (i) an entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) an entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the term “control” (including the term “controlled by”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the relevant entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or shall have such other meaning assigned such term for the purposes of registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

(b)    Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

(c)    Award Agreement means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award granted to the Participant.

(d)    Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.


(e)    Cash-Based Award means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 11.

(f)    Cause means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined with respect to an Award by the Participant’s Award Agreement or by a written contract of employment or service, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by a Participating Company’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of a Participating Company (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company.

(g)    Change in Control means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined with respect to an Award by the Participant’s Award Agreement or by a written contract of employment or service, the occurrence of any of the following:

(i)    any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Fair Market Value or total combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if such degree of beneficial ownership results from any of the following: (A) an acquisition by any person who on the Effective Date is the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of such voting power, (B) any acquisition directly from the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to or in connection with a public offering of securities, (C) any acquisition by the Company, (D) any acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (E) any acquisition by an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company; or

(ii)    an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a Transaction) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting

 

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power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(cc)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the Transferee), as the case may be; or

(iii)    a liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

provided, however, that a Change in Control shall be deemed not to include a transaction described in subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.1(g) in which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the continuing, surviving or successor entity, or parent thereof, immediately after such transaction is comprised of Incumbent Directors. For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Committee shall determine whether multiple sales or exchanges of the voting securities of the Company or multiple Ownership Change Events are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

(h)    Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations or administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.

(i)    Committee means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. If, at any time, there is no committee of the Board then authorized or properly constituted to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers.

(j)    Company means Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, a Washington corporation formerly known as Adaptive TCR Corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.

(k)    Consultant means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a member of the Board) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

(l)    Director means a member of the Board.

(m)    Disability means the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

(n)    Dividend Equivalent Right means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.

 

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(o)    Employee means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a member of the Board who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a member of the Board nor payment of a director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the terms of the Plan as of the time of the Company’s determination of whether or not the individual is an Employee, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive as to such rights, if any, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination as to such individual’s status as an Employee.

(p)    Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(q)    Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:

(i)    Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if, on such date, the Stock is listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the national or regional securities exchange or quotation system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or quotation system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded or quoted prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

(ii)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine the Fair Market Value on the basis of the opening, closing, or average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Stock on such date or the preceding trading day, the actual sale price of a share of Stock received by a Participant, any other reasonable basis using actual transactions in the Stock as reported on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, or on any other basis consistent with the requirements of Section 409A. The Committee may vary its method of determination of the Fair Market Value as provided in this Section for different purposes under the Plan to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

(iii)    If, on such date, the Stock is not listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

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(r)    Full Value Award means any Award settled in Stock, other than (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right, or (iii) a Restricted Stock Purchase Right or an Other Stock-Based Award under which the Company will receive monetary consideration equal to the Fair Market Value (determined on the effective date of grant) of the shares subject to such Award.

(s)    Incentive Stock Option means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

(t)    Incumbent Director means a director who either (i) is a member of the Board as of the Effective Date, or (ii) is elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination, but who was not elected or nominated in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company.

(u)    Insider means an Officer, Director or any other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(v)    Net-Exercise means a procedure by which the Participant will be issued a number of shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option determined in accordance with the following formula:

N = X*((A-B)/A), where

“N” = the number of shares of Stock to be issued to the Participant upon exercise of the Option (rounded down to the nearest whole number);

“X” = the total number of shares with respect to which the Participant has elected to exercise the Option;

“A” = the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock determined on the exercise date; and

“B” = the exercise price per share (as defined in the Participant’s Award Agreement)

(w)    Nonemployee Director means a Director who is not an Employee.

(x)    Nonemployee Director Award means an Award granted to a Nonemployee Director.

(y)    Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

 

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(z)    Officer means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.

(aa)    Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

(bb)    Other Stock-Based Award means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 11.

(cc)    Ownership Change Event means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).

(dd)    Parent Corporation means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

(ee)    Participant means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.

(ff)    Participating Company means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.

(gg)    Participating Company Group means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.

(hh)    Performance Award means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

(ii)    Performance Award Formula means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more threshold levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.

(jj)    Performance Goal means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3.

(kk)    Performance Period means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.

(ll)    Performance Share means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Share, as determined by the Committee, based on performance.

 

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(mm)    Performance Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit, as determined by the Committee, based upon performance.

(nn)    Restricted Stock Award means an Award of a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.

(oo)    Restricted Stock Bonus means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.

(pp)    Restricted Stock Purchase Right means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.

(qq)    Restricted Stock Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 to receive a share of Stock on a date determined in accordance with the provisions of such Sections, as applicable, and the Participant’s Award Agreement.

(rr)    Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.

(ss)    SAR or Stock Appreciation Right means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Award over the exercise price.

(tt)    Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code.

(uu)    Section 409A Deferred Compensation means compensation provided pursuant to an Award that constitutes deferred compensation subject to and not exempted from the requirements of Section 409A.

(vv)    Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(ww)    Service means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether in the capacity of an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders such Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders such Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. Furthermore, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company. However, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if any such leave taken by a Participant exceeds ninety (90) days, then on the ninety-first (91st) day following the commencement of such leave the Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated, unless the Participant’s right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, an unpaid leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Participant’s Award Agreement. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have

 

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terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the business entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination.

(xx)    Stock means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.3.

(yy)    Subsidiary Corporation means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

(zz)    Ten Percent Owner means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.

(aaa)    Trading Compliance Policy means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company’s equity securities by Directors, Officers, Employees or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.

(bbb)    Vesting Conditions mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participant’s monetary purchase price, if any, for such shares upon the Participant’s termination of Service.

2.2    Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

3.    ADMINISTRATION.

3.1    Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. All expenses incurred in connection in the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

 

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3.2    Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election.

3.3    Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, of Rule 16b-3.

3.4    Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:

(a)    to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock, units or monetary value to be subject to each Award;

(b)    to determine the type of Award granted;

(c)    to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;

(d)    to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Measures, Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of the expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of the Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;

(e)    to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, or in any combination thereof;

(f)    to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;

(g)    to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;

(h)    to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service;

 

9


(i)    to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws or regulations of or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Awards; and

(j)    to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

3.5    Option or SAR Repricing. Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares of Stock is present or represented by proxy, the Board shall not approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a share of Stock (Underwater Awards) and the grant in substitution therefore of new Options or SARs having a lower exercise price, Full Value Awards or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof. This Section shall not be construed to apply to “issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) applies,” within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code or to an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3.

3.6    Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

4.    SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.

4.1    Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be equal to five million three hundred eighty three thousand two hundred seventy four (5,383,274) and shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof.

 

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4.2    Share Counting. If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash. Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of an SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the SAR is exercised. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, or by means of a Net-Exercise, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 16.2 shall not again be available for issuance under the Plan.

4.3    Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, in the Award limits set forth in Section 5.3 and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the New Shares), the Committee may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its discretion. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise or purchase price under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The Committee in its discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate, including modification of Performance Goals, Performance Award Formulas and Performance Periods. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

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The Committee may, without affecting the number of shares of Stock reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code.

5.    ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATION AND AWARD LIMITATIONS.

5.1    Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Employees, Consultants and Directors.

5.2    Participation in the Plan. Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.

5.3    Incentive Stock Option Limitations.

(a)    Maximum Number of Shares Issuable Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed five million three hundred eighty three thousand two hundred seventy four (5,383,274). The maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to all Awards other than Incentive Stock Options shall be the number of shares determined in accordance with Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3.

(b)    Persons Eligible. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an ISO-Qualifying Corporation). Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

(c)    Fair Market Value Limitation. To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a limitation different from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Upon exercise, shares issued pursuant to each such portion shall be separately identified.

 

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6.    STOCK OPTIONS.

Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing Options may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

6.1    Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner qualifying under the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

6.2    Exercisability and Term of Options. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.

6.3    Payment of Exercise Price.

(a)    Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value not less than the exercise price, (iii) by delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (a Cashless Exercise), (iv) by delivery of a properly executed notice electing a Net-Exercise, (v) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (vi) by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

 

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(b)    Limitations on Forms of Consideration.

(i)    Tender of Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for such period of time, if any, as the Company may require (and not used for another Option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.

(ii)    Cashless Exercise. The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.

6.4    Effect of Termination of Service.

(a)    Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with this Section and thereafter shall terminate.

(i)    Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option’s term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option (the Option Expiration Date).

(ii)    Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months after the Participant’s termination of Service.

 

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(iii)    Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act.

(iv)    Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

(b)    Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of Service for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.4(a) is prevented by the provisions of Section 14 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (ii) the end of the applicable time period under Section 6.4(a), but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

6.5    Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, only as permitted by applicable regulations under Section 421 of the Code in a manner that does not disqualify such Option as an Incentive Stock Option.

7.    STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing SARs may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

7.1    Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a Tandem SAR) or may be granted independently of any Option (a Freestanding SAR). A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.

 

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7.2    Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR.

7.3    Exercisability and Term of SARs.

(a)    Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.

(b)    Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR.

7.4    Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 7.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made (a) in the case of a Tandem SAR, solely in shares of Stock in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR and (b) in the case of a Freestanding SAR, in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee, in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR. When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant or as otherwise provided in Section 7.5.

7.5    Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion.

 

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7.6    Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 6.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.

7.7    Transferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, a Tandem SAR related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Freestanding SAR shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

8.    RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

8.1    Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted in the form of either a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of or satisfaction of Vesting Conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).

8.2    Purchase Price. The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award.

 

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8.3    Purchase Period. A Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Restricted Stock Purchase Right.

8.4    Payment of Purchase Price. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be made (a) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (b) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (c) by any combination thereof.

8.5    Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer. Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event or as provided in Section 8.8. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

8.6    Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares; provided, however, that if so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such dividends and distributions shall be subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.

8.7    Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award, if a Participant’s

 

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Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then (a) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and (b) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.

8.8    Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights. Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

9.    RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Units may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

9.1    Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award or the Vesting Conditions with respect to such Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).

9.2    Purchase Price. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) shall be required as a condition of receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award.

9.3    Vesting. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any

 

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Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to the Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then the satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the first to occur of (a) the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy or (b) the later of (i) last day of the calendar year in which the original vesting date occurred or (ii) the last day of the Company’s taxable year in which the original vesting date occurred.

9.4    Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number) to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on such date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Such additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.

9.5    Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.

9.6    Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in

 

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Section 9.4) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes, if any. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred issuance date(s) and amount(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide for settlement of any Restricted Stock Unit Award by payment to the Participant in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the payment date of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section.

9.7    Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The right to receive shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

10.    PERFORMANCE AWARDS.

Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing Performance Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

10.1    Types of Performance Awards Authorized. Performance Awards may be granted in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units subject thereto, the Performance Award Formula, the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Period applicable to the Award, and the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.

10.2    Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in granting a Performance Award, each Performance Share shall have an initial monetary value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, on the effective date of grant of the Performance Share, and each Performance Unit shall have an initial monetary value established by the Committee at the time of grant. The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula will depend on the extent to which Performance Goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee.

10.3    Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula. In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the Performance Period, shall

 

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determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant. The Committee shall establish the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula applicable to each Performance Award no later than the earlier of (a) the date ninety (90) days after the commencement of the applicable Performance Period or (b) the date on which 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed, and, in any event, at a time when the outcome of the Performance Goals remains substantially uncertain. Once established, the Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula applicable to a Covered Employee shall not be changed during the Performance Period. The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period, Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.

10.4    Measurement of Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of targets to be attained (Performance Targets) with respect to one or more measures of business or financial performance (each, a Performance Measure), subject to the following:

(a)    Performance Measures. Performance Measures shall have the same meanings as used in the Company’s financial statements, or, if such terms are not used in the Company’s financial statements, they shall have the meaning applied pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles, or as used generally in the Company’s industry. Performance Measures shall be calculated with respect to the Company and each Subsidiary Corporation consolidated therewith for financial reporting purposes or such division or other business unit as may be selected by the Committee. For purposes of the Plan, the Performance Measures applicable to a Performance Award shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, if applicable, but prior to the accrual or payment of any Performance Award for the same Performance Period and excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) of any change in accounting standards or any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring item, as determined by the Committee, occurring after the establishment of the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of Performance Measures in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights with respect to a Performance Award. Performance Measures may be one or more of the following, as determined by the Committee:

(i)    revenue;

(ii)    sales;

(iii)    expenses;

(iv)    operating income;

(v)    gross margin;

(vi)    operating margin;

(vii)    earnings before any one or more of: stock-based compensation expense, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;

 

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(viii)    pre-tax profit;

(ix)    net operating income;

(x)    net income;

(xi)    economic value added;

(xii)    free cash flow;

(xiii)    operating cash flow;

(xiv)    balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities;

(xv)    stock price;

(xvi)    earnings per share;

(xvii)    return on stockholder equity;

(xviii)    return on capital;

(xix)    return on assets;

(xx)    return on investment;

(xxi)    employee satisfaction;

(xxii)    employee retention;

(xxiii)    market share;

(xxiv)    customer satisfaction;

(xxv)    product development;

(xxvi)    research and development expenses;

(xxvii)    completion of an identified special project; and

(xxviii)    completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction.

(b)    Performance Targets. Performance Targets may include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the level attained during the applicable Performance Period. A Performance Target may be stated as an absolute value or as a value determined relative to an index, budget or other standard selected by the Committee.

 

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10.5    Settlement of Performance Awards.

(a)    Determination of Final Value. As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.

(b)    Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula. In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula applicable to a Performance Award granted to any Participant who is not a Covered Employee to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine. If permitted under a Covered Employee’s Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the discretion, on the basis of such criteria as may be established by the Committee, to reduce some or all of the value of the Performance Award that would otherwise be paid to the Covered Employee upon its settlement notwithstanding the attainment of any Performance Goal and the resulting value of the Performance Award determined in accordance with the Performance Award Formula.

(c)    Effect of Leaves of Absence. Unless otherwise required by law or a Participant’s Award Agreement, payment of the final value, if any, of a Performance Award held by a Participant who has taken in excess of thirty (30) days in unpaid leaves of absence during a Performance Period shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period during which the Participant was not on an unpaid leave of absence.

(d)    Notice to Participants. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.

(e)    Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), but in any event within the Short-Term Deferral Period described in Section 15.1 (except as otherwise provided below or consistent with the requirements of Section 409A), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award. Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, payment shall be made in a lump sum. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the payment to be made to Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred payment date(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, provide for the payment during the deferral period of Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest.

 

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(f)    Provisions Applicable to Payment in Shares. If payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of such shares shall be determined by dividing the final value of the Performance Award by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock determined by the method specified in the Award Agreement. Shares of Stock issued in payment of any Performance Award may be fully vested and freely transferable shares or may be shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions as provided in Section 8.5. Any shares subject to Vesting Conditions shall be evidenced by an appropriate Award Agreement and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8.5 through 8.8 above.

10.6    Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Performance Share Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares, if any (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date the Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or the date on which they are forfeited. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be credited to the Participant in the form of additional whole Performance Shares as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock. The number of additional Performance Shares (rounded to the nearest whole number) to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Performance Shares previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be paid currently or may be accumulated and paid to the extent that Performance Shares become nonforfeitable, as determined by the Committee. Settlement of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 10.5. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Performance Share Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Performance Share Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Performance Goals as are applicable to the Award.

10.7    Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, the effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Performance Award shall be as follows:

(a)    Death or Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death or Disability of the Participant before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award shall be determined by the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been

 

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attained with respect to the entire Performance Period and shall be prorated based on the number of months of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period. Payment shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.

(b)    Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, such Award shall be forfeited in its entirety; provided, however, that in the event of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s Service, the Committee, in its discretion, may waive the automatic forfeiture of all or any portion of any such Award and determine the final value of the Performance Award in the manner provided by Section 10.7(a). Payment of any amount pursuant to this Section shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.

10.8    Nontransferability of Performance Awards. Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

11.    CASH-BASED AWARDS AND OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.

Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. Award Agreements evidencing Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

11.1    Grant of Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions, including the achievement of performance criteria, as the Committee may determine.

11.2    Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted securities, stock-equivalent units, stock appreciation units, securities or debentures convertible into common stock or other forms determined by the Committee) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Stock to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

11.3    Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a monetary payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Stock or

 

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units based on such shares of Stock, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may require the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance criteria, the final value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance criteria are met.

11.4    Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Payment or settlement, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash, shares of Stock or other securities or any combination thereof as the Committee determines. To the extent applicable, payment or settlement with respect to each Cash-Based Award and Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.

11.5    Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Other Stock-Based Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares of Stock (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), if any, in settlement of such Award. However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Other Stock-Based Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 9.4. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be granted with respect to Cash-Based Awards. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Other Stock-Based Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of such Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and performance criteria, if any, as are applicable to the Award.

11.6    Effect of Termination of Service. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain such Award following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination, subject to the requirements of Section 409A, if applicable.

11.7    Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Prior to the payment or settlement of a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange,

 

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transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may impose such additional restrictions on any shares of Stock issued in settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares of Stock are then listed and/or traded, or under any state securities laws or foreign law applicable to such shares of Stock.

12.    STANDARD FORMS OF AWARD AGREEMENT.

12.1    Award Agreements. Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time. No Award or purported Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement, which execution may be evidenced by electronic means. Any Award Agreement may consist of an appropriate form of Notice of Grant and a form of Agreement incorporated therein by reference, or such other form or forms, including electronic media, as the Committee may approve from time to time.

12.2    Authority to Vary Terms. The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

13.    CHANGE IN CONTROL.

13.1    Effect of Change in Control on Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee may provide for any one or more of the following:

(a)    Accelerated Vesting. In its discretion, the Committee may provide in the grant of any Award or at any other time may take such action as it deems appropriate to provide for acceleration of the exercisability, vesting and/or settlement in connection with a Change in Control of each or any outstanding Award or portion thereof and shares acquired pursuant thereto upon such conditions, including termination of the Participant’s Service prior to, upon, or following such Change in Control, and to such extent as the Committee shall determine.

(b)    Assumption, Continuation or Substitution. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the Acquiror), may, without the consent of any Participant, either assume or continue the Company’s rights and obligations under each or any Award or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control or substitute for each or any such outstanding Award or portion thereof a substantially equivalent award with respect to the Acquiror’s stock, as applicable. For purposes of this Section, if so

 

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determined by the Committee in its discretion, an Award denominated in shares of Stock shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled; provided, however, that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Committee may, with the consent of the Acquiror, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, for each share of Stock subject to the Award, to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control. Any Award or portion thereof which is neither assumed or continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised or settled as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control.

(c)    Cash-Out of Outstanding Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant, determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each or any Award denominated in shares of Stock or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control and not previously exercised or settled shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Committee) of Stock subject to such canceled Award in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control, reduced (but not below zero) by the exercise or purchase price per share, if any, under such Award. In the event such determination is made by the Committee, an Award having an exercise or purchase price per share equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control may be canceled without payment of consideration to the holder thereof. Payment pursuant to this Section (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be made to Participants in respect of the vested portions of their canceled Awards as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control and in respect of the unvested portions of their canceled Awards in accordance with the vesting schedules applicable to such Awards.

13.2    Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, including as provided by Section 15.4(e), in the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Nonemployee Director Award shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full and, except to the extent assumed, continued or substituted for pursuant to Section 13.1(b), shall be settled effective immediately prior to the time of consummation of the Change in Control.

13.3    Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code.

(a)    Excess Parachute Payment. In the event that any acceleration of vesting pursuant to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code

 

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due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, the Participant may elect to reduce the amount of any acceleration of vesting called for under the Award in order to avoid such characterization.

(b)    Determination by Independent Accountants. To aid the Participant in making any election called for under Section 13.3(a), no later than the date of the occurrence of any event that might reasonably be anticipated to result in an “excess parachute payment” to the Participant as described in Section 13.3(a), the Company shall request a determination in writing by independent public accountants selected by the Company (the Accountants). As soon as practicable thereafter, the Accountants shall determine and report to the Company and the Participant the amount of such acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits which would produce the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant. For the purposes of such determination, the Accountants may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make their required determination. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses the Accountants charge in connection with their services contemplated by this Section.

14.    COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.

The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award, or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

 

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15.    COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A.

15.1    Awards Subject to Section 409A. The Company intends that Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, and the Plan shall be so construed. The provisions of this Section 15 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that constitutes or provides for payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation. Such Awards may include, without limitation:

(a)    A Nonstatutory Stock Option or SAR that includes any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the later of (i) the exercise or disposition of the Award or (ii) the time the stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Award first becomes substantially vested.

(b)    Any Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Award, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award that either (i) provides by its terms for settlement of all or any portion of the Award at a time or upon an event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) permits the Participant granted the Award to elect one or more dates or events upon which the Award will be settled after the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period.

Subject to the provisions of Section 409A, the term “Short-Term Deferral Period means the 212 month period ending on the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning provided by Section 409A.

15.2    Deferral and/or Distribution Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, the following rules shall apply to any compensation deferral and/or payment elections (each, an “Election”) that may be permitted or required by the Committee pursuant to an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation:

(a)    Elections must be in writing and specify the amount of the payment in settlement of an Award being deferred, as well as the time and form of payment as permitted by this Plan.

(b)    Elections shall be made by the end of the Participant’s taxable year prior to the year in which services commence for which an Award may be granted to such Participant.

(c)    Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the Election determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above or as permitted by Section 15.3.

15.3    Subsequent Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, any Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation which permits a subsequent Election to delay the payment or change the form of payment in settlement of such Award shall comply with the following requirements:

(a)    No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made.

 

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(b)    Each subsequent Election related to a payment in settlement of an Award not described in Section 15.4(a)(ii), 15.4(a)(iii) or 15.4(a)(vi) must result in a delay of the payment for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.

(c)    No subsequent Election related to a payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(iv) shall be made less than twelve (12) months before the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.

(d)    Subsequent Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in the subsequent Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in a subsequent Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the subsequent Election determined in accordance the preceding paragraphs of this Section 15.3.

15.4    Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation.

(a)    Permissible Payments. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation must provide for payment in settlement of the Award only upon one or more of the following:

(i)    The Participant’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined by Section 409A);

(ii)    The Participant’s becoming “disabled” (as such term is defined by Section 409A);

(iii)    The Participant’s death;

(iv)    A time or fixed schedule that is either (i) specified by the Committee upon the grant of an Award and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or (ii) specified by the Participant in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 15.2 or 15.3, as applicable;

(v)    A change in the ownership or effective control or the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with Section 409A; or

(vi)    The occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency” (as such term is defined by Section 409A).

(b)    Required Delay in Payment to Specified Employee Pursuant to Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, no payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(i) in settlement of an Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation may be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as such term is defined by Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s separation from service before the date (the Delayed Payment Date) that is six (6) months after the date of such Participant’s separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.

 

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(c)    Payment Upon Disability. All distributions payable by reason of a Participant becoming disabled shall be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments as established by the Participant’s Election. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions upon becoming disabled, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon the determination that the Participant has become disabled.

(d)    Payment Upon Death. If a Participant dies before complete distribution of amounts payable upon settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A, such undistributed amounts shall be distributed to his or her beneficiary under the distribution method for death established by the Participant’s Election upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions upon death, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death.

(e)    Payment Upon Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Change in Control, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Change in Control would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. Any Award which constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation and which would vest and otherwise become payable upon a Change in Control as a result of the failure of the Acquiror to assume, continue or substitute for such Award in accordance with Section 13.1(b) shall vest to the extent provided by such Award but shall be converted automatically at the effective time of such Change in Control into a right to receive, in cash on the date or dates such award would have been settled in accordance with its then existing settlement schedule (or as required by Section 15.4(b)), an amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the intrinsic value of the Award at the time of the Change in Control.

(f)    Payment Upon Unforeseeable Emergency. The Committee shall have the authority to provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation for payment in settlement of all or a portion of such Award in the event that a Participant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Committee, the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency. In such event, the amount(s) distributed with respect to such unforeseeable emergency cannot exceed the amounts reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution(s), after taking into account the extent to which such emergency need is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or by cessation of deferrals under the Award. All distributions with respect to an unforeseeable emergency shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination that an unforeseeable emergency has occurred. The Committee’s decision with respect to whether an unforeseeable emergency has occurred and the manner in which, if at all, the payment in settlement of an Award shall be altered or modified, shall be final, conclusive, and not subject to approval or appeal.

 

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(g)    Prohibition of Acceleration of Payments. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment under an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation, except as permitted by Section 409A.

16.    TAX WITHHOLDING.

16.1    Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including social insurance), if any, required by law to be withheld by any Participating Company with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.

16.2    Withholding in Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company. The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates.

17.    AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF PLAN.

The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Section 4.3), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Stock may then be listed or quoted. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee. Except as provided by the next sentence, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may adversely affect any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as it deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or such Award Agreement to any present or future law, regulation or rule applicable to the Plan, including, but not limited to, Section 409A.

 

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18.    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

18.1    Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

18.2    Forfeiture Events.

(a)    The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service.

(b)    If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, any Participant who knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, shall reimburse the Company for (i) the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award received by such Participant during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, and (ii) any profits realized by such Participant from the sale of securities of the Company during such twelve- (12-) month period.

18.3    Provision of Information. Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common stockholders.

18.4    Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Consultant or Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.

 

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18.5    Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.3 or another provision of the Plan.

18.6    Delivery of Title to Shares. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award and shall deliver such shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following: (a) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Stock credited to the account of the Participant, (b) by depositing such shares of Stock for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (c) by delivering such shares of Stock to the Participant in certificate form.

18.7    Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.

18.8    Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor shares of Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under any Participating Company’s retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.

18.9    Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participant’s spouse. If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant’s legal representative.

18.10    Severability. If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

18.11    No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or another Participating Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or another Participating Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

 

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18.12    Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be considered unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

18.13    Choice of Law. Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict of law rules.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing sets forth the Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation 2009 Equity Incentive Plan as duly adopted by the Board on December 17, 2009.

 

 

/s/ Jessica Andriesen

Jessica Andriesen, Secretary

 

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PLAN HISTORY AND NOTES TO COMPANY

 

December 17, 2009    Board and shareholders adopt and approve Plan with a reserve of 2,000,000 shares.
February 9, 2010    Board recommends and shareholders adopt and approve Amendment to the Plan with a reserve of 2,400,000 shares.
December 20, 2011    Board recommends and shareholders adopt and approve Amendment to the Plan with a reserve of 4,200,000 shares.
December 21, 2011    Articles of Amendment filed changing corporate name to Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation.
June 10, 2013    Board recommends and shareholders adopt and approve Amendment to the Plan with a reserve of 5,383,274 shares.
April 3, 2014    Board recommends and shareholders adopt and approve Amendment to the Plan with a reserve of 10,291,248 shares.
June 30, 2015    Board recommends and shareholders adopt and approve Amendment to the Plan with a reserve of 16,848,899 shares.
April 24, 2018    Board approves Amendment increasing Plan reserve by 6,000,000 shares, for a total reserve of 22,848,899.
May 2, 2018    Shareholders adopt and approve Amendment increasing reserve by 6,000,000 shares, for a total reserve of 22,848,899.


THE SECURITIES WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE OR DISPOSITION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, formerly known as Adaptive TCR Corporation, has granted to the Participant named in the Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the “Grant Notice”) to which this Stock Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) is attached an option (the “Option”) to purchase certain shares of Stock upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Option Agreement. The Option has been granted pursuant to and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions of the Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as amended to the Date of Grant, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. By signing the Grant Notice, the Participant: (a) acknowledges receipt of, and represents that the Participant has read and is familiar with, the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement and the Plan, (b) accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement and the Plan, and (c) agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board upon any questions arising under the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement or the Plan.

1.    DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

1.1    Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Grant Notice or the Plan.

1.2    Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Option Agreement. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

2.    TAX CONSEQUENCES.

2.1    Tax Status of Option. This Option is intended to have the tax status designated in the Grant Notice.

(a)    Incentive Stock Option. If the Grant Notice so designates, this Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code, but the Company does not represent or warrant that this Option qualifies as such. The Participant should consult with the Participant’s own tax advisor regarding the tax effects of this Option and the requirements necessary to obtain favorable income tax treatment under

 

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Section 422 of the Code, including, but not limited to, holding period requirements. (NOTE TO PARTICIPANT: If the Option is exercised more than three (3) months after the date on which you cease to be an Employee (other than by reason of your death or permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), the Option will be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option and not as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code.)

(b)    Nonstatutory Stock Option. If the Grant Notice so designates, this Option is intended to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option and shall not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

2.2    ISO Fair Market Value Limitation. If the Grant Notice designates this Option as an Incentive Stock Option, then to the extent that the Option (together with all Incentive Stock Options granted to the Participant under all stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) becomes exercisable for the first time during any calendar year for shares having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options are taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock is determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a different limitation from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If the Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Separate certificates representing each such portion shall be issued upon the exercise of the Option. (NOTE TO PARTICIPANT: If the aggregate Exercise Price of the Option (that is, the Exercise Price multiplied by the Number of Option Shares) plus the aggregate exercise price of any other Incentive Stock Options you hold (whether granted pursuant to the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Participating Company Group) is greater than $100,000, you should contact the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to ascertain whether the entire Option qualifies as an Incentive Stock Option.)

3.    ADMINISTRATION.

All questions of interpretation concerning the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement, the Plan or any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or the Option shall be determined by the Board. All such determinations by the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Option, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Board in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or the Option or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Option. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, or election.

 

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4.    EXERCISE OF THE OPTION.

4.1    Right to Exercise. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Option shall be exercisable on and after the Initial Vesting Date and prior to the termination of the Option (as provided in Section 6) in an amount not to exceed the number of Vested Shares less the number of shares previously acquired upon exercise of the Option, subject to the Company’s repurchase rights set forth in Section 11. In no event shall the Option be exercisable for more shares than the Number of Option Shares, as adjusted pursuant to Section 9.

4.2    Method of Exercise. Exercise of the Option shall be by means of electronic or written notice (the “Exercise Notice”) in a form authorized by the Company. An electronic Exercise Notice must be digitally signed or authenticated by the Participant in such manner as required by the notice and transmitted to the Company or an authorized representative of the Company (including a third-party administrator designated by the Company). In the event that the Participant is not authorized or is unable to provide an electronic Exercise Notice, the Option shall be exercised by a written Exercise Notice addressed to the Company, which shall be signed by the Participant and delivered in person, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by confirmed facsimile transmission, or by such other means as the Company may permit, to the Company, or an authorized representative of the Company (including a third-party administrator designated by the Company). Each Exercise Notice, whether electronic or written, must state the Participant’s election to exercise the Option, the number of whole shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised and such other representations and agreements as to the Participant’s investment intent with respect to such shares as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this Option Agreement. Further, each Exercise Notice must be received by the Company prior to the termination of the Option as set forth in Section 6 and must be accompanied by full payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such electronic or written Exercise Notice and the aggregate Exercise Price.

4.3    Payment of Exercise Price.

(a)    Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (ii) if permitted by the Company and subject to the limitations contained in Section 4.3(b), by means of (1) a Stock Tender Exercise, (2) a Cashless Exercise or (3) a Net-Exercise; or (iii) by any combination of the foregoing.

(b)    Limitations on Forms of Consideration. The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedure providing for payment of the Exercise Price through any of the means described below, including with respect to the Participant notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to others.

 

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(i)    Stock Tender Exercise. A “Stock Tender Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed Exercise Notice accompanied by (1) the Participant’s tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, in a form acceptable to the Company of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant’s payment to the Company in cash of the remaining balance of such aggregate Exercise Price not satisfied by such shares’ Fair Market Value. A Stock Tender Exercise shall not be permitted if it would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock. If required by the Company, the Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for a period of time required by the Company (and not used for another option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.

(ii)    Cashless Exercise. A Cashless Exercise shall be permitted only upon the class of shares subject to the Option becoming publicly traded in an established securities market. A “Cashless Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed Exercise Notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker in a form acceptable to the Company providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to shares of Stock acquired upon the exercise of the Option in an amount not less than the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).

(iii)    Net-Exercise. A “Net-Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed Exercise Notice electing a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will reduce the number of shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of the Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate Exercise Price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued. Following a Net-Exercise, the number of shares remaining subject to the Option, if any, shall be reduced by the sum of (1) the net number of shares issued to the Participant upon such exercise, and (2) the number of shares deducted by the Company for payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.

4.4    Tax Withholding.

(a)    In General. At the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by a Participating Company, the Participant hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Participant, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax (including any social insurance) withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group, if any, which arise in connection with the Option. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock until the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group have been satisfied by the Participant.

 

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(b)    Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require the Participant to satisfy all or any portion of a Participating Company’s tax withholding obligations upon exercise of the Option by deducting from the shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon such exercise a number of whole shares having a fair market value, as determined by the Company as of the date of exercise, not in excess of the amount of such tax withholding obligations determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates. The Company may require the Participant to direct a broker, upon the exercise of the Option, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Option determined by the Company in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to the Company in cash.

4.5    Beneficial Ownership of Shares; Certificate Registration. The Participant hereby authorizes the Company, in its sole discretion, to deposit for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship of which the Company has notice any or all shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to the exercise of the Option. Except as provided by the preceding sentence, a certificate for the shares as to which the Option is exercised shall be registered in the name of the Participant, or, if applicable, in the names of the heirs of the Participant.

4.6    Restrictions on Grant of the Option and Issuance of Shares. The grant of the Option and the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities. The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, the Option may not be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. THE PARTICIPANT IS CAUTIONED THAT THE OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE PARTICIPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION WHEN DESIRED EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS VESTED. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares subject to the Option shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

4.7    Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise of the Option.

 

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5.    NONTRANSFERABILITY OF THE OPTION.

During the lifetime of the Participant, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. The Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Following the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent provided in Section 7, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.

6.    TERMINATION OF THE OPTION.

The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised after the first to occur of (a) the close of business on the Option Expiration Date, (b) the close of business on the last date for exercising the Option following termination of the Participant’s Service as described in Section 7, or (c) a Change in Control to the extent provided in Section 8.

7.    EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

7.1    Option Exercisability. The Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period as determined below and thereafter shall terminate.

(a)    Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for Vested Shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

(b)    Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for Vested Shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months after the Participant’s termination of Service.

(c)    Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Option Agreement, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service.

(d)    Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent

 

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unexercised and exercisable for Vested Shares by the Participant on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

7.2    Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing other than termination of the Participant’s Service for Cause, if the exercise of the Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 7.1 is prevented by the provisions of Section 4.6, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (a) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (b) the end of the applicable time period under Section 7.1, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

8.    EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL.

In the event of a Change in Control, except to the extent that the Board determines to settle the Option in accordance with Section 9.1(c) of the Plan, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the “Acquiror”), may, without the consent of the Participant, assume or continue in full force and effect the Company’s rights and obligations under all or any portion of the Option or substitute for all or any portion of the Option a substantially equivalent option for the Acquiror’s stock. For purposes of this Section, the Option or any portion thereof shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Option confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to such portion of the Option immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Board may, with the consent of the Acquiror, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option for each share of Stock to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control. If any portion of such consideration may be received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control on a contingent or delayed basis, the Board may, in its discretion, determine such Fair Market Value per share as of the time of the Change in Control on the basis of the Board’s good faith estimate of the present value of the probable future payment of such consideration. The Option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control to the extent that the Option is neither assumed or continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as of the time of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of the Option prior to the Change in Control and any consideration received pursuant to the Change in Control with respect to such shares shall continue to be subject to all applicable provisions of this Option Agreement except as otherwise provided herein.

 

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9.    ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company and the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the shareholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number, Exercise Price and kind of shares subject to the Option, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights under the Option. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and the Exercise Price shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent. In no event may the Exercise Price be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to the Option. Such adjustments shall be determined by the Board, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

10.    RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT.

The Participant shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by the Option until the date of the issuance of the shares for which the Option has been exercised (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date the shares are issued, except as provided in Section 9. If the Participant is an Employee, the Participant understands and acknowledges that, except as otherwise provided in a separate, written employment agreement between a Participating Company and the Participant, the Participant’s employment is “at will” and is for no specified term. Nothing in this Option Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the Service of a Participating Company or interfere in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to terminate the Participant’s Service as a Director, an Employee or Consultant, as the case may be, at any time.

11.    RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

11.1    Grant of Right of First Refusal. Except as provided in Section 11.7 and Section 16 below, in the event the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, or other holder of shares acquired upon exercise of the Option proposes to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any Vested Shares (the “Transfer Shares”) to any person or entity, including, without limitation, any shareholder of a Participating Company, the Company shall have the right to repurchase the Transfer Shares under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 11 (the “Right of First Refusal”).

11.2    Notice of Proposed Transfer. Prior to any proposed transfer of the Transfer Shares, the Participant shall deliver written notice (the “Transfer Notice”) to the

 

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Company describing fully the proposed transfer, including the number of Transfer Shares, the name and address of the proposed transferee (the “Proposed Transferee”) and, if the transfer is voluntary, the proposed transfer price, and containing such information necessary to show the bona fide nature of the proposed transfer. In the event of a bona fide gift or involuntary transfer, the proposed transfer price shall be deemed to be the Fair Market Value of the Transfer Shares, as determined by the Board in good faith. If the Participant proposes to transfer any Transfer Shares to more than one Proposed Transferee, the Participant shall provide a separate Transfer Notice for the proposed transfer to each Proposed Transferee. The Transfer Notice shall be signed by both the Participant and the Proposed Transferee and must constitute a binding commitment of the Participant and the Proposed Transferee for the transfer of the Transfer Shares to the Proposed Transferee subject only to the Right of First Refusal.

11.3    Bona Fide Transfer. If the Company determines that the information provided by the Participant in the Transfer Notice is insufficient to establish the bona fide nature of a proposed voluntary transfer, the Company shall give the Participant written notice of the Participant’s failure to comply with the procedure described in this Section 11, and the Participant shall have no right to transfer the Transfer Shares without first complying with the procedure described in this Section 11. The Participant shall not be permitted to transfer the Transfer Shares if the proposed transfer is not bona fide.

11.4    Exercise of Right of First Refusal. If the Company determines the proposed transfer to be bona fide, the Company shall have the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Transfer Shares (except as the Company and the Participant otherwise agree) at the purchase price and on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice by delivery to the Participant of a notice of exercise of the Right of First Refusal within thirty (30) days after the date the Transfer Notice is delivered to the Company. The Company’s exercise or failure to exercise the Right of First Refusal with respect to any proposed transfer described in a Transfer Notice shall not affect the Company’s right to exercise the Right of First Refusal with respect to any proposed transfer described in any other Transfer Notice, whether or not such other Transfer Notice is issued by the Participant or issued by a person other than the Participant with respect to a proposed transfer to the same Proposed Transferee. If the Company exercises the Right of First Refusal, the Company and the Participant shall thereupon consummate the sale of the Transfer Shares to the Company on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice within sixty (60) days after the date the Transfer Notice is delivered to the Company (unless a longer period is offered by the Proposed Transferee); provided, however, that in the event the Transfer Notice provides for the payment for the Transfer Shares other than in cash, the Company shall have the option of paying for the Transfer Shares by the present value cash equivalent of the consideration described in the Transfer Notice as reasonably determined by the Company. For purposes of the foregoing, cancellation of any indebtedness of the Participant to any Participating Company shall be treated as payment to the Participant in cash to the extent of the unpaid principal and any accrued interest canceled. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section to the contrary, the period during which the Company may exercise the Right of First Refusal and consummate the purchase of the Transfer Shares from the Participant shall terminate no sooner than the completion of a period of eight (8) months following the date on which the Participant acquired the Transfer Shares upon exercise of the Option.

 

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11.5    Failure to Exercise Right of First Refusal. If the Company fails to exercise the Right of First Refusal in full (or to such lesser extent as the Company and the Participant otherwise agree) within the period specified in Section 11.4 above, the Participant may conclude a transfer to the Proposed Transferee of the Transfer Shares on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice, provided such transfer occurs not later than ninety (90) days following delivery to the Company of the Transfer Notice or, if applicable, following the end of the period described in the last sentence of Section 11.4. The Company shall have the right to demand further assurances from the Participant and the Proposed Transferee (in a form satisfactory to the Company) that the transfer of the Transfer Shares was actually carried out on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice. No Transfer Shares shall be transferred on the books of the Company until the Company has received such assurances, if so demanded, and has approved the proposed transfer as bona fide. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer by the Participant, shall again be subject to the Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance by the Participant with the procedure described in this Section 11.

11.6    Transferees of Transfer Shares. All transferees of the Transfer Shares or any interest therein, other than the Company, shall be required as a condition of such transfer to agree in writing (in a form satisfactory to the Company) that such transferee shall receive and hold such Transfer Shares or interest therein subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement, including this Section 11 providing for the Right of First Refusal with respect to any subsequent transfer. Any sale or transfer of any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option shall be void unless the provisions of this Section 11 are met.

11.7    Transfers Not Subject to Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal shall not apply to any transfer or exchange of the shares acquired upon exercise of the Option if such transfer or exchange is in connection with an Ownership Change Event. If the consideration received pursuant to such transfer or exchange consists of stock of a Participating Company, such consideration shall remain subject to the Right of First Refusal unless the provisions of Section 11.9 result in a termination of the Right of First Refusal.

11.8    Assignment of Right of First Refusal. The Company shall have the right to assign the Right of First Refusal at any time, whether or not there has been an attempted transfer, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.

11.9    Early Termination of Right of First Refusal. The other provisions of this Option Agreement notwithstanding, the Right of First Refusal shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (a) the occurrence of a Change in Control, unless the Acquiror assumes the Company’s rights and obligations under the Option or substitutes a substantially equivalent option for the Acquiror’s stock for the Option, or (b) the existence of a public market for the class of shares subject to the Right of First Refusal. A “public market” shall be deemed to exist if (i) such stock is listed on a national securities exchange (as that term is used in the Exchange Act) or (ii) such stock is traded on the over-the-counter market and prices therefor are published daily on business days in a recognized financial journal.

 

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12.    STOCK DISTRIBUTIONS SUBJECT TO OPTION AGREEMENT.

If, from time to time, there is any stock dividend, stock split or other change, as described in Section 9, in the character or amount of any of the outstanding stock of the corporation the stock of which is subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement, then in such event any and all new, substituted or additional securities to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s ownership of the shares acquired upon exercise of the Option shall be immediately subject to the Right of First Refusal with the same force and effect as the shares subject to the Right of First Refusal immediately before such event.

13.    NOTICE OF SALES UPON DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION.

The Participant shall dispose of the shares acquired pursuant to the Option only in accordance with the provisions of this Option Agreement. In addition, if the Grant Notice designates this Option as an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant shall (a) promptly notify the Chief Financial Officer of the Company if the Participant disposes of any of the shares acquired pursuant to the Option within one (1) year after the date the Participant exercises all or part of the Option or within two (2) years after the Date of Grant and (b) provide the Company with a description of the circumstances of such disposition. Until such time as the Participant disposes of such shares in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Option Agreement, unless otherwise expressly authorized by the Company, the Participant shall hold all shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the Participant’s name (and not in the name of any nominee) for the one-year period immediately after the exercise of the Option and the two-year period immediately after Date of Grant. At any time during the one-year or two-year periods set forth above, the Company may place a legend on any certificate representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option requesting the transfer agent for the Company’s stock to notify the Company of any such transfers. The obligation of the Participant to notify the Company of any such transfer shall continue notwithstanding that a legend has been placed on the certificate pursuant to the preceding sentence.

14.    LEGENDS.

The Company may at any time place legends referencing the Right of First Refusal and any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates representing shares of stock subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement. The Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions of this Section. Unless otherwise specified by the Company, legends placed on such certificates may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

14.1    “THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT COVERING SUCH SECURITIES, THE SALE IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 OR RULE 701 UNDER THE ACT, OR THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, STATING THAT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT.”

 

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14.2    “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND REPURCHASE OPTIONS IN FAVOR OF THE CORPORATION OR ITS ASSIGNEE SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER, OR SUCH HOLDER’’S PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS CORPORATION.”

14.3    “THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED BY THE CORPORATION TO THE REGISTERED HOLDER UPON EXERCISE OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 422 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (“ISO”). IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE PREFERENTIAL TAX TREATMENT AFFORDED TO ISOs, THE SHARES SHOULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO [INSERT DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION DATE HERE]. SHOULD THE REGISTERED HOLDER ELECT TO TRANSFER ANY OF THE SHARES PRIOR TO THIS DATE AND FOREGO ISO TAX TREATMENT, THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR THE SHARES SHALL NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IMMEDIATELY. THE REGISTERED HOLDER SHALL HOLD ALL SHARES PURCHASED UNDER THE INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION IN THE REGISTERED HOLDER’S NAME (AND NOT IN THE NAME OF ANY NOMINEE) PRIOR TO THIS DATE OR UNTIL TRANSFERRED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.”

15.    LOCK-UP AGREEMENT.

The Participant hereby agrees that in the event of any underwritten public offering of stock, including an initial public offering of stock, made by the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, the Participant shall not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant any option to purchase or make any short sale of, or otherwise dispose of any shares of stock of the Company or any rights to acquire stock of the Company for such period of time from and after the effective date of such registration statement as may be established by the underwriter for such public offering; provided, however, that such period of time shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date of the registration statement to be filed in connection with such public offering. The foregoing limitation shall not apply to shares registered in the public offering under the Securities Act (and for such additional period, not to exceed 34 days, after the expiration of the 180-day period, as the underwriters of the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with NASD Rule 2711). The Participant hereby agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing within a reasonable timeframe if so requested by the Company.

16.    RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

No shares acquired upon exercise of the Option may be sold, exchanged, transferred (including, without limitation, any transfer to a nominee or agent of the Participant), assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, including by operation of law in any manner

 

12


which violates any of the provisions of this Option Agreement, and any such attempted disposition shall be void. The Company shall not be required (a) to transfer on its books any shares which will have been transferred in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this Option Agreement or (b) to treat as owner of such shares or to accord the right to vote as such owner or to pay dividends to any transferee to whom such shares will have been so transferred.

17.    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

17.1    Termination or Amendment. The Board may terminate or amend the Plan or the Option at any time; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 8 in connection with a Change in Control, no such termination or amendment may adversely affect the Option or any unexercised portion hereof without the consent of the Participant unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law or government regulation, including, but not limited to Section 409A of the Code. No amendment or addition to this Option Agreement shall be effective unless in writing.

17.2    Compliance with Section 409A. The Company intends that income realized by the Participant pursuant to the Plan and this Option Agreement will not be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be interpreted and construed in favor of satisfying any applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Company, in its reasonable discretion, may amend (including retroactively) the Plan and this Agreement in order to conform to the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including amendments to facilitate the Participant’s ability to avoid taxation under Section 409A of the Code. However, the preceding provisions shall not be construed as a guarantee by the Company of any particular tax result for income realized by the Participant pursuant to the Plan or this Option Agreement. In any event, and except for the responsibilities of the Company set forth in Section 4.4, no Participating Company shall be responsible for the payment of any applicable taxes incurred by the Participant on income realized by the Participant pursuant to the Plan or this Option Agreement.

17.3    Further Instruments. The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Option Agreement.

17.4    Binding Effect. This Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, be binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

17.5    Delivery of Documents and Notices. Any document relating to participation in the Plan, or any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (except to the extent that this Option Agreement provides for effectiveness only upon actual receipt of such notice) upon personal delivery, electronic delivery at the e-mail address, if any, provided for the Participant by a Participating Company, or upon deposit in the U.S. Post Office or foreign postal service, by registered or certified mail, or with a nationally recognized overnight courier service, with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party at the address of such party set forth in the Grant Notice or at such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the other party.

 

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(a)    Description of Electronic Delivery. The Plan documents, which may include but do not necessarily include: the Plan, the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement, and any reports of the Company provided generally to the Company’s shareholders, may be delivered to the Participant electronically. In addition, if permitted by the Company, the Participant may deliver electronically the Grant Notice and Exercise Notice called for by Section 4.2 to the Company or to such third party involved in administering the Plan as the Company may designate from time to time. Such means of electronic delivery may include but do not necessarily include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the Internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other means of electronic delivery specified by the Company.

(b)    Consent to Electronic Delivery. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant has read Section 17.5(a) of this Option Agreement and consents to the electronic delivery of the Plan documents and, if permitted by the Company, the delivery of the Grant Notice and Exercise Notice, as described in Section 17.5(a). The Participant acknowledges that he or she may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost to the Participant by contacting the Company by telephone or in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that the Participant will be provided with a paper copy of any documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. Similarly, the Participant understands that the Participant must provide the Company or any designated third party administrator with a paper copy of any documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. The Participant may revoke his or her consent to the electronic delivery of documents described in Section 17.5(a) or may change the electronic mail address to which such documents are to be delivered (if Participant has provided an electronic mail address) at any time by notifying the Company of such revoked consent or revised e-mail address by telephone, postal service or electronic mail. Finally, the Participant understands that he or she is not required to consent to electronic delivery of documents described in Section 17.5(a).

17.6    Integrated Agreement. The Grant Notice, this Option Agreement and the Plan, together with any employment, service or other agreement with the Participant and a Participating Company referring to the Option, shall constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the Participant and the Participating Company Group with respect to the subject matter contained herein or therein and supersede any prior agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or warranties among the Participant and the Participating Company Group with respect to such subject matter. To the extent contemplated herein or therein, the provisions of the Grant Notice, the Option Agreement and the Plan shall survive any exercise of the Option and shall remain in full force and effect.

17.7    Applicable Law. This Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington as such laws are applied to agreements between Washington residents entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of Washington.

 

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17.8    Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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☐ Incentive Stock Option    Participant:  

 

☐ Nonstatutory Stock Option    Date:  

 

STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

Attention: President

1551 Eastlake Avenue East Suite 200

Seattle, WA 98102

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1.    Option. I was granted an option (the “Option”) to purchase shares of the common stock (the “Shares”) of Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to the Company’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), my Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the “Grant Notice”) and my Stock Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) as follows:

 

Date of Grant:      

 

Number of Option Shares:                                                                                         

 

Exercise Price per Share:     $  

 

2.    Exercise of Option. I hereby elect to exercise the Option to purchase the following number of Shares, all of which are Vested Shares, in accordance with the Grant Notice and the Option Agreement:

 

Total Shares Purchased:                                                                                         

 

Total Exercise Price (Total Shares X Price per Share)   $  

 

3.    Payments. I enclose payment in full of the total exercise price for the Shares in the following form(s), as authorized by my Option Agreement:

 

☐ Cash:                                                                                        $  

 

☐ Check:     $  

 

☐ Stock Tender Exercise:       Contact Plan Administrator
☐ Cashless Exercise:     Contact Plan Administrator
☐ Net Exercise:     Contact Plan Administrator

4.    Tax Withholding. I authorize payroll withholding and otherwise will make adequate provision for the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company, if any, in connection with the Option. If I am exercising a Nonstatutory Stock Option, I enclose payment in full of my withholding taxes, if any, as follows:

(Contact Plan Administrator for amount of tax due.)

 

☐ Cash:                                                                                        $  

 

☐ Check:     $  

 

 

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5.    Participant Information.

 

My address is:  

 

 

 

My Social Security Number is:  

 

6.    Notice of Disqualifying Disposition. If the Option is an Incentive Stock Option, I agree that I will promptly notify the Chief Financial Officer of the Company if I transfer any of the Shares within one (1) year from the date I exercise all or part of the Option or within two (2) years of the Date of Grant.

7.    Binding Effect. I agree that the Shares are being acquired in accordance with and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, including the Right of First Refusal set forth therein, and the Plan, to all of which I hereby expressly assent. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

8.    Transfer. I understand and acknowledge that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and that consequently the Shares must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act, an exemption from such registration is available, or they are sold in accordance with Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act. I further understand and acknowledge that the Company is under no obligation to register the Shares. I understand that the certificate or certificates evidencing the Shares will be imprinted with legends which prohibit the transfer of the Shares unless they are registered or such registration is not required in the opinion of legal counsel satisfactory to the Company.

I am aware that Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which permits limited public resale of securities acquired in a nonpublic offering, is not currently available with respect to the Shares and, in any event, is available only if certain conditions are satisfied. I understand that any sale of the Shares that might be made in reliance upon Rule 144 may only be made in limited amounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of such rule and that a copy of Rule 144 will be delivered to me upon request.

I understand that I am purchasing the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Grant Notice and my Option Agreement, copies of which I have received and carefully read and understand.

 

Very truly yours,

 

(Signature)

Receipt of the above is hereby acknowledged.

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

 

By:   

 

Title:   

 

Dated:   

 

 

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EX-10.10

Exhibit 10.10

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into on                 , 20    , between Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, a Washington corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned officer and/or director of the Company (“Indemnitee”), for good and valuable consideration as set forth below.

RECITALS

A.    The Company recognizes the importance, and increasing difficulty, of obtaining adequate liability insurance coverage for its directors, officers, employees, agents and fiduciaries.

B.    The Company further recognizes that, at the same time as the availability and coverage of such insurance has become more limited, litigation against corporate directors, officers, employees, agents and fiduciaries has continued to increase.

C.    Section 5.4 of Article 5 of the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”) provides for indemnification of the Company’s directors and officers to the full extent authorized by the Washington Business Corporation Act (the “Statute”), and that such provisions are not exclusive and may be supplemented by agreements between the Company and its directors, officers, employees and agents.

D.    The Company desires to retain and attract the services of highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and, in that connection, also desires to provide contractually for indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, Indemnitee to the full extent authorized by law.

AGREEMENT

1.    Indemnification

a.    Scope. The Company agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee against any Damages (as defined in Section 1(c)) incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding (as defined in Section 1(d)) to which Indemnitee is or is threatened to be made a party or in which Indemnitee is otherwise involved (including, but not limited to, as a witness), to the full extent authorized by law, without regard to the limitations in RCW 23B.08.510 through 23B.08.550, and 23B.08.560(2), except that Indemnitee shall have no right to indemnification on account of: (i) acts or omissions of Indemnitee that have been finally adjudged (by a court having proper jurisdiction, and after all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed, herein “Finally Adjudged”) to be intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (ii) conduct of Indemnitee that has been Finally Adjudged to be in violation of RCW 23B.08.310; (iii) any transaction with respect to which it has been Finally Adjudged that Indemnitee personally received a benefit in money, property or services to which Indemnitee was not legally entitled; or (iv) any suit in which it is Finally Adjudged that Indemnitee is liable for

 

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an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and amendments thereto.

b.    Changes to Indemnification Right. Indemnitee’s right to be indemnified to the full extent authorized by law shall include the benefits of any change, after the date of this Agreement, in the Statute or other applicable law regarding the right of a Washington corporation to indemnify directors, officers, employees or agents, to the extent that it would expand Indemnitee’s rights hereunder. Any such change that would narrow or interfere with Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall not apply to, limit, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement, unless and then only to the extent that it has been Finally Adjudged that its application hereto does not constitute an unconstitutional impairment of Indemnitee’s contract rights or otherwise violate applicable law.

c.    Indemnified Amounts. If Indemnitee is or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved (including, but not limited to, as a witness) in, any Proceeding, the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in, participating in or otherwise being involved in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in, participate in or otherwise be involved in (including on appeal), such Proceeding, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, penalties, ERISA excise taxes, amounts paid in settlement, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments pursuant to this Agreement, and other expenses (collectively, “Damages”), including all interest, assessments or charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Damages.

d.    Definition of Proceeding. For purposes of this Agreement, “Proceeding” shall mean any actual, pending, threatened or completed action, suit, claim, investigation, hearing or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal) in which Indemnitee is, has been or becomes involved, or regarding which Indemnitee is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent, based in whole or in part on or arising out of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, member of a board committee, employee or agent of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or that, being or having been such a director, officer, member of a board committee, employee or agent, Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation or of a foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (each, a “Related Company”), whether the basis of such action, suit, claim, investigation, hearing or proceeding is alleged action or omission by Indemnitee in an official capacity as a director, officer, committee member, partner, employee, trustee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, committee member, partner, employee, trustee or agent. “Proceeding” shall not, however, include any action, suit, claim, investigation, hearing or proceeding instituted by or at the direction of Indemnitee unless pursuant to an Enforcement Action (as defined in Section 3(a)) or its institution has been authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

 

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e.    Notifications.

i.    Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement (including a threatened assertion or commencement) of any Proceeding, Indemnitee will, if it is reasonably foreseeable that a claim in respect thereof will be made against the Company under this Agreement, notify the Board of the commencement thereof (which notice shall be in the form of attached Exhibit A) (the “Indemnification Notice”). A failure to notify the Company in accordance with this Section 1(e)(i) will not, however, relieve the Company from any liability to Indemnitee under this Agreement unless (and then only to the extent that) such failure is Finally Adjudged to have materially prejudiced the Company’s ability to defend the Proceeding.

ii.    At the same time, or from time to time thereafter, Indemnitee may further notify the Board, by delivery of a supplemental Indemnification Notice (or by checking the second box and providing the corresponding information on the initial Indemnification Notice), of any Proceeding for which indemnification is being sought under this Agreement.

f.    Determination of Entitlement.

i.    To the extent Indemnitee has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding, within ten (10) days after receipt of an Indemnification Notice delivered pursuant to subsection (e)(ii).

ii.    In the event that subsection (f)(i) above is inapplicable, or does not apply to the entire Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee within thirty (30) days after receipt of an Indemnification Notice delivered pursuant to subsection (e)(ii) unless during such thirty (30) day period the Board delivers to Indemnitee a written notice contesting Indemnitee’s indemnification claim (the “Contest Notice”), which Contest Notice shall state with particularity the reasons for the decision to challenge Indemnitee’s indemnification claim and the evidence the Company would present in any forum in which Indemnitee might seek review of such decision. The Company’s failure to deliver a Contest Notice within thirty (30) days after the Company’s receipt of an Indemnification Notice pursuant to subsection (e)(ii) shall obligate the Company unconditionally to indemnify Indemnitee to the extent requested in the Indemnification Notice.

iii.    At any time following receipt of a Contest Notice, Indemnitee shall be entitled to select a forum for the review of, and in which the Company will defend, the Contest Notice and the Company’s decision to challenge Indemnitee’s indemnification claim. Such selection shall be made from among the following alternatives, by delivering a written notice to the Board indicating Indemnitee’s selection of forum:

(A)    A quorum of the Board consisting of directors who are not parties to the Proceeding for which indemnification is being sought;

(B)    Special Legal Counsel (as defined in Section 1(f)(vii)); or

 

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(C)    A panel of three independent arbitrators, one of whom is selected by the Company, another of whom is selected by Indemnitee and the last of whom is selected by the first two arbitrators so selected, provided, that nothing in this Section 1(f) shall prevent Indemnitee at any time from bringing suit against the Company to recover the amount of the indemnification claim (whether or not Indemnitee has otherwise exhausted its contractual remedies hereunder). In addition, any determination by a forum selected by Indemnitee that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, or any failure to make the payments requested in the Indemnification Notice, shall be subject to judicial review by any court of competent jurisdiction, as described in Section 3.

iv.    In any forum in which the Company defends its Contest Notice and its decision to challenge Indemnitee’s indemnification claim under this Section 1(f), the presumptions, burdens and standard of review set forth in Section 3(c) shall apply and are incorporated into this Section 1(f) by reference, except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 3(c).

v.    As soon as practicable, and in no event later than fifteen (15) days after the forum has been selected pursuant to subsection (f)(iii) above, the Company shall, at its own expense, submit the defense of its Contest Notice and the question of Indemnitee’s right to indemnification to the selected forum.

vi.    The forum selected shall render its decision concerning the validity of the Contest Notice and the Company’s decision to deny Indemnitee’s indemnification claim within thirty (30) days after the forum has been selected in accordance with Section 1(f)(iii).

vii.    For the purposes of this Agreement, “Special Legal Counsel” shall mean an attorney or firm of attorneys, selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), who must not have performed other services for the Company or Indemnitee within the last three years.

2.    Expense Advances

a.    Generally. The right to indemnification conferred by Section 1 shall include the right to have the Company pay Indemnitee’s attorneys’ fees and other expenses, including but not limited to out of pocket costs and disbursements, incurred in connection with any Proceeding, or in connection with bringing, defending and/or pursuing an Enforcement Action (as defined in Section 3(a)), as such expenses are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding or Enforcement Action (such entitlement is referred to hereinafter as an “Expense Advance”).

b.    Undertaking. The Company’s obligation to provide an Expense Advance is subject only to the following condition: Indemnitee or his or her representative must have executed and delivered to the Board an undertaking (in the form of attached Exhibit B) (the “Statement of Undertaking”) to repay all Expense Advances if and to the extent that it may be Finally Adjudged that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such Expense Advance under one or more of clauses (i) through (iv) of the first sentence of Section 1(a). The Statement of Undertaking need not be secured and shall be accepted by the Company without reference to Indemnitee’s financial ability to make repayment. No interest shall be charged on any obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance.

 

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c.    Service as Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company’s obligation to indemnify, or provide Expense Advances under Section 2, to Indemnitee in connection with Indemnitee’s appearance as a witness in a Proceeding at a time when Indemnitee has not been made a named defendant or respondent to the Proceeding shall be absolute and unconditional, and not subject to any of the limitations on, or conditions to, Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or to receive an Expense Advance otherwise contained in this Agreement.

3.    Procedures for Enforcement

a.    Enforcement. If a claim for indemnification made by Indemnitee hereunder is not paid in full (whether or not the provisions of Section 1(f) have been complied with, or completed), or a claim for an Expense Advance made by Indemnitee hereunder is not paid in full within twenty (20) days from delivery of a Statement of Undertaking to the Board, Indemnitee may, but need not, at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim (an “Enforcement Action”).

b.    Required Indemnification. The court hearing the Enforcement Action shall order the Company to provide indemnification or to advance expenses to Indemnitee to the full extent sought in the Enforcement Action if it determines that (i) the Enforcement Action is brought by Indemnitee to enforce the Company’s obligation under Section 1(f)(ii) unconditionally to indemnify Indemnitee to the extent requested in the Indemnification Notice where the Company has failed timely to deliver a Contest Notice, or (ii) the Company failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification based on one or more of clauses (i) through (iv) of the first sentence of Section 1(a).

c.    Presumptions, Burdens and Standard of Review in Enforcement Action or Company Determination. In any Enforcement Action (and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 3(c), in any review of a Contest Notice by a forum described in Section 1(f)) the following presumptions (and limitations on presumptions), burdens and standard of review shall apply:

i.    The Company shall conclusively be presumed to have entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed hereunder in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or to continue to serve as a director, officer, member of a board committee, employee and/or agent of the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries;

ii.    This Agreement shall conclusively be presumed to be valid and Article 5 of the Articles shall conclusively be presumed to be effective to waive all of the limitations in RCW 23B.08.510 through RCW 23B.08.550, and RCW 23B.08.560(2);

iii.    Submission of an Indemnification Notice in accordance with Section 1(e)(ii) or a Statement of Undertaking to the Company shall create a presumption that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or an Expense Advance hereunder, and thereafter the Company shall have the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence (sufficient to rebut the foregoing presumption) that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification based on one or more of clauses (i) through (iv) of the first sentence of Section 1(a);

 

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iv.    Indemnitee may establish a conclusive presumption of any objective fact related to an event or occurrence by delivering to the Company a declaration made under penalty of perjury that such fact is true, provided, that no such presumption may be established with respect to the ultimate conclusions set forth in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of the first sentence of Section 1(a);

v.    If Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of a corporation of which a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of its directors is held by the Company or in an executive or management capacity in a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which the Company or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company is a general partner or has a majority ownership, then such corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or enterprise shall conclusively be deemed a Related Company and Indemnitee shall conclusively be deemed to be serving such Related Company at the request of the Company;

vi.    Neither (i) the failure of the Company (including but not limited to the Board, the Company’s officers, independent counsel, Special Legal Counsel, any arbitrator or the Company’s shareholders) to make a determination prior to the commencement of the Enforcement Action whether indemnification, or payment of an Expense Advance, of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances nor (i) an actual determination by the Company, the Board, the Company’s officers, independent counsel, Special Legal Counsel, any arbitrator or the Company’s shareholders that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or payment of an Expense Advance shall be a defense to the Enforcement Action, create a presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder or be considered by a court in an Enforcement Action, which shall conduct a de novo review of the relevant issues;

vii.    The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have a particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted under this Agreement or applicable law; and

viii.    If the court hearing the Enforcement Action is unable to make either of the determinations specified in Sections 3(b)(i) or 3(b)(ii), the court hearing the Enforcement Action shall nonetheless order the Company to provide indemnification or to advance expenses to Indemnitee to the full extent sought in the Enforcement Action if it determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnification or Expense Advance in view of all of the relevant circumstances, and without regard to the limitations set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) of the first sentence of Section 1(a). In determining whether Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnification or expense advance, the court shall weigh (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any Related Company, or any of their affiliates other than Indemnitee, on the one hand, and Indemnitee on the other from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose or to which such Proceeding relates, and (ii) the relative fault of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any

 

6


Related Company, or any of their affiliates other than Indemnitee, on the one hand, and of Indemnitee on the other in connection with the transaction that resulted in such Damages, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any Related Company, or any of their affiliates other than Indemnitee, on the one hand, and of Indemnitee on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting in such Damages. If either (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any Related Company, or any of their affiliates other than Indemnitee, exceed the relative benefits received by Indemnitee, or (ii) the relative fault of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any Related Company, or any of their affiliates other than Indemnitee, exceeds the relative fault of Indemnitee, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to the full amount of indemnification and/or Expense Advance sought in the Enforcement Proceeding.

d.    Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses for Enforcement Action. In any Enforcement Action, the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee against all of Indemnitee’s attorneys’ fees and expenses in bringing, defending and/or pursuing the Enforcement Action (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees at any stage, and on appeal); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to provide such indemnification for such fees and expenses if it is Finally Adjudged that Indemnitee knew prior to commencement of the Enforcement Action that Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification based on any of clauses (i) through (iv) of the first sentence of Section 1(a).

4.    Defense of Claim

With respect to any Proceeding as to which Indemnitee has provided notice to the Company pursuant to Section 1(e)(i):

a.    The Company may participate therein at its own expense.

b.    The Company (jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, if any) may assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election to so assume the defense thereof, the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal fees or other expenses (other than reasonable costs of investigation and costs and expenses as participating as a witness) subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee or the incurring of such expenses has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee shall have concluded that there is a reasonable possibility that a conflict of interest could arise between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such Proceeding, which conflict of interest shall be conclusively presumed to exist upon Indemnitee’s delivery to the Company of a written certification of such conclusion, (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding or (iv) the Company does not continue to retain such counsel to defend such Proceeding, in each of which cases the legal fees and other expenses of Indemnitee shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of a Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which Indemnitee shall have reached the conclusion described in clause (ii) above.

 

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c.    The Company shall not be liable for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent.

d.    The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner that (i) would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee, (ii) constitute any admission of wrongdoing of Indemnitee, or (iii) may compromise or adversely affect the defense of the Indemnitee in any other Proceeding, in each case without Indemnitee’s written consent.

e.    Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold its or his or her consent to any proposed settlement of any Proceeding.

5.    Maintenance of D&O Insurance

a.    Subject to Section 5(c) below, during the period (the “Coverage Period”) beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending at the later of (i) six (6) years following the time Indemnitee is no longer serving as a director, officer, member of a board committee, employee or agent of the Company and/or one or more subsidiaries or any Related Company, or (ii) at the end of such longer period during which Indemnitee believes that a reasonable possibility of exposure to a Proceeding or Damages persists (which extended period must be consented to by the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), the Company shall maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy in full force and effect or shall have purchased or otherwise provided for a run-off or tail policy or endorsement to such existing policy (“D&O Insurance”), providing in all respects coverage at least comparable to and in similar amounts, and with similar exclusions, as that obtained by other similarly situated companies as determined in good faith by any of the parties referenced in Section 1(f)(iii)(a) through (c).

b.    Under all policies of D&O Insurance, Indemnitee shall during the Coverage Period be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits, subject to the same limitations, as are accorded to the Company’s directors or officers most favorably insured by such policy, and each insurer under a policy of D&O Insurance shall be required to provide Indemnitee written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of termination of the policy.

c.    Unless otherwise expressly provided in a written agreement between the Company and Indemnitee, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain D&O Insurance to the extent that such insurance is not reasonably available, the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, or the coverage provided by such insurance is so limited by exclusions as to provide an insufficient benefit, such determination to be made by any of the parties referenced in Section 1(f)(iii)(a) through (c).

d.    It is the intention of the parties in entering into this Agreement that the insurers under the D&O Insurance, if any, shall be obligated ultimately to pay any claims by Indemnitee which are covered by D&O Insurance, and nothing herein shall be deemed to diminish or otherwise restrict the Company’s or Indemnitee’s right to proceed or collect against any insurers under D&O Insurance or to give such insurers any rights against the Company or Indemnitee under or with respect to this Agreement, including but not limited to any right to be

 

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subrogated to the Company’s or Indemnitee’s rights hereunder, unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the Company and Indemnitee in writing. The obligation of such insurers to the Company and Indemnitee shall not be deemed reduced or impaired in any respect by virtue of the provisions of this Agreement.

e.    Subject to Section 7, the Company shall not provide indemnification pursuant to this Agreement for Damages or Expense Advances that have been paid directly to Indemnitee by an insurance carrier under a policy of D&O Insurance or other insurance maintained by the Company.

f.    Subject to Section 7, in the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of Indemnitee to recover the same amounts from any insurer or other third person (other than another person with indemnification rights against the Company substantially similar those of Indemnitee under this Agreement). Indemnitee shall execute all documents required and take all acts necessary to secure such rights and enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

6.    Partial Indemnification; Mutual Acknowledgment; Contribution

a.    Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any Damages in connection with a Proceeding, but not for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such Damages to which Indemnitee is entitled.

b.    Mutual Acknowledgment. The Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that, in certain instances, federal law or public policy may override applicable state law and prohibit the Company from indemnifying Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise. For example, the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has taken the position that indemnification is not permissible for liabilities arising under certain federal securities laws, and federal legislation prohibits indemnification for certain ERISA violations. Furthermore, Indemnitee understands that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the SEC to submit for judicial determination the issue of the Company’s power to indemnify Indemnitee in certain circumstances; all of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement will be subject to the requirements of any such undertaking required by the SEC to be made by the Company.

c.    Contribution. If the indemnification provided under Sections 1, 2 and 6 is unavailable by reason of any of the circumstances specified in one or more of clauses (i) through (iii) of the first sentence of Section 1(a) then, in respect of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Damages (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any Related Company, or any of their affiliates other than Indemnitee, on the one hand, and Indemnitee on the other from the transaction or events from which such Proceeding arose or to which such Proceeding relates, and (ii) the relative fault of the Company and/or any of its

 

9


subsidiaries or any Related Company, or any of their affiliates other than Indemnitee, on the one hand, and of Indemnitee on the other in connection with the transaction or events that resulted in such Damages, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or any Related Company, or any of their affiliates other than Indemnitee, on the one hand, and of Indemnitee on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent the circumstances resulting in such Damages. The Company agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(c) were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the foregoing equitable considerations.

7.    Primacy of Indemnification

The Company hereby acknowledges that the Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses or liability insurance provided by a third-party and certain of its affiliates, other than the Company, any Related Company or the insurer under a D&O Insurance policy of the Company or any Related Company (collectively, the “Entity Indemnitors”). The Company hereby agrees that the Company shall, and to the extent applicable shall cause each Related Company to, (i) be the indemnitor of first resort, i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee under this Agreement (including, without limitation, indemnification for Damages and the obligation to make Expense Advances) and any indemnity provisions set forth in its Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws or elsewhere (collectively, “Indemnity Arrangements”) are primary and (ii) advance the full amount of expenses incurred by the Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, to the extent legally permitted and as required by any Indemnity Arrangement, without regard to any rights the Indemnitee may have against the Entity Indemnitors. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases, and shall cause each Related Company to irrevocably waive, relinquish and release, the Entity Indemnitors from any claims against the Entity Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind arising out of or relating to any Indemnity Arrangement. The Company further agrees that no advancement or indemnification payment by any Entity Indemnitor on behalf of the Indemnitee shall affect the foregoing. Additionally, the Entity Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company. In the event that any Entity Indemnitor makes a payment to the Indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses where the Company or a Related Company is the indemnitor of first resort, the Company shall, and to the extent applicable shall cause the Related Companies to, promptly and fully reimburse the Entity Indemnitor making such payment upon written demand by the Entity Indemnitor . The Company and the Indemnitee agree that the Entity Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 7, entitled to enforce this Section 7 as though each such Entity Indemnitor were a party to this Agreement. The Company shall cause each of the Related Companies to perform the terms and obligations of this Section 7 as though each such Related Company was a party to this Agreement

 

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8.    Miscellaneous

a.    This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington.

b.    This Agreement shall be binding upon Indemnitee and upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s heirs, personal representatives and assigns and to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns. The Company shall require any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

c.    Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other or additional rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Articles or the Bylaws of the Company, any vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, the Statute or otherwise, whether as to actions or omissions in Indemnitee’s official capacity or otherwise.

d.    Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Indemnitee the right to continue to serve as a director, officer, member of a Board committee, employee and/or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Related Company. If Indemnitee is an officer or employee of the Company, then, unless otherwise expressly provided in a written employment agreement between the Company and Indemnitee, the employment of Indemnitee with the Company shall be terminable at will by either party. The indemnification and release provided under this Agreement shall apply to any and all Proceedings, notwithstanding that Indemnitee has ceased to be a director, officer, partner, employee, trustee or agent of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or a Related Company, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee.

e.    If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, then: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraphs of this Agreement containing any such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraphs of this Agreement containing any such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

f.    Any notices or communications to be given or required to be given under this Agreement shall be given by personal delivery, registered mail, overnight courier, facsimile or electronic mail at the following address or at the address following Indemnitee’s signature below.

 

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Company:

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation

1551 Eastlake Ave. E, #200

Seattle, WA 98102

Attn: Legal Department

Electronic mail:

Notices and communications shall be deemed received by the addressee on the date of delivery if delivered in person, on the third (3rd) day after mailing if delivered by registered airmail, on the next business day after mailing if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day if sent by telex or facsimile, or upon confirmation of delivery when directed to the electronic mail address described above if sent by electronic mail.

g.    No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by both parties hereto.

h.    If Indemnitee has previously executed an indemnification agreement with the Company, this Agreement supersedes such prior indemnification agreement in its entirety.

i.    This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page to follow.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement effective as of the day and year first set forth above.

 

“Company”

   

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

    By:  

 

    Name:   Chad Robins
    Its:   Chief Executive Officer

“Indemnitee”

   
    Print Name:  

 

    Address:  

 

     

 

    Fax:  

 

    Telephone:  

 

    Email:  

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

INDEMNIFICATION NOTICE

Check the appropriate space below, and provide a brief description of the Proceeding as requested below:

 

 

Notice is hereby given by the undersigned,                                                              , pursuant to Section 1(e)(i) of the Indemnification Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated                     between Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, a Washington corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned, of the commencement of a Proceeding, as defined in the Agreement. A brief description of the Proceeding is as follows:

 

 

If indemnification of particular Damages (as defined in the Agreement) is being sought at this time, pursuant to Section 1(e)(ii) of the Agreement, the undersigned hereby requests indemnification by the Company under the terms of the Agreement with respect to the following Damages incurred in connection with the Proceeding:

Dated:                     ,             .

 

 
    [Signature of Indemnitee]

 

 
    [Print name]


EXHIBIT B

STATEMENT OF UNDERTAKING

STATE OF                             )

      ) ss.

COUNTY OF                         )

I,                             , being first duly sworn, do depose and say as follows:

1.    This Statement is submitted pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated                          between Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, a Washington corporation (the “Company”), and me.

2.    I am requesting an Expense Advance, as defined in the Agreement.

3.    I hereby undertake to repay the Expense Advance if and to the extent it is Finally Adjudged (as defined in the Agreement) that I am not entitled under the Agreement to be indemnified by the Company.

4.    The expenses for which advancement is requested, and a brief description of the underlying Proceeding (as defined in the Agreement), are as follows: [Add brief description of expenses and Proceeding]

 

DATED:                     ,                   

 

      [Signature]

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this         day of                         .

 

(Seal or stamp)      

 

      Notary Signature
     

 

     

Print/Type Name

Notary Public in and for the State of Washington,
residing at                                                                                                        

      My appointment expires  

 

EX-10.12

Exhibit 10.12

LEASE AGREEMENT

THIS LEASE AGREEMENT (this “Lease”) is made this 21 day of July, 2011, between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE TCR CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”).

 

Address:   1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, Washington
Premises:   That portion of the second floor of the Project, containing approximately 7,724 rentable square feet, as determined by Landlord, as shown on Exhibit A, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.
Project:   The real property on which the building (the “Building”) in which the Premises are located, together with all improvements thereon and appurtenances thereto as described on Exhibit B.
Base Rent:   $20,400.00 per month, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.

Rentable Area of Premises: 7,724 sq. ft., subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.

Rentable Area of Project: 115,738 sq. ft.
Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses: 6.67%, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.
Security Deposit: $61,200.00  

Target Commencement Date: February 1, 2012

Rent Adjustment Percentage: 2.5%
Base Term:   Beginning on the Commencement Date and ending 64 months from the first day of the first full month after the Rent Commencement Date.
Permitted Use:   Biomedical laboratory, related office and other related uses consistent with the character of the Project and otherwise in compliance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof.

Address for Rent Payment:

 

Landlord’s Notice Address:

P.O. Box 975383

 

385 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 299

Dallas, TX 75397-5383

 

Pasadena, CA 91101

 

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Tenant’s Notice Address After Commencement Date:

1551 Eastlake Avenue

Seattle, Washington 98102

Attention: Lease Administrator

Tenant Notice Address Prior to Commencement Date:

307 Westlake Avenue N

Suite 300

Seattle, WA 98109

The following Exhibits and Addenda are attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference:

EXHIBIT A - PREMISES DESCRIPTION       EXHIBIT B - DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

EXHIBIT C - WORK LETTER                         EXHIBIT D - COMMENCEMENT DATE

EXHIBIT E - RULES AND REGULATIONS EXHIBIT F - TENANT’S PERSONAL PROPERTY

 

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EXHIBIT G - ASBESTOS DISCLOSURE EXHIBIT H - EXPANSION PREMISES EXHIBIT I SPACE PLANS

1.    Lease of Premises. Upon and subject to all of the terms and conditions hereof, Landlord hereby leases the Premises to Tenant and Tenant hereby leases the Premises from Landlord. The portions of the Project which are for the non-exclusive use of tenants of the Project are collectively referred to herein as the “Common Areas.” Landlord reserves the right to modify Common Areas, provided that such modifications do not materially adversely affect Tenant’s use of the Premises for the Permitted Use. Tenant acknowledges and agrees that (i) the roof deck to be located on a portion of the roof of the Building and the auditorium to be located on the first floor of the Building shall be part of the Common Areas of the Building, (ii) the roof deck and the auditorium shall be available to all of the tenants of the Building on a first come, first served basis or, at Landlord’s option, a reservation basis, and (iii) Landlord shall not be responsible for enforcing any party’s right to use the roof deck or the auditorium. Tenant shall use the roof deck and the auditorium in a manner that complies with all applicable Legal Requirements and any and all rules and regulations which may be adopted by Landlord from time to time.

2.    Delivery; Acceptance of Premises; Commencement Date. Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to deliver the Premises to Tenant on or before the Target Commencement Date, with Landlord’s Work, if any, Substantially Completed (“Delivery” or “Deliver”). If Landlord fails to timely Deliver the Premises, Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for any loss or damage resulting therefrom, and this Lease shall not be void or voidable except as provided herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Base Rent payable with respect to the Premises shall be abated 1 day for each day after the Target Commencement Date (as the same may be extended for Force Majeure delays and Tenant Delays) that Landlord fails to Deliver the Premises to Tenant. If Landlord does not Deliver the Premises within 90 days of the Target Commencement Date for any reason other than Force Majeure Delays and Tenant Delays, this Lease may be terminated by Landlord or Tenant by written notice to the other, and if so terminated by either: (a) the Security Deposit, or any balance thereof (i.e., after deducting therefrom all amounts to which Landlord is entitled under the provisions of this Lease), shall be returned to Tenant, and (b) neither Landlord nor Tenant shall have any further rights, duties or obligations under this Lease, except with respect to provisions which expressly survive termination of this Lease. As used herein, the terms “Landlord’s Work,” “Tenant Delays” and “Substantially Completed” shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Work Letter. If neither Landlord nor Tenant elects to void this Lease within 7 business days of the lapse of such 90 day period, such right to void this Lease shall be waived and this Lease shall remain in full force and effect.

The “Commencement Date” shall be the earlier of: (i) the date Landlord Delivers the Premises to Tenant; or (ii) the date Landlord could have Delivered the Premises but for Tenant Delays; provided, however, that in no event shall the Commencement Date occur earlier than February 1, 2012. The “Rent Commencement Date” shall be the date that is 4 months after the Commencement Date. Upon request of Landlord, Tenant shall execute and deliver a written acknowledgment of the Commencement Date, the Rent Commencement Date and the expiration date of the Term when such are established in the form of the “Acknowledgement of Commencement Date” attached to this Lease as Exhibit D; provided, however, Tenant’s failure to execute and deliver such acknowledgment shall not affect Landlord’s rights hereunder. The “Term” of this Lease shall be the Base Term, as defined above on the first page of this Lease and any Extension Terms which Tenant may elect pursuant to Section 40 hereof.

Except as set forth in this Lease and the Work Letter: (i) Tenant shall accept the Premises in their condition as of the Commencement Date, subject to all applicable Legal Requirements (as defined in Section 7 hereof); (ii) Landlord shall have no obligation for any defects in the Premises; and (iii) Tenant’s taking possession of the Premises shall be conclusive evidence that Tenant accepts the Premises and that the Premises were in good condition at the time possession was taken.

Except as otherwise in this Lease, Tenant agrees and acknowledges that neither Landlord nor any agent of Landlord has made any representation or warranty with respect to the condition of all or any portion of the Premises or the Project, and/or the suitability of the Premises or the Project for the conduct

 

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of Tenant’s business, and Tenant waives any implied warranty that the Premises or the Project are suitable for the Permitted Use. This Lease constitutes the complete agreement of Landlord and Tenant with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior representations, inducements, promises, agreements, understandings and negotiations which are not contained herein. Landlord in executing this Lease does so in reliance upon Tenant’s representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements contained herein.

3.    Rent.

(a)    Base Rent. Base Rent for the month in which the Rent Commencement Date occurs and the Security Deposit shall be due and payable on delivery of an executed copy of this Lease to Landlord. Tenant shall pay to Landlord in advance, without demand, abatement, deduction or set-off, monthly installments of Base Rent on or before the first day of each calendar month during the Term hereof after the Rent Commencement Date, in lawful money of the United States of America, at the office of Landlord for payment of Rent set forth above, or to such other person or at such other place as Landlord may from time to time designate in writing. Payments of Base Rent for any fractional calendar month shall be prorated. The obligation of Tenant to pay Base Rent and other sums to Landlord and the obligations of Landlord under this Lease are independent obligations. Tenant shall have no right at any time to abate, reduce, or set-off any Rent (as defined in Section 5) due hereunder except for any abatement as may be expressly provided in this Lease.

(b)    Additional Rent. In addition to Base Rent, Tenant agrees to pay to Landlord as additional rent (“Additional Rent”): (i) Tenant’s Share of “Operating Expenses” (as defined in Section 5), and (ii) any and all other amounts Tenant assumes or agrees to pay under the provisions of this Lease, including, without limitation, any and all other sums that may become due by reason of any default of Tenant or failure to comply with the agreements, terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease to be performed by Tenant, after any applicable notice and cure period.

4.    Base Rent Adjustments. Base Rent shall be increased on each annual anniversary of the first day of the first full month during the Term of this Lease (each an “Adjustment Date”) by multiplying the Base Rent payable immediately before such Adjustment Date by the Rent Adjustment Percentage and adding the resulting amount to the Base Rent payable immediately before such Adjustment Date. Base Rent, as so adjusted, shall thereafter be due as provided herein. Base Rent adjustments for any fractional calendar month shall be prorated.

5.    Operating Expense Payments. Landlord shall deliver to Tenant a written estimate of Operating Expenses for each calendar year during the Term (the “Annual Estimate”), which may be revised by Landlord from time to time during such calendar year upon not less than 30 days’ written notice to Tenant. Commencing on the Rent Commencement Date and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter during the Term, Tenant shall pay Landlord an amount equal to 1/12th of Tenant’s Share of the Annual Estimate. Payments for any fractional calendar month shall be prorated.

The term “Operating Expenses” means all costs and expenses of any kind or description whatsoever incurred or accrued each calendar year by Landlord with respect to the Project (including, without duplication, Taxes (as defined in Section 9), reasonable reserves consistent with good business practice for future repairs and replacements, provided that the reserves collected shall not increase by more than 3% per year, capital repairs and improvements amortized over the lesser of 7 years and the useful life of such capital items, and the costs of Landlord’s third party property manager or, if there is no third party property manager, administration rent in the amount of 5.0% of Base Rent), excluding only:

(a)    the original construction costs of the Project and renovation prior to the date of the Lease and costs of correcting defects in such original construction or renovation;

(b)    capital expenditures for expansion of the Project;

 

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(c)    interest, principal payments of Mortgage (as defined in Section 27) debts of Landlord, financing costs and amortization of funds borrowed by Landlord, whether secured or unsecured;

(d)    depreciation of the Project (except for capital improvements, the cost of which are includable in Operating Expenses);

(e)    advertising, legal and space planning expenses and leasing commissions and other costs and expenses incurred in procuring and leasing space to tenants for the Project, including any leasing office maintained in the Project, free rent and construction allowances for tenants;

(f)    legal and other expenses incurred in the negotiation or enforcement of leases;

(g)    completing, fixturing, improving, renovating, painting, redecorating or other work, which Landlord pays for or performs for other tenants within their premises, and costs of correcting defects in such work;

(h)    costs to be reimbursed by other tenants of the Project or Taxes to be paid directly by Tenant or other tenants of the Project, whether or not actually paid;

(i)    salaries, wages, benefits and other compensation paid to officers and employees of Landlord who are not assigned in whole or in part to the operation, management, maintenance or repair of the Project;

(j)    general organizational, administrative and overhead costs relating to maintaining Landlord’s existence, either as a corporation, partnership, or other entity, including general corporate, legal and accounting expenses;

(k)    costs (including attorneys’ fees and costs of settlement, judgments and payments in lieu thereof) incurred in connection with disputes with tenants, other occupants, or prospective tenants, and costs and expenses, including legal fees, incurred in connection with negotiations or disputes with employees, consultants, management agents, leasing agents, purchasers or mortgagees of the Building;

(I)    costs incurred by Landlord due to the violation by Landlord, its employees, agents or contractors or any tenant of the terms and conditions of any lease of space in the Project or any Legal Requirement (as defined in Section 7);

(m)    penalties, fines or interest incurred as a result of Landlord’s inability or failure to make payment of Taxes and/or to file any tax or informational returns when due, or from Landlord’s failure to make any payment of Taxes required to be made by Landlord hereunder before delinquency;

(n)    overhead and profit increment paid to Landlord or to subsidiaries or affiliates of Landlord for goods and/or services in or to the Project to the extent the same exceeds the costs of such goods and/or services rendered by unaffiliated third parties on a competitive basis;

(o)    costs of Landlord’s charitable or political contributions, or of fine art maintained at the Project;

(p)    costs in connection with services (including electricity), items or other benefits of a type which are not standard for the Project and which are not available to Tenant without specific charges therefor, but which are provided to another tenant or occupant of the Project, whether or not such other tenant or occupant is specifically charged therefor by Landlord;

(q)    costs incurred in the sale or refinancing of the Project;

 

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(r)    net income taxes of Landlord or the owner of any interest in the Project, franchise, capital stock, gift, estate or inheritance taxes or any federal, state or local documentary taxes imposed against the Project or any portion thereof or interest therein;

(s)    any costs incurred to remove, study, test, remediate or otherwise related to the presence of Hazardous Materials in or about the Building or the Project, which Hazardous Materials Tenant proves (i) existed prior to the Commencement Date, (ii) originated from any separately demised tenant space within the Project other than the Premises or (iii) were not brought upon, kept, used, stored, handled, treated, generated in, or released or disposed of from, the Project by Tenant or any Tenant Party (as herein defined);

(t)    the cost of repairs or other work to the extent Landlord is actually reimbursed by insurance or condemnation proceeds; and

(u)    any expenses otherwise includable within Operating Expenses to the extent actually reimbursed by persons other than tenants of the Project under leases for space in the Project.

Within 90 days after the end of each calendar year (or such longer period as may be reasonably required), Landlord shall furnish to Tenant a statement (an “Annual Statement”) showing in reasonable detail: (a) the total and Tenant’s Share of actual Operating Expenses for the previous calendar year, and (b) the total of Tenant’s payments in respect of Operating Expenses for such year. If Tenant’s Share of actual Operating Expenses for such year exceeds Tenant’s payments of Operating Expenses for such year, the excess shall be due and payable by Tenant as Rent within 30 days after delivery of such Annual Statement to Tenant. If Tenant’s payments of Operating Expenses for such year exceed Tenant’s Share of actual Operating Expenses for such year Landlord shall pay the excess to Tenant within 30 days after delivery of such Annual Statement, except that after the expiration, or earlier termination of the Term or if Tenant is delinquent in its obligation to pay Rent, Landlord shall pay the excess to Tenant after deducting all other amounts due Landlord.

The Annual Statement shall be final and binding upon Tenant unless Tenant, within 90 days after Tenant’s receipt thereof, shall contest any item therein by giving written notice to Landlord, specifying each item contested and the reason therefor. If, during such 90 day period, Tenant reasonably and in good faith questions or contests the accuracy of Landlord’s statement of Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses, Landlord will provide Tenant with access to Landlord’s books and records relating to the operation of the Project and such information as Landlord reasonably determines to be responsive to Tenant’s questions (the “Expense Information”). If after Tenant’s review of such Expense Information, Landlord and Tenant cannot agree upon the amount of Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses, then Tenant shall have the right to have an independent regionally recognized public accounting firm selected by Tenant, working pursuant to a fee arrangement other than a contingent fee (at Tenant’s sole cost and expense) and approved by Landlord (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), audit and/or review the Expense Information for the year in question (the “Independent Review”). The results of any such Independent Review shall be binding on Landlord and Tenant. If the Independent Review shows that the payments actually made by Tenant with respect to Operating Expenses for the calendar year in question exceeded Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses for such calendar year, Landlord shall at Landlord’s option either (i) credit the excess amount to the next succeeding installments of estimated Operating Expenses or (ii) pay the excess to Tenant within 30 days after delivery of such statement, except that after the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease or if Tenant is delinquent in its obligation to pay Rent, Landlord shall pay the excess to Tenant after deducting all other amounts due Landlord. If the Independent Review shows that Tenant’s payments with respect to Operating Expenses for such calendar year were less than Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses for the calendar year, Tenant shall pay the deficiency to Landlord within 30 days after delivery of such statement. If the Independent Review shows that Tenant has overpaid with respect to Operating Expenses by more than 5% then Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for all costs incurred by Tenant for the Independent Review. Operating Expenses for the calendar years in which Tenant’s obligation to share therein begins and ends shall be prorated. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, if the Project is not at least 90% occupied on average during any year of the Term, Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses for such year shall be computed as though the Project had been 90% occupied on average during such year.

 

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Tenant’s Share” shall be the percentage set forth on the first page of this Lease as Tenant’s Share as reasonably adjusted by Landlord for changes in the physical size of the Premises or the Project occurring thereafter. Landlord may equitably increase Tenant’s Share for any item of expense or cost reimbursable by Tenant that relates to a repair, replacement, or service that benefits only the Premises or only a portion of the Project that includes the Premises or that varies with occupancy or use. Base Rent, Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses and all other amounts payable by Tenant to Landlord hereunder are collectively referred to herein as “Rent.”

6.    Security Deposit. Tenant shall deposit with Landlord, upon delivery of an executed copy of this Lease to Landlord, a security deposit (the “Security Deposit”) for the performance of all of Tenant’s obligations hereunder in the amount set forth on page 1 of this Lease, which Security Deposit shall be in the form of an unconditional and irrevocable letter of credit (the “Letter of Credit”): (i) in form and substance satisfactory to Landlord, (ii) naming Landlord as beneficiary, (iii) expressly allowing Landlord to draw upon it at any time from time to time by delivering to the issuer notice that Landlord is entitled to draw thereunder, (iv) issued by an FDIC-insured financial institution satisfactory to Landlord, and (v) redeemable by presentation of a sight draft in the state of Landlord’s choice. If Tenant does not provide Landlord with a substitute Letter of Credit complying with all of the requirements hereof at least 10 days before the stated expiration date of any then current Letter of Credit, Landlord shall have the right to draw the full amount of the current Letter of Credit and hold the funds drawn in cash without obligation for interest thereon as the Security Deposit. The Security Deposit shall be held by Landlord as security for the performance of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease. The Security Deposit is not an advance rental deposit or a measure of Landlord’s damages in case of Tenant’s default. Upon each occurrence of a Default (as defined in Section 20), Landlord may use all or any part of the Security Deposit to pay delinquent payments due under this Lease, future rent damages, and the cost of any damage, injury, expense or liability caused by such Default, without prejudice to any other remedy provided herein or provided by law. Landlord’s right to use the Security Deposit under this Section 6 includes the right to use the Security Deposit to pay future rent damages following the termination of this Lease pursuant to Section 21(c) below. Upon any use of all or any portion of the Security Deposit, Tenant shall pay Landlord on demand the amount that will restore the Security Deposit to the amount set forth on Page 1 of this Lease. Tenant hereby waives the provisions of any law, now or hereafter in force, which provide that Landlord may claim from a security deposit only those sums reasonably necessary to remedy defaults in the payment of Rent, to repair damage caused by Tenant or to clean the Premises, it being agreed that Landlord may, in addition, claim those sums reasonably necessary to compensate Landlord for any other loss or damage, foreseeable or unforeseeable, caused by the act or omission of Tenant or any officer, employee, agent or invitee of Tenant. Upon bankruptcy or other debtor-creditor proceedings against Tenant, the Security Deposit shall be deemed to be applied first to the payment of Rent and other charges due Landlord for periods prior to the filing of such proceedings. Upon any such use of all or any portion of the Security Deposit, Tenant shall, within 5 days after demand from Landlord, restore the Security Deposit to its original amount. If Tenant shall fully perform every provision of this Lease to be performed by Tenant, the Security Deposit, or any balance thereof (i.e., after deducting therefrom all amounts to which Landlord is entitled under the provisions of this Lease), shall be returned to Tenant (or, at Landlord’s option, to the last assignee of Tenant’s interest hereunder) within 90 days after the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease.

If Landlord transfers its interest in the Project or this Lease, Landlord shall either (a) transfer any Security Deposit then held by Landlord to a person or entity assuming Landlord’s obligations under this Section 6, or (b) return to Tenant any Security Deposit then held by Landlord and remaining after the deductions permitted herein. Upon such transfer to such transferee or the return of the Security Deposit to Tenant, Landlord shall have no further obligation with respect to the Security Deposit, and Tenant’s right to the return of the Security Deposit shall apply solely against Landlord’s transferee. The Security Deposit is not an advance rental deposit or a measure of Landlord’s damages in case of Tenant’s default. Landlord’s obligation respecting the Security Deposit is that of a debtor, not a trustee, and no interest shall accrue thereon.

 

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If, as of the expiration of the 36th month of the Base Term (i) Tenant is not in Default of this Lease, and (iii) Tenant has not been in default of this Lease at any time during the Term (collectively, the “Reduction Requirement”), then the Security Deposit shall be reduced to an amount equal to 1 month’s Base Rent as of the 37th month of the Base Term (the “Reduced Security Deposit”). If Tenant has met the Reduction Requirement and delivers a written request to Landlord for such reduction of the Security Deposit, Landlord shall cooperate with Tenant, at no out-of-pocket cost, expense or liability to Landlord, to reduce the Letter of Credit then held by Landlord to the amount of the Reduced Security Deposit. If the Security Deposit is reduced as provided herein, then from and after the date of such reduction, the “Security Deposit” shall be deemed to be the Reduced Security Deposit, for all purposes of this Lease.

7.    Use. The Premises shall be used solely for the Permitted Use set forth in the basic lease provisions on page 1 of this Lease, and in compliance with all laws, orders, judgments, ordinances, regulations, codes, directives, permits, licenses, covenants and restrictions now or hereafter applicable to the Premises, and to the use and occupancy thereof, including, without limitation, the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq. (together with the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, “ADA”) (collectively, “Legal Requirements” and each, a “Legal Requirement”). Tenant shall, upon 5 days’ written notice from Landlord, discontinue any use of the Premises which is declared by any Governmental Authority (as defined in Section 9) having jurisdiction to be a violation of a Legal Requirement. Tenant will not use or permit the Premises to be used for any purpose or in any manner that would void Tenant’s or Landlord’s insurance, increase the insurance risk, or cause the disallowance of any sprinkler or other credits. Tenant shall not permit any part of the Premises to be used as a “place of public accommodation”, as defined in the ADA or any similar legal requirement. Tenant shall reimburse Landlord promptly upon demand for any additional premium charged for any such insurance policy by reason of Tenant’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section or otherwise caused by Tenant’s use and/or occupancy of the Premises. Tenant will use the Premises in a careful, safe and proper manner and will not commit or permit waste, overload the floor or structure of the Premises, subject the Premises to use that would damage the Premises or obstruct or interfere with the rights of Landlord or other tenants or occupants of the Project, including conducting or giving notice of any auction, liquidation, or going out of business sale on the Premises, or using or allowing the Premises to be used for any unlawful purpose. Tenant shall cause any equipment or machinery to be installed in the Premises so as to reasonably prevent sounds or vibrations from the Premises from extending into Common Areas, or other space in the Project. Tenant shall not place any machinery or equipment which will overload the floor in or upon the Premises or transport or move such items in the Project elevators without the prior written consent of Landlord, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Tenant shall not, without the prior written consent of Landlord, use the Premises in any manner which will require ventilation, air exchange, heating, gas, steam, electricity or water beyond the existing capacity of the Project as proportionately allocated to the Premises based upon Tenant’s Share as usually furnished for the Permitted Use.

Landlord shall, at Landlord’s sole cost and expense, be responsible for the compliance of the Premises with Legal Requirements, including the ADA, as of the Commencement Date. Tenant, at its sole expense, shall make any alterations or modifications to the interior or the exterior of the Premises or the Project that are required by Legal Requirements (including, without limitation, compliance of the Premises with the ADA) related to Tenant’s use or occupancy of the Premises. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, Tenant shall be responsible for any and all demands, claims, liabilities, losses, costs, expenses, actions, causes of action, damages or judgments, and all reasonable expenses incurred in investigating or resisting the same (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, charges and disbursements and costs of suit) (collectively, “Claims”) arising out of or in connection with Tenant’s failure to comply with any Legal Requirements, and Tenant shall indemnify, defend, hold and save Landlord harmless from and against any and all Claims arising out of or in connection with Tenant’s failure to comply with any Legal Requirements.

8.    Holding Over. If, with Landlord’s express written consent, Tenant retains possession of the Premises after the termination of the Term, (i) unless otherwise agreed in such written consent, such possession shall be subject to termination by Landlord at any time upon 30 days notice to Tenant, (ii) all of the other terms and provisions of this Lease (including, without limitation, the adjustment of Base Rent

 

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pursuant to Section 4 hereof) shall remain in full force and effect (excluding any expansion or renewal option or other similar right or option) during such holdover period, (iii) Tenant shall continue to pay Base Rent in the amount payable upon the date of the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease or such other amount as Landlord may indicate, in Landlord’s sole and absolute discretion, in such written consent, and (iv) all other payments shall continue under the terms of this Lease. If Tenant remains in possession of the Premises after the expiration or earlier termination of the Term without the express written consent of Landlord, (A) Tenant shall become a tenant at sufferance upon the terms of this Lease except that the monthly rental shall be equal to 150% of Rent in effect during the last 30 days of the Term, and (B) Tenant shall be responsible for all damages suffered by Landlord resulting from or occasioned by Tenant’s holding over, including consequential damages. No holding over by Tenant, whether with or without consent of Landlord, shall operate to extend this Lease except as otherwise expressly provided, and this Section 8 shall not be construed as consent for Tenant to retain possession of the Premises. Acceptance by Landlord of Rent after the expiration of the Term or earlier termination of this Lease shall not result in a renewal or reinstatement of this Lease.

9.    Taxes. Landlord shall pay, as part of Operating Expenses, all taxes, levies, fees, assessments and governmental charges of any kind, existing as of the Commencement Date or thereafter enacted (collectively referred to as “Taxes”), imposed by any federal, state, regional, municipal, local or other governmental authority or agency, including, without limitation, quasi-public agencies (collectively, “Governmental Authority”) during the Term, including, without limitation, all Taxes: (i) imposed on or measured by or based, in whole or in part, on rent payable to (or gross receipts received by) Landlord under this Lease and/or from the rental by Landlord of the Project or any portion thereof, or (ii) based on the square footage, assessed value or other measure or evaluation of any kind of the Premises or the Project, or (iii) assessed or imposed by or on the operation or maintenance of any portion of the Premises or the Project, including parking, or (iv) assessed or imposed by, or at the direction of, or resulting from Legal Requirements, or interpretations thereof, promulgated by any Governmental Authority, or (v) imposed as a license or other fee, charge, tax, or assessment on Landlord’s business or occupation of leasing space in the Project. Landlord may contest by appropriate legal proceedings the amount, validity, or application of any Taxes or liens securing Taxes. Taxes shall not include any net income taxes imposed on Landlord except to the extent such net income taxes are in substitution for any Taxes payable hereunder. If any such Tax is levied or assessed directly against Tenant, then Tenant shall be responsible for and shall pay the same at such times and in such manner as the taxing authority shall require. Tenant shall pay, prior to delinquency, any and all Taxes levied or assessed against any personal property or trade fixtures placed by Tenant in the Premises, whether levied or assessed against Landlord or Tenant. If any Taxes on Tenant’s personal property or trade fixtures are levied against Landlord or Landlord’s property, or if the assessed valuation of the Project is increased by a value attributable to improvements in or alterations to the Premises, whether owned by Landlord or Tenant and whether or not affixed to the real property so as to become a part thereof, higher than the base valuation on which Landlord from time-to-time allocates Taxes to all tenants in the Project, Landlord shall have the right, but not the obligation, to pay such Taxes. Landlord’s determination of any excess assessed valuation shall be binding and conclusive, absent manifest error. The amount of any such payment by Landlord shall constitute Additional Rent due from Tenant to Landlord immediately upon demand.

10.    Parking. Subject to all matters of record, Force Majeure, a Taking (as defined in Section 19 below) and the exercise by Landlord of its rights hereunder, Tenant shall have the right, in common with other tenants of the Project pro rata in accordance with the rentable area of the Premises and the rentable areas of the Project occupied by such other tenants, to park in the non-reserved parking areas serving the Building (provided, however, that in no event shall Tenant be entitled to more than its pro rata share of any particular parking area serving the Building), as may be modified by Landlord from time to time, subject in each case to Landlord’s rules and regulations. As of the Commencement Date, Tenant’s pro rata share of parking spaces shall be 2 spaces per 1,000 rentable square feet of the Premises (which is equal to 14 spaces). As of the date hereof, there are four separate parking areas for the Building: (i) one parking area includes underground parking under the Building (“Underground Parking”); (ii) the second parking area includes above-ground parking adjacent to the Building (“Surface Parking”); (iii) the third parking area is a surface parking lot located to the northeast of the Building (“Northeast Parking”), (iv) the fourth parking area is a surface parking lot approximately 2 blocks from

 

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the Building (the “Off-Site Parking”). Tenant share of parking spaces (i.e., the 2 parking spaces per 1,000 rentable square feet of the Premises) shall be allocated among the Underground Parking, Surface Parking, Northeast Parking and Offsite Parking as follows: 4 reserved parking spaces in the Underground Parking, 2 unreserved parking spaces in the Surface Parking, 0 parking spaces in the Northeast Parking and 8 unreserved parking spaces in the Off-Site Parking. Landlord may allocate parking spaces among Tenant and other tenants in the Project pro rata as described above if Landlord determines that such parking facilities are becoming crowded. Landlord shall not be responsible for enforcing Tenant’s parking rights against any third parties, including other tenants of the Project or for enforcing any such reservation of parking spaces.

11.    Utilities, Services. Landlord shall provide, subject to the terms of this Section 11, water, electricity, heat, light, power, sewer, and other utilities (including gas and fire sprinklers to the extent the Project is plumbed for such services), refuse and trash collection and janitorial services for the Common Areas (collectively, “Utilities”). Landlord shall pay, as Operating Expenses or subject to Tenant’s reimbursement obligation, for all Utilities used on the Premises, all maintenance charges for Utilities, and any storm sewer charges or other similar charges for Utilities imposed by any Governmental Authority or Utility provider, and any taxes, penalties, surcharges or similar charges thereon. Landlord may cause, at Tenant’s expense, any Utilities to be separately metered or charged directly to Tenant by the provider. Tenant shall pay directly to the Utility provider, prior to delinquency, any separately metered Utilities and services which may be furnished to Tenant or the Premises during the Term. Tenant shall pay, as part of Operating Expenses, its share of all charges for jointly metered Utilities based upon consumption, as reasonably determined by Landlord. No interruption or failure of Utilities, from any cause whatsoever other than Landlord’s willful misconduct, shall result in eviction or constructive eviction of Tenant, termination of this Lease or the abatement of Rent. Tenant agrees to limit use of water and sewer with respect to Common Areas to normal restroom use.

12.    Alterations and Tenant’s Property. Any alterations, additions, or improvements made to the Premises by or on behalf of Tenant, including additional locks or bolts of any kind or nature upon any doors or windows in the Premises, but excluding installation, removal or realignment of furniture systems (other than removal of furniture systems owned or paid for by Landlord) not involving any modifications to the structure or connections (other then by ordinary plugs or jacks) to Building Systems (as defined in Section 13) (“Alterations”) shall be subject to Landlord’s prior written consent, which may be given or withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion if any such Alteration affects the structure or Building Systems and shall not be otherwise unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Tenant may construct nonstructural Alterations in the Premises without Landlord’s prior approval if the aggregate cost of all such work in any 12 month period does not exceed $50,000 (a “Notice-Only Alteration”), provided Tenant notifies Landlord in writing of such intended Notice-Only Alteration, and such notice shall be accompanied by plans, specifications, work contracts and such other information concerning the nature and cost of the Notice-Only Alteration as may be reasonably requested by Landlord, which notice and accompanying materials shall be delivered to Landlord not less than 15 business days in advance of any proposed construction. If Landlord approves any Alterations, Landlord may impose such conditions on Tenant in connection with the commencement, performance and completion of such Alterations as Landlord may deem appropriate in Landlord’s reasonable discretion. Any request for approval shall be in writing, delivered not less than 15 business days in advance of any proposed construction, and accompanied by plans, specifications, bid proposals, work contracts and such other information concerning the nature and cost of the alterations as may be reasonably requested by Landlord, including the identities and mailing addresses of all persons performing work or supplying materials. Landlord’s right to review plans and specifications and to monitor construction shall be solely for its own benefit, and Landlord shall have no duty to ensure that such plans and specifications or construction comply with applicable Legal Requirements. Tenant shall cause, at its sole cost and expense, all Alterations to comply with insurance requirements and with Legal Requirements and shall implement at its sole cost and expense any alteration or modification required by Legal Requirements as a result of any Alterations. Tenant shall pay to Landlord, as Additional Rent, on demand an amount equal to 2.5% of all charges incurred by Tenant or its contractors or agents in connection with any Alteration to cover Landlord’s overhead and expenses for plan review, coordination, scheduling and supervision. Before Tenant begins any Alteration, Landlord may post on and about the Premises notices of non-responsibility pursuant to

 

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applicable law. Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for, and indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from, any expense incurred by Landlord by reason of faulty work done by Tenant or its contractors, delays caused by such work, or inadequate cleanup.

Tenant shall furnish security or make other arrangements satisfactory to Landlord to assure payment for the completion of all Alterations work free and clear of liens, and shall provide (and cause each contractor or subcontractor to provide) certificates of insurance for workers’ compensation and other coverage in amounts and from an insurance company satisfactory to Landlord protecting Landlord against liability for personal injury or property damage during construction. Upon completion of any Alterations, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord: (i) sworn statements setting forth the names of all contractors and subcontractors who did the work and final lien waivers from all such contractors and subcontractors; and (ii) “as built” plans for any such Alteration.

Except for Removable Installations (as hereinafter defined), all Installations (as hereinafter defined) shall be and shall remain the property of Landlord during the Term and following the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, shall not be removed by Tenant at any time during the Term, and shall remain upon and be surrendered with the Premises as a part thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord may, at the time its approval of any such Installation is requested, or at the time it receives notice of a Notice Only Alteration, notify Tenant that Landlord requires that Tenant remove such Installation upon the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, in which event Tenant shall remove such installation in accordance with the immediately succeeding sentence. Upon the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, Tenant shall remove (i) all wires, cables or similar equipment which Tenant has installed in the Premises or in the risers or plenums of the Building, (ii) any Installations for which Landlord has given Tenant notice of removal in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, and (iii) all of Tenant’s Property (as hereinafter defined), and Tenant shall restore and repair any damage caused by or occasioned as a result of such removal, including, without limitation, capping off all such connections behind the walls of the Premises and repairing any holes. During any restoration period beyond the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, Tenant shall pay Rent to Landlord as provided herein as if said space were otherwise occupied by Tenant. If Landlord is requested by Tenant or any lender, lessor or other person or entity claiming an interest in any of Tenant’s Property to waive any lien Landlord may have against any of Tenant’s Property, and Landlord consents to such waiver, then Landlord shall be entitled to be paid as administrative rent a fee of $1,000 per occurrence for its time and effort in preparing and negotiating such a waiver of lien. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall Tenant be required to remove the Tenant Improvements at the expiration or earlier termination of the Term.

For purposes of this Lease, (x) “Removable Installations” means any items listed on Exhibit F attached hereto and any items agreed by Landlord in writing to be included on Exhibit F in the future, (y) “Tenant’s Property” means Removable Installations and, other than Installations, any personal property or equipment of Tenant that may be removed without material damage to the Premises, and (z) “Installations” means all property of any kind paid for with by Landlord, all Alterations, all fixtures, and all partitions, hardware, built-in machinery, built-in casework and cabinets and other similar additions, equipment, property and improvements built into the Premises so as to become an integral part of the Premises, including, without limitation, fume hoods which penetrate the roof or plenum area, built-in cold rooms, built-in warm rooms, walk-in cold rooms, walk-in warm rooms, deionized water systems, glass washing equipment, autoclaves, chillers, built-in plumbing, electrical and mechanical equipment and systems, and any power generator and transfer switch.

13.    Landlord’s Repairs. Landlord, as an Operating Expense, shall maintain all of the structural, exterior, parking and other Common Areas of the Project, including HVAC, plumbing, fire sprinklers, elevators and all other building systems serving the Premises and other portions of the Project (“Building Systems”), in good repair, reasonable wear and tear and uninsured losses and damages caused by Tenant, or by any of Tenant’s agents, servants, employees, invitees and contractors (collectively, “Tenant Parties”) excluded. Losses and damages caused by Tenant or any Tenant Party shall be repaired by Landlord, to the extent not covered by insurance, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense. Landlord reserves the right to stop Building Systems services when necessary (i) by reason of accident or

 

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emergency, or (ii) for planned repairs, alterations or improvements, which are, in the judgment of Landlord, desirable or necessary to be made, until said repairs, alterations or improvements shall have been completed. Landlord shall have no responsibility or liability for failure to supply Building Systems services during any such period of interruption; provided, however, that Landlord shall, except in case of emergency, make a commercially reasonable effort to give Tenant 24 hours advance notice of any planned stoppage of Building Systems services for routine maintenance, repairs, alterations or improvements. Tenant shall promptly give Landlord written notice of any repair required by Landlord pursuant to this Section, after which Landlord shall make a commercially reasonable effort to effect such repair. Landlord shall not be liable for any failure to make any repairs or to perform any maintenance unless such failure shall persist for an unreasonable time after Tenant’s written notice of the need for such repairs or maintenance. Tenant waives its rights under any state or local law to terminate this Lease or to make such repairs at Landlord’s expense and agrees that the parties’ respective rights with respect to such matters shall be solely as set forth herein. Repairs required as the result of fire, earthquake, flood, vandalism, war, or similar cause of damage or destruction shall be controlled by Section 18.

14.    Tenant’s Repairs. Subject to Section 13 hereof, Tenant, at its expense, shall repair, replace and maintain in good condition all portions of the Premises, including, without limitation, entries, doors, ceilings, interior windows, interior walls, and the interior side of demising walls. Should Tenant fail to make any such repair or replacement or fail to maintain the Premises, Landlord shall give Tenant notice of such failure. If Tenant fails to commence cure of such failure within 10 days of Landlord’s notice, and thereafter diligently prosecute such cure to completion, Landlord may perform such work and shall be reimbursed by Tenant within 10 days after demand therefor; provided, however, that if such failure by Tenant creates or could create an emergency, Landlord may immediately commence cure of such failure and shall thereafter be entitled to recover the costs of such cure from Tenant. Subject to Sections 17 and 18, Tenant shall bear the full uninsured cost of any repair or replacement to any part of the Project that results from damage caused by Tenant or any Tenant Party and any repair that benefits only the Premises.

15.    Mechanic’s Liens. Tenant shall discharge, by bond or otherwise, any mechanic’s lien filed against the Premises or against the Project for work claimed to have been done for, or materials claimed to have been furnished to, Tenant within 10 days after the filing thereof, at Tenant’s sole cost and shall otherwise keep the Premises and the Project free from any liens arising out of work performed, materials furnished or obligations incurred by Tenant. Should Tenant fail to discharge any lien described herein, Landlord shall have the right, but not the obligation, to pay such claim or post a bond or otherwise provide security to eliminate the lien as a claim against title to the Project and the cost thereof shall be immediately due from Tenant as Additional Rent. If Tenant shall lease or finance the acquisition of office equipment, furnishings, or other personal property of a removable nature utilized by Tenant in the operation of Tenant’s business, Tenant warrants that any Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statement filed as a matter of public record by any lessor or creditor of Tenant will upon its face or by exhibit thereto indicate that such Financing Statement is applicable only to removable personal property of Tenant located within the Premises. In no event shall the address of the Project be furnished on the statement without qualifying language as to applicability of the lien only to removable personal property, located in an identified suite held by Tenant.

16.    Indemnification. Tenant hereby indemnifies and agrees to defend, save and hold Landlord harmless from and against any and Claims for injury or death to persons or damage to property occurring within or about the Premises, arising directly or indirectly out of use or occupancy of the Premises or a breach or default by Tenant in the performance of any of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of Landlord. Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for, and Tenant assumes all risk of damage to, personal property (including, without limitation, loss of records kept within the Premises). Tenant further waives any and all Claims for injury to Tenant’s business or loss of income relating to any such damage or destruction of personal property (including, without limitation, any loss of records). Landlord shall not be liable for any damages arising from any act, omission or neglect of any tenant in the Project or of any other third party.

 

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17.    Insurance. Landlord shall maintain all risk property and, if applicable, sprinkler damage insurance covering the full replacement cost of the Project or such lesser coverage amount as Landlord may elect provided such coverage amount is not less than 90% of such full replacement cost. Landlord shall further procure and maintain commercial general liability insurance with a single loss limit of not less than $2,000,000 for bodily injury and property damage with respect to the Project. Landlord may, but is not obligated to, maintain such other insurance and additional coverages as it may deem necessary, including, but not limited to, flood, environmental hazard and earthquake, loss or failure of building equipment, errors and omissions, rental loss during the period of repair or rebuilding, workers’ compensation insurance and fidelity bonds for employees employed to perform services and insurance for any improvements installed by Tenant or which are in addition to the standard improvements customarily furnished by Landlord without regard to whether or not such are made a part of the Project. All such insurance shall be included as part of the Operating Expenses. The Project may be included in a blanket policy (in which case the cost of such insurance allocable to the Project will be determined by Landlord based upon the insurer’s cost calculations).

Tenant, at its sole cost and expense, shall maintain during the Term: special form or all risk property insurance with business interruption and extra expense coverage, covering the full replacement cost of all property and improvements installed or placed in the Premises by Tenant at Tenant’s expense; workers’ compensation insurance with no less than the minimum limits required by law; employer’s liability insurance with such limits as required by law; and commercial general liability insurance, with a minimum limit of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage with respect to the Premises. The commercial general liability insurance policy shall name Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., and Landlord, its officers, directors, employees, managers, agents, invitees and contractors (collectively, “Landlord Parties”), as additional insureds; insure on an occurrence and not a claims-made basis; be issued by insurance companies which have a rating of not less than policyholder rating of A and financial category rating of at least Class X in “Best’s Insurance Guide”; shall not be cancelable for nonpayment of premium unless 30 days prior written notice shall have been given to Landlord from the insurer; contain a hostile fire endorsement and a contractual liability endorsement; and provide primary coverage to Landlord (any policy issued to Landlord providing duplicate or similar coverage shall be deemed excess over Tenant’s policies). Copies of such policies (if requested by Landlord), or certificates of insurance showing the limits of coverage required hereunder and showing Landlord as an additional insured, along with reasonable evidence of the payment of premiums for the applicable period, shall be delivered to Landlord by Tenant upon commencement of the Term and upon each renewal of said insurance. Tenant’s policy may be a “blanket policy” with an aggregate per location endorsement which specifically provides that the amount of insurance shall not be prejudiced by other losses covered by the policy. Tenant shall, at least 5 days prior to the expiration of such policies, furnish Landlord with renewal certificates.

In each instance where insurance is to name Landlord as an additional insured, Tenant shall upon written request of Landlord also designate and furnish certificates so evidencing Landlord as additional insured to: (i) any lender of Landlord holding a security interest in the Project or any portion thereof, (ii) the landlord under any lease wherein Landlord is tenant of the real property on which the Project is located, if the interest of Landlord is or shall become that of a tenant under a ground or other underlying lease rather than that of a fee owner, and/or (iii) any management company retained by Landlord to manage the Project.

The property insurance obtained by Landlord and Tenant shall include a waiver of subrogation by the insurers and all rights based upon an assignment from its insured, against Landlord or Tenant, and their respective officers, directors, employees, managers, agents, invitees and contractors (“Related Parties”), in connection with any loss or damage thereby insured against. Neither party nor its respective Related Parties shall be liable to the other for loss or damage caused by any risk insured against under property insurance required to be maintained hereunder, and each party waives any claims against the other party, and its respective Related Parties, for such loss or damage. The failure of a party to insure its property shall not void this waiver. Landlord and its respective Related Parties shall not be liable for, and Tenant hereby waives all claims against such parties for, business interruption and losses occasioned thereby sustained by Tenant or any person claiming through Tenant resulting from any

 

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accident or occurrence in or upon the Premises or the Project from any cause whatsoever. If the foregoing waivers shall contravene any law with respect to exculpatory agreements, the liability of Landlord or Tenant shall be deemed not released but shall be secondary to the other’s insurer.

Landlord may require insurance policy limits to be raised to conform with requirements of Landlord’s lender and/or to bring coverage limits to levels then being generally required of new tenants within the Project.

18.    Restoration. If, at any time during the Term, the Project or the Premises are damaged or destroyed by a fire or other insured casualty, Landlord shall notify Tenant within 60 days after discovery of such damage as to the amount of time Landlord reasonably estimates it will take to restore the Project or the Premises, as applicable (the “Restoration Period”). If the Restoration Period is estimated to exceed 12 months (the “Maximum Restoration Period”), Landlord may, in such notice, elect to terminate this Lease as of the date that is 75 days after the date of discovery of such damage or destruction; provided, however, that notwithstanding Landlord’s election to restore, Tenant may elect to terminate this Lease by written notice to Landlord delivered within 10 business days of receipt of a notice from Landlord estimating a Restoration Period for the Premises longer than the Maximum Restoration Period. Unless either Landlord or Tenant so elects to terminate this Lease, Landlord shall, subject to receipt of sufficient insurance proceeds (with any deductible to be treated as a current Operating Expense), promptly restore the Premises (excluding the improvements installed by Tenant or by Landlord and paid for by Tenant), subject to delays arising from the collection of insurance proceeds, from Force Majeure events or as needed to obtain any license, clearance or other authorization of any kind required to enter into and restore the Premises issued by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the use, storage, handling, treatment, generation, release, disposal, removal or remediation of Hazardous Materials (as defined in Section 30) in, on or about the Premises (collectively referred to herein as “Hazardous Materials Clearances”); provided, however, that if repair or restoration of the Premises is not substantially complete as of the end of the Maximum Restoration Period or, if longer, the Restoration Period, Landlord may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect not to proceed with such repair and restoration, in which event Landlord shall be relieved of its obligation to make such repairs or restoration and this Lease shall terminate as of the date that is 75 days after the later of: (i) discovery of such damage or destruction, or (ii) the date all required Hazardous Materials Clearances are obtained, but Landlord shall retain any Rent paid and the right to any Rent payable by Tenant prior to such election by Landlord or Tenant.

Tenant, at its expense, shall promptly perform, subject to delays arising from the collection of insurance proceeds, from Force Majeure (as defined in Section 34) events or to obtain Hazardous Material Clearances, all repairs or restoration not required to be done by Landlord and shall promptly re-enter the Premises and commence doing business in accordance with this Lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Landlord or Tenant may terminate this Lease upon written notice to the other if the Premises are damaged during the last year of the Term and Landlord reasonably estimates that it will take more than 2 months to repair such damage; provided, however, that such notice is delivered within 10 business days after the date that Landlord provides Tenant with written notice of the estimated Restoration Period. Landlord shall also have the right to terminate this Lease if insurance proceeds are not available for such restoration. Rent shall be abated from the date all required Hazardous Material Clearances are obtained until the Premises are repaired and restored, in the proportion which the area of the Premises, if any, which is not usable by Tenant bears to the total area of the Premises, unless Landlord provides Tenant with other space during the period of repair that is suitable for the temporary conduct of Tenant’s business. Such abatement shall be the sole remedy of Tenant, and except as provided in this Section 18, Tenant waives any right to terminate the Lease by reason of damage or casualty loss.

The provisions of this Lease, including this Section 18, constitute an express agreement between Landlord and Tenant with respect to any and all damage to, or destruction of, all or any part of the Premises, or any other portion of the Project, and any statute or regulation which is now or may hereafter be in effect shall have no application to this Lease or any damage or destruction to all or any part of the Premises or any other portion of the Project, the parties hereto expressly agreeing that this Section 18 sets forth their entire understanding and agreement with respect to such matters.

 

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19.    Condemnation. If the whole or any material part of the Premises or the Project is taken for any public or quasi-public use under governmental law, ordinance, or regulation, or by right of eminent domain, or by private purchase in lieu thereof (a “Taking” or “Taken”), and the Taking would in Landlord’s reasonable judgment, either prevent or materially interfere with Tenant’s use of the Premises or materially interfere with or impair Landlord’s ownership or operation of the Project, then upon written notice by Landlord this Lease shall terminate and Rent shall be apportioned as of said date. If part of the Premises shall be Taken, and this Lease is not terminated as provided above, Landlord shall promptly restore the Premises and the Project as nearly as is commercially reasonable under the circumstances to their condition prior to such partial Taking and the rentable square footage of the Building, the rentable square footage of the Premises, Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses and the Rent payable hereunder during the unexpired Term shall be reduced to such extent as may be fair and reasonable under the circumstances. Upon any such Taking, Landlord shall be entitled to receive the entire price or award from any such Taking without any payment to Tenant, and Tenant hereby assigns to Landlord Tenant’s interest, if any, in such award. Tenant shall have the right, to the extent that same shall not diminish Landlord’s award, to make a separate claim against the condemning authority (but not Landlord) for such compensation as may be separately awarded or recoverable by Tenant for moving expenses and damage to Tenant’s trade fixtures, if a separate award for such items is made to Tenant. Tenant hereby waives any and all rights it might otherwise have pursuant to any provision of state law to terminate this Lease upon a partial Taking of the Premises or the Project.

20.    Events of Default. Each of the following events shall be a default (“Default”) by Tenant under this Lease:

(a)    Payment Defaults. Tenant shall fail to pay any installment of Rent or any other payment hereunder when due; provided, however, that Landlord will give Tenant notice and an opportunity to cure any failure to pay Rent within 3 days of any such notice not more than once in any 12 month period.

(b)    Insurance. Any insurance required to be maintained by Tenant pursuant to this Lease shall be canceled or terminated or shall expire or shall be reduced or materially changed, or Landlord shall receive a notice of nonrenewal of any such insurance and Tenant shall fail to obtain replacement insurance before the expiration of the current coverage.

(c)    Abandonment. Tenant shall abandon the Premises.

(d)    Improper Transfer. Tenant shall assign, sublease or otherwise transfer or attempt to transfer all or any portion of Tenant’s interest in this Lease or the Premises except as expressly permitted herein, or Tenant’s interest in this Lease shall be attached, executed upon, or otherwise judicially seized and such action is not released within 90 days of the action.

(e)    Liens. Tenant shall fail to discharge or otherwise obtain the release of any lien placed upon the Premises in violation of this Lease within 10 days after any such lien is filed against the Premises.

(f)    Insolvency Events. Tenant or any guarantor or surety of Tenant’s obligations hereunder shall: (A) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) commence any case, proceeding or other action seeking to have an order for relief entered on its behalf as a debtor or to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, liquidation, dissolution or composition of it or its debts or seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or of any substantial part of its property (collectively a “Proceeding for Relief”); (C) become the subject of any Proceeding for Relief which is not dismissed within 90 days of its filing or entry; or (D) die or suffer a legal disability (if Tenant, guarantor, or surety is an individual) or be dissolved or otherwise fail to maintain its legal existence (if Tenant, guarantor or surety is a corporation, partnership or other entity).

 

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(g)    Estoppel Certificate or Subordination Agreement. Tenant fails to execute any document required from Tenant under Sections 23 or 27 within 5 days after a second notice requesting such document.

(h)    Other Defaults. Tenant shall fail to comply with any provision of this Lease other than those specifically referred to in this Section 20, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such failure shall continue for a period of 10 days after written notice thereof from Landlord to Tenant; provided that if the nature of Tenant’s default pursuant to this Section 20(h) is such that it cannot be cured by the payment of money and reasonably requires more than 10 days to cure, then Tenant shall not be deemed to be in default if Tenant commences such cure within said 10 day period and thereafter diligently prosecutes the same to completion; provided, however, that such cure shall be completed no later than 60 days from the date of Landlord’s notice, as such time period may be extended for Force Majeure delays

Any notice given under Section 20(h) hereof shall: (i) specify the alleged default, (ii) demand that Tenant cure such default, (iii) be in lieu of, and not in addition to, or shall be deemed to be, any notice required under any provision of applicable law, and (iv) not be deemed a forfeiture or a termination of this Lease unless Landlord elects otherwise in such notice; provided that if the nature of Tenant’s default pursuant to Section 20(h) is such that it cannot be cured by the payment of money and reasonably requires more than 10 days to cure, then Tenant shall not be deemed to be in default if Tenant commences such cure within said 10 day period and thereafter diligently prosecutes the same to completion; provided, however, that such cure shall be completed no later than 60 days from the date of Landlord’s notice.

21.    Landlord’s Remedies.

(a)    Payment By Landlord; Interest. Upon a Default by Tenant hereunder, Landlord may, without waiving or releasing any obligation of Tenant hereunder, make such payment or perform such act. All sums so paid or incurred by Landlord, together with interest thereon, from the date such sums were paid or incurred, at the annual rate equal to 12% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law (the “Default Rate”), whichever is less, shall be payable to Landlord on demand as Additional Rent. Nothing herein shall be construed to create or impose a duty on Landlord to mitigate any damages resulting from Tenant’s Default hereunder.

(b)    Late Payment Rent. Late payment by Tenant to Landlord of Rent and other sums due will cause Landlord to incur costs not contemplated by this Lease, the exact amount of which will be extremely difficult and impracticable to ascertain. Such costs include, but are not limited to, processing and accounting charges and late charges which may be imposed on Landlord under any Mortgage covering the Premises. Therefore, if any installment of Rent due from Tenant is not received by Landlord within 5 days after the date such payment is due, Tenant shall pay to Landlord an additional sum equal to 6% of the overdue Rent as a late charge. The parties agree that this late charge represents a fair and reasonable estimate of the costs Landlord will incur by reason of late payment by Tenant. In addition to the late charge, Rent not paid when due shall bear interest at the Default Rate from the 5th day after the date due until paid.

(c)    Remedies. Upon the occurrence of a Default, Landlord, at its option, without further notice or demand to Tenant, shall have in addition to all other rights and remedies provided in this Lease, at law or in equity, the option to pursue any one or more of the following remedies, each and all of which shall be cumulative and nonexclusive, without any notice or demand whatsoever.

(i)    Terminate this Lease, or at Landlord’s option, Tenant’s right to possession only, in which event Tenant shall immediately surrender the Premises to Landlord, and if Tenant fails to do so, Landlord may, without prejudice to any other remedy which it may have for possession or

 

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arrearages in rent, enter upon and take possession of the Premises and expel or remove Tenant and any other person who may be occupying the Premises or any part thereof, without being liable for prosecution or any claim or damages therefor;

(ii)    Upon any termination of this Lease, whether pursuant to the foregoing Section 21(c)(i) or otherwise, Landlord may recover from Tenant the following:

(A)    The worth at the time of award of any unpaid rent which has been earned at the time of such termination; plus

(B)    The worth at the time of award of the amount by which the unpaid rent which would have been earned after termination until the time of award exceeds the amount of such rental loss that Tenant proves could have been reasonably avoided; plus

(C)    The worth at the time of award of the amount by which the unpaid rent for the balance of the Term after the time of award exceeds the amount of such rental loss that Tenant proves could have been reasonably avoided; plus

(D)    Any other amount necessary to compensate Landlord for all the detriment proximately caused by Tenant’s failure to perform its obligations under this Lease or which in the ordinary course of things would be likely to result therefrom, specifically including, but not limited to, brokerage commissions and advertising expenses incurred, expenses of remodeling the Premises or any portion thereof for a new tenant, whether for the same or a different use, and any special concessions made to obtain a new tenant; and

(E)    At Landlord’s election, such other amounts in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as may be permitted from time to time by applicable law.

The term “rent” as used in this Section 21 shall be deemed to be and to mean all sums of every nature required to be paid by Tenant pursuant to the terms of this Lease, whether to Landlord or to others. As used in Sections 21(c)(ii)(A) and (B), above, the “worth at the time of award” shall be computed by allowing interest at the Default Rate. As used in Section 21(c)(ii)(C) above, the “worth at the time of award” shall be computed by discounting such amount at the discount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco at the time of award plus 1%.

(iii)    Landlord may continue this Lease in effect after Tenant’s Default and recover rent as it becomes due (Landlord and Tenant hereby agreeing that Tenant has the right to sublet or assign hereunder, subject only to reasonable limitations). Accordingly, if Landlord does not elect to terminate this Lease following a Default by Tenant, Landlord may, from time to time, without terminating this Lease, enforce all of its rights and remedies hereunder, including the right to recover all Rent as it becomes due.

(iv)    Whether or not Landlord elects to terminate this Lease following a Default by Tenant, Landlord shall have the right to terminate any and all subleases, licenses, concessions or other consensual arrangements for possession entered into by Tenant and affecting the Premises or may, in Landlord’s sole discretion, succeed to Tenant’s interest in such subleases, licenses, concessions or arrangements. Upon Landlord’s election to succeed to Tenant’s interest in any such subleases, licenses, concessions or arrangements, Tenant shall, as of the date of notice by Landlord of such election, have no further right to or interest in the rent or other consideration receivable thereunder.

(v)    Independent of the exercise of any other remedy of Landlord hereunder or under applicable law, Landlord may conduct an environmental test of the Premises as generally described in Section 30(c) hereof, at Tenant’s expense.

 

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(d)    Effect of Exercise. Exercise by Landlord of any remedies hereunder or otherwise available shall not be deemed to be an acceptance of surrender of the Premises and/or a termination of this Lease by Landlord, it being understood that such surrender and/or termination can be effected only by the express written agreement of Landlord and Tenant. Any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding, Landlord shall have the right at all times to enforce the provisions of this Lease in strict accordance with the terms hereof; and the failure of Landlord at any time to enforce its rights under this Lease strictly in accordance with same shall not be construed as having created a custom in any way or manner contrary to the specific terms, provisions, and covenants of this Lease or as having modified the same and shall not be deemed a waiver of Landlord’s right to enforce one or more of its rights in connection with any subsequent default. A receipt by Landlord of Rent or other payment with knowledge of the breach of any covenant hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of such breach, and no waiver by Landlord of any provision of this Lease shall be deemed to have been made unless expressed in writing and signed by Landlord. To the greatest extent permitted by law, Tenant waives the service of notice of Landlord’s intention to re-enter, re-take or otherwise obtain possession of the Premises as provided in any statute, or to institute legal proceedings to that end, and also waives all right of redemption in case Tenant shall be dispossessed by a judgment or by warrant of any court or judge. Any reletting of the Premises or any portion thereof shall be on such terms and conditions as Landlord in its sole discretion may determine. Landlord shall not be liable for, nor shall Tenant’s obligations hereunder be diminished because of, Landlord’s failure to relet the Premises or collect rent due in respect of such reletting or otherwise to mitigate any damages arising by reason of Tenant’s Default.

22.    Assignment and Subletting.

(a)    General Prohibition. Without Landlord’s prior written consent subject to and on the conditions described in this Section 22, Tenant shall not, directly or indirectly, voluntarily or by operation of law, assign this Lease or sublease the Premises or any part thereof or mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate its leasehold interest or grant any concession or license within the Premises, and any attempt to do any of the foregoing shall be void and of no effect. If Tenant is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, the shares or other ownership interests thereof which are not actively traded upon a stock exchange or in the over-the-counter market, a transfer or series of transfers whereby 50% or more of the issued and outstanding shares or other ownership interests of such corporation are, or voting control is, transferred (but excepting transfers upon deaths of individual owners) from a person or persons or entity or entities which were owners thereof at time of execution of this Lease to persons or entities who were not owners of shares or other ownership interests of the corporation, partnership or limited liability company at time of execution of this Lease, shall be deemed an assignment of this Lease requiring the consent of Landlord as provided in this Section 22.

(b)    Permitted Transfers. If Tenant desires to assign, sublease, hypothecate or otherwise transfer this Lease or sublet the Premises, then at least 15 business days, but not more than 90 business days, before the date Tenant desires the assignment or sublease to be effective (the “Assignment Date”), Tenant shall give Landlord a notice (the “Assignment Notice”) containing such information about the proposed assignee or sublessee, including the proposed use of the Premises and any Hazardous Materials proposed to be used, stored handled, treated, generated in or released or disposed of from the Premises, the Assignment Date, any relationship between Tenant and the proposed assignee or sublessee, and all material terms and conditions of the proposed assignment or sublease, including a copy of any proposed assignment or sublease in its final form, and such other information as Landlord may deem reasonably necessary or appropriate to its consideration whether to grant its consent. Landlord may, by giving written notice to Tenant within 15 business days after receipt of the Assignment Notice: (i) grant such consent, (ii) refuse such consent, in its reasonable discretion; or (iii) terminate this Lease with respect to the space described in the Assignment Notice as of the Assignment Date (an “Assignment Termination”). Among other reasons, it shall be reasonable for Landlord to withhold its consent in any of these instances: (1) the proposed assignee or subtenant is a governmental agency; (2) in Landlord’s reasonable judgment, the use of the Premises by the proposed assignee or subtenant would entail any alterations that would lessen the value of the leasehold improvements in the Premises, or would require increased services by Landlord; (3) in Landlord’s good faith reasonable judgment, the proposed assignee or subtenant is engaged in areas of scientific research or other business concerns

 

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that are controversial such that they may (i) attract or cause negative publicity for or about the Building or the Project, (ii) negatively affect the reputation of the Building, the Project or Landlord, (iii) attract protestors to the Building or the Project, or (iv) lessen the attractiveness of the Building or the Project to any tenants or prospective tenants, purchasers or lenders; (4) in Landlord’s reasonable judgment, the proposed assignee or subtenant lacks the creditworthiness to support the financial obligations it will incur under the proposed assignment or sublease; (5) in Landlord’s reasonable judgment, the character, reputation, or business of the proposed assignee or subtenant is inconsistent with the desired tenant-mix in that its use differs from the Permitted Use or the quality of other tenancies in the Project or is inconsistent with the type and quality of the nature of the Building; (6) Landlord has received from any prior landlord to the proposed assignee or subtenant a negative report concerning such prior landlord’s experience with the proposed assignee or subtenant; (7) Landlord has experienced previous defaults by or is in litigation with the proposed assignee or subtenant; (8) the use of the Premises by the proposed assignee or subtenant will violate any applicable Legal Requirement; (9) the proposed assignee or subtenant, or any entity that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the proposed assignee or subtenant, is then an occupant of the Project; (10) the proposed assignee or subtenant is an entity with whom Landlord is negotiating to lease space in the Project; or (11) the assignment or sublease is prohibited by Landlord’s lender. If Landlord delivers notice of its election to exercise an Assignment Termination, Tenant shall have the right to withdraw such Assignment Notice by written notice to Landlord of such election within 7 business days after Landlord’s notice electing to exercise the Assignment Termination. If Tenant withdraws such Assignment Notice, this Lease shall continue in full force and effect. If Tenant does not withdraw such Assignment Notice, this Lease, and the term and estate herein granted, shall terminate as of the Assignment Date with respect to the space described in such Assignment Notice. No failure of Landlord to exercise any such option to terminate this Lease, or to deliver a timely notice in response to the Assignment Notice, shall be deemed to be Landlord’s consent to the proposed assignment, sublease or other transfer. Tenant shall pay to Landlord a fee equal to One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500) in connection with its consideration of any Assignment Notice and/or its preparation or review of any consent documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord’s consent to an assignment of this Lease or a subletting of any portion of the Premises to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Tenant (a “Control Permitted Assignment”) shall not be required, provided that Landlord shall have the right to approve the form of any such sublease or assignment. In addition, Tenant shall have the right to assign this Lease, upon 30 days prior written notice to Landlord but without obtaining Landlord’s prior written consent, to a corporation or other entity which is a successor-in-interest to Tenant, by way of merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization, or by the purchase of all or substantially all of the assets or the ownership interests of Tenant provided that (i) such merger or consolidation, or such acquisition or assumption, as the case may be, is for a good business purpose and not principally for the purpose of transferring the Lease, and (ii) the net worth (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)) of the assignee is not less than the greater of the net worth (as determined in accordance with GAAP) of Tenant as of (A) the Commencement Date, or (B) as of the date of Tenant’s most current quarterly or annual financial statements, and (iii) such assignee shall agree in writing to assume all of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease arising after the effective date of the assignment (a “Corporate Permitted Assignment”). Control Permitted Assignments and Corporate Permitted Assignments are hereinafter referred to as “Permitted Assignments.”

(c)    Additional Conditions. As a condition to any such assignment or subletting, whether or not Landlord’s consent is required, Landlord may require:

(i)    that any assignee or subtenant agree, in writing at the time of such assignment or subletting, that if Landlord gives such party notice that Tenant is in default under this Lease, such party shall thereafter make all payments otherwise due Tenant directly to Landlord, which payments will be received by Landlord without any liability except to credit such payment against those due under the Lease, and any such third party shall agree to attorn to Landlord or its successors and assigns should this Lease be terminated for any reason; provided, however, in no event shall Landlord or its successors or assigns be obligated to accept such attornment; and

 

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(ii)    A list of Hazardous Materials, certified by the proposed assignee or sublessee to be true and correct, which the proposed assignee or sublessee intends to use, store, handle, treat, generate in or release or dispose of from the Premises, together with copies of all documents relating to such use, storage, handling, treatment, generation, release or disposal of Hazardous Materials by the proposed assignee or subtenant in the Premises or on the Project, prior to the proposed assignment or subletting, including, without limitation: permits; approvals; reports and correspondence; storage and management plans; plans relating to the installation of any storage tanks to be installed in or under the Project (provided, said installation of tanks shall only be permitted after Landlord has given its written consent to do so, which consent may be withheld in Landlord’s sole and absolute discretion); and all closure plans or any other documents required by any and all federal, state and local Governmental Authorities for any storage tanks installed in, on or under the Project for the closure of any such tanks. Neither Tenant nor any such proposed assignee or subtenant is required, however, to provide Landlord with any portion(s) of the such documents containing information of a proprietary nature which, in and of themselves, do not contain a reference to any Hazardous Materials or hazardous activities.

(d)    No Release of Tenant, Sharing of Excess Rents. Notwithstanding any assignment or subletting, Tenant and any guarantor or surety of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease shall at all times remain fully and primarily responsible and liable for the payment of Rent and for compliance with all of Tenant’s other obligations under this Lease. If the Rent due and payable by a sublessee or assignee (or a combination of the rental payable under such sublease or assignment plus any bonus or other consideration therefor or incident thereto in any form) exceed the sum of the rental payable under this Lease, (excluding however, any Rent payable under this Section) and actual and reasonable brokerage fees, legal costs and any design or construction fees directly related to and required pursuant to the terms of any such sublease) (“Excess Rent”), then Tenant shall be bound and obligated to pay Landlord as Additional Rent hereunder 50% of such Excess Rent within 10 days following receipt thereof by Tenant. If Tenant shall sublet the Premises or any part thereof, Tenant hereby immediately and irrevocably assigns to Landlord, as security for Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, all rent from any such subletting, and Landlord as assignee and as attorney-in-fact for Tenant, or a receiver for Tenant appointed on Landlord’s application, may collect such rent and apply it toward Tenant’s obligations under this Lease; except that, until the occurrence of a Default, Tenant shall have the right to collect such rent.

(e)    No Waiver. The consent by Landlord to an assignment or subletting shall not relieve Tenant or any assignees of this Lease or any sublessees of the Premises from obtaining the consent of Landlord to any further assignment or subletting nor shall it release Tenant or any assignee or sublessee of Tenant from full and primary liability under the Lease. The acceptance of Rent hereunder, or the acceptance of performance of any other term, covenant, or condition thereof, from any other person or entity shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any of the provisions of this Lease or a consent to any subletting, assignment or other transfer of the Premises.

(f)    Prior Conduct of Proposed Transferee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 22, if (i) the proposed assignee or sublessee of Tenant has been required by any prior landlord, lender or Governmental Authority to take remedial action in connection with Hazardous Materials contaminating a property, where the contamination resulted from such party’s action or use of the property in question, (ii) the proposed assignee or sublessee is subject to an enforcement order issued by any Governmental Authority in connection with the use, storage, handling, treatment, generation, release or disposal of Hazardous Materials (including, without limitation, any order related to the failure to make a required reporting to any Governmental Authority), or (iii) because of the existence of a pre-existing environmental condition in the vicinity of or underlying the Project, the risk that Landlord would be targeted as a responsible party in connection with the remediation of such pre-existing environmental condition would be materially increased or exacerbated by the proposed use of Hazardous Materials by such proposed assignee or sublessee, Landlord shall have the absolute right to refuse to consent to any assignment or subletting to any such party.

23.    Estoppel Certificate. Tenant shall, within 10 business days of written notice from Landlord, execute, acknowledge and deliver a statement in writing in any form reasonably requested by a

 

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proposed lender or purchaser, (i) certifying that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or, if modified, stating the nature of such modification and certifying that this Lease as so modified is in full force and effect) and the dates to which the rental and other charges are paid in advance, if any, (ii) acknowledging that there are not any uncured defaults on the part of Landlord hereunder, or specifying such defaults if any are claimed, and (iii) setting forth such further information with respect to the status of this Lease or the Premises as may be requested thereon. Any such statement may be relied upon by any prospective purchaser or encumbrancer of all or any portion of the real property of which the Premises are a part. Tenant’s failure to deliver such statement within such time shall, at the option of Landlord, constitute a Default under this Lease, and, in any event, shall be conclusive upon Tenant that the Lease is in full force and effect and without modification except as may be represented by Landlord in any certificate prepared by Landlord and delivered to Tenant for execution.

24.    Quiet Enjoyment. So long as Tenant is not in Default under this Lease, Tenant shall, subject to the terms of this Lease, at all times during the Term, have peaceful and quiet enjoyment of the Premises against any person claiming by, through or under Landlord.

25.    Prorations. All prorations required or permitted to be made hereunder shall be made on the basis of a 360 day year and 30 day months.

26.    Rules and Regulations. Tenant shall, at all times during the Term and any extension thereof, comply with all reasonable rules and regulations at any time or from time to time established by Landlord covering use of the Premises and the Project. The current rules and regulations are attached hereto as Exhibit E. If there is any conflict between said rules and regulations and other provisions of this Lease, the terms and provisions of this Lease shall control. Landlord shall not have any liability or obligation for the breach of any rules or regulations by other tenants in the Project and shall not enforce such rules and regulations in a discriminatory manner.

27.    Subordination. This Lease and Tenant’s interest and rights hereunder are hereby made and shall be subject and subordinate at all times to the lien of any Mortgage now existing or hereafter created on or against the Project or the Premises, and all amendments, restatements, renewals, modifications, consolidations, refinancing, assignments and extensions thereof, without the necessity of any further instrument or act on the part of Tenant; provided, however that so long as there is no Default hereunder, Tenant’s right to possession of the Premises shall not be disturbed by the Holder of any such Mortgage. Tenant agrees, at the election of the Holder of any such Mortgage, to attorn to any such Holder. Tenant agrees upon demand to execute, acknowledge and deliver such instruments, confirming such subordination, and such instruments of attornment as shall be requested by any such Holder, provided any such instruments contain appropriate non-disturbance provisions assuring Tenant’s quiet enjoyment of the Premises as set forth in Section 24 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Holder may at any time subordinate its Mortgage to this Lease, without Tenant’s consent, by notice in writing to Tenant, and thereupon this Lease shall be deemed prior to such Mortgage without regard to their respective dates of execution, delivery or recording and in that event such Holder shall have the same rights with respect to this Lease as though this Lease had been executed prior to the execution, delivery and recording of such Mortgage and had been assigned to such Holder, The term “Mortgage” whenever used in this Lease shall be deemed to include deeds of trust, security assignments and any other encumbrances, and any reference to the “Holder” of a Mortgage shall be deemed to include the beneficiary under a deed of trust. As of the date of this Lease, there is no existing Mortgage encumbering the Project.

28.    Surrender. Upon the expiration of the Term or earlier termination of Tenant’s right of possession, Tenant shall surrender the Premises to Landlord in the same condition as received, subject to any Alterations or Installations permitted by Landlord to remain in the Premises, free of Hazardous Materials brought upon, kept, used, stored, handled, treated, generated in, or released or disposed of from, the Premises by any person other than a Landlord Party (collectively, “Tenant HazMat Operations”) and released of all Hazardous Materials Clearances, broom clean, ordinary wear and tear and casualty loss and condemnation covered by Sections 18 and 19 excepted. At least 3 months prior to

 

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the surrender of the Premises, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a narrative description of the actions proposed (or required by any Governmental Authority) to be taken by Tenant in order to surrender the Premises (including any Installations permitted by Landlord to remain in the Premises) at the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, free from any residual impact from the Tenant HazMat Operations and otherwise released for unrestricted use and occupancy (the “Surrender Plan”). Such Surrender Plan shall be accompanied by a current listing of (i) all Hazardous Materials licenses and permits held by or on behalf of any Tenant Party with respect to the Premises, and (ii) all Hazardous Materials used, stored, handled, treated, generated, released or disposed of from the Premises, and shall be subject to the review and approval of Landlord’s environmental consultant. In connection with the review and approval of the Surrender Plan, upon the request of Landlord, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord or its consultant such additional non-proprietary information concerning Tenant HazMat Operations as Landlord shall request. On or before such surrender, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord evidence that the approved Surrender Plan shall have been satisfactorily completed and Landlord shall have the right, subject to reimbursement at Tenant’s expense as set forth below, to cause Landlord’s environmental consultant to inspect the Premises and perform such additional procedures as may be deemed reasonably necessary to confirm that the Premises are, as of the effective date of such surrender or early termination of the Lease, free from any residual impact from Tenant HazMat Operations. Tenant shall reimburse Landlord, as Additional Rent, for the actual out-of pocket expense incurred by Landlord for Landlord’s environmental consultant to review and approve the Surrender Plan and to visit the Premises and verify satisfactory completion of the same, which cost shall not exceed $5,000. Landlord shall have the unrestricted right to deliver such Surrender Plan and any report by Landlord’s environmental consultant with respect to the surrender of the Premises to third parties.

If Tenant shall fail to prepare or submit a Surrender Plan approved by Landlord, or if Tenant shall fail to complete the approved Surrender Plan, or if such Surrender Plan, whether or not approved by Landlord, shall fail to adequately address any residual effect of Tenant HazMat Operations in, on or about the Premises, Landlord shall have the right to take such actions as Landlord may deem reasonable or appropriate to assure that the Premises and the Project are surrendered free from any residual impact from Tenant HazMat Operations, the cost of which actions shall be reimbursed by Tenant as Additional Rent, without regard to the limitation set forth in the first paragraph of this Section 28.

Tenant shall immediately return to Landlord all keys and/or access cards to parking, the Project, restrooms or all or any portion of the Premises furnished to or otherwise procured by Tenant. If any such access card or key is lost, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, at Landlord’s election, either the cost of replacing such lost access card or key or the cost of reprogramming the access security system in which such access card was used or changing the lock or locks opened by such lost key. Any Tenant’s Property, Alterations and property not so removed by Tenant as permitted or required herein shall be deemed abandoned and may be stored, removed, and disposed of by Landlord at Tenant’s expense, and Tenant waives all claims against Landlord for any damages resulting from Landlord’s retention and/or disposition of such property. All obligations of Tenant hereunder not fully performed as of the termination of the Term, including the obligations of Tenant under Section 30 hereof, shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, including, without limitation, indemnity obligations, payment obligations with respect to Rent and obligations concerning the condition and repair of the Premises.

29.    Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TENANT AND LANDLORD WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OR TO HAVE A JURY PARTICIPATE IN RESOLVING ANY DISPUTE, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANT ARISING OUT OF THIS LEASE OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT, OR AGREEMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO.

30.    Environmental Requirements.

(a)    Prohibition/Compliance/Indemnity. Tenant shall not cause or permit any Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) to be brought upon, kept, used, stored, handled, treated, generated in

 

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or about, or released or disposed of from, the Premises or the Project in violation of applicable Environmental Requirements (as hereinafter defined) by Tenant or any Tenant Party. If Tenant breaches the obligation stated in the preceding sentence, or if the presence of Hazardous Materials in the Premises during the Term or any holding over results in contamination of the Premises, the Project or any adjacent property or if contamination of the Premises, the Project or any adjacent property by Hazardous Materials brought into, kept, used, stored, handled, treated, generated in or about, or released or disposed of from, the Premises by anyone other than Landlord and Landlord’s employees, agents and contractors otherwise occurs during the Term or any holding over, Tenant hereby indemnifies and shall defend and hold Landlord, its officers, directors, employees, agents and contractors harmless from any and all actions (including, without limitation, remedial or enforcement actions of any kind, administrative or judicial proceedings, and orders or judgments arising out of or resulting therefrom), costs, claims, damages (including, without limitation, punitive damages and damages based upon diminution in value of the Premises or the Project, or the loss of, or restriction on, use of the Premises or any portion of the Project), expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’, consultants’ and experts’ fees, court costs and amounts paid in settlement of any claims or actions), fines, forfeitures or other civil, administrative or criminal penalties, injunctive or other relief (whether or not based upon personal injury, property damage, or contamination of, or adverse effects upon, the environment, water tables or natural resources), liabilities or losses (collectively, “Environmental Claims”) which arise during or after the Term as a result of such contamination. This indemnification of Landlord by Tenant includes, without limitation, costs incurred in connection with any investigation of site conditions or any cleanup, treatment, remedial, removal, or restoration work required by any federal, state or local Governmental Authority because of Hazardous Materials present in the air, soil or ground water above, on, or under the Premises. Without limiting the foregoing, if the presence of any Hazardous Materials on the Premises, the Project or any adjacent property caused or permitted by Tenant or any Tenant Party results in any contamination of the Premises, the Project or any adjacent property, Tenant shall promptly take all actions at its sole expense and in accordance with applicable Environmental Requirements as are necessary to return the Premises, the Project or any adjacent property to the condition existing prior to the time of such contamination, provided that Landlord’s approval of such action shall first be obtained, which approval shall not unreasonably be withheld so long as such actions would not potentially have any material adverse long-term or short-term effect on the Premises or the Project. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 30, Tenant shall not be responsible for, and the indemnification and hold harmless obligation set forth in this paragraph shall not apply to (i) contamination in the Premises which Tenant can prove to Landlord’s reasonable satisfaction existed in the Premises immediately prior to the Commencement Date, or (ii) the presence of any Hazardous Materials in the Premises which Tenant can prove to Landlord’s reasonable satisfaction migrated from outside of the Premises into the Premises, unless in either case, the presence of such Hazardous Materials (x) is the result of a breach by Tenant of any of its obligations under this Lease, or (y) was caused, contributed to or exacerbated by Tenant or any Tenant Party.

(b)    Business. Landlord acknowledges that it is not the intent of this Section 30 to prohibit Tenant from using the Premises for the Permitted Use. Tenant may operate its business according to prudent industry practices so long as the use or presence of Hazardous Materials is strictly and properly monitored according to all then applicable Environmental Requirements. As a material inducement to Landlord to allow Tenant to use Hazardous Materials in connection with its business, Tenant agrees to deliver to Landlord prior to the Commencement Date a list identifying each type of Hazardous Materials to be brought upon, kept, used, stored, handled, treated, generated on, or released or disposed of from, the Premises and setting forth any and all governmental approvals or permits required in connection with the presence, use, storage, handling, treatment, generation, release or disposal of such Hazardous Materials on or from the Premises (“Hazardous Materials List”). Tenant shall deliver to Landlord an updated Hazardous Materials List at least once a year and shall also deliver an updated list before any new Hazardous Material is brought onto, kept, used, stored, handled, treated, generated on, or released or disposed of from, the Premises. Tenant shall deliver to Landlord true and correct copies of the following documents (the “Haz Mat Documents”) relating to the use, storage, handling, treatment, generation, release or disposal of Hazardous Materials prior to the Commencement Date, or if unavailable at that time, concurrent with the receipt from or submission to a Governmental Authority: permits; approvals; reports and correspondence; storage and management plans, notice of violations of any Legal

 

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Requirements; plans relating to the installation of any storage tanks to be installed in or under the Project (provided, said installation of tanks shall only be permitted after Landlord has given Tenant its written consent to do so, which consent may be withheld in Landlord’s sole and absolute discretion); all closure plans or any other documents required by any and all federal, state and local Governmental Authorities for any storage tanks installed in, on or under the Project for the closure of any such tanks; and a Surrender Plan (to the extent surrender in accordance with Section 28 cannot be accomplished in 3 months). Tenant is not required, however, to provide Landlord with any portion(s) of the Haz Mat Documents containing information of a proprietary nature which, in and of themselves, do not contain a reference to any Hazardous Materials or hazardous activities. It is not the intent of this Section to provide Landlord with information which could be detrimental to Tenant’s business should such information become possessed by Tenant’s competitors.

(c)    Tenant Representation and Warranty. Tenant hereby represents and warrants to Landlord that (i) neither Tenant nor any of its legal predecessors has been required by any prior landlord, lender or Governmental Authority at any time to take remedial action in connection with Hazardous Materials contaminating a property which contamination was permitted by Tenant of such predecessor or resulted from Tenant’s or such predecessor’s action or use of the property in question, and (ii) Tenant is not subject to any enforcement order issued by any Governmental Authority in connection with the use, storage, handling, treatment, generation, release or disposal of Hazardous Materials (including, without limitation, any order related to the failure to make a required reporting to any Governmental Authority). If Landlord determines that this representation and warranty was not true as of the date of this lease, Landlord shall have the right to terminate this Lease in Landlord’s sole and absolute discretion.

(d)    Testing. Landlord shall have the right to conduct annual tests of the Premises to determine whether any contamination of the Premises or the Project has occurred as a result of Tenant’s use. Tenant shall be required to pay the cost of such annual test of the Premises; provided, however, that if Tenant conducts its own tests of the Premises using third party contractors and test procedures acceptable to Landlord which tests are certified to Landlord, Landlord shall accept such tests in lieu of the annual tests to be paid for by Tenant. In addition, at any time, and from time to time, prior to the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, Landlord shall have the right to conduct appropriate tests of the Premises and the Project to determine if contamination has occurred as a result of Tenant’s use of the Premises. In connection with such testing, upon the request of Landlord, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord or its consultant such non-proprietary information concerning the use of Hazardous Materials in or about the Premises by Tenant or any Tenant Party. If contamination has occurred for which Tenant is liable under this Section 30, Tenant shall pay all costs to conduct such tests. If no such contamination is found, Landlord shall pay the costs of such tests (which shall not constitute an Operating Expense). Landlord shall provide Tenant with a copy of all third party, non-confidential reports and tests of the Premises made by or on behalf of Landlord during the Term without representation or warranty and subject to a confidentiality agreement. Tenant shall, at its sole cost and expense, promptly and satisfactorily remediate any environmental conditions identified by such testing in accordance with all Environmental Requirements. Landlord’s receipt of or satisfaction with any environmental assessment in no way waives any rights which Landlord may have against Tenant.

(e)    Control Areas, Tenant shall be allowed to utilize up to its pro rata share of the Hazardous Materials inventory within any control area or zone (located within the Premises), as designated by the applicable building code, for chemical use or storage. As used in the preceding sentence, Tenant’s pro rata share of any control areas or zones located within the Premises shall be determined based on the rentable square footage that Tenant leases within the applicable control area or zone. For purposes of example only, if a control area or zone contains 10,000 rentable square feet and 2,000 rentable square feet of a tenant’s premises are located within such control area or zone (while such premises as a whole contains 5,000 rentable square feet), the applicable tenant’s pro rata share of such control area would be 20%.

(f)    Underground Tanks. If underground or other storage tanks storing Hazardous Materials located on the Premises or the Project are used by Tenant or are hereafter placed on the Premises or the Project by Tenant, Tenant shall install, use, monitor, operate, maintain, upgrade and manage such

 

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storage tanks, maintain appropriate records, obtain and maintain appropriate insurance, implement reporting procedures, properly close any underground storage tanks, and take or cause to be taken all other actions necessary or required under applicable state and federal Legal Requirements, as such now exists or may hereafter be adopted or amended in connection with the installation, use, maintenance, management, operation, upgrading and closure of such storage tanks.

(g)    Tenant’s Obligations. Tenant’s obligations under this Section 30 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease. During any period of time after the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease required by Tenant or Landlord to complete the removal from the Premises of any Hazardous Materials (including, without limitation, the release and termination of any licenses or permits restricting the use of the Premises and the completion of the approved Surrender Plan), Tenant shall continue to pay the full Rent in accordance with this Lease for any portion of the Premises not relet by Landlord in Landlord’s sole discretion, which Rent shall be prorated daily.

(h)    Definitions. As used herein, the term “Environmental Requirements” means all applicable present and future statutes, regulations, ordinances, rules, codes, judgments, orders or other similar enactments of any Governmental Authority regulating or relating to health, safety, or environmental conditions on, under, or about the Premises or the Project, or the environment, including without limitation, the following: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and all state and local counterparts thereto, and any regulations or policies promulgated or issued thereunder. As used herein, the term “Hazardous Materials” means and includes any substance, material, waste, pollutant, or contaminant listed or defined as hazardous or toxic, or regulated by reason of its impact or potential impact on humans, animals and/or the environment under any Environmental Requirements, asbestos and petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). As defined in Environmental Requirements, Tenant is and shall be deemed to be the “operator” of Tenant’s “facility” and the “owner” of all Hazardous Materials brought on the Premises by Tenant or any Tenant Party, and the wastes, by-products, or residues generated, resulting, or produced therefrom.

31.    Tenant’s Remedies/Limitation of Liability. Landlord shall not be in default hereunder unless Landlord fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder within 30 days after written notice from Tenant specifying such failure (unless such performance will, due to the nature of the obligation, require a period of time in excess of 30 days, then after such period of time as is reasonably necessary). Upon any default by Landlord, Tenant shall give notice by registered or certified mail to any Holder of a Mortgage covering the Premises and to any landlord of any lease of property in or on which the Premises are located and Tenant shall offer such Holder and/or landlord a reasonable opportunity to cure the default, including time to obtain possession of the Project by power of sale or a judicial action if such should prove necessary to effect a cure; provided Landlord shall have furnished to Tenant in writing the names and addresses of all such persons who are to receive such notices. All obligations of Landlord hereunder shall be construed as covenants, not conditions; and, except as may be otherwise expressly provided in this Lease, Tenant may not terminate this Lease for breach of Landlord’s obligations hereunder.

All obligations of Landlord under this Lease will be binding upon Landlord only during the period of its ownership of the Premises and not thereafter. The term “Landlord” in this Lease shall mean only the owner for the time being of the Premises. Upon the transfer by such owner of its interest in the Premises, such owner shall thereupon be released and discharged from all obligations of Landlord thereafter accruing, but such obligations shall be binding during the Term upon each new owner for the duration of such owner’s ownership.

32.    Inspection and Access. Landlord and its agents, representatives, and contractors may enter the Premises at any reasonable time to inspect the Premises and to make such repairs as may be required or permitted pursuant to this Lease and for any other business purpose. Landlord and Landlord’s representatives may enter the Premises during business hours on not less than 48 hours advance written notice (except in the case of emergencies in which case no such notice shall be required

 

 

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and such entry may be at any time) for the purpose of effecting any such repairs, inspecting the Premises, showing the Premises to prospective purchasers and, during the last year of the Term, to prospective tenants or for any other business purpose. Landlord may erect a suitable sign on the Premises stating the Premises are available to let or that the Project is available for sale. Landlord may grant easements, make public dedications, designate Common Areas and create restrictions on or about the Project, provided that no such easement, dedication, designation or restriction materially, adversely affects Tenant’s use or occupancy of the Premises for the Permitted Use. At Landlord’s request, Tenant shall execute such instruments as may be necessary for such easements, dedications or restrictions. Tenant shall at all times, except in the case of emergencies, have the right to escort Landlord or its agents, representatives, contractors or guests while the same are in the Premises, provided such escort does not materially and adversely affect Landlord’s access rights hereunder.

33.    Security. Tenant acknowledges and agrees that security devices and services, if any, while intended to deter crime may not in given instances prevent theft or other criminal acts and that Landlord is not providing any security services with respect to the Premises. Tenant agrees that Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for, and Tenant waives any claim against Landlord with respect to, any loss by theft or any other damage suffered or incurred by Tenant in connection with any unauthorized entry into the Premises or any other breach of security with respect to the Premises. Tenant shall be solely responsible for the personal safety of Tenant’s officers, employees, agents, contractors, guests and invitees while any such person is in, on or about the Premises and/or the Project. Tenant shall at Tenant’s cost obtain insurance coverage to the extent Tenant desires protection against such criminal acts.

34.    Force Majeure. Landlord shall not be responsible or liable for delays in the performance of its obligations hereunder when caused by, related to, or arising out of acts of God, sinkholes or subsidence, strikes, lockouts, or other labor disputes, embargoes, quarantines, weather, national, regional, or local disasters, calamities, or catastrophes, inability to obtain labor or materials (or reasonable substitutes therefor) at reasonable costs or failure of, or inability to obtain, utilities necessary for performance, governmental restrictions, orders, limitations, regulations, or controls, national emergencies, delay in issuance or revocation of permits, enemy or hostile governmental action, terrorism, insurrection, riots, civil disturbance or commotion, fire or other casualty, and other causes or events beyond the reasonable control of Landlord (“Force Majeure”).

35.    Brokers. Landlord and Tenant each represents and warrants that it has not dealt with any broker, agent or other person (collectively, “Broker”) in connection with this transaction and that no Broker brought about this transaction, other than CBRE. Landlord and Tenant each hereby agree to indemnify and hold the other harmless from and against any claims by any Broker, other than the broker, if any named in this Section 35, claiming a commission or other form of compensation by virtue of having dealt with Tenant or Landlord, as applicable, with regard to this leasing transaction.

36.    Limitation on Landlord’s Liability. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY OTHER AGREEMENT BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANT TO THE CONTRARY: (A) LANDLORD SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO TENANT OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR (AND TENANT AND EACH SUCH OTHER PERSON ASSUME ALL RISK OF) LOSS, DAMAGE OR INJURY, WHETHER ACTUAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL TO: TENANT’S PERSONAL PROPERTY OF EVERY KIND AND DESCRIPTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION TRADE FIXTURES, EQUIPMENT, INVENTORY, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS, LABORATORY ANIMALS, PRODUCT, SPECIMENS, SAMPLES, AND/OR SCIENTIFIC, BUSINESS, ACCOUNTING AND OTHER RECORDS OF EVERY KIND AND DESCRIPTION KEPT AT THE PREMISES AND ANY AND ALL INCOME DERIVED OR DERIVABLE THEREFROM; (B) THERE SHALL BE NO PERSONAL RECOURSE TO LANDLORD FOR ANY ACT OR OCCURRENCE IN, ON OR ABOUT THE PREMISES OR ARISING IN ANY WAY UNDER THIS LEASE OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANT WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND ANY LIABILITY OF LANDLORD HEREUNDER SHALL BE STRICTLY LIMITED SOLELY TO LANDLORD’S INTEREST IN THE PROJECT OR ANY PROCEEDS FROM SALE OR CONDEMNATION THEREOF AND ANY INSURANCE PROCEEDS PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF LANDLORD’S INTEREST IN THE

 

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PROJECT OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH LOSS; AND (C) IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PERSONAL LIABILITY BE ASSERTED AGAINST LANDLORD IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LEASE NOR SHALL ANY RECOURSE BE HAD TO ANY OTHER PROPERTY OR ASSETS OF LANDLORD OR ANY OF LANDLORD’S OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR CONTRACTORS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL LANDLORD OR ANY OF LANDLORD’S OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR CONTRACTORS BE LIABLE FOR INJURY TO TENANT’S BUSINESS OR FOR ANY LOSS OF INCOME OR PROFIT THEREFROM.

37.    Severability. If any clause or provision of this Lease is illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws, then and in that event, it is the intention of the parties hereto that the remainder of this Lease shall not be affected thereby. It is also the intention of the parties to this Lease that in lieu of each clause or provision of this Lease that is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, there be added, as a part of this Lease, a clause or provision as similar in effect to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable clause or provision as shall be legal, valid and enforceable.

38.    Signs; Exterior Appearance. Tenant shall not, without the prior written consent of Landlord, which may be granted or withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion: (i) attach any awnings, exterior lights, decorations, balloons, flags, pennants, banners, painting or other projection to any outside wall of the Project, (ii) use any curtains, blinds, shades or screens other than Landlord’s standard window coverings, (iii) coat or otherwise sunscreen the interior or exterior of any windows, (iv) place any bottles, parcels, or other articles on the window sills, (v) place any equipment, furniture or other items of personal property on any exterior balcony, or (vi) paint, affix or exhibit on any part of the Premises or the Project any signs, notices, window or door lettering, placards, decorations, or advertising media of any type which can be viewed from the exterior of the Premises. Interior signs on doors and the directory tablet shall be inscribed, painted or affixed for Tenant by Landlord at the sole cost and expense of Tenant, and shall be of a size, color and type acceptable to Landlord. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall have the right, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, the paint or affix signage bearing Tenant’s name and logo on its interior entrance door and window, provided that such signage shall be subject to Landlord’s reasonable approval and applicable Legal Requirements. Nothing may be placed on the exterior of corridor walls or corridor doors other than Landlord’s standard lettering. The directory tablet shall be provided exclusively for the display of the name and location of tenants.

Landlord intends to erect a monument sign at the Project, in a location acceptable to Landlord in its sole and absolute discretion, upon which the names of tenants of the Project shall be displayed (“Monument Sign”), Tenant shall have the non-exclusive right, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, to display Tenant’s name on such Monument Sign. Tenant acknowledges and agrees that Tenant’s signage on the Monument Sign including, without limitation, the size, color and type, shall be subject to Landlord’s prior written approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld and shall be consistent with Landlord’s signage program at the Project and applicable Legal Requirements. Tenant shall be responsible, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, for the maintenance of Tenant’s signage on the Monument Sign, for the removal of Tenant’s signage on the Monument Sign at the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease and for the repair all damage resulting from such removal.

39.    Right to Expand.

(a)    Commencing on the first day of the 25th month of the Base Term and no later than the expiration of the 36th month of the Base Term (the “Expansion Period”), Tenant shall have the right, but not the obligation, to expand the Premises (the “Expansion Right”) to include the Expansion Space in the Building upon the terms and conditions contained in this Section. For purposes of this Section 39(a), “Expansion Space” shall mean that certain approximately 3,000 rentable square feet of space, as shown on Exhibit H, if the same is not occupied by a tenant or which is occupied by an existing tenant whose lease is expiring within 6 months or less and such tenant does not wish to renew (whether or not such tenant has a right to renew) its occupancy of such space. If Tenant elects to exercise its Expansion Right pursuant to this Section 39(a), Tenant shall deliver no less than 9 months and no more than 12 months advance written notice to Landlord of such election (“Expansion Notice”), which Expansion Notice shall

 

 

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be delivered no earlier than the last day of the 12th month of the Base Term and no later than the last day of the 24th month of the Base Term (“Election Period”). If Tenant elects to lease the Expansion Space by delivering the Expansion Notice within the Election Period, Tenant shall be deemed to agree to lease the Expansion Space on the same terms and conditions as this Lease except that (i) the commencement date of the Lease with respect to the Expansion Space shall be date that Landlord delivers the Expansion Premises to Tenant for Tenant’s construction of tenant improvements within the Expansion Space (“Expansion Space Commencement Date”); (ii) Tenant shall continue to pay Base Rent for the original Premises as provided for in this Lease and, in addition thereto, commencing on the Expansion Space Commencement Date, Tenant shall pay Base Rent for the Expansion Space at the same per square foot Base Rent as the original Premises (as adjusted pursuant to Section 4); (iii) Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses shall be proportionately adjusted; (iv) the Security Deposit shall be increased by an amount equal to 3 months Base Rent for the Expansion Space (which amount shall be subject to reduction pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 6); and (v) Landlord shall provide a tenant improvement allowance (“Expansion Space TI Allowance”) for the construction of tenant improvements within the Expansion Space of a fixed and permanent nature desired by Tenant and approved by Landlord, which tenant improvements shall be treated as Alterations pursuant to Section 12, in an amount up to $2.00 per rentable square foot of the Expansion Space for each month remaining in the Base Term of the Lease (for example, if the Expansion Space Commencement Date occurs with 34 months remaining in the Base Term, Landlord shall provide to Tenant a tenant improvement allowance equal to $68.00 per rentable square foot of the Expansion Space ($2.00 multiplied by the 34 months remaining in the Base Term). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the Work Letter apply to the Expansion Space. Tenant’s failure to deliver an Expansion Notice to Landlord during the Election Period shall be deemed to be an election by Tenant not to exercise Tenant’s right to lease the Expansion Space in which case Tenant shall be deemed to have forever waived its right to lease the Expansion Space and Landlord shall thereafter have the right to lease the Expansion Space to any third party on any terms and conditions acceptable to Landlord.

(b)    Amended Lease. If: (i) Tenant fails to timely deliver an Expansion Notice within the Election Period, or (ii) after the expiration of a period of 30 days from the date Tenant delivers the Election Notice, no lease amendment or lease agreement for the Expansion Space has been mutually executed, Tenant shall be deemed to have waived its right to lease the Expansion Space.

(c)    Exceptions. Notwithstanding the above, the Expansion Right shall, at Landlord’s option not be in effect and may not be exercised by Tenant:

(i)    during any period of time that Tenant is in Default under any provision of the Lease; or

(ii)    if Tenant has been in Default under any provision of the Lease 3 or more times, whether or not the Defaults are cured, during the 12 month period prior to the date on which Tenant seeks to exercise the Expansion Right.

(d)    Termination. The Expansion Right shall, at Landlord’s option, terminate and be of no further force or effect even after Tenant’s due and timely exercise of the Expansion Right, if, after such exercise, but prior to the commencement date of the lease of such Expansion Space, (i) Tenant fails to timely cure any default by Tenant under the Lease; or (ii) Tenant has Defaulted 3 or more times during the period from the date of the exercise of the Expansion Right to the date of the commencement of the lease of the Expansion Space, whether or not such Defaults are cured.

(e)    Rights Personal. Expansion Rights are personal to Tenant and are not assignable without Landlord’s consent, which may be granted or withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion separate and apart from any consent by Landlord to an assignment of Tenant’s interest in the Lease, except that they may be assigned in connection with any Permitted Assignment of this Lease.

 

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(f)    No Extensions. The period of time within which any Expansion Rights may be exercised shall not be extended or enlarged by reason of Tenant’s inability to exercise the Expansion Rights.

40.    Right to Extend Term. Tenant shall have the right to extend the Term of the Lease upon the following terms and conditions:

(a)    Extension Rights. Tenant shall have 1 right (an “Extension Right”) to extend the term of this Lease for 5 years (an “Extension Term”) on the same terms and conditions as this Lease (other than with respect to Base Rent) by giving Landlord written notice of its election to exercise the Extension Right at least 9 months prior to the expiration of the Base Term of the Lease.

Upon the commencement of the Extension Term, Base Rent shall be payable at the Market Rate (as defined below). Base Rent shall thereafter be adjusted on each annual anniversary of the commencement of such Extension Term by the Rent Adjustment Percentage. As used herein, “Market Rate” shall mean the then market rental rate as determined by Landlord and agreed to by Tenant, which shall in no event be less than the Base Rent payable as of the date immediately preceding the commencement of such Extension Term increased by the Rent Adjustment Percentage multiplied by such Base Rent.

If, on or before the date which is 180 days prior to the expiration of the Base Term of this Lease, Tenant has not agreed with Landlord’s determination of the Market Rate during the Extension Term after negotiating in good faith, Tenant shall be deemed to have elected arbitration as described in Section 40(b). Tenant acknowledges and agrees that, if Tenant has elected to exercise the Extension Right by delivering notice to Landlord as required in this Section 40(a), Tenant shall have no right thereafter to rescind or elect not to extend the term of the Lease for the Extension Term.

(b)    Arbitration.

(i)    Within 10 days of Tenant’s notice to Landlord of its election (or deemed election) to arbitrate Market Rate, each party shall deliver to the other a proposal containing the Market Rate that the submitting party believes to be correct (“Extension Proposal”). If either party fails to timely submit an Extension Proposal, the other party’s submitted proposal shall determine the Base Rent for the first year of the Extension Term. If both parties submit Extension Proposals, then Landlord and Tenant shall meet within 7 days after delivery of the last Extension Proposal and make a good faith attempt to mutually appoint a single Arbitrator (and defined below) to determine the Market Rate. If Landlord and Tenant are unable to agree upon a single Arbitrator, then each shall, by written notice delivered to the other within 10 days after the meeting, select an Arbitrator. If either party fails to timely give notice of its selection for an Arbitrator, the other party’s submitted proposal shall determine the Base Rent for the first year of the Extension Term. The 2 Arbitrators so appointed shall, within 5 business days after their appointment, appoint a third Arbitrator. If the 2 Arbitrators so selected cannot agree on the selection of the third Arbitrator within the time above specified, then either party, on behalf of both parties, may request such appointment of such third Arbitrator by application to any state court of general jurisdiction in the jurisdiction in which the Premises are located, upon 10 days prior written notice to the other party of such intent.

(ii)    The decision of the Arbitrator(s) shall be made within 30 days after the appointment of a single Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator, as applicable. The decision of the single Arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties. The average of the two closest Arbitrators in a three Arbitrator panel shall be final and binding upon the parties. Each party shall pay the fees and expenses of the Arbitrator appointed by or on behalf of such party and the fees and expenses of the third Arbitrator shall be borne equally by both parties. If the Market Rate for the first year of the Extension Term is not determined by the first day of the Extension Term, then Tenant shall pay Landlord Base Rent in an amount equal to the Base Rent in effect immediately prior to the Extension Term and increased by the Rent Adjustment Percentage until such

 

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determination is made. After the determination of the Market Rate, the parties shall make any necessary adjustments to such payments made by Tenant. Landlord and Tenant shall then execute an amendment recognizing the Market Rate for the Extension Term.

(iii)    An “Arbitrator” shall be any person appointed by or on behalf of either party or appointed pursuant to the provisions hereof and: (i) shall be (A) a member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers with not less than 10 years of experience in the appraisal of improved office and high tech industrial real estate in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, or (B) a licensed commercial real estate broker with not less than 15 years experience representing landlords and/or tenants in the leasing of high tech or life sciences space in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, (ii) devoting substantially all of their time to professional appraisal or brokerage work, as applicable, at the time of appointment and (iii) be in all respects impartial and disinterested.

(c)    Rights Personal. The Extension Right is personal to Tenant and is not assignable without Landlord’s consent, which may be granted or withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion separate and apart from any consent by Landlord to an assignment of Tenant’s interest in the Lease, except that they may be assigned in connection with any Permitted Assignment of this Lease.

(d)    Exceptions. Notwithstanding anything set forth above to the contrary, Extension Rights shall, at Landlord’s option, not be in effect and Tenant may not exercise the Extension Right:

(i)    during any period of time that Tenant is in Default under any provision of this Lease; or

(ii)    if Tenant has been in Default under any provision of this Lease 3 or more times, whether or not the Defaults are cured, during the 12 month period immediately prior to the date that Tenant intends to exercise the Extension Right, whether or not the Defaults are cured.

(e)    No Extensions. The period of time within which the Extension Right may be exercised shall not be extended or enlarged by reason of Tenant’s inability to exercise the Extension Right.

(f)    Termination. The Extension Right, at Landlord’s option, shall terminate and be of no further force or effect even after Tenant’s due and timely exercise of the Extension Right, if, after such exercise, but prior to the commencement date of the Extension Term, (i) Tenant fails to timely cure any default by Tenant under this Lease; or (ii) Tenant has Defaulted 3 or more times during the period from the date of the exercise of the Extension Right to the date of the commencement of the Extension Term, whether or not such Defaults are cured.

41.    Right to Terminate. Only if Tenant has timely and properly exercised its Expansion Notice in accordance with the terms of Section 39(a) and Landlord is required and does not deliver the Expansion Space to Tenant during the Expansion Period (“Expansion Failure Delivery”), Tenant shall have the right to terminate this Lease (“Termination Right”) upon delivery of no less than 9 months advance written notice to Landlord (“Termination Notice”). Tenant’s Termination Notice shall set forth the date upon which Tenant elects to terminate this Lease, which shall in no event be earlier than 9 months after Tenant’s delivery to Landlord of the Termination Notice (“Termination Date”). If this Lease is terminated pursuant to this Section 41, then Tenant shall vacate the Premises and deliver possession thereof to Landlord in the condition required by the terms of this Lease on or before the Termination Date, and Tenant shall have no further obligations under this Lease except for those accruing prior to the Termination Date, including the obligation to pay Rent through the Termination Date and those which, pursuant to the terms of the Lease, survive the expiration or early termination of the Lease. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if Tenant fails to deliver a Termination Notice to Landlord within 30 days after an Expansion Failure Delivery, Tenant’s Termination Right under this Section 41 shall immediately terminate and this Section 41 shall be of no further force and effect.

 

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42.    Intentionally Omitted.

43.    Asbestos.

(a)    Notification of Asbestos. Landlord hereby notifies Tenant of the presence of asbestos-containing materials (“ACMs”) and/or presumed asbestos-containing materials (“PACMs”) within or about the Premises in the Location identified in Exhibit G.

(b)    Tenant Acknowledgement. Tenant hereby acknowledges receipt of the notification in paragraph (a) of this Section 43 and understands that the purpose of such notification is to make Tenant and any agents, employees, and contractors of Tenant, aware of the presence of ACMs and/or PACMs within or about the Building in order to avoid or minimize any damage to or disturbance of such ACMs and/or PACMs.

 

CMR
Tenant’s Initials

(c)    Acknowledgement from Contractors/Employees. Tenant shall give Landlord at least 14 days’ prior written notice before conducting, authorizing or permitting any of the activities listed below within or about the Premises, and before soliciting bids from any person to perform such services. Such notice shall identify or describe the proposed scope, location, date and time of such activities and the name, address and telephone number of each person who may be conducting such activities. Thereafter, Tenant shall grant Landlord reasonable access to the Premises to determine whether any ACMs or PACMs will be disturbed in connection with such activities. Tenant shall not solicit bids from any person for the performance of such activities without Landlord’s prior written approval. Upon Landlord’s request, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a copy of a signed acknowledgement from any contractor, agent, or employee of Tenant acknowledging receipt of information describing the presence of ACMs and/or PACMs within or about the Premises in the locations identified in Exhibit G prior to the commencement of such activities. Nothing in this Section 43 shall be deemed to expand Tenant’s rights under the Lease or otherwise to conduct, authorize or permit any such activities.

(i)    Removal of thermal system insulation (“TSI”) and surfacing ACMs and PACMs (i.e., sprayed-on or troweled-on material, e.g., textured ceiling paint or fireproofing material);

(ii)    Removal of ACMs or PACMs that are not TSI or surfacing ACMs or PACMs; or

(iii)    Repair and maintenance of operations that are likely to disturb ACMs or PACMs.

44.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Notices. All notices or other communications between the parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given upon delivery or refusal to accept delivery by the addressee thereof if delivered in person, or upon actual receipt if delivered by reputable overnight guaranty courier, addressed and sent to the parties at their addresses set forth above. Landlord and Tenant may from time to time by written notice to the other designate another address for receipt of future notices.

(b)    Joint and Several Liability. If and when included within the term “Tenant,” as used in this instrument, there is more than one person entity, each shall be jointly and severally liable for the obligations of Tenant.

(c)    Financial Information. Tenant shall furnish Landlord with true and complete copies of (i) Tenant’s most recent audited annual financial statements within 90 days of the end of each of Tenant’s fiscal years during the Term, (ii) Tenant’s most recent unaudited quarterly financial statements within 45 days of the end of each of Tenant’s first three fiscal quarters of each of Tenant’s fiscal years during the Term, (iii) at Landlord’s request from time to time, but not more than once per year, updated business

 

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plans, including cash flow projections and/or pro forma balance sheets and income statements, all of which shall be treated by Landlord as confidential information belonging to Tenant, (iv) corporate brochures and/or profiles prepared by Tenant for prospective investors, and (v) any other financial information or summaries that Tenant typically provides to its lenders or shareholders.

(d)    Recordation. Neither this Lease nor a memorandum of lease shall be filed by or on behalf of Tenant in any public record. Landlord may prepare and file, and upon request by Landlord Tenant will execute, a memorandum of lease.

(e)    Interpretation. The normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Lease or any exhibits or amendments hereto. Words of any gender used in this Lease shall be held and construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number shall be held to include the plural, unless the context otherwise requires. The captions inserted in this Lease are for convenience only and in no way define, limit or otherwise describe the scope or intent of this Lease, or any provision hereof, or in any way affect the interpretation of this Lease.

(f)    Not Binding Until Executed. The submission by Landlord to Tenant of this Lease shall have no binding force or effect, shall not constitute an option for the leasing of the Premises, nor confer any right or impose any obligations upon either party until execution of this Lease by both parties.

(g)    Limitations on Interest. it is expressly the intent of Landlord and Tenant at all times to comply with applicable law governing the maximum rate or amount of any interest payable on or in connection with this Lease. If applicable law is ever judicially interpreted so as to render usurious any interest called for under this Lease, or contracted for, charged, taken, reserved, or received with respect to this Lease, then it is Landlord’s and Tenant’s express intent that all excess amounts theretofore collected by Landlord be credited on the applicable obligation (or, if the obligation has been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded to Tenant), and the provisions of this Lease immediately shall be deemed reformed and the amounts thereafter collectible hereunder reduced, without the necessity of the execution of any new document, so as to comply with the applicable law, but so as to permit the recovery of the fullest amount otherwise called for hereunder.

(h)    Choice of Law. Construction and interpretation of this Lease shall be governed by the internal laws of the state in which the Premises are located, excluding any principles of conflicts of laws.

(i)    Time. Time is of the essence as to the performance of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease.

(j)    OFAC. Tenant, and all beneficial owners of Tenant, are currently (a) in compliance with and shall at all times during the Term of this Lease remain in compliance with the regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury and any statute, executive order, or regulation relating thereto (collectively, the “OFAC Rules”), (b) not listed on, and shall not during the term of this Lease be listed on, the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by OFAC and/or on any other similar list maintained by OFAC or other governmental authority pursuant to any authorizing statute, executive order, or regulation, and (c) not a person or entity with whom a U.S. person is prohibited from conducting business under the OFAC Rules.

(k)    Incorporation by Reference. All exhibits and addenda attached hereto are hereby incorporated into this Lease and made a part hereof. If there is any conflict between such exhibits or addenda and the terms of this Lease, such exhibits or addenda shall control.

(l)    Entire Agreement. This Lease, including the exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between Landlord and Tenant pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, letters of intent, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties, and there are no warranties, representations or other agreements, express or implied, made to either party by the other party in connection with the subject matter hereof except as specifically set forth herein.

 

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(m)    No Accord and Satisfaction. No payment by Tenant or receipt by Landlord of a lesser amount than the monthly installment of Base Rent or any Additional Rent will be other than on account of the earliest stipulated Base Rent and Additional Rent, nor will any endorsement or statement on any check or letter accompanying a check for payment of any Base Rent or Additional Rent be an accord and satisfaction. Landlord may accept such check or payment without prejudice to Landlord’s right to recover the balance of such Rent or to pursue any other remedy provided in this Lease.

(n)    Hazardous Activities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Lease, Landlord, for itself and its employees, agents and contractors, reserves the right to refuse to perform any repairs or services in any portion of the Premises which, pursuant to Tenant’s routine safety guidelines, practices or custom or prudent industry practices, require any form of protective clothing or equipment other than safety glasses. in any such case, Tenant shall contract with parties who are acceptable to Landlord, in Landlord’s reasonable discretion, for all such repairs and services, and Landlord shall, to the extent required, equitably adjust Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses in respect of such repairs or services to reflect that Landlord is not providing such repairs or services to Tenant.

[Signatures on next page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have executed this Lease as of the day and year first above written.

 

TENANT:    
ADAPTIVE TCR CORPORATION,
a Washington corporation
By:   /s/ Chad Robins
Its:  

 

President & CEO

LANDLORD:
ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:   ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, managing member
  By:   ARE-QRS CORP.,
    a Maryland corporation,
    general partner
    By:  

/s/ Jackie Clem

    Its:  

VP Real Estate Legal Affairs

 

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LOGO


  1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 1

 

EXHIBIT B TO LEASE

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

PARCEL A:

LOTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19 AND 20, BLOCK 4, DOYLE’S ADDITION TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN VOLUME 3 OF PLATS, PAGE(S) 122, IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON;

ALSO LOTS 1, 2, 3 AND 4, BLOCK 64, LAKE UNION SHORELANDS, IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, AS SHOWN ON THE OFFICIAL MAPS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS AT OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON;

TOGETHER WITH THAT PORTION OF THE VACATED SOUTH 20 FEET OF EAST GARFIELD STREET AS VACATED UNDER ORDINANCE NUMBER 88193 OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE ADJOINING AND LYING EASTERLY OF THE EASTERLY MARGIN OF FAIRVIEW AVENUE NORTH AS ESTABLISHED BY DECREE ENTERED IN KING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CAUSE NUMBER 204496 AND WESTERLY OF THE WESTERLY LINE OF SAID DOYLE’S ADDITION.

PARCEL B:

ALL OF LOTS 5 AND 16, AND THE NORTH 23.5 FEET OF LOTS 6 AND 15, ALL IN BLOCK 4, DOYLE’S ADDITION TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN VOLUME 3 OF PLATS, PAGE(S) 122, IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON;

ALSO, LOT 5 AND THE NORTH 23.5 FEET OF LOT 6, BLOCK 64, LAKE UNION SHORELANDS, IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, AS SHOWN ON THE OFFICIAL MAPS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS AT OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON.

 

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  1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page

 

EXHIBIT C TO LEASE

WORK LETTER

THIS WORK LETTER dated July 21, 2011 (this “Work Letter”) is made and entered into by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE TCR CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”), and is attached to and made a part of the Lease Agreement dated July 21, 2011 (the “Lease”), by and between Landlord and Tenant. Any initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Lease.

1.    General Requirements.

(a)    Tenant’s Authorized Representative. Tenant designates Chad Robins (“Tenant’s Representative”) as the only person authorized to act for Tenant pursuant to this Work Letter. Landlord shall not be obligated to respond to or act upon any request, approval, inquiry or other communication (“Communication”) from or on behalf of Tenant in connection with this Work Letter unless such Communication is in writing from Tenant’s Representative. Tenant may change Tenant’s Representative at any time upon not less than 5 business days advance written notice to Landlord. Neither Tenant nor Tenant’s Representative shall be authorized to direct Landlord’s contractors in the performance of Landlord’s Work (as hereinafter defined).

(b)    Landlord’s Authorized Representative. Landlord designates John Cox and Tim McBride (either such individual acting alone, “Landlord’s Representative”) as the only persons authorized to act for Landlord pursuant to this Work Letter. Tenant shall not be obligated to respond to or act upon any request, approval, inquiry or other Communication from or on behalf of Landlord in connection with this Work Letter unless such Communication is in writing from Landlord’s Representative. Landlord may change either Landlord’s Representative at any time upon not less than 5 business days advance written notice to Tenant. Landlord’s Representative shall be the sole persons authorized to direct Landlord’s contractors in the performance of Landlord’s Work.

(c)    Architects, Consultants and Contractors. Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and agree that: (i) the general contractor and any subcontractors for the Tenant Improvements shall be selected by Landlord, subject to Tenant’s approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and (ii) Perkins + Will shall be the architect (the “TI Architect”) for the Tenant Improvements.

2.    Tenant Improvements.

(a)    Tenant Improvements Defined. As used herein, “Tenant Improvements” shall mean all improvements to the Project of a fixed and permanent nature as shown on the TI Construction Drawings, as defined in Section 2(c) below. Other than Landlord’s Work (as defined in Section 3(a) below, Landlord shall not have any obligation whatsoever with respect to the finishing of the Premises for Tenant’s use and occupancy.

(b)    Tenant’s Space Plans. Landlord and Tenant acknowledge and agree that the plan prepared by the TI Architect attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Space Plan”) has been approved by both Landlord and Tenant. Landlord and Tenant further acknowledge and agree that any changes to the Space Plan constitute a Change Request the cost of which changes shall be paid for by Tenant. Tenant shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by Landlord to alter the Building (or Landlord’s plans for the Building) as a result of Tenant’s requested changes.

(c)    Working Drawings. Landlord shall cause the TI Architect to prepare and deliver to Tenant for review and comment construction plans, specifications and drawings for the Tenant Improvements (“TI Construction Drawings”), which TI Construction Drawings shall be prepared

 

 

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  1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 2

 

substantially in accordance with the Space Plan. Tenant shall be solely responsible for ensuring that the TI Construction Drawings reflect Tenant’s requirements for the Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall deliver its written comments on the TI Construction Drawings to Landlord not later than 10 business days after Tenant’s receipt of the same; provided, however, that Tenant may not disapprove any matter that is consistent with the Space Plan without submitting a Change Request. Landlord and the TI Architect shall consider all such comments in good faith and shall, within 10 business days after receipt, notify Tenant how Landlord proposes to respond to such comments, but Tenant’s review rights pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall not delay the design or construction schedule for the Tenant Improvements. Any disputes in connection with such comments shall be resolved in accordance with Section 2(d) hereof. Provided that the design reflected in the TI Construction Drawings is consistent with the Space Plan, Tenant shall approve the TI Construction Drawings submitted by Landlord, unless Tenant submits a Change Request. Once approved by Tenant, subject to the provisions of Section 4 below, Landlord shall not materially modify the TI Construction Drawings except as may be reasonably required in connection with the issuance of the TI Permit (as defined in Section 3(b) below).

(d)    Approval and Completion. It is hereby acknowledged by Landlord and Tenant that the TI Construction Drawings must be completed and approved not later than August 1, 2011, in order for Landlord’s Work to be Substantially Complete by the Target Commencement Date (as defined in the Lease). Upon any dispute regarding the design of the Tenant Improvements, which is not settled within 10 business days after notice of such dispute is delivered by one party to the other, Tenant may make the final decision regarding the design of the Tenant Improvements, provided (i) Tenant acts reasonably and such final decision is either consistent with or a compromise between Landlord’s and Tenant’s positions with respect to such dispute, (ii) that all costs and expenses resulting from any such decision by Tenant shall be payable by Tenant, and (iii) Tenant’s decision will not affect the base Building, structural components of the Building or any Building systems. Any changes to the TI Construction Drawings following Landlord’s and Tenant’s approval of same requested by Tenant shall be processed as provided in Section 4 hereof.

3.    Performance of Landlord’s Work.

(a)    Definition of Landlord’s Work. As used herein, “Landlord’s Work” shall mean the work of constructing the Tenant Improvements.

(b)    Commencement and Permitting. Landlord shall commence construction of the Tenant Improvements upon obtaining a building permit (the “TI Permit”) authorizing the construction of the Tenant Improvements consistent with the TI Construction Drawings approved by Tenant. The cost of obtaining the TI Permit shall be payable by Landlord. Tenant shall assist Landlord in obtaining the TI Permit. If any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the construction of Landlord’s Work or any portion thereof shall impose terms or conditions upon the construction thereof that: (i) are inconsistent with Landlord’s obligations hereunder, (ii) increase the cost of constructing Landlord’s Work, or (iii) will materially delay the construction of Landlord’s Work, Landlord and Tenant shall reasonably and in good faith seek means by which to mitigate or eliminate any such adverse terms and conditions.

(c)    Completion of Landlord’s Work. Landlord shall substantially complete or cause to be substantially completed Landlord’s Work in a good and workmanlike manner, in accordance with the TI Permit subject, in each case, to Minor Variations and normal “punch list” items of a non-material nature that do not interfere with the use of the Premises (“Substantial Completion” or “Substantially Complete”). Upon Substantial Completion of Landlord’s Work, Landlord shall require the TI Architect and the general contractor to execute and deliver, for the benefit of Tenant and Landlord, a Certificate of Substantial Completion in the form of the American Institute of Architects (“AlA”) document G704. For purposes of this Work Letter, “Minor Variations” shall mean any modifications reasonably required: (i) to comply with all applicable Legal Requirements and/or to obtain or to comply with any required permit (including the TI Permit); (ii) to comply with any request by Tenant for modifications to Landlord’s Work; (iii) to comport with good design, engineering, and construction practices that are not material; or (iv) to make reasonable adjustments for field deviations or conditions encountered during the construction of Landlord’s Work.

 

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  1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 3

 

(d)    Selection of Materials. Where more than one type of material or structure is indicated on the TI Construction Drawings approved by Landlord and Tenant, the option will be selected at Landlord’s sole and absolute subjective discretion. As to all building materials and equipment that Landlord is obligated to supply under this Work Letter, Landlord shall select the manufacturer thereof in its sole and absolute subjective discretion.

(e)    Delivery of the Premises. When Landlord’s Work is Substantially Complete, subject to the remaining terms and provisions of this Section 3(e), Tenant shall accept the Premises. Tenant’s taking possession and acceptance of the Premises shall not constitute a waiver of: (i) any warranty with respect to workmanship (including installation of equipment) or material (exclusive of equipment provided directly by manufacturers), (ii) any non-compliance of Landlord’s Work with applicable Legal Requirements, or (iii) any claim that Landlord’s Work was not completed substantially in accordance with the TI Construction Drawings (subject to Minor Variations and such other changes as are permitted hereunder) (collectively, a “Construction Defect”). Tenant shall have one year after Substantial Completion within which to notify Landlord of any such Construction Defect discovered by Tenant, and Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to remedy or cause the responsible contractor to remedy any such Construction Defect within 30 days thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord shall not be in default under the Lease if the applicable contractor, despite Landlord’s reasonable efforts, fails to remedy such Construction Defect within such 30-day period, in which case Landlord shall have no further obligation with respect to such Construction Defect other than to cooperate, at no cost to Landlord, with Tenant should Tenant elect to pursue a claim against such contractor.

(f)    Tenant shall be entitled to receive the benefit of all construction warranties and manufacturer’s equipment warranties relating to equipment installed in the Premises. If requested by Tenant, Landlord shall attempt to obtain extended warranties from manufacturers and suppliers of such equipment, but the cost of any such extended warranties shall be borne solely by Tenant. Landlord shall promptly undertake and complete, or cause to be completed, all punch list items.

(g)    Commencement Date Delay. Except as otherwise provided in the Lease, Delivery of the Premises shall occur when Landlord’s Work has been Substantially Completed, except to the extent that completion of Landlord’s Work shall have been actually delayed by any one or more of the following causes (“Tenant Delay”):

(i)    Tenant’s Representative was not available within 1 business day to give or receive any Communication or to take any other action required to be taken by Tenant hereunder;

(ii)    Tenant’s request for Change Requests (as defined in Section 4(a) below) whether or not any such Change Requests are actually performed;

(iii)    Construction of any Change Requests;

(iv)    Tenant’s request for materials, finishes or installations requiring unusually long lead times, Tenant’s request for materials, finishes or installations requiring unusually long lead times, provided that promptly after Landlord learns of such long lead times, Landlord informs Tenant that the requested items will require unusually long lead times;

(v)    Tenant’s delay in reviewing, revising or approving plans and specifications beyond the periods set forth herein;

(vi)    Tenant’s delay in providing information critical to the normal progression of the Project. Tenant shall provide such information as soon as reasonably possible, but in no event longer than one week after receipt of any request for such information from Landlord;

 

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(vii)    Tenant’s delay in making payments to Landlord for Excess TI Costs (as defined in Section 5(b) below); or

(viii)    Any other act or omission by Tenant or any Tenant Party (as defined in the Lease), or persons employed by any of such persons.

If Delivery is delayed for any of the foregoing reasons, then Landlord shall cause the TI Architect to certify the date on which the Tenant Improvements would have been completed but for such Tenant Delay and such certified date shall be the date of Delivery.

4.    Changes. Any changes requested by Tenant to the Tenant Improvements after the delivery and approval by Landlord of the Space Plan shall be requested and instituted in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 and shall be subject to the written approval of Landlord and the TI Architect, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(a)    Tenant’s Request For Changes. If Tenant shall request changes to the Tenant Improvements (“Changes”), Tenant shall request such Changes by notifying Landlord in writing in substantially the same form as the AIA standard change order form (a “Change Request”), which Change Request shall detail the nature and extent of any such Change. Such Change Request must be signed by Tenant’s Representative. Landlord shall, before proceeding with any Change, use commercially reasonable efforts to respond to Tenant as soon as is reasonably possible with an estimate of: (i) the time it will take, and (ii) the architectural and engineering fees and costs that will be incurred, to analyze such Change Request (which costs shall be paid by Tenant to the extent actually incurred, whether or not such change is implemented). Landlord shall thereafter submit to Tenant in writing, within 5 business days of receipt of the Change Request (or such longer period of time as is reasonably required depending on the extent of the Change Request), an analysis of the additional cost or savings involved, including, without limitation, architectural and engineering costs and the period of time, if any, that the Change will extend the date on which Landlord’s Work will be Substantially Complete. Any such delay in the completion of Landlord’s Work caused by a Change, including any suspension of Landlord’s Work while any such Change is being evaluated and/or designed, shall be Tenant Delay.

(b)    Implementation of Changes. If Tenant: (i) approves in writing the cost or savings and the estimated extension in the time for completion of Landlord’s Work, if any, and (ii) deposits with Landlord any Excess TI Costs required in connection with such Change, Landlord shall cause the approved Change to be instituted. Notwithstanding any approval or disapproval by Tenant of any estimate of the delay caused by such proposed Change, the TI Architect’s determination of the amount of Tenant Delay in connection with such Change shall be final and binding on Landlord and Tenant.

5.    Costs.

(a)    TI Costs. Landlord shall be responsible for the payment of design, permits and construction costs in connection with the construction of the Tenant Improvements, including, without limitation, the cost of preparing the TI Construction Drawings and the Space Plans, Landlord’s out-of-pocket expenses and a cabling allowance of $3.00 per rentable square foot of the Premises (collectively, “TI Costs”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except for the cabling allowance of $3.00 per rentable square foot of the Premises, Landlord shall not be required to pay for purchase any furniture, personal property or other non-Building system materials or equipment, including, but not limited to, Tenant’s voice or data cabling, non-ducted biological safety cabinets and other scientific equipment not incorporated into the Tenant Improvements.

(b)    Excess TI Costs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Tenant acknowledges and agrees that Landlord shall have no responsibility for any costs arising from or related to Tenant’s changes to the Space Plan or TI Construction Drawings, Tenant Delays, the cost of Changes and Change Requests (collectively, “Excess TI Costs”). Tenant shall deposit with Landlord, as a condition precedent to Landlord’s obligation to complete the Tenant Improvements, 100% of the Excess

 

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  1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 6

 

TI Costs. If Tenant fails to deposit any Excess TI Costs with Landlord, Landlord shall have all of the rights and remedies set forth in the Lease for nonpayment of Rent (including, but not limited to, the right to interest at the Default Rate and the right to assess a late charge). For purposes of any litigation instituted with regard to such amounts, those amounts will be deemed Rent under the Lease.

6.    Tenant Access.

(a)    Tenant’s Access Rights. Landlord hereby agrees to permit Tenant access, at Tenant’s sole risk and expense, to the Building (i) 30 days prior to the Commencement Date to perform any work (“Tenant’s Work”) required by Tenant other than Landlord’s Work, provided that such Tenant’s Work is coordinated with the TI Architect and the general contractor, and complies with the Lease and all other reasonable restrictions and conditions Landlord may impose, and (ii) prior to the completion of Landlord’s Work, to inspect and observe work in process; all such access shall be during normal business hours or at such other times as are reasonably designated by Landlord. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall have no right to enter onto the Premises or the Project unless and until Tenant shall deliver to Landlord evidence reasonably satisfactory to Landlord demonstrating that any insurance reasonably required by Landlord in connection with such pre-commencement access (including, but not limited to, any insurance that Landlord may require pursuant to the Lease) is in full force and effect. Any entry by Tenant shall comply with all established safety practices of Landlord’s contractor and Landlord until completion of Landlord’s Work and acceptance thereof by Tenant.

(b)    No Interference. Neither Tenant nor any Tenant Party (as defined in the Lease) shall interfere with the performance of Landlord’s Work, nor with any inspections or issuance of final approvals by applicable Governmental Authorities, and upon any such interference, Landlord shall have the right to exclude Tenant and any Tenant Party from the Premises and the Project until Substantial Completion of Landlord’s Work or such earlier time that Tenant or Tenant Party’s presence at the Premises will not interfere with Landlord’s Work.

(c)    No Acceptance of Premises. The fact that Tenant may, with Landlord’s consent, enter into the Project prior to the date Landlord’s Work is Substantially Complete for the purpose of performing Tenant’s Work shall not be deemed an acceptance by Tenant of possession of the Premises, but in such event Tenant shall defend with counsel reasonably acceptable by Landlord, indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and against any loss of or damage to Tenant’s property, completed work, fixtures, equipment, materials or merchandise, and from liability for death of, or injury to, any person, caused by the act or omission of Tenant or any Tenant Party.

7.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Consents. Whenever consent or approval of either party is required under this Work Letter, that party shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay such consent or approval, unless expressly set forth herein to the contrary.

(b)    Modification. No modification, waiver or amendment of this Work Letter or of any of its conditions or provisions shall be binding upon Landlord or Tenant unless in writing signed by Landlord and Tenant.

 

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  1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 1

 

EXHIBIT D TO LEASE

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COMMENCEMENT DATE

This ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COMMENCEMENT DATE is made this                  day of                 ,                 , between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE TCR CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”), and is attached to and made a part of the Lease dated                 , 2011 (the “Lease”), by and between Landlord and Tenant. Any initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Lease.

Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and agree, for all purposes of the Lease, that the Commencement Date of the Base Term of the Lease is                 ,                 , the Rent Commencement Date is                 ,                 , and the termination date of the Base Term of the Lease shall be midnight on                 ,                 , In case of a conflict between the terms of the Lease and the terms of this Acknowledgment of Commencement Date, this Acknowledgment of Commencement Date shall control for all purposes.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have executed this ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COMMENCEMENT DATE to be effective on the date first above written.

 

TENANT:
ADAPTIVE TCR CORPORATION,
a Washington corporation
By:  

                    

Its:  

                    

LANDLORD:
ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:   ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, managing member
  By:   ARE-QRS CORP.,
    a Maryland corporation,
    general partner
    By:  

                    

    Its:  

 

 

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Rules and Regulations   1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 1

 

EXHIBIT E TO LEASE

Rules and Regulations

1.    The sidewalk, entries, and driveways of the Project shall not be obstructed by Tenant, or any Tenant Party, or used by them for any purpose other than ingress and egress to and from the Premises.

2.    Tenant shall not place any objects, including antennas, outdoor furniture, etc., in the parking areas, landscaped areas or other areas outside of its Premises, or on the roof of the Project.

3.    Except for animals assisting the disabled, no animals shall be allowed in the offices, halls, or corridors in the Project.

4.    Tenant shall not disturb the occupants of the Project or adjoining buildings by the use of any radio or musical instrument or by the making of loud or improper noises.

5.    If Tenant desires telegraphic, telephonic or other electric connections in the Premises, Landlord or its agent will direct the electrician as to where and how the wires may be introduced; and, without such direction, no boring or cutting of wires will be permitted. Any such installation or connection shall be made at Tenant’s expense.

6.    Tenant shall not install or operate any steam or gas engine or boiler, or other mechanical apparatus in the Premises, except as specifically approved in the Lease. The use of oil, gas or inflammable liquids for heating, lighting or any other purpose is expressly prohibited. Explosives or other articles deemed extra hazardous shall not be brought into the Project.

7.    Parking any type of recreational vehicles is specifically prohibited on or about the Project. Except for the overnight parking of operative vehicles, no vehicle of any type shall be stored in the parking areas at any time. In the event that a vehicle is disabled, it shall be removed within 48 hours. There shall be no “For Sale” or other advertising signs on or about any parked vehicle. All vehicles shall be parked in the designated parking areas in conformity with all signs and other markings. All parking will be open parking, and no reserved parking, numbering or lettering of individual spaces will be permitted except as specified by Landlord.

8.    Tenant shall maintain the Premises free from rodents, insects and other pests.

9.    Landlord reserves the right to exclude or expel from the Project any person who, in the judgment of Landlord, is intoxicated or under the influence of liquor or drugs or who shall in any manner do any act in violation of the Rules and Regulations of the Project.

10.    Tenant shall not cause any unnecessary labor by reason of Tenant’s carelessness or indifference in the preservation of good order and cleanliness. Landlord shall not be responsible to Tenant for any loss of property on the Premises, however occurring, or for any damage done to the effects of Tenant by the janitors or any other employee or person.

11.    Tenant shall give Landlord prompt notice of any defects in the water, lawn sprinkler, sewage, gas pipes, electrical lights and fixtures, heating apparatus, or any other service equipment affecting the Premises.

12.    Tenant shall not permit storage outside the Premises, including without limitation, outside storage of trucks and other vehicles, or dumping of waste or refuse or permit any harmful materials to be placed in any drainage system or sanitary system in or about the Premises.

 

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Rules and Regulations   1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 2

 

13.    All moveable trash receptacles provided by the trash disposal firm for the Premises must be kept in the trash enclosure areas, if any, provided for that purpose.

14.    No auction, public or private, will be permitted on the Premises or the Project.

15.    No awnings shall be placed over the windows in the Premises except with the prior written consent of Landlord.

16.    The Premises shall not be used for lodging, sleeping or cooking or for any immoral or illegal purposes or for any purpose other than that specified in the Lease. No gaming devices shall be operated in the Premises.

17.    Tenant shall ascertain from Landlord the maximum amount of electrical current which can safely be used in the Premises, taking into account the capacity of the electrical wiring in the Project and the Premises and the needs of other tenants, and shall not use more than such safe capacity. Landlord’s consent to the installation of electric equipment shall not relieve Tenant from the obligation not to use more electricity than such safe capacity.

18.    Tenant assumes full responsibility for protecting the Premises from theft, robbery and pilferage.

19.    Tenant shall not install or operate on the Premises any machinery or mechanical devices of a nature not directly related to Tenant’s ordinary use of the Premises and shall keep all such machinery free of vibration, noise and air waves which may be transmitted beyond the Premises.

 

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  1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 1

 

EXHIBIT F TO LEASE

TENANT’S PERSONAL PROPERTY

None.

 

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  1551 Eastlake/Adaptive TCR Corporation - Page 1

 

EXHIBIT G TO LEASE

ASBESTOS DISCLOSURE

NOTIFICATION OF THE PRESENCE OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS

This notification provides certain information about asbestos within or about the Premises at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, WA (“Building”) and in accordance with Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 296-62-07721.

Historically, asbestos was commonly used in building products used in the construction of buildings across the country. Asbestos-containing building products were used because they are fire-resistant and provide good noise and temperature insulation. Because of their prevalence, asbestos-containing materials, or ACMs, are still sometimes found in buildings today.

An asbestos survey of the Building has determined that ACMs and/or materials that might contain ACMs, referred to as presumed asbestos-containing materials or PACMs, are present within or about the Premises as follows:

 

Material Description    Material Location
Floor Mastic (not covered by floor tile)    Various locations within the parking garage
Flooring Material and Mastic beneath new floor tile (PACM)    Landings of stairwells #1 and #2

Because ACMs and PACMs are present and may continue to be present within or about the Building, we have hired an independent environmental consulting firm to prepare an operations and maintenance program (“O&M Program”). The O&M Program is designed to minimize the potential of any harmful asbestos exposure to any person within or about the Building. The O&M Program includes a description of work methods to be taken in order to maintain any ACMs or PACMs within or about the Building in good condition and to prevent any significant disturbance of such AGMs or PACMs. Appropriate personnel receive regular periodic training on how to properly administer the O&M Program.

The O&M Program describes the risks associated with asbestos exposure and how to prevent such exposure through appropriate work practices. ACMs and PACMs generally are not thought to be a threat to human health unless asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled. This does not typically occur unless (1) the ACMs are in a deteriorating condition, or (2) the ACMs have been significantly disturbed (such as through abrasive cleaning, or maintenance or renovation activities). If inhaled, asbestos fibers can accumulate in the lungs and, as exposure increases, the risk of disease (such as asbestosis or cancer) increases. However, measures to minimize exposure, and consequently minimize the accumulation of asbestos fibers, reduce the risks of adverse health effects.

The O&M Program describes a number of activities that should be avoided in order to prevent a release of asbestos fibers. In particular, you should be aware that some of the activities which may present a health risk include moving, drilling, boring, or otherwise disturbing ACMs. Consequently, such activities should not be attempted by any person not qualified to handle ACMs.

The O&M Program is available for review during regular business hours at our office located at 1600 Fairview Avenue East, Suite 100, Seattle WA 98102.

 

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LOGO


LOGO


FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE (this “First Amendment”) is made as of August 26, 2011, by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE TCR CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”).

RECITALS

A.    Landlord and Tenant are now parties to that certain Lease dated as of July 21, 2011 (the “Lease”). Pursuant to the Lease, Tenant leases certain premises (“Premises”) consisting of approximately 7,724 rentable square feet in a building located at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, Washington (“Building”). The Premises are more particularly described in the Lease. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Lease.

B.    Landlord and Tenant desire to amend the Lease subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, which are incorporated herein by this reference, the mutual promises and conditions contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

Sales Tax Deferral/Exemption.

(a)    Landlord has advised Tenant that Retail sales tax otherwise applicable to portions of construction of the Tenant Improvements may be eligible for deferral pursuant to RCW 82.63 (the “Sales Tax Deferral”) as a result of Tenant’s intended use of the Premises. Tenant has advised Landlord that Tenant intends to conduct biotechnology research and development in the Premises. Landlord believes that approximately 60% of Tenant’s Premises will qualify for a Sales Tax Deferral, for the cost of construction of the Tenant Improvements. The Base Rent under this Lease reflects Tenant’s receipt of the benefit of this Sales Tax Deferral in the form of a lower Base Rent. Promptly following the execution of this Lease, Landlord shall prepare and process applications with the Washington State Department of Revenue for a deferral of state and local sales and use taxes with respect to the construction of the Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall, at Landlord’s sole cost and expense, cooperate with Landlord’s preparation and processing of such applications. Landlord shall notify Tenant in writing once the Sales Tax Deferral has been granted by the Department of Revenue. If the retail sales tax for any of the Tenant Improvements requested by Landlord is deferred, and if, for any reason, other than Tenant’s failure to complete the annual survey required by RCW 82.63.020, any part of the retail sales tax so deferred is subsequently required to be repaid, Landlord shall promptly pay the same, together with any interest, penalties, or other charges that are or become due in connection therewith, and Landlord shall indemnify and hold Tenant harmless from any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, liability and claims arising out of or related to any retail sales tax deferral for the Tenant Improvements. If any part of the Sales Tax Deferral is required to be repaid because Tenant failed to complete the annual survey required by RCW 82.63.020, Tenant shall promptly pay the same, together with any interest, penalties or other charges that are or become due in connection therewith, and Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from any and all costs, expenses, loss, damages, liability and claims arising out of or related to such loss of the Sales Tax Deferral.

(b)    Tenant shall on an annual basis report to Landlord the nature of Tenant’s use of the Premises and the extent to which such use does not qualify for the Sales Tax Deferral and complete the annual survey required by RCW 82.63.020. Tenant shall, after consultation with Landlord, be responsible for reporting any non-qualifying use to the State of Washington Department of Revenue and shall deliver copies of the same to Landlord concurrently with its

 

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delivery of the same to the State of Washington Department of Revenue. Landlord acknowledges and agrees that, as between Landlord and Tenant, Landlord shall be solely responsible for paying for any tax resulting from any non-qualifying use.

(c)    Tenant will, at Landlord’s sole cost and expense, reasonably cooperate with and assist Landlord in any challenges or audits to the Sales Tax Deferral benefit. In any contest regarding the Sales Tax Deferral benefit, Landlord shall be the main contact with the Department of Revenue; provided, however, that Landlord shall promptly provide Tenant with copies of any correspondence between Landlord and the Department of Revenue and Tenant shall have the right to be present at any and all meetings or proceedings relating to any such contest. Landlord and Tenant shall promptly notify each other of any such challenges or audits that they become aware of and will promptly forward to one another any correspondence regarding any such challenge or audit. Landlord shall have the right to contest or review any proceedings regarding the Sales Tax Deferral benefit, which may be instituted either during or after the Term of this Lease. Tenant will on a timely basis execute all reasonably necessary instruments submitted by Landlord to Tenant for execution in connection with any such protest, appeal or other proceedings, provided, however, that the same are reasonably acceptable to Tenant. If any proceeding may only be instituted and maintained by Tenant, then Tenant shall do so at Landlord’s cost and expense upon the request of Landlord. Tenant shall not settle any appeal or other proceeding with respect to such Sales Tax Deferral without obtaining Landlord’s prior written approval in each instance (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Landlord shall be entitled to any resulting refund obtained by reason of any such proceeding or otherwise, whether obtained during or after the expiration of the Term and whether obtained by Landlord or Tenant. Landlord shall indemnify and hold Tenant harmless from any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, liability and claims arising out of or related to Tenant’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 1(c), including, without limitation, as a result of the execution of any instruments provided to Tenant by Landlord for execution.

 

2.

Miscellaneous.

a.    This First Amendment is the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements and discussions. This First Amendment may be amended only by an agreement in writing, signed by the parties hereto.

b.    This First Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their respective agents, employees, representatives, officers, directors, divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, assigns, heirs, successors in interest and shareholders.

c.    This First Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The signature page of any counterpart may be detached therefrom without impairing the legal effect of the signature(s) thereon provided such signature page is attached to any other counterpart identical thereto except having additional signature pages executed by other parties to this First Amendment attached thereto.

d.    Except as amended and/or modified by this First Amendment, the Lease is hereby ratified and confirmed and all other terms of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect, unaltered and unchanged by this First Amendment. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this First Amendment and the provisions of the Lease, the provisions of this First Amendment shall prevail. Whether or not specifically amended by this First Amendment, all of the terms and provisions of the Lease are hereby amended to the extent necessary to give effect to the purpose and intent of this First Amendment.

[Signatures are on the next page.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this First Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

TENANT:
ADAPTIVE TCR CORPORATION,
a Washington corporation
By:    

/s/ Chad Robins

Its:    

President & CEO

LANDLORD:
ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, L.P., a

Delaware limited partnership,

managing member

By:  

ARE-QRS CORP.,

a Maryland corporation,

general partner

 

By:

 

 

 

/s/ Jennifer Pappas

  Its:  

SVP - GENERAL COUNSEL

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED SECOND AMENDMENT TO LEASE

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SECOND AMENDMENT TO LEASE AMENDS, RESTATES AND SUPERSEDES IN ITS ENTIRETY THAT CERTAIN SECOND AMENDMENT TO LEASE DATED AS OF MARCH 31, 2014, BY AND BETWEEN TENANT (AS DEFINED BELOW) AND LANDLORD (AS DEFINED BELOW).

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SECOND AMENDMENT TO LEASE (this “Second Amendment”) is made as of June 30, 2014, by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”).

RECITALS

A.    Landlord and Tenant are now parties to that certain Lease Agreement dated as of July 21, 2011 (“Original Lease”), as amended by that certain First Amendment to Lease dated as of August 26, 2011 (as amended, the “Lease”). Pursuant to the Lease, Tenant leases certain premises (“Original Premises”) located on the second floor, as shown on Exhibit A to the Original Lease, of that certain building located at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, Washington. The Original Premises are more particularly described in the Lease. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Lease.

B.    Landlord and Tenant desire, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, to amend the Lease to, among other things, (i) expand the size of the Original Premises by adding that certain portion of the second floor of the Building shown on Exhibit A attached to this Second Amendment (“Expansion Premises”), and (ii) extend the Base Term of the Lease.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, which are incorporated herein by this reference, the mutual promises and conditions contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

Expansion Premises. In addition to the Original Premises, commencing on the Expansion Premises Commencement Date (as defined below), Landlord leases to Tenant, and Tenant leases from Landlord, the Expansion Premises.

 

2.

Delivery. Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to deliver possession of the Expansion Premises to Tenant with Landlord’s Work Substantially Completed (“Delivery” or “Deliver”) on or before the Target Expansion Premises Commencement Date. The “Target Expansion Premises Commencement Date” shall be December 1, 2014. If Landlord fails to timely Deliver the Expansion Premises, Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for any loss or damage resulting therefrom, and the Lease with respect to the Expansion Premises shall not be void or voidable, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. If Landlord does not Deliver the Expansion Premises within 90 days of the Target Expansion Premises Commencement Date for any reason other than Force Majeure delays and Tenant Delays, the Lease with respect to the Expansion Premises only may be terminated by Tenant by written notice to Landlord, and if so terminated by Tenant: (a) all of the provisions of this Second Amendment shall terminate and be of no further force or effect, and (b) neither Landlord nor Tenant shall have any further rights, duties or obligations under the Lease with respect to the Expansion Premises, except with respect to provisions which expressly survive termination of the Lease. As used herein, the terms “Landlord’s Work,” “Tenant Delays” and “Substantially Completed” shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Expansion Premises Work Letter attached to this Second Amendment as Exhibit B.

 

  

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The “Expansion Premises Commencement Date” shall be the earlier of: (i) the date Landlord Delivers the Expansion Premises to Tenant; or (ii) the date Landlord could have Delivered the Expansion Premises but for Tenant Delays. The “Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date” shall be the date that is 4 months after the Expansion Premises Commencement Date. Upon the request of Landlord, Tenant shall execute and deliver a written acknowledgment of the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date and the expiration date of the Lease in substantially the form of the “Acknowledgement of Commencement Date” attached to the Lease as Exhibit D; provided, however, Tenant’s failure to execute and deliver such acknowledgment shall not affect Landlord’s rights hereunder.

Except as set forth in the Expansion Premises Work Letter: (i) Tenant shall accept the Expansion Premises in their condition as of the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, subject to all applicable Legal Requirements; (ii) Landlord shall have no obligation for any defects in the Expansion Premises; and (iii) Tenant’s taking possession of the Expansion Premises shall be conclusive evidence that Tenant accepts the Expansion Premises and that the Expansion Premises were in good condition at the time possession was taken.

Tenant agrees and acknowledges that neither Landlord nor any agent of Landlord has made any representation or warranty with respect to the condition of all or any portion of the Expansion Premises, and/or the suitability of the Expansion Premises for the conduct of Tenant’s business, and Tenant waives any implied warranty that the Expansion Premises are suitable for the Permitted Use.

 

3.

Premises and Rentable Area of Premises. Commencing on the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined terms “Premises” and “Rentable Area of Premises” on page 1 of the Lease shall be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following:

Premises: That portion of the second floor of the Project containing approximately 20,324 rentable square feet, consisting of the “Original Premises” and the “Expansion Premises”, all as shown on Exhibit A.”

Rentable Area of Premises: 20,324 sq. ft.”

As of the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Exhibit A to the Lease shall be amended to include the Expansion Premises as shown on Exhibit A attached to this Second Amendment.

The rentable square footage of the Premises (the Original Premises and the Expansion Premises) has been determined in accordance with the BOMA 2010 Standard Methods of Measurement for multi-tenant buildings.

 

4.

Base Term. Commencing on the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined term “Base Term” on page 1 of the Lease is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Base Term: Commencing (i) with respect to the Original Premises on the Commencement Date, and (ii) with respect to the Expansion Premises on the Expansion Premises Commencement Date and ending with respect to the entire Premises on the date that is 64 months from the first day of the first full month after the Expansion Premises Commencement Date.”

 

5.

Base Rent.

a.    Original Premises. Tenant shall continue to pay Base Rent for the Original Premises as provided for in the Lease through September 30, 2017. Thereafter, Base Rent payable for the Original Premises shall continue to increase on each Adjustment Date (as defined in Section 4 of the Lease) pursuant to the terms of Section 4 of the Lease.

 

     

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b.    Expansion Premises. Commencing on the Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date (i.e., the date that is 4 months after the Expansion Premises Commencement Date), Tenant shall pay Base Rent for the Expansion Premises at the rate of $46.00 per rentable square foot of the Expansion Premises per year. Base Rent payable for the Expansion Premises shall be increased (i) on the earlier of (x) the first Adjustment Date to occur following the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, or (y) the first anniversary of the Expansion Premises Commencement Date (either, the “First Expansion Premises Adjustment Date”), and thereafter (ii) on each annual anniversary of the First Expansion Premises Adjustment Date (each, an “Expansion Premises Adjustment Date”), by multiplying the Base Rent payable with respect to the Expansion Premises immediately before the First Expansion Premises Adjustment Date or Expansion Premises Adjustment Date, as applicable, by 2.5% and adding the resulting amount to the Base Rent payable with respect to the Expansion Premises immediately before the First Expansion Premises Adjustment Date or Expansion Premises Adjustment Date, as applicable.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to the Expansion Premises only, for the period commencing on the Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date through the last day.of the 6th month after the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Tenant shall be required to pay Base Rent with respect to only 4,027.5 rentable square feet of the Expansion Premises. Commencing on the first day of the 7th month after the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Tenant shall commence paying Base Rent with respect to the entire Expansion Premises.

 

6.

Tenant’s Share. Commencing on the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined term “Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses” on page 1 of the Lease shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following’

Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses: 17.30%”

 

7.

Parking. Subject to all matters of record, Force Majeure, a Taking and the exercise by Landlord of its rights hereunder, Landlord shall make available to Tenant and Tenant shall be entitled to use, at no additional cost, an addition 15 parking spaces (“Expansion Premises Parking Spaces”), which Expansion Premises Parking Spaces shall all be located in the non-reserved parking areas of the Off-Site Parking (as defined in Section 10 of the Original Lease), as may be modified by Landlord from time to time, subject in each case to Landlord’s rules and regulations. Landlord may allocate parking spaces among Tenant and other tenants in the Project if Landlord determines that such parking facilities are becoming crowded, Landlord shall not be responsible for enforcing Tenant’s parking rights against any third parties, including other tenants of the Project.

 

8.

Extension Right. For the avoidance of doubt, commencing on the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Tenant’s Extension Right pursuant to Section 40 of the Lease shall apply with respect to the Expansion Premises, and such Extension Right may only be exercised concurrently with respect to both the Original Premises and the Expansion Premises.

 

9.

Expansion Premises. Section 39 of the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and is of no further force or effect.

 

10.

Right to Terminate. Section 41 of the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and is of no further force or effect.

 

 

    

    

  

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11.

Asbestos.

a.    Notification of Asbestos. Landlord hereby notifies Tenant of the presence of asbestos-containing materials (“ACMs”) and/or presumed asbestos-containing materials (“PACMs”) within or about the Premises in the location identified in Exhibit C attached to this First Amendment.

b.    Tenant Acknowledgement. Tenant hereby acknowledges receipt of the notification in paragraph (a) of this Section 11 and understands that the purpose of such notification is to make Tenant and any agents, employees, and contractors of Tenant, aware of the presence of ACMs and/or PACMs within or about the Building in order to avoid or minimize any damage to or disturbance of such ACMs and/or PACMs.

 

CMR
Tenant’s Initials

c.    Acknowledgement from Contractors/Employees. Tenant shall give Landlord at least 14 days’ prior written notice before conducting, authorizing or permitting any of the activities listed below within or about the Premises, and before soliciting bids from any person to perform such services. Such notice shall identify or describe the proposed scope, location, date and time of such activities and the name, address and telephone number of each person who may be conducting such activities. Thereafter, Tenant shall grant Landlord reasonable access to the Premises to determine whether any ACMs or PACMs will be disturbed in connection with such activities. Tenant shall not solicit bids from any person for the performance of such activities without Landlord’s prior written approval. Upon Landlord’s request, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a copy of a signed acknowledgement from any contractor, agent, or employee of Tenant acknowledging receipt of information describing the presence of ACMs and/or PACMs within or about the Premises in the locations identified in Exhibit C prior to the commencement of such activities. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to expand Tenant’s rights under the Lease or otherwise to conduct, authorize or permit any such activities.

(i)    Removal of thermal system insulation (“TSI”) and surfacing ACMs and PACMs (i.e., sprayed-on or troweled-on material, e.g., textured ceiling paint or fireproofing material);

(ii)    Removal of ACMs or PACMs that are not TSI or surfacing ACMs or PACMs; or

(iii)    Repair and maintenance of operations that are likely to disturb ACMs or PACMs.

 

12.

Brokers. Landlord and Tenant each represents and warrants that it has not dealt with any broker, agent or other person (collectively, “Broker”) in connection with the transaction reflected in this Second Amendment and that no Broker brought about this transaction, other than Cushman & Wakefield Commerce and Flinn Ferguson. Landlord and Tenant each hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from and against any claims by any Broker claiming a commission or other form of compensation by virtue of having dealt with Tenant or Landlord, as applicable, with regard to this Second Amendment. Landlord shall be responsible for all commissions due to Cushman & Wakefield Commerce and Flinn Ferguson arising out of the execution of this Second Amendment in accordance with the terms of separate written agreements between Landlord, on the one hand, and Cushman & Wakefield Commerce and Flinn Ferguson, on the other hand.

 

13.

Miscellaneous.

a.    This Second Amendment is the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements and discussions. This Second Amendment may be amended only by an agreement in writing, signed by the parties hereto.

 

 

  

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b.    This Second Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns.

c.    This Second Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The signature page of any counterpart may be detached therefrom without impairing the legal effect of the signature(s) thereon provided such signature page is attached to any other counterpart identical thereto except having additional signature pages executed by other parties to this Second Amendment attached thereto.

d.    Except as amended and/or modified by this Second Amendment, the Lease is hereby ratified and confirmed and all other terms of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect, unaltered and unchanged by this Second Amendment. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Second Amendment and the provisions of the Lease, the provisions of this Second Amendment shall prevail. Whether or not specifically amended by this Second Amendment, all of the terms and provisions of the Lease are hereby amended to the extent necessary to give effect to the purpose and intent of this Second Amendment.

[Signatures are on the next page.]

 

    

 

  

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Second Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

TENANT:  
ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION,
a Washington corporation
Chad Robins
By:  

/s/ Chad Robins

Its:  

CEO & President

 

LANDLORD:
ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, L.P., a

Delaware limited partnership,

managing member

  By:  

ARE-QRS CORP.,

a Maryland corporation,

general partner

    By:  

/s/ Jackie Clem

    Its:  

VP Real Estate Legal Affairs

 

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EXHIBIT B

Expansion Premises Work Letter

THIS EXPANSION PREMISES WORK LETTER dated June 30, 2014 (this “Expansion Premises Work Letter”) is made and entered into by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”), and is attached to and made a part of the Lease Agreement dated July 21, 2011, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Lease dated as of August 26, 2011, and as further amended by that certain Amended and Restated Second Amendment to Lease dated of even date herewith (as amended, the “Lease”), by and between Landlord and Tenant. Any initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Lease.

1.    General Requirements.

(a)    Tenant’s Authorized Representative. Tenant designates Chad Robins (“Tenant’s Representative”) as the only person authorized to act for Tenant pursuant to this Work Letter. Landlord shall not be obligated to respond to or act upon any request, approval, inquiry or other communication (“Communication”) from or on behalf of Tenant in connection with this Work Letter unless such Communication is in writing from Tenant’s Representative. Tenant may change Tenant’s Representative at any time upon not less than 5 business days advance written notice to Landlord.

(b)    Landlord’s Authorized Representative. Landlord designates John Cox (“Landlord’s Representative”) as the only person authorized to act for Landlord pursuant to this Expansion Premises Work Letter. Tenant shall not be obligated to respond to or act upon any request, approval, inquiry or other Communication from or on behalf of Landlord in connection with this Expansion Premises Work Letter unless such Communication is in writing from Landlord’s Representative. Landlord may change Landlord’s Representative at any time upon not less than 5 business days advance written notice to Tenant. Landlord’s Representative shall be the sole persons authorized to direct Landlord’s contractors in the performance of Landlord’s Work,

(c)    Architects, Consultants and Contractors. Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and agree that: (i) the general contractor and any subcontractors for the Tenant Improvements shall be selected by Landlord, subject to Tenant’s approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. conditioned or delayed, and (ii) Perkins + Will shall be the architect (the “TI Architect”) for the Tenant Improvements.

2.    Tenant Improvements.

(a)    Tenant Improvements Defined. As used herein, “Tenant Improvements” shall mean all improvements to the Expansion Premises of a fixed and permanent nature as shown on the TI Construction Drawings, as defined in Section 2(c) below. Other than Landlord’s Work (as defined in Section 3(a) below, Landlord shall not have any obligation whatsoever with respect to the finishing of the Expansion Premises for Tenant’s use and occupancy.

(b)    Tenant’s Space Plans. Landlord and Tenant acknowledge and agree that the plan prepared by the TI Architect attached to this Expansion Premises Work Letter as Schedule 1 (the “Space Plan”) has been approved by both Landlord and Tenant. Landlord and Tenant further acknowledge and agree that any changes to the Space Plan constitute a Change Request the cost of which changes shall be paid for by Tenant. Tenant shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by Landlord to alter the Building (or Landlord’s plans for the Building) as a result of Tenant’s requested changes.

(c)    Working Drawings. Landlord shall cause the TI Architect to prepare and deliver to Tenant for review and comment construction plans, specifications and drawings for the Tenant

 

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Improvements (“TI Construction Drawings”), which TI Construction Drawings shall be prepared substantially in accordance with the Space Plan. Tenant shall be solely responsible for ensuring that the TI Construction Drawings reflect Tenant’s requirements for the Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall deliver its written comments on the TI Construction Drawings to Landlord not later than 10 business days after Tenant’s receipt of the same; provided, however, that Tenant may not disapprove any matter that is consistent with the Space Plan without submitting a Change Request. Landlord and the TI Architect shall consider all such comments in good faith and shall, within 10 business days after receipt, notify Tenant how Landlord proposes to respond to such comments, but Tenant’s review rights pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall not delay the design or construction schedule for the Tenant Improvements. Any disputes in connection with such comments shall be resolved in accordance with Section 2(d) hereof. Provided that the design reflected in the TI Construction Drawings is consistent with the Space Plan, Tenant shall approve the TI Construction Drawings submitted by Landlord, unless Tenant submits a Change Request. Once approved by Tenant, subject to the provisions of Section 4 below, Landlord shall not materially modify the TI Construction Drawings except as may be reasonably required in connection with the issuance of the TI Permit (as defined in Section 3(b) below). Landlord shall notify Tenant of any such material modifications as may be reasonably required in connection with the issuance of the TI Permit.

(d)    Approval and Completion. Upon any dispute regarding the design of the Tenant Improvements, which is not settled within 10 business days after notice of such dispute is delivered by one party to the other, Tenant may make the final decision regarding the design of the Tenant Improvements, provided (i) Tenant acts reasonably and such final decision is either consistent with or a compromise between Landlord’s and Tenant’s positions with respect to such dispute, (ii) that all costs and expenses resulting from any such decision by Tenant shall be payable by Tenant, except to the extent that the design chosen by Tenant is already included within the scope the Space Plan, and (iii) Tenant’s decision will not affect the base Building, structural components of the Building or any Building Systems. Any changes to the TI Construction Drawings following Landlord’s and Tenant’s approval of same requested by Tenant shall be processed as provided in Section 4 hereof.

3.    Performance of Landlord’s Work.

(a)    Definition of Landlord’s Work. As used herein, “Landlord’s Work” shall mean the work of constructing the Tenant Improvements.

(b)    Commencement and Permitting. Landlord shall commence construction of the Tenant Improvements upon obtaining a building permit (the “TI Permit”) authorizing the construction of the Tenant Improvements consistent with the TI Construction Drawings approved by Tenant, The cost of obtaining the TI Permit shall be payable by Landlord. Tenant shall assist Landlord in obtaining the TI Permit. If any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the construction of Landlord’s Work or any portion thereof shall impose terms or conditions upon the construction thereof that: (i) are inconsistent with Landlord’s obligations hereunder, (ii) increase the cost of constructing Landlord’s Work, or (iii) will materially delay the construction of Landlord’s Work, Landlord and Tenant shall reasonably and in good faith seek means by which to mitigate or eliminate any such adverse terms and conditions

(c)    Completion of Landlord’s Work. Landlord shall substantially complete or cause to be substantially completed Landlord’s Work in a good and workmanlike manner, in accordance with the TI Permit subject, in each case, to Minor Variations and normal “punch list” items of a non-material nature that do not interfere with the use of the Expansion Premises and shall obtain a permit card issued by the applicable Governmental Authority or verbal approval from the building inspector permitting occupancy of the Expansion Premises (“Substantial Completion” or “Substantially Complete”). Upon Substantial Completion of Landlord’s Work, Landlord shall require the TI Architect and the general contractor to execute and deliver, for the benefit of Tenant and Landlord, a Certificate of Substantial Completion in the form of the American Institute of Architects (“AIA”) document G704. For purposes of this Expansion Premises Work Letter, “Minor Variations” shall mean any modifications reasonably required: (i) to comply with all applicable Legal Requirements and/or to obtain or to comply with any required permit

 

    

  

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(including the TI Permit); (ii) to comply with any request by Tenant for modifications to Landlord’s Work; (iii) to comport with good design, engineering, and construction practices that are not material; or (iv) to make reasonable adjustments for field deviations or conditions encountered during the construction of Landlord’s Work.

(d)    Selection of Materials. Where more than one type of material or structure is indicated on the TI Construction Drawings approved by Landlord and Tenant, the option will be selected at Landlord’s sole and absolute subjective discretion. As to all building materials and equipment that Landlord is obligated to supply under this Expansion Premises Work Letter, Landlord shall select the manufacturer thereof in its sole and absolute subjective discretion.

(e)    Delivery/Acceptance. When Landlord’s Work is Substantially Complete, subject to the remaining terms and provisions of this Section 3(e), Tenant shall accept Delivery of the Expansion Premises. Tenant’s taking possession and acceptance of the Expansion Premises shall not constitute a waiver of: (i) any warranty with respect to workmanship (including installation of equipment) or material (exclusive of equipment provided directly by manufacturers), (ii) any non-compliance of Landlord’s Work with applicable Legal Requirements, or (iii) any claim that Landlord’s Work was not completed substantially in accordance with the TI Construction Drawings (subject to Minor Variations and such other changes as are permitted hereunder) (collectively, a “Construction Defect”). Tenant shall have one year after Substantial Completion within which to notify Landlord of any such Construction Defect discovered by Tenant, and Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to remedy or cause the responsible contractor to remedy any such Construction Defect within 30 days thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord shall not be in default under the Lease if the applicable contractor, despite Landlord’s reasonable efforts, fails to remedy such Construction Defect within such 30-day period, in which case Landlord shall have no further obligation with respect to such Construction Defect other than to cooperate, at no cost to Landlord, with Tenant should Tenant elect to pursue a claim against such contractor.

Tenant shall be entitled to receive the benefit of all construction warranties and manufacturer’s equipment warranties relating to equipment installed in the Expansion Premises. If requested by Tenant, Landlord shall attempt to obtain extended warranties from manufacturers and suppliers of such equipment, but the cost of any such extended warranties shall be borne solely by Tenant. Landlord shall promptly undertake and complete, or cause to be completed, all punch list items. Landlord shall endeavor, in connection with Landlord’s completion of such punch list items, to minimize interference with Tenant’s use of the Expansion Premises for the Permitted Use.

(f)    Expansion Premises Commencement Date Delay. Except as otherwise provided in the Lease, Delivery of the Expansion Premises shall occur when Landlord’s Work has been Substantially Completed in the Expansion Premises, except to the extent that completion of Landlord’s Work shall have been actually delayed by any one or more of the following causes (“Tenant Delay”):

(i)    Tenant’s Representative was not available to give or receive any Communication or to take any other action required to be taken by Tenant hereunder;

(ii)    Tenant’s request for Change Requests (as defined in Section 4(a) below) whether or not any such Change Requests are actually performed;

(iii)    Construction of any Change Requests;

(iv)    Tenant’s request for materials, finishes or installations requiring unusually long lead times, provided that Landlord notifies Tenant of such long lead times prior to any delay in the completion of Landlord’s Work;

(v)    Tenant’s delay in reviewing, revising or approving plans and specifications beyond the periods set forth herein;

 

  

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(vi)    Tenant’s delay in providing information critical to the normal progression of the Project. Tenant shall provide such information as soon as reasonably possible, but in no event longer than one week after receipt of any request for such information from Landlord;

(vii)    Tenant’s delay in making payments to Landlord for Excess TI Costs (as defined in Section 5(b) below); or

(viii)    Any other act or omission by Tenant or any Tenant Party (as defined in the Lease), or persons employed by any of such persons.

If Delivery is delayed for any of the foregoing reasons, then Landlord shall cause the TI Architect to certify the date on which the Tenant Improvements would have been Substantially Completed in the Expansion Premises but for such Tenant Delay and such certified date shall be the date of Delivery.

4.    Changes. Any changes requested by Tenant to the Tenant Improvements after the delivery and approval by Landlord of the Space Plan shall be requested and instituted in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 and shall be subject to the written approval of Landlord and the TI Architect, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(a)    Tenant’s Request For Changes. If Tenant shall request changes to the Tenant Improvements (“Changes”), Tenant shall request such Changes by notifying Landlord in writing in substantially the same form as the AIA standard change order form (a “Change Request”), which Change Request shall detail the nature and extent of any such Change. Such Change Request must be signed by Tenant’s Representative. Landlord shall, before proceeding with any Change, use commercially reasonable efforts to respond to Tenant as soon as is reasonably possible with an estimate of: (i) the time it will take, and (ii) the architectural and engineering fees and costs that will be incurred, to analyze such Change Request (which costs shall be paid by Tenant to the extent actually incurred, whether or not such change is implemented). Landlord shall thereafter submit to Tenant in writing, within 5 business days of receipt of the Change Request (or such longer period of time as is reasonably required depending on the extent of the Change Request), an analysis of the additional cost or savings involved, including, without limitation, architectural and engineering costs and the period of time, if any, that the Change will extend the date on which Landlord’s Work will be Substantially Complete. Any such delay in the completion of Landlord’s Work caused by a Change, including any suspension of Landlord’s Work while any such Change is being evaluated and/or designed, shall be Tenant Delay.

(b)    Implementation of Changes. If Tenant: (i) approves in writing the cost or savings and the estimated extension in the time for completion of Landlord’s Work, if any, and (ii) deposits with Landlord any Excess TI Costs required in connection with such Change, Landlord shall cause the approved Change to be instituted. Notwithstanding any approval or disapproval by Tenant of any estimate of the delay caused by such proposed Change, the TI Architect’s determination of the amount of Tenant Delay in connection with such Change shall be final and binding on Landlord and Tenant.

5.    Costs.

(a)    TI Costs. Landlord shall be responsible for the payment of design, permits and construction costs in connection with the construction of the Tenant Improvements, including, without limitation, the cost of preparing the TI Construction Drawings and the Space Plan and Landlord’s out-of-pocket expenses (collectively, “TI Costs”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall Landlord be required to pay for any furniture, personal property or other non-Building system materials or equipment, including, but not limited to, Tenant’s voice or data cabling, non-ducted biological safety cabinets and other scientific equipment not incorporated into the Tenant Improvements.

(b)    Excess TI Costs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Tenant acknowledges and agrees that Landlord shall have no responsibility for any costs arising from or related

 

  

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to Tenant’s changes to the Space Plan or approved TI Construction Drawings, Tenant Delays, the cost of Changes and Change Request (collectively, “Excess TI Costs”). Tenant shall deposit with Landlord, as a condition precedent to Landlord’s obligation to complete the Tenant Improvements, 100% of the Excess TI Costs, If Tenant fails to deposit any Excess TI Costs with Landlord, Landlord shall have all of the rights and remedies set forth in the Lease for nonpayment of Rent (including, but not limited to, the right to interest at the Default Rate and the right to assess a late charge). For purposes of any litigation instituted with regard to such amounts, those amounts will be deemed Rent under the Lease.

6.    Tenant Access.

(a)    Tenant’s Access Rights. Landlord hereby agrees to permit Tenant access, at Tenant’s sole risk and expense, to the Expansion Premises (i) 30 days prior to the Expansion Premises Commencement Date provided such access is coordinated with the TI Architect and the general contractor, and complies with the Lease and all other reasonable restrictions and conditions Landlord may impose, and (ii) prior to the completion of Landlord’s Work, to inspect and observe work in process; all such access shall be during normal business hours or at such other times as are reasonably designated by Landlord. Any entry by Tenant shall comply with all established safety practices of Landlord’s contractor and Landlord until completion of Landlord’s Work and acceptance thereof by Tenant.

(b)    No Interference. Neither Tenant nor any Tenant Party (as defined in the Lease) shall interfere with the performance of Landlord’s Work, nor with any inspections or issuance of final approvals by applicable Governmental Authorities, and upon any such interference, Landlord shall have the right to exclude Tenant and any Tenant Party from the Expansion Premises until Substantial Completion of Landlord’s Work.

(c)    No Acceptance of Expansion Premises. The fact that Tenant may, with Landlord’s consent, enter into the Expansion Premises prior to the date Landlord’s Work is Substantially Complete shall not in and of itself be deemed an acceptance by Tenant of possession of the Expansion Premises, but in such event Tenant shall defend with counsel reasonably acceptable by Landlord, indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and against any loss of or damage to Tenant’s property, completed work, fixtures, equipment, materials or merchandise, and from liability for death of, or injury to, any person, caused by the act or omission of Tenant or any Tenant Party.

7.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Consents. Whenever consent or approval of either party is required under this Expansion Premises Work Letter, that party shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay such consent or approval, unless expressly set forth herein to the contrary.

(b)    Modification. No modification, waiver or amendment of this Expansion Premises Work Letter or of any of its conditions or provisions shall be binding upon Landlord or Tenant unless in writing signed by Landlord and Tenant.

 

    

  

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Exhibit C

Asbestos Disclosure

NOTIFICATION OF THE PRESENCE OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS

This notification provides certain information about asbestos within or about the Premises at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, WA (“Building”) and in accordance with Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 296-62-07721.

Historically, asbestos was commonly used in building products used in the construction of buildings across the country. Asbestos-containing building products were used because they are fire-resistant and provide good noise and temperature insulation. Because of their prevalence, asbestos-containing materials, or ACMs, are still sometimes found in buildings today.

An asbestos survey of the Building has determined that ACMs and/or materials that might contain ACMs, referred to as presumed asbestos-containing materials or PACMs, are present within or about the Premises as follows:

 

Material Description

  

Material Location

Floor Mastic (not covered by floor tile)    Various locations within the parking garage
Flooring Material and Mastic beneath new floor tile (PACM)    Landings of stairwells #1 and #2

Because ACMs and PACMs are present and may continue to be present within or about the Building, we have hired an independent environmental consulting firm to prepare an operations and maintenance program (“O&M Program”). The O&M Program is designed to minimize the potential of any harmful asbestos exposure to any person within or about the Building. The O&M Program includes a description of work methods to be taken in order to maintain any ACMs or PACMs within or about the Building in good condition and to prevent any significant disturbance of such ACMs or PACMs. Appropriate personnel receive regular periodic training on how to properly administer the O&M Program.

The O&M Program describes the risks associated with asbestos exposure and how to prevent such exposure through appropriate work practices. ACMs and PACMs generally are not thought to be a threat to human health unless asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled. This does not typically occur unless (1) the ACMs are in a deteriorating condition, or (2) the ACMs have been significantly disturbed (such as through abrasive cleaning, or maintenance or renovation activities). If inhaled, asbestos fibers can accumulate in the lungs and, as exposure increases, the risk of disease (such as asbestosis or cancer) increases. However, measures to minimize exposure, and consequently minimize the accumulation of asbestos fibers, reduce the risks of adverse health effects.

The O&M Program describes a number of activities that should be avoided in order to prevent a release of asbestos fibers. In particular, you should be aware that some of the activities which may present a health risk include moving, drilling, boring, or otherwise disturbing ACMs. Consequently, such activities should not be attempted by any person not qualified to handle ACMs.

The O&M Program is available for review during regular business hours at our office located at 1600 Fairview Avenue East, Suite 100, Seattle WA 98102.

 

    

    

  

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THIRD AMENDMENT TO LEASE

THIS THIRD AMENDMENT TO LEASE (this “Third Amendment”) is made as of November 5, 2015, by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”).

RECITALS

A. Landlord and Tenant are now parties to that certain Lease Agreement dated as of July 21, 2011 (“Original Lease”), as amended by that certain First Amendment to Lease dated as of August 26, 2011, and as further amended by that certain Amended and Restated Second Amendment to Lease dated as of June 30, 2014 (as amended, the “Lease”). Pursuant to the Lease, Tenant leases certain premises (the “Existing Premises”) located on the second floor consisting of approximately 20,324 rentable square feet in that certain building located at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, Washington. The Existing Premises are more particularly described in the Lease. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Lease.

B. Landlord and Tenant desire, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, to amend the Lease to, provide for the temporary use by Tenant of that certain portion of the third floor of the Building, consisting of approximately 9,594 rentable square feet, as shown on Exhibit A attached to this Third Amendment (“Third Floor Space”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, which are incorporated herein by this reference, the mutual promises and conditions contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

Temporary Expansion Premises. Commencing on the date that is 1 business day after the mutual execution and delivery of this Third Amendment by the parties (“Third Floor Space Commencement Date”), and continuing until the date that is 6 months after the Third Floor Space Commencement Date (“Third Floor Space Term”), Landlord shall lease to Tenant and Tenant shall lease from Landlord the Third Floor Space. Tenant acknowledges and agrees that all of the terms and conditions of the Lease shall apply to the leasing of the Third Floor Space, except that (a) the term of the lease with respect to the Third Floor Space shall be as set forth in the first sentence of this Section 1; (b) Tenant shall not be required to pay Base Rent with respect to the Third Floor Space during the Third Floor Space Term; (c) Tenant shall commence paying Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses with respect to the Third Floor Space (which is equal to 8.29%) on the Third Floor Space

 

  

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  Commencement Date and Tenant shall continue to pay Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses with respect to the Third Floor Space thereafter on the first day of each month during the Third Floor Space Term; (d) Landlord shall not be required to make any improvements to the Third Floor Space or provide any tenant improvement allowance with respect to the Third Floor Space and Tenant shall accept the Second Floor in its ‘as is” condition; (e) Tenant shall not be required to deliver any additional Security Deposit with respect to the Third Floor Space; (f) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 22 of the original Lease, Tenant shall not have the right to sublease any portion of the Third Floor Space or assign the Lease with respect to the Third Floor Space; (g) Tenant may not make any Alterations or any other improvements in the Third Floor Space without the prior written approval of Landlord, which approval may be granted or withheld in Landlord’s sole and absolute discretion; and (h) any existing Extension Rights relating to the Existing Premises shall not apply to the Third Floor Space.

Tenant shall surrender the Third Floor Space upon the expiration of the Third Floor Space Term in accordance with the surrender requirements contained in the Lease. Following the expiration or earlier termination of the Third Floor Space Term, Tenant shall have no further rights of any kind with respect to the Third Floor Space. Nothing contained herein shall release Tenant from any obligations under the Lease with respect to the Third Floor Space which survive the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease.

2. Asbestos.

a. Notification of Asbestos. Landlord hereby notifies Tenant of the presence of asbestos-containing materials (“ACMs”) and/or presumed asbestos-containing materials (“PACMs”) within or about the Premises in the location identified in Exhibit B attached to this First Amendment.

b. Tenant Acknowledgement. Tenant hereby acknowledges receipt of the notification in paragraph (a) of this Section 2 and understands that the purpose of such notification is to make Tenant and any agents, employees, and contractors of Tenant, aware of the presence of ACMs and/or PACMs within or about the Building in order to avoid or minimize any damage to or disturbance of such AGMs and/or PACMs.

CMR

Tenant’s Initials

 

  

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c. Acknowledgement from Contractors/Employees. Tenant shall give Landlord at least 14 days’ prior written notice before conducting, authorizing or permitting any of the activities listed below within or about the Premises, and before soliciting bids from any person to perform such services. Such notice shall identify or describe the proposed scope, location, date and time of such activities and the name, address and telephone number of each person who may be conducting such activities. Thereafter, Tenant shall grant Landlord reasonable access to the Premises to determine whether any ACMs or PACMs will be disturbed in connection with such activities. Tenant shall not solicit bids from any person for the performance of such activities without Landlord’s prior written approval. Upon Landlord’s request, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a copy of a signed acknowledgement from any contractor, agent, or employee of Tenant acknowledging receipt of information describing the presence of ACMs and/or PACMs within or about the Premises in the locations identified in Exhibit B prior to the commencement of such activities. Nothing in this Section 2 shall be deemed to expand Tenant’s rights under the Lease or otherwise to conduct, authorize or permit any such activities.

 

  (i)

Removal of thermal system insulation (“TSI”) and surfacing ACMs arid PACMs (i.e., sprayed-on or troweled-on material, e.g., textured ceiling paint or fireproofing material);

 

  (ii)

Removal of ACMs or PACMs that are not TSI or surfacing ACMs or PACMs; or

 

  (iii)

Repair and maintenance of operations that are likely to disturb ACMs or PACMs.

 

3.

OFAC. Tenant and all beneficial owners of Tenant are currently (a) in compliance with and shall at all times during the Term of the Lease remain in compliance with the regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury and any statute, executive order, or regulation relating thereto (collectively, the “OFAC Rules”), (b) not listed on, and shall not during the term of the Lease be listed on, the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, Foreign Sanctions Evaders List or the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List, which are all maintained by OFAC and/or on any other similar list maintained by OFAC or other governmental authority pursuant to any authorizing statute, executive order, or regulation, and (c) not a person or entity with whom a U.S. person is prohibited from conducting business under the OFAC Rules.

 

  

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4. Miscellaneous.

a. This Third Amendment is the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements and discussions. This Third Amendment may be amended only by an agreement in writing, signed by the parties hereto.

b. This Third Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns.

c. This Third Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The signature page of any counterpart may be detached therefrom without impairing the legal effect of the signature(s) thereon provided such signature page is attached to any other counterpart identical thereto except having additional signature pages executed by other parties to this Third Amendment attached thereto.

d. Except as amended and/or modified by this Third Amendment, the Lease is hereby ratified and confirmed and all other terms of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect, unaltered and unchanged by this Third Amendment. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Third Amendment and the provisions of the Lease, the provisions of this Third Amendment shall prevail. Whether or not specifically amended by this Third Amendment, all of the terms and provisions of the Lease are hereby amended to the extent necessary to give effect to the purpose and intent of this Third Amendment.

[Signatures are on the next page.]

 

  

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Third Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

TENANT:

ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION,

a Washington corporation

By:  

/s/ Chad Robins

Its:   CEO and President
LANDLORD:

ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, L.P., a
  Delaware limited partnership, managing member
  By:   ARE-QRS CORP.,
    a Maryland corporation,
    general partner
    By:  

/s/ Jackie Clem

    Its:   Senior Vice President RE Legal Affairs

 

  

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document.   

State of California

County of Los Angeles)

 

On November 9, 2015 before me,   

Charles L. Murphy, Notary Public

  

(insert name and title of the officer)

personally appeared Jackie Clem, who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.

I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal.                    LOGO
Signature  

/s/ Charles L. Murphy

      (Seal)

 

  

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TENANT’S ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

STATE OF WA      
   ss.   
COUNTY OF KING                  

On this 5 day of NOVEMBER, 2015, before me personally appeared Chad Robins, to me known to be the CEO of Adaptive Biotechnologies, a                     , that executed the within and foregoing instrument, and Acknowledged the said instrument to be the free and voluntary act and deed of said corporation for the uses and purposes therein mentioned, and on oath stated that they were authorized to execute said instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year first above written.

 

        

/s/ Lorna Chang

(Signature of Notary)

LOGO    

Lorna Chang

    (Legiby Print or Stamp Name of Notary)
   

Notary public in and for the State of Washington, residing at Seattle, WA

My appointment expires 5.11.19

   

 

  

LOGO


EXHIBIT A

Third Floor Space

 

LOGO


EXHIBIT B

Asbestos Disclosure

NOTIFICATION OF THE PRESENCE OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS

This notification provides certain information about asbestos within or about the Premises at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, WA (“Building”) and in accordance with Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 296-62-07721.

Historically, asbestos was commonly used in building products used in the construction of buildings across the country. Asbestos-containing building products were used because they are fire-resistant and provide good noise and temperature insulation. Because of their prevalence, asbestos-containing materials, or AGMs, are still sometimes found in buildings today.

An asbestos survey of the Building has determined that ACMs and/or materials that might contain ACMs, referred to as presumed asbestos-containing materials or PACMs, are present within or about the Premises as follows:

 

Material Description    Material Location
Floor Mastic (not covered by floor tile)    Various locations within the parking garage
Flooring Material and Mastic beneath new floor tile (PACM)    Landings of stairwells #1 and #2

Because ACMs and PACMs are present and may continue to be present within or about the Building, we have hired an independent environmental consulting firm to prepare an operations and maintenance program (“O&M Program”). The O&M Program is designed to minimize the potential of any harmful asbestos exposure to any person within or about the Building. The O&M Program includes a description of work methods to be taken in order to maintain any ACMs or PACMs within or about the Building in good condition and to prevent any significant disturbance of such ACMs or PACMs. Appropriate personnel receive regular periodic training on how to properly administer the O&M Program.

The O&M Program describes the risks associated with asbestos exposure and how to prevent such exposure through appropriate work practices. ACMs and PACMs generally are not thought to be a threat to human health unless asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled. This does not typically occur unless (1) the ACMs are in a deteriorating condition, or (2) the ACMs have been significantly disturbed (such as through abrasive cleaning, or maintenance or renovation activities). If inhaled, asbestos fibers can accumulate in the lungs and, as exposure increases, the risk of disease (such as asbestosis or cancer) increases. However, measures to minimize exposure, and consequently minimize the accumulation of asbestos fibers, reduce the risks of adverse health effects.

 

  

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The O&M Program describes a number of activities that should be avoided in order to prevent a release of asbestos fibers. In particular, you should be aware that some of the activities which may present a health risk include moving, drilling, boring, or otherwise disturbing ACMs. Consequently, such activities should not be attempted by any person not qualified to handle ACMs.

The O&M Program is available for review during regular business hours at our office located at 1600 Fairview Avenue East, Suite 100, Seattle WA 98102.

 

  

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FOURTH AMENDMENT TO LEASE

THIS FORTH AMENDMENT TO LEASE (this “Forth Amendment”) is made as of December 23, 2015, by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”).

RECITALS

A. Landlord and Tenant are now parties to that certain Lease Agreement dated as of July 21, 2011, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Lease dated as of August 26, 2011, as further amended by that certain Amended and Restated Second Amendment to Lease dated as of June 30, 2014 (the “Second Amendment”), and as further amended by that certain Third Amendment to Lease dated as of November 5, 2015 (as amended, the “Lease”). Pursuant to the Lease, Tenant leases certain premises consisting of approximately 20,324 rentable square feet (“Existing Premises”) on the second floor of that certain building located at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, Washington. The Existing Premises are more particularly described in the Lease. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Lease.

B. Landlord and Tenant desire, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, to amend the Lease to, among other things, (i) expand the size of the Existing Premises by adding those portions of the second and third floors of the Building consisting of approximately 28,100 rentable square feet, as shown on Exhibit A attached to this Fourth Amendment (“Second Expansion Premises”), (ii) extend the Base Term of the Lease, and (iii) provide Tenant with an option to expand the Premises to include approximately 8,594 rentable square feet on the third floor of the Building, as shown on Exhibit D attached hereto (the “Third Floor Option Space”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, which are incorporated herein by this reference, the mutual promises and conditions contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

Second Expansion Premises. In addition to the Existing Premises, commencing on the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date (as defined below), Landlord leases to Tenant, and Tenant leases from Landlord, the Second Expansion Premises.

 

2.

Delivery. Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to deliver possession of the Second Expansion Premises to Tenant (“Delivery” or “Deliver”) for the performance by Tenant of Tenant Improvements in the Second Expansion Premises on or before the Target Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date. The “Target Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date” shall be December 1, 2015. If Landlord fails to timely Deliver the Second Expansion Premises, Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for any loss or damage resulting therefrom, and the Lease with respect to the Second Expansion Premises shall not be void or voidable. As used herein, the term “Tenant Improvements” shall have the meaning set forth for such term in the Fourth Amendment Work Letter attached to this Fourth Amendment as Exhibit B.

The “Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date shall be the date Landlord Delivers the Second Expansion Premises to Tenant in broom clean condition. The “Second Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date shall be June 1, 2016. Upon the request of Landlord, Tenant shall execute and deliver a written acknowledgment of the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the Second Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date and the expiration date of the Lease in substantially the form of the “Acknowledgement of Commencement Date” attached to the Lease as Exhibit D; provided, however, Tenant’s failure to execute and deliver such acknowledgment shall not affect either party’s rights hereunder.

 

1


The portion of the Second Expansion Premises located on the third floor, as shown on Exhibit A attached to this Fourth Amendment, may be used as a gym for the exclusive use of Tenant’s employees (the “Gym Area”). If elected by Tenant by written notice to Landlord delivered within 12 months after the date of this Fourth Amendment, Landlord shall perform the work and provide the gym equipment, at Landlord’s expense, described on Exhibit E attached hereto in the Gym Area (collectively, the “Gym Work”). Tenant acknowledges that Landlord shall require access to the Gym Area following the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date in order to complete the Gym Work. Landlord and its contractors and agents shall have the right to enter the Gym Area following the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date in order to perform the Gym Work. Tenant acknowledges that Landlord’s completion of the Gym Work may adversely affect Tenant’s use and occupancy of the Premises. Tenant waives all claims against Landlord for rent abatement in connection with the Gym Work.

Except as set forth in the Fourth Amendment Work Letter: (i) Tenant shall accept the Second Expansion Premises in their condition as of the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, subject to all applicable Legal Requirements; (ii) Landlord shall have no obligation for any defects in the Second Expansion Premises; and (iii) Tenant’s taking possession of the Second Expansion Premises shall be conclusive evidence that Tenant accepts the Second Expansion Premises and that the Second Expansion Premises were in good condition at the time possession was taken.

Tenant agrees and acknowledges that, except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Fourth Amendment or in the Lease, neither Landlord nor any agent of Landlord has made any representation or warranty with respect to the condition of all or any portion of the Second Expansion Premises, and/or the suitability of the Second Expansion Premises for the conduct of Tenant’s business, and Tenant waives any implied warranty that the Second Expansion Premises are suitable for the Permitted Use.

 

3.

Premises and Rentable Area of Premises. Commencing on the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined terms “Premises,” Rentable Area of Premises” and Rentable Area of Project on page 1 of the Lease shall be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following:

“Premises: That portion of the Building containing approximately 48,424 rentable square feet, consisting of (i) that certain portion of the second floor containing approximately 7,724 rentable square feet (the “Original Premises”), (ii) that certain portion of the second floor containing approximately 12,600 rentable square feet (the “Expansion Premises”), and (iii) those certain portions of the second and third floors containing approximately 28,100 rentable square feet (the “Second Expansion Premises”), all as shown on Exhibit A.”

“Rentable Area of Premises: 48,424 sq. ft.”

“Rentable Area of Project: 117,482 sq. ft “

As of the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Exhibit A to the Lease shall be amended to include the Second Expansion Premises as shown on Exhibit A attached to this Fourth Amendment.

 

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4.

Base Term Commencing on the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined term “Base Term on page 1 of the Lease is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Base Term: Commencing (i) with respect to the Original Premises on the Commencement Date, (ii) with respect to the Expansion Premises on the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, and (iii) with respect to the Second Expansion Premises on the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, and ending with respect to the entire Premises on the date that is 84 months from the first day of the first full month after the Second Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date.”

 

5.

Base Rent.

a. Original Premises. Tenant shall continue to pay Base Rent for the Original Premises as provided for in the Lease through June 30, 2020. Thereafter, Base Rent payable for the Original Premises shall continue to increase on each Adjustment Date (as defined in Section 4 of the Lease) pursuant to the terms of Section 4 of the Lease.

b. Expansion Premises. Tenant shall continue to pay Base Rent for the Expansion Premises as provided for in the Lease through June 30, 2020. Thereafter, Base Rent payable for the Expansion Premises shall continue to increase on each Expansion Premises Adjustment Date (as defined in Section 5(b) of the Second Amendment) pursuant to the terms of Section 5(b) of the Second Amendment.

c. Second Expansion Premises. Commencing on the Second Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date (i.e., June 1, 2016), Tenant shall pay Base Rent for the Second Expansion Premises at the rate of $45.60 per rentable square foot of the Second Expansion Premises per year. Base Rent payable for the Second Expansion Premises shall be increased on each annual anniversary of the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date (each, a “Second Expansion Premises Adjustment Date”), by multiplying the Base Rent payable for the Second Expansion Premises immediately before the Second Expansion Premises Adjustment Date by 2.5% and adding the resulting amount to the Base Rent payable for the Second Expansion Premises immediately before the Second Expansion Premises Adjustment Date.

d. Additional TI Allowance. In addition to the Tenant Improvement Allowance (as defined in the Fourth Amendment Work Letter), Landlord shall, subject to the terms of the Fourth Amendment Work Letter, make available to Tenant the Additional Tenant Improvement Allowance (as defined in the Fourth Amendment Work Letter). To the extent that Tenant elects to use all or any portion of the Additional Tenant Improvement Allowance and such amount elected by Tenant is actually funded by Landlord, then commencing on the Second Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date and continuing thereafter on the first day of each month during the Base Term, Base Rent shall be increased by $0.19 per year for each $1.00 of the Additional Tenant Improvement Allowance actually funded by Landlord, as adjusted as additional disbursements of the Additional Tenant Improvement Allowance occur. For example, if $100,000 of the Additional Tenant Improvement Allowance is funded, Base Rent shall be increased by $19,000 per year ($100,000 x $0.19).

 

6.

Tenant’s Share. Commencing on the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined term “Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses” on page 1 of the Lease shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses: 41.22%”

 

7.

Parking. Subject to all matters of record, Force Majeure, a Taking and the exercise by Landlord of its rights hereunder, Landlord shall make available to Tenant and Tenant shall, in addition to the parking spaces that Tenant has the right to use pursuant to Section 10 of the original Lease and the Expansion Premises Parking Spaces which Tenant has the right to use pursuant to Section 2 of the Second Amendment, be entitled to use, at no additional cost during the Base Term, subject to the terms of Section 10 of the original Lease, Tenant’s pro rata share of parking

 

3


spaces with respect to the Second Expansion Premises. As of the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Tenant’s pro rata share of parking spaces with respect to the Second Expansion Premises shall be equal to 2 parking spaces per 1,000 rentable square feet of the Second Expansion Premises (which is equal to 56 parking spaces (in addition to the parking spaces that Tenant has the right to use pursuant to Section 10 of the original Lease))(“Second Expansion Premises Parking Spaces”). The Second Expansion Premises Parking Spaces shall be allocated among the Underground Parking, Surface Parking, Northeast Parking and Offsite Parking as follows: 6 unreserved parking spaces in the Underground Parking, 4 unreserved stalls in the Surface Parking, 0 stalls in the Northeast Parking and 46 unreserved stalls in the Offsite Parking. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Lease, Landlord shall designate 8 parking spaces in the Surface Parking in an area outside the Building lobby, as reasonably determined by Landlord, as “guest parking” for guests of tenants of the Building. In addition, Tenant shall be entitled, subject to the terms of Section 10 of the original Lease, to 4 additional parking spaces in areas of the Surface Parking designated by Landlord (“Additional Parking Spaces”), which 4 Additional Parking Spaces shall be designated as “guest parking” for guests of Tenant and shall be subject to the payment by Tenant of the market rate for each Additional Parking Space, as reasonably determined by Landlord from time to time, which as of the date of this Fourth Amendment shall be $150 per month for each Additional Parking Space plus applicable taxes

 

8.

Signs. As of the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Section 38 of the Lease is hereby amended to include the following language:

“Subject to the signage rights of any tenants of the Project existing as of the date of the Fourth Amendment, Tenant shall have the non-exclusive right to display, at Tenant’s cost and expense, up to two (2) signs bearing Tenant’s name and/or logo (“Building Signs”) at locations on the Building reasonably acceptable to Landlord and Tenant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant acknowledges and agrees that the Building Signs including, without limitation, the size, color and type, shall be subject to Landlord’s prior written approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, shall be consistent with Landlord’s signage program at the Project and shall be subject to any and all other required approvals and applicable Legal Requirements. Tenant shall be responsible, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, for the maintenance of the Building Signs, for the removal of the Building Signs at the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease and for the repair of all damage resulting from such removal.

Tenant shall have the right, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, to display signage bearing Tenant’s name and logo in a location within the main Building lobby reasonably acceptable to Landlord and Tenant where such signage will be visible through the glass entry doors of the main Building lobby, provided that such signage, including, without limitation, the size, color and type, shall be subject to Landlord’s reasonable approval and applicable Legal Requirements.”

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Lease or the Fourth Amendment Work Letter, Tenant may apply a portion of the TI Allowance to the cost of installing the Building Signs and other signage to which Tenant is entitled pursuant to this Section 8.

 

9.

Extension Right. As of the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Section 40 of the Lease is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“40. Right to Extend Term. Tenant shall have the right to extend the Term of the Lease with respect to the entire Premises only upon the following terms and conditions:

 

4


(a) Extension Rights. Tenant shall have 2 rights (each, an “Extension Right”) to extend the term of this Lease for 7 years each (each, an “Extension Term”) on the same terms and conditions as this Lease (other than with respect to Base Rent and any work letters) by giving Landlord written notice of its election to exercise the Extension Right at least 12 months and not more than 15 months prior to the expiration of the Base Term of the Lease or the expiration of the prior Extension Term, as applicable.

Upon the commencement of an Extension Term, Base Rent shall be payable at the Market Rate (as defined below). Base Rent shall thereafter be adjusted on each annual anniversary of the commencement of such Extension Term by the Rent Adjustment Percentage. As used herein, “Market Rate shall mean the rate that comparable landlords of comparable buildings have accepted in current transactions from non-equity (i.e., not being offered equity in the buildings) and nonaffiliated tenants of similar financial strength for space of comparable size, quality (including all Tenant Improvements, Alterations and other improvements) and floor height in comparable laboratory/office buildings in the South Lake Union area of Seattle, with the determination of the Market Rate to take into account all relevant factors, including term, use, tenant inducements, views, parking costs, leasing commissions, allowances or concessions, if any. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Market Rate shall in no event be less than the Base Rent payable as of the date immediately preceding the commencement of such Extension Term increased by the Rent Adjustment Percentage multiplied by such Base Rent. In addition, Landlord may impose a market rent for the parking rights provided hereunder.

If, on or before the date which is 270 days prior to the expiration of the Base Term of this Lease or the expiration of the prior Extension Term, as applicable, Tenant has not agreed with Landlord’s determination of the Market Rate during the applicable Extension Term after negotiating in good faith, Tenant shall be deemed to have elected arbitration as described in Section 40(b). Tenant acknowledges and agrees that, if Tenant has elected to exercise an Extension Right by delivering notice to Landlord as required in this Section 40(a), Tenant shall have no right thereafter to rescind or elect not to extend the term of the Lease for such Extension Term.

(b) Arbitration.

(i) Within 10 days of Tenant’s notice to Landlord of its election (or deemed election) to arbitrate Market Rate, each party shall deliver to the other a proposal containing the Market Rate that the submitting party believes to be correct (“Extension Proposal”). If either party fails to timely submit an Extension Proposal, the other party’s submitted proposal shall determine the Base Rent for the first year of the Extension Term. If both parties submit Extension Proposals, then Landlord and Tenant shall meet within 7 days after delivery of the last Extension Proposal and make a good faith attempt to mutually appoint a single Arbitrator (and defined below) to determine the Market Rate. If Landlord and Tenant are unable to agree upon a single Arbitrator, then each shall, by written notice delivered to the other within 10 days after the meeting, select an Arbitrator. If either party fails to timely give notice of its selection for an Arbitrator, the other party’s submitted proposal shall determine the Base Rent for the first year of the Extension Term. The 2 Arbitrators so appointed shall, within 5 business days after their appointment, appoint a third Arbitrator. If the 2 Arbitrators so selected cannot agree on the selection of the third Arbitrator within the time above specified, then either party, on behalf of both parties, may request such appointment of such third Arbitrator by application to any state court of general jurisdiction in the jurisdiction in which the Premises are located, upon 10 days prior written notice to the other party of such intent.

(ii) The decision of the Arbitrator(s) shall be made within 30 days after the appointment of a single Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator, as applicable. The decision of the single Arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties. The average of the two closest Arbitrators in a three Arbitrator panel shall be final and binding upon the parties. Each party shall pay the fees and expenses of the Arbitrator appointed by or on behalf of such party and the fees and expenses of the third Arbitrator shall be borne equally by both parties. If the Market Rate for the

 

5


first year of the Extension Term is not determined by the first day of the Extension Term, then Tenant shall pay Landlord Base Rent in an amount equal to the Base Rent in effect immediately prior to the Extension Term and increased by the Rent Adjustment Percentage until such determination is made. After the determination of the Market Rate, the parties shall make any necessary adjustments to such payments made by Tenant. Landlord and Tenant shall then execute an amendment recognizing the Market Rate for the Extension Term.

(iii) An “Arbitrator shall be any person appointed by or on behalf of either party or appointed pursuant to the provisions hereof and: (i) shall be (A) a member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers with not less than 10 years of experience in the appraisal of improved office and high tech industrial real estate in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, or (B) a licensed commercial real estate broker with not less than 15 years experience representing landlords and/or tenants in the leasing of high tech or life sciences space in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, (ii) devoting substantially all of their time to professional appraisal or brokerage work, as applicable, at the time of appointment and (iii) be in all respects impartial and disinterested.

(c) Rights Personal. The Extension Rights are personal to Tenant and are not assignable without Landlord’s consent, which may be granted or withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion separate and apart from any consent by Landlord to an assignment of Tenant’s interest in the Lease, except that they may be assigned in connection with any Permitted Assignment of this Lease.

(d) Exceptions. Notwithstanding anything set forth above to the contrary, the Extension Rights shall, at Landlord’s option, not be in effect and Tenant may not exercise either of the Extension Rights:

(i) during any period of time that Tenant is in Default under any provision of this Lease; or

(ii) if Tenant has been in Default under any provision of this Lease 3 or more times, whether or not the Defaults are cured, during the 12 month period immediately prior to the date that Tenant intends to exercise an Extension Right, whether or not the Defaults are cured.

(e) No Extensions. The period of time within which any Extension Right may be exercised shall not be extended or enlarged by reason of Tenant’s inability to exercise the Extension Rights.

(f) Termination. The Extension Rights, at Landlord’s option, shall terminate and be of no further force or effect even after Tenant’s due and timely exercise of an Extension Right, if, after such exercise, but prior to the commencement date of an Extension Term, (i) Tenant fails to timely cure any default by Tenant under this Lease; or (ii) Tenant has Defaulted 3 or more times during the period from the date of the exercise of an Extension Right to the date of the commencement of the Extension Term, whether or not such Defaults are cured.”

 

10.

Expansion Right.

a. Generally. Tenant shall have the one-time right, but not the obligation, to expand the Premises to include the Third Floor Option Space upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 10 (“Third Floor Expansion Right”). Tenant shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 10 by delivery of written notice to Landlord of such election on or before June 1, 2016 (“Expansion Notice”). If Tenant elects to lease the Third Floor Option Space by timely delivering an Expansion Notice to Landlord, Tenant shall be deemed to agree to lease the Third Floor

 

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Option Space on the same general terms and conditions as the Lease, except that (i) the commencement date of the Lease with respect to the Third Floor Option Space shall be August 1, 2016 (the “Third Floor Option Space Commencement Date”), (ii) commencing on the Third Floor Option Space Commencement Date, Tenant shall pay Base Rent for the Third Floor Option Space equal to $30.00 per rentable square foot of the Third Floor Option Space per year, (iii) Base Rent payable for the Third Floor Option Space shall be increased on each annual anniversary of the Third Floor Option Space Commencement Date (each, a “Third Floor Option Space Adjustment Date”), by multiplying the Base Rent payable for the Third Floor Option Space immediately before the Third Floor Option Space Adjustment Date by 2.5% and adding the resulting amount to the Base Rent payable for the Third Floor Option Space immediately before such Third Floor Option Space Adjustment Date, (iv) commencing on the Third Floor Commencement Date, Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses shall be increased to 48.53%, (v) commencing on the Third Floor Option Space Commencement Date, Tenant shall commence paying Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses with respect to the Third Floor Option Space, (vi) Landlord shall provide to Tenant a tenant improvement allowance in the amount of $50.00 per rentable square foot of the Third Floor Option Space (“Third Floor Option Space Allowance”) for the construction of tenant improvements in the Premises pursuant to the terms of a work letter substantially in the form of the Fourth Amendment Work Letter as it relates to the Tenant Improvements, and (vii) Tenant shall be entitled, subject to the terms of Section 10 of the original Lease, to its pro rata share of parking spaces with respect to the Third Floor Option Space (“Third Floor Parking Spaces”), which Third Floor Parking Spaces shall be (1) subject to the payment of the market rate for each Third Floor Parking Space, as reasonably determined by Landlord from time to time, which as of the Third Floor Option Space Commencement Date shall be $150 per month for each Third Floor Parking Space plus applicable taxes, and (2) located among the parking areas serving the Project, as reasonably determined by Landlord. If Tenant does not timely deliver an Expansion Notice pursuant to this Section 10(a), Tenant shall be deemed to have forever waived its right to expand the Premises pursuant to this Section 10(a) to include the Third Floor Option Space and Tenant’s rights under this Section 10(a) shall terminate and be of no further force or effect.

b. Amended Lease. If (i) Tenant fails to timely deliver an Expansion Notice to Landlord, or (ii) after the expiration of a period of 10 business days after Landlord’s delivery to Tenant of a lease amendment for Tenants lease of the Third Floor Option Space, no lease amendment acceptable to both parties in their respective reasonable discretion, has been executed, Tenant shall be deemed to have forever waived its right to lease the Third Floor Option Space.

c. Exceptions. Notwithstanding the above, the Third Floor Expansion Right shall, at Landlord’s option, not be in effect and may not be exercised by Tenant:

(i) during any period of time that Tenant is in Default under any provision of the Lease; or

(ii) if Tenant has been in Default under any provision of the Lease 3 or more times, whether or not the Defaults are cured, during the 12 month period prior to the date on which Tenant seeks to exercise the Third Floor Expansion Right.

d. Termination. The Third Floor Expansion Right shall, at Landlord’s option, terminate and be of no further force or effect even after Tenant’s due and timely exercise of the Third Floor Expansion Right, if, after such exercise, but prior to the commencement date of the lease of Third Floor Option Space, (i) Tenant fails to timely cure any default by Tenant under the Lease; or (ii) Tenant has Defaulted 3 or more times during the period from the date of the exercise of the Third Floor Expansion Right to the date of the commencement of the lease of the Third Floor Option Space, whether or not such Defaults are cured.

 

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e. Rights Personal. The Third Floor Expansion Right is personal to Tenant and is not assignable without Landlord’s consent, which may be granted or withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion separate and apart from any consent by Landlord to an assignment of Tenant’s interest in the Lease.

f. No Extensions. The period of time within which the Third Floor Expansion Right may be exercised shall not be extended or enlarged by reason of Tenant’s inability to exercise the Third Floor Expansion Right.

 

11.

Asbestos.

a. Notification of Asbestos. Landlord hereby notifies Tenant of the presence of asbestos-containing materials (“ACMs”) and/or presumed asbestos-containing materials (“PACMs”) within or about the Premises in the location identified in Exhibit C attached to this First Amendment.

b. Tenant Acknowledgement. Tenant hereby acknowledges receipt of the notification in paragraph (a) of this Section 11 and understands that the purpose of such notification is to make Tenant and any agents, employees, and contractors of Tenant, aware of the presence of ACMs and/or PACMs within or about the Building in order to avoid or minimize any damage to or disturbance of such ACMs and/or PACMs.

        CMR        

Tenant’s Initials

c. Acknowledgement from Contractors/Employees. Tenant shall give Landlord at least 14 days’ prior written notice before conducting, authorizing or permitting any of the activities listed below within or about the Premises, and before soliciting bids from any person to perform such services. Such notice shall identify or describe the proposed scope, location, date and time of such activities and the name, address and telephone number of each person who may be conducting such activities. Thereafter, Tenant shall grant Landlord reasonable access to the Premises to determine whether any ACMs or PACMs will be disturbed in connection with such activities. Tenant shall not solicit bids from any person for the performance of such activities without Landlord’s prior written approval. Upon Landlord’s request, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a copy of a signed acknowledgement from any contractor, agent, or employee of Tenant acknowledging receipt of information describing the presence of ACMs and/or PACMs within or about the Premises in the locations identified in Exhibit C prior to the commencement of such activities. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to expand Tenant’s rights under the Lease or otherwise to conduct, authorize or permit any such activities.

(i) Removal of thermal system insulation (“TSl”) and surfacing ACMs and PACMs (i.e., sprayed-on or troweled-on material, e.g., textured ceiling paint or fireproofing material);

(ii) Removal of ACMs or PACMs that are not TS; or surfacing ACMs or PACMs; or

(iii) Repair and maintenance of operations that are likely to disturb ACMs or PACMs.

 

12.

OFAC. Tenant and all beneficial owners of Tenant are currently (a) in compliance with and shall at all times during the Term of the Lease remain in compliance with the regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury and any statute, executive order, or regulation relating thereto (collectively, the “OFAC Rules”), (b) not listed on, and shall not during the term of the Lease be listed on, the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, Foreign Sanctions Evaders List or the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List, which are all maintained by OFAC and/or on any other similar list maintained by OFAC or other governmental authority pursuant to any authorizing statute, executive order, or regulation, and (c) not a person or entity with whom a U.S. person is prohibited from conducting business under the OFAC Rules.

 

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13.

Brokers. Landlord and Tenant each represents and warrants that it has not dealt with any broker, agent or other person (collectively, “Broker”) in connection with the transaction reflected in this Fourth Amendment and that no Broker brought about this transaction, other than Cushman & Wakefield, Flinn Ferguson and Kidder Mathews. Landlord and Tenant each hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from and against any claims by any Broker, other than Cushman & Wakefield, Flinn Ferguson and Kidder Mathews, claiming a commission or other form of compensation by virtue of having dealt with Tenant or Landlord, as applicable, with regard to this Fourth Amendment. Landlord shall be responsible for all commissions due to Flinn Ferguson and Kidder Mathews arising out of the execution of this Fourth Amendment in accordance with the terms of separate written agreements between Landlord, on the one hand, and Cushman & Wakefield, Flinn Ferguson and Kidder Mathews, on the other hand.

 

14.

Miscellaneous.

a. This Fourth Amendment is the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements and discussions. This Fourth Amendment may be amended only by an agreement in writing, signed by the parties hereto.

b. This Fourth Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns.

c. This Fourth Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The signature page of any counterpart may be detached therefrom without impairing the legal effect of the signature(s) thereon provided such signature page is attached to any other counterpart identical thereto except having additional signature pages executed by other parties to this Fourth Amendment attached thereto.

d. Except as amended and/or modified by this Fourth Amendment, the Lease is hereby ratified and confirmed and all other terms of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect, unaltered and unchanged by this Fourth Amendment. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Fourth Amendment and the provisions of the Lease, the provisions of this Fourth Amendment shall prevail. Whether or not specifically amended by this Fourth Amendment, all of the terms and provisions of the Lease are hereby amended to the extent necessary to give effect to the purpose and intent of this Fourth Amendment.

[Signatures are on the next page.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Fourth Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

TENANT:
ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION,
a Washington corporation
By:  

/s/ Chad M. Robins

Its:   CEO & President
LANDLORD:
ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:   ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
  managing member
  By:   ARE-QRS CORP.,
   

a Maryland corporation,

general partner

    By:  

/s/ Jackie Clem

    Its:   Senior Vice President, RE Legal Affairs

 

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EXHIBIT B

Fourth Amendment Work Letter

THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT WORK LETTER dated December 23, 2015 (this “Fourth Amendment Work Letter”) is made and entered into by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”), and is attached to and made a part of the Lease Agreement dated July 21, 2011, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Lease dated as of August 26, 2011, as further amended by that certain Amended and Restated Second Amendment to Lease dated as of June 30, 2014 (the “Second Amendment”), as further amended by that certain Third Amendment to Lease dated as of November 5, 2015, and as further amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to Lease dated of even date herewith (the “Fourth Amendment”) (as amended, the “Lease”), by and between Landlord and Tenant. Any initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Lease.

1. General Requirements.

(a) Tenant’s Authorized Representative. Tenant designates Andy Ament, Lorna Chang and Kathleen Determann (each such individual acting alone, “Tenant’s Representative”) as the only persons authorized to act for Tenant pursuant to this Fourth Amendment Work Letter. Landlord shall not be obligated to respond to or act upon any request, approval, inquiry or other communication (“Communication”) from or on behalf of Tenant in connection with this Fourth Amendment Work Letter unless such Communication is in writing from Tenant’s Representative. Tenant may change any Tenant’s Representative at any time upon not less than 5 business days advance written notice to Landlord.

(b) Landlord’s Authorized Representative. Landlord designates John Cox and Jeff Graves (either such individual acting alone, “Landlord’s Representative”) as the only persons authorized to act for Landlord pursuant to this Fourth Amendment Work Letter. Tenant shall not be obligated to respond to or act upon any request, approval, inquiry or other Communication from or on behalf of Landlord in connection with this Fourth Amendment Work Letter unless such Communication is in writing from Landlord’s Representative. Landlord may change either Landlord’s Representative at any time upon not less than 5 business days advance written notice to Tenant.

(c) Architects, Consultants and Contractors. Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and agree that the architect (the “TI Architect”) for the Tenant Improvements (as defined in Section 2(a) below), the general contractor and any subcontractors for the Tenant Improvements shall be selected by Tenant, subject to Landlord’s approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Landlord shall be named a third party beneficiary of any contract entered into by Tenant with the TI Architect, any consultant, any contractor or any subcontractor, and of any warranty made by any contractor or any subcontractor.

2. Tenant Improvements.

(a) Tenant Improvements Defined. As used herein, “Tenant Improvements shall mean all improvements to any portion of the Premises and the Building Signs desired by Tenant of a fixed and permanent nature performed after the date of the Fourth Amendment. Other than funding the TI Allowance (as defined below) as provided herein, Landlord shall not have any obligation whatsoever with respect to the finishing of the Premises for Tenant’s use and occupancy.

(b) Tenant’s Space Plans. Tenant shall deliver to Landlord schematic drawings and outline specifications (the “TI Design Drawings”) detailing Tenant’s requirements for the Tenant Improvements within 15 days of the date hereof. Not more than 10 days thereafter, Landlord shall deliver to Tenant the

 

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written objections, questions or comments of Landlord and the TI Architect with regard to the TI Design Drawings. Tenant shall cause the TI Design Drawings to be revised to address such written comments and shall resubmit said drawings to Landlord for approval within 10 days thereafter. Such process shall continue until Landlord has approved the TI Design Drawings.

(c) Working Drawings. Not later than 15 business days following the approval of the TI Design Drawings by Landlord, Tenant shall cause the TI Architect to prepare and deliver to Landlord for review and comment construction plans, specifications and drawings for the Tenant Improvements (“TI Construction Drawings”), which TI Construction Drawings shall be prepared substantially in accordance with the TI Design Drawings. Tenant shall be solely responsible for ensuring that the TI Construction Drawings reflect Tenant’s requirements for the Tenant Improvements. Landlord shall deliver its written comments on the TI Construction Drawings to Tenant not later than 10 business days after Landlord’s receipt of the same; provided, however, that Landlord may not disapprove any matter that is consistent with the TI Design Drawings. Tenant and the TI Architect shall consider all such comments in good faith and shall, within 10 business days after receipt, notify Landlord how Tenant proposes to respond to such comments. Any disputes in connection with such comments shall be resolved in accordance with Section 2(d), hereof. Provided that the design reflected in the TI Construction Drawings is consistent with the TI Design Drawings, Landlord shall approve the TI Construction Drawings submitted by Tenant. Once approved by Landlord, subject to the provisions of Section 4 below, Tenant shall not materially modify the TI Construction Drawings except as may be reasonably required in connection with the issuance of the TI Permit (as defined in Section 3(a) below).

(d) Approval and Completion. If any dispute regarding the design of the Tenant Improvements is not settled within 10 business days after notice of such dispute is delivered by one party to the other, Tenant may make the final decision regarding the design of the Tenant Improvements, provided (i) Tenant acts reasonably and such final decision is either consistent with or a compromise between Landlord’s and Tenant’s positions with respect to such dispute, (ii) that all costs and expenses resulting from any such decision by Tenant shall be payable out of the TI Fund (as defined in Section 5(d) below), and (iii) Tenant’s decision will not affect the base Building, structural components of the Building or any Building Systems (in which case Landlord shall make the final decision). Any changes to the TI Construction Drawings following Landlord’s and Tenant’s approval of same requested by Tenant shall be processed as provided in Section 4 hereof.

3. Performance of the Tenant Improvements.

(a) Commencement and Permitting of the Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall commence construction of the Tenant Improvements upon obtaining and delivering to Landlord a building permit (the “TI Permit”) authorizing the construction of the Tenant Improvements consistent with the TI Construction Drawings approved by Landlord. The cost of obtaining the TI Permit shall be payable from the TI Fund. Landlord shall assist Tenant in obtaining the TI Permit. Prior to the commencement of the Tenant Improvements, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a copy of any contract with Tenant’s contractors (including the TI Architect), and certificates of insurance from any contractor performing any part of the Tenant Improvement evidencing industry standard commercial general liability, automotive liability, “builder’s risk”, and workers’ compensation insurance. Tenant shall cause the general contractor to provide a certificate of insurance naming Landlord, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., and Landlord’s lender (if any) as additional insureds for the general contractor’s liability coverages required above.

(b) Selection of Materials, Etc. Where more than one type of material or structure is indicated on the TI Construction Drawings approved by Tenant and Landlord, the option will be within Tenant’s reasonable discretion if the matter concerns the Tenant improvements, and within Landlord’s sole and absolute subjective discretion if the matter concerns the structural components of the Building or any Building Systems.

(c) Tenant Liability. During the Term of the Lease, Tenant agrees to enforce its rights under any contract Tenant enters into with the TI Architect or any contractor with respect to the Tenant Improvements and enforce any warranties thereunder with respect to correcting any deficiencies or defects in the Tenant Improvements.

 

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(d) Substantial Completion. Tenant shall substantially complete or cause to be substantially completed the Tenant Improvements in a good and workmanlike manner, in accordance with the TI Permit subject, in each case, to Minor Variations and normal “punch list” items of a non-material nature which do not interfere with the use of the Premises (“Substantial Completion or “Substantially Complete”). Upon Substantial Completion of the Tenant Improvements, Tenant shall require the TI Architect and the general contractor to execute and deliver, for the benefit of Tenant and Landlord, a Certificate of Substantial Completion in the form of the American Institute of Architects (“AIA”) document G704. For purposes of this Fourth Amendment Work Letter, “Minor Variations shall mean any modifications reasonably required: (i) to comply with all applicable Legal Requirements and/or to obtain or to comply with any required permit (including the TI Permit); (ii) to comport with good design, engineering, and construction practices which are not material; or (iii) to make reasonable adjustments for field deviations or conditions encountered during the construction of the Tenant Improvements.

4. Changes. Following the approval by Landlord of the TI Design Drawings, any changes to the Tenant improvements desired by Tenant that would affect the Building structure or Building Systems (“Changes”) shall be subject to the written approval of Landlord, which approval may be granted or withheld in Landlord’s sole and absolute discretion. Any such Changes requested by Tenant, shall be requested and instituted in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.

(a) Tenant’s Right to Request Changes. If Tenant shall request Changes, Tenant shall request such Changes by notifying Landlord in writing in substantially the same form as the AIA standard change order form (a “Change Request”), which Change Request shall detail the nature and extent of any such Change. Such Change Request must be signed by Tenant’s Representative. Landlord shall review and approve or disapprove such Change Request within 10 business days thereafter, provided that Landlord’s approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(b) Implementation of Changes. If Landlord approves such Change and Tenant deposits with Landlord any Excess TI Costs (as defined in Section 5(d) below) required in connection with such Change, Tenant may cause the approved Change to be instituted. If any TI Permit modification or change is required as a result of such Change, Tenant shall promptly provide Landlord with a copy of such TI Permit modification or change.

5. Costs.

(a) Budget For Tenant Improvements. Before the commencement of construction of the Tenant Improvements, Tenant shall obtain a detailed breakdown, by trade, of the costs incurred or that will be incurred, in connection with the design and construction of the Tenant Improvements (the “Budget”), and deliver a copy of the Budget to Landlord for Landlord’s approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed_ The Budget shall be based upon the TI Construction Drawings approved by Landlord. The Budget shall include a payment to Landlord of administrative rent (“Administrative Rent”) equal to 1% of the TI Costs (as hereinafter defined), not to exceed $37,650 in the aggregate, for monitoring and inspecting the construction of the Tenant Improvements, which sum shall be payable from the TI Fund. Such Administrative Rent shall include, without limitation, all out-of-pocket costs, expenses and fees incurred by or on behalf of Landlord arising from, out of, or in connection with, such monitoring of the construction of the Tenant Improvements. If the Budget is greater than the TI Allowance, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord the difference, in cash, prior to the commencement of construction of the Tenant Improvements, for disbursement by Landlord as described in Section 5(d).

 

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(b) TI Allowance. Landlord shall provide to Tenant a tenant improvement allowance (collectively, the “TI Allowance”) as follows:

1. a “Tenant Improvement Allowance” in the maximum amount of $138.93 per rentable square foot in the Second Expansion Premises, or $3,903,933 in the aggregate, which is included in the Base Rent set forth in the Lease; and

2. an “Additional Tenant Improvement Allowance” in the maximum amount of $50.00 per rentable square foot in the Second Expansion Premises, or $1,405,000 in the aggregate, which shall, to the extent used, result in Additional Rent as set forth in the Lease.

The TI Allowance shall be disbursed in accordance with this Fourth Amendment Work Letter. Tenant shall have no right to the use or benefit (including any reduction to Base Rent) of any portion of the TI Allowance not required for the design and construction of (i) the Tenant Improvements described in the TI Construction Drawings approved pursuant to Section 2(d) or (ii) any Changes pursuant to Section 4. Tenant shall have no right to any portion of the TI Allowance that is not disbursed before the last day of the month that is 12 months after the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date.

(c) Costs Includable in TI Fund. The TI Fund shall be used solely for the payment of design, permits and construction costs in connection with the construction of the Tenant Improvements, including, without limitation, the cost of electrical power and other utilities used in connection with the construction of the Tenant Improvements, the cost of preparing the TI Design Drawings and the TI Construction Drawings, all costs set forth in the Budget, including Landlord’s Administrative Rent, and the cost of Changes (collectively, “TI Costs”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the TI Fund shall not be used to purchase any furniture, personal property or other non-Building system materials or equipment, including, but not limited to, Tenant’s voice or data cabling, non-ducted biological safety cabinets and other scientific equipment not incorporated into the Tenant Improvements

(d) Excess TI Costs. Landlord shall have no obligation to bear any portion of the cost of any of the Tenant Improvements except to the extent of the TI Allowance. If at any time and from time-to-time, the remaining TI Costs under the Budget exceed the remaining unexpended TI Allowance, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord, as a condition precedent to Landlord’s obligation to fund the TI Allowance, 100% of the then current TI Cost in excess of the remaining T1 Allowance (“Excess TI Costs”). If Tenant fails to deposit, or is late in depositing any Excess TI Costs with Landlord, Landlord shall have all of the rights and remedies set forth in the Lease for nonpayment of Rent (including, but not limited to, the right to interest at the Default Rate and the right to assess a late charge). For purposes of any litigation instituted with regard to such amounts, those amounts will be deemed Rent under the Lease. The TI Allowance and Excess TI Costs is herein referred to as the “TI Fund. Funds deposited by Tenant shall be the first thereafter disbursed to pay TI Costs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 5(d), Tenant shall be fully and solely liable for TI Costs and the cost of Minor Variations in excess of the TI Allowance, If upon Substantial Completion of the Tenant Improvements and the payment of all sums due in connection therewith there remains any undisbursed portion of the TI Fund, Tenant shall be entitled to such undisbursed Tl Fund solely to the extent of any Excess TI Costs deposit Tenant has actually made with Landlord.

(e) Payment for TI Costs. During the course of design and construction of the Tenant Improvements, Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for TI Costs once a month against a draw request in Landlord’s standard form, containing evidence of payment of such TI Costs by Tenant and such certifications, lien waivers (including a conditional lien release for each progress payment and unconditional lien releases for the prior month’s progress payments), inspection reports and other matters as Landlord reasonably and customarily obtains, to the extent of Landlord’s approval thereof for payment, no later than 30 days following receipt of such draw request. Upon completion of the Tenant Improvements (and prior to any final disbursement of the TI Fund), Tenant shall deliver to Landlord: (i) sworn statements setting forth the names of all contractors and first tier subcontractors who did the work and final, unconditional lien waivers from all such contractors and first tier subcontractors; (ii) as-built plans (one copy in print format and two copies in electronic CAD format) for such Tenant Improvements, (iii) a certification of substantial completion in Form AlA G704, (iv) a certificate or temporary of occupancy for the Premises (or an equivalent approval); and (v) copies of all operation and maintenance manuals and warranties affecting the Premises.

 

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6. Miscellaneous.

(a) Consents. Whenever consent or approval of either party is required under this Fourth Amendment Work Letter, that party shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay such consent or approval, except as may be expressly set forth herein to the contrary.

(b) Modification. No modification, waiver or amendment of this Fourth Amendment Work Letter or of any of its conditions or provisions shall be binding upon Landlord or Tenant unless in writing signed by Landlord and Tenant.

(c) No Default Funding. In no event shall Landlord have any obligation to fund any portion of the TI Allowance during any period that Tenant is in Default under the Lease.

 

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Exhibit C

Asbestos Disclosure

NOTIFICATION OF THE PRESENCE OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS

This notification provides certain information about asbestos within or about the Premises at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, WA (“Building”) and in accordance with Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 296-62-07721.

Historically, asbestos was commonly used in building products used in the construction of buildings across the country. Asbestos-containing building products were used because they are fire-resistant and provide good noise and temperature insulation. Because of their prevalence, asbestos-containing materials, or ACMs, are still sometimes found in buildings today.

An asbestos survey of the Building has determined that ACMs and/or materials that might contain ACMs, referred to as presumed asbestos-containing materials or PACMs, are present within or about the Premises as follows:

 

Material Description

  

Material Location

Floor Mastic (not covered by floor tile)    Various locations within the parking garage
Flooring Material and Mastic beneath new floor tile (PALM)    Landings of stairwells #1 and #2

Because AGMs and PACMs are present and may continue to be present within or about the Building, we have hired an independent environmental consulting firm to prepare an operations and maintenance program (“O&M Program”). The O&M Program is designed to minimize the potential of any harmful asbestos exposure to any person within or about the Building. The O&M Program includes a description of work methods to be taken in order to maintain any ACMs or PACMs within or about the Building in good condition and to prevent any significant disturbance of such ACMs or PACMs. Appropriate personnel receive regular periodic training on how to properly administer the O&M Program.

The O&M Program describes the risks associated with asbestos exposure and how to prevent such exposure through appropriate work practices. ACMs and PACMs generally are not thought to be a threat to human health unless asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled. This does not typically occur unless (1) the ACMs are in a deteriorating condition, or (2) the AGMs have been significantly disturbed (such as through abrasive cleaning, or maintenance or renovation activities). If inhaled, asbestos fibers can accumulate in the lungs and, as exposure increases, the risk of disease (such as asbestosis or cancer) increases. However, measures to minimize exposure, and consequently minimize the accumulation of asbestos fibers, reduce the risks of adverse health effects.

The O&M Program describes a number of activities that should be avoided in order to prevent a release of asbestos fibers. In particular, you should be aware that some of the activities which may present a health risk include moving, drilling, boring, or otherwise disturbing ACMs. Consequently, such activities should not be attempted by any person not qualified to handle ACMs.

The O&M Program is available for review during regular business hours at our office located at 1600 Fairview Avenue East, Suite 100, Seattle WA 98102.

 

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FIFTH AMENDMENT TO LEASE

THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO LEASE (this “Fifth Amendment”) is made as of June 6, 2016, by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”).

RECITALS

A. Landlord and Tenant are now parties to that certain Lease Agreement dated as of July 21, 2011, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Lease dated as of August 26, 2011, as further amended by that certain Amended and Restated Second Amendment to Lease dated as of June 30, 2014, as further amended by that certain Third Amendment to Lease dated as of November 5, 2015 (the “Third Amendment”), and as further amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to Lease dated as of December 23, 2015 (the “Fourth Amendment”) (as amended, the “Lease”). Pursuant to the Lease, Tenant leases certain premises consisting of approximately 48,424 rentable square feet (“Current Premises”) on the second and third floors of that certain building located at 1551 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle, Washington. The Current Premises are more particularly described in the Lease. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Lease.

B. Landlord and Tenant desire, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, to amend the Lease to, among other things, expand the size of the Current Premises by adding that portion of the third floor of the Building consisting of approximately 8,594 rentable square feet, as shown on Exhibit A attached to this Fifth Amendment (“Third Expansion Premises”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, which are incorporated herein by this reference, the mutual promises and conditions contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

Third Expansion Premises. In addition to the Current Premises, commencing on the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date (as defined below), Landlord leases to Tenant, and Tenant leases from Landlord, the Third Expansion Premises.

 

2.

Delivery. As of the date of this Fifth Amendment, Tenant is occupying the Third Expansion Premises pursuant to the terms of the Third Amendment. The “Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date” shall be the date that is 1 business day after the mutual execution and delivery of this Fifth Amendment by the parties, Tenant’s occupancy of the Third Expansion Premises shall be pursuant to the terms of this Fifth Amendment (and no longer pursuant to the terms of the Third Amendment) as of the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date. The “Third Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date shall be August 1, 2016. Upon the request of Landlord, Tenant shall execute and deliver a written acknowledgment of the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date and the Third Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date in substantially the form of the “Acknowledgement of Commencement Date” attached to the Lease as Exhibit D; provided, however, Tenant’s failure to execute and deliver such acknowledgment shall not affect either party’s rights hereunder.

Except as set forth in the Fifth Amendment Work Letter: (i) Landlord shall have no obligation for any defects in the Third Expansion Premises; and (ii) Tenant’s occupancy of the Third Expansion Premises immediately prior to the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date shall be conclusive evidence that Tenant accepts the Third Expansion Premises and that the Third Expansion Premises were in good condition at the time possession was taken.

 

 

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Tenant agrees and acknowledges that, except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Fifth Amendment or in the Lease, neither Landlord nor any agent of Landlord has made any representation or warranty with respect to the condition of all or any portion of the Third Expansion Premises, and/or the suitability of the Third Expansion Premises for the conduct of Tenant’s business, and Tenant waives any implied warranty that the Third Expansion Premises are suitable for the Permitted Use.

 

3.

Premises and Rentable Area of Premises. Commencing on the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined terms “Premises” and “Rentable Area of Premises” on page 1 of the Lease shall be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following:

Premises: That portion of the Building containing approximately 57,018 rentable square feet, consisting of (i) that certain portion of the second floor containing approximately 7,724 rentable square feet (the “Original Premises”), (ii) that certain portion of the second floor containing approximately 12,600 rentable square feet (the “Expansion Premises”), (iii) those certain portions of the second and third floors containing approximately 28,100 rentable square feet (the “Second Expansion Premises”), and (iv) that certain portion of the third floor consisting of approximately 8,594 rentable square feet (the “Third Expansion Premises”), all as shown on Exhibit A.”

Rentable Area of Premises: 57,018 sq. ft.”

As of the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Exhibit A to the Lease shall be amended to include the Third Expansion Premises as shown on Exhibit A attached to this Fifth Amendment.

 

4.

Base Term Commencing on the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined term “Base Term” on page 1 of the Lease is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Base Term: Commencing (i) with respect to the Original Premises on the Commencement Date, (ii) with respect to the Expansion Premises on the Expansion Premises Commencement Date, (iii) with respect to the Second Expansion Premises on the Second Expansion Premises Commencement Date, and (iv) with respect to the Third Expansion Premises on the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date, and ending with respect to the entire Premises on June 1, 2023.”

 

5.

Base Rent.

a. Current Premises. Tenant shall continue to pay Base Rent for the Current Premises as provided for in the Lease.

b. Third Expansion Premises. Commencing on the Third Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date, Tenant shall pay Base Rent for the Third Expansion Premises at the rate of $30.00 per rentable square foot of the Third Expansion Premises per year. Base Rent payable for the Third Expansion Premises shall be increased on each annual anniversary of the Third Expansion Premises Rent Commencement Date (each, a “Third Expansion Premises Adjustment Date”), by multiplying the Base Rent payable for the Third Expansion Premises immediately before the Third Expansion Premises Adjustment Date by 2.5% and adding the resulting amount to the Base Rent payable for the Third Expansion Premises immediately before the Third Expansion Premises Adjustment Date.

 

6.

Tenant’s Share. Commencing on the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date, the defined term “Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses on page 1 of the Lease shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses: 48.53%”

 

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7.

Parking. Subject to all matters of record, Force Majeure, a Taking and the exercise by Landlord of its rights hereunder, Landlord shall make available to Tenant and Tenant shall, in addition to the parking spaces that Tenant has the right to use pursuant to Section 10 of the original Lease, the Expansion Premises Parking Spaces which Tenant has the right to use pursuant to Section 2 of the Second Amendment, and the Second Expansion Premises Parking Spaces which Tenant has a right to use pursuant to Section 7 of the Fourth Amendment, be entitled to use, subject to the terms of Section 10 of the original Lease, Tenant’s pro rata share of parking spaces with respect to the Third Expansion Premises. As of the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date, Tenant’s pro rata share of parking spaces with respect to the Third Expansion Premises shall be equal to 2 parking spaces per 1,000 rentable square feet of the Third Expansion Premises (“Third Expansion Premises Parking Spaces”). The Third Expansion Premises Parking Spaces shall be allocated as reasonably determined by Landlord among the Underground Parking, Surface Parking, Northeast Parking and Offsite Parking. Tenant’s use of the Third Expansion Premises Parking Spaces shall be subject to the payment by Tenant of the market rate for each Third Expansion Premises Parking Space, as reasonably determined by Landlord from time to time, which as of the date of this Fifth Amendment shall be $150 per month for each Third Expansion Premises Parking Space plus applicable taxes.

 

8.

Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall have the right to construct certain Tenant Improvements in the Premises, including the Third Expansion Premises, pursuant to the Fifth Amendment Work Letter attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

9.

OFAC. Tenant and all beneficial owners of Tenant are currently (a) in compliance with and shall at all times during the Term of the Lease remain in compliance with the regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury and any statute, executive order, or regulation relating thereto (collectively, the “OFAC Rules”), (b) not listed on, and shall not during the term of the Lease be listed on, the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, Foreign Sanctions Evaders List or the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List, which are all maintained by OFAC and/or on any other similar list maintained by OFAC or other governmental authority pursuant to any authorizing statute, executive order, or regulation, and (c) not a person or entity with whom a U.S. person is prohibited from conducting business under the OFAC Rules.

 

10.

Brokers. Landlord and Tenant each represents and warrants that it has not dealt with any broker, agent or other person (collectively, “Broker”) in connection with the transaction reflected in this Fifth Amendment and that no Broker brought about this transaction, other than Cushman & Wakefield, Flinn Ferguson and Kidder Mathews. Landlord and Tenant each hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from and against any claims by any Broker, other than Cushman & Wakefield, Flinn Ferguson and Kidder Mathews, claiming a commission or other form of compensation by virtue of having dealt with Tenant or Landlord, as applicable, with regard to this Fifth Amendment. Landlord shall be responsible for all commissions due to Flinn Ferguson and Kidder Mathews arising out of the execution of this Fifth Amendment in accordance with the terms of separate written agreements between Landlord, on the one hand, and Cushman & Wakefield, Flinn Ferguson and Kidder Mathews, on the other hand.

 

11.

Miscellaneous.

a. This Fifth Amendment is the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements and discussions. This Fifth Amendment may be amended only by an agreement in writing, signed by the parties hereto.

b. This Fifth Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns.

 

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c. This Fifth Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The signature page of any counterpart may be detached therefrom without impairing the legal effect of the signature(s) thereon provided such signature page is attached to any other counterpart identical thereto except having additional signature pages executed by other parties to this Fifth Amendment attached thereto.

d. Except as amended and/or modified by this Fifth Amendment, the Lease is hereby ratified and confirmed and all other terms of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect, unaltered and unchanged by this Fifth Amendment. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Fifth Amendment and the provisions of the Lease, the provisions of this Fifth Amendment shall prevail. Whether or not specifically amended by this Fifth Amendment, all of the terms and provisions of the Lease are hereby amended to the extent necessary to give effect to the purpose and intent of this Fifth Amendment.

[Signatures are on the next page.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Fifth Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

TENANT:
ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Washington corporation
By:  

/s/ Chad M. Robins

Its:   CEO & President
LANDLORD:
ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:   ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
  managing member
  By:   ARE-QRS CORP.,
    a Maryland corporation, general partner
    By:  

/s/ Jackie Clem

    Its:   Senior Vice President, RE Legal Affairs

 

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EXHIBIT B

Fifth Amendment Work Letter

THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT WORK LETTER dated May     , 2016 (this “Fifth Amendment Work Letter”) is made and entered into by and between ARE-SEATTLE NO. 11, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and ADAPTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Washington corporation (“Tenant”), and is attached to and made a part of the Lease Agreement dated July 21, 2011, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Lease dated as of August 26, 2011, as further amended by that certain Amended and Restated Second Amendment to Lease dated as of June 30, 2014 (the “Second Amendment”), as further amended by that certain Third Amendment to Lease dated as of November 5, 2015, as further amended by that certain Fourth Amendment to Lease dated as of December 23, 2015, and as further amended by that certain Fifth Amendment to Lease dated of even date herewith (the “Fifth Amendment”) (as amended, the “Lease”), by and between Landlord and Tenant. Any initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Lease.

1. General Requirements.

(a) Tenant’s Authorized Representative. Tenant designates Andy Ament, Chad Cohen and Brian Finrow (each such individual acting alone, “Tenant’s Representative”) as the only persons authorized to act for Tenant pursuant to this Fifth Amendment Work Letter. Landlord shall not be obligated to respond to or act upon any request, approval, inquiry or other communication (“Communication”) from or on behalf of Tenant in connection with this Fifth Amendment Work Letter unless such Communication is in writing from Tenant’s Representative. Tenant may change any Tenant’s Representative at any time upon not less than 5 business days advance written notice to Landlord.

(b) Landlord’s Authorized Representative. Landlord designates John Cox (“Landlord’s Representative”) as the only person authorized to act for Landlord pursuant to this Fifth Amendment Work Letter. Tenant shall not be obligated to respond to or act upon any request, approval, inquiry or other Communication from or on behalf of Landlord in connection with this Fifth Amendment Work Letter unless such Communication is in writing from Landlord’s Representative. Landlord may change or add an additional Landlord’s Representative at any time upon not less than 5 business days advance written notice to Tenant.

(c) Architects, Consultants and Contractors. Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and agree that the architect (the “TI Architect”) for the Tenant Improvements (as defined in Section 2(a) below), the general contractor and any subcontractors for the Tenant Improvements shall be selected by Tenant, subject to Landlord’s approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Landlord shall be named a third party beneficiary of any contract entered into by Tenant with the TI Architect, any consultant, any contractor or any subcontractor, and of any warranty made by any contractor or any subcontractor.

2. Tenant Improvements.

(a) Tenant Improvements Defined. As used herein, “Tenant Improvements” shall mean all improvements to the Premises desired by Tenant of a fixed and permanent nature. Other than funding the Tenant Improvement Allowance (as defined below) as provided herein, Landlord shall not have any obligation whatsoever with respect to the finishing of the Premises (including the Third Expansion Premises) for Tenant’s use and occupancy.

(b) Tenant’s Space Plans. Tenant shall deliver to Landlord schematic drawings and outline specifications (the “TI Design Drawings”) detailing Tenant’s requirements for the Tenant Improvements within 15 days of the date hereof. Not more than 10 days thereafter, Landlord shall deliver to Tenant the written objections, questions or comments of Landlord and the TI Architect with regard to the TI Design Drawings. Tenant shall cause the TI Design Drawings to be revised to address such written comments and shall resubmit said drawings to Landlord for approval within 10 days thereafter. Such process shall continue until Landlord has approved the TI Design Drawings.

 

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(c) Working Drawings. Not later than 15 business days following the approval of the TI Design Drawings by Landlord, Tenant shall cause the TI Architect to prepare and deliver to Landlord far review and comment construction plans, specifications and drawings for the Tenant Improvements (“TI Construction Drawings”), which TI Construction Drawings shall be prepared substantially in accordance with the TI Design Drawings. Tenant shall be solely responsible for ensuring that the TI Construction Drawings reflect Tenant’s requirements for the Tenant Improvements. Landlord shall deliver its written comments on the T1 Construction Drawings to Tenant not later than 10 business days after Landlord’s receipt of the same; provided, however, that Landlord may not disapprove any matter that is consistent with the TI Design Drawings. Tenant and the TI Architect shall consider all such comments in good faith and shall, within 10 business days after receipt, notify Landlord how Tenant proposes to respond to such comments. Any disputes in connection with such comments shall be resolved in accordance with Section 2(d) hereof. Provided that the design reflected in the TI Construction Drawings is consistent with the TI Design Drawings, Landlord shall approve the TI Construction Drawings submitted by Tenant. Once approved by Landlord, subject to the provisions of Section 4 below, Tenant shall not materially modify the TI Construction Drawings except as may be reasonably required in connection with the issuance of the TI Permit (as defined in Section 3(a) below).

(d) Approval and Completion. If any dispute regarding the design of the Tenant Improvements is not settled within 10 business days after notice of such dispute is delivered by one party to the other, Tenant may make the final decision regarding the design of the Tenant Improvements, provided (i) Tenant acts reasonably and such final decision is either consistent with or a compromise between Landlord’s and Tenant’s positions with respect to such dispute, (ii) that all costs and expenses resulting from any such decision by Tenant shall be payable out of the TI Fund (as defined in Section 5(d) below), and (iii) Tenant’s decision will not affect the base Building, structural components of the Building or any Building Systems (in which case Landlord shall make the final decision). Any changes to the TI Construction Drawings following Landlord’s and Tenant’s approval of same requested by Tenant shall be processed as provided in Section 4 hereof.

3. Performance of the Tenant Improvements.

(a) Commencement and Permitting of the Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall commence construction of the Tenant Improvements upon obtaining and delivering to Landlord a building permit (the “TI Permit”) authorizing the construction of the Tenant Improvements consistent with the TI Construction Drawings approved by Landlord. The cost of obtaining the TI Permit shall be payable from the T1 Fund. Landlord shall assist Tenant in obtaining the TI Permit. Prior to the commencement of the Tenant Improvements, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a copy of any contract with Tenant’s contractors (including the TI Architect), and certificates of insurance from any contractor performing any part of the Tenant Improvement evidencing industry standard commercial general liability, automotive liability, “builder’s risk”, and workers’ compensation insurance. Tenant shall cause the general contractor to provide a certificate of insurance naming Landlord, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., and Landlord’s lender (if any) as additional insureds for the general contractor’s liability coverages required above.

(b) Selection of Materials, Etc. Where more than one type of material or structure is indicated on the TI Construction Drawings approved by Tenant and Landlord, the option will be within Tenant’s reasonable discretion if the matter concerns the Tenant Improvements, and within Landlord’s sole and absolute subjective discretion if the matter concerns the structural components of the Building or any Building Systems.

(c) Tenant Liability. During the Term of the Lease, Tenant agrees to enforce its rights under any contract Tenant enters into with the TI Architect or any contractor with respect to the Tenant Improvements and enforce any warranties thereunder with respect to correcting any deficiencies or defects in the Tenant Improvements.

 

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(d) Substantial Completion. Tenant shall substantially complete or cause to be substantially completed the Tenant Improvements in a good and workmanlike manner, in accordance with the TI Permit subject, in each case, to Minor Variations and normal “punch list” items of a non-material nature which do not interfere with the use of the Premises (“Substantial Completion or Substantially Complete”). Upon Substantial Completion of the Tenant Improvements, Tenant shall require the TI Architect and the general contractor to execute and deliver, for the benefit of Tenant and Landlord, a Certificate of Substantial Completion in the form of the American Institute of Architects (“AlA”) document G704. For purposes of this Fifth Amendment Work Letter, “Minor Variations shall mean any modifications reasonably required: (i) to comply with all applicable Legal Requirements and/or to obtain or to comply with any required permit (including the TI Permit); (ii) to comport with good design, engineering, and construction practices which are not material; or (iii) to make reasonable adjustments for field deviations or conditions encountered during the construction of the Tenant Improvements.

4. Changes. Following the approval by Landlord of the TI Design Drawings, any changes to the Tenant Improvements desired by Tenant that would affect the Building structure or Building Systems (“Changes”) shall be subject to the written approval of Landlord, which approval may be granted or withheld in Landlord’s sole and absolute discretion. Any such Changes requested by Tenant, shall be requested and instituted in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.

(a) Tenant’s Right to Request Changes. If Tenant shall request Changes, Tenant shall request such Changes by notifying Landlord in writing in substantially the same form as the AIA standard change order form (a “Change Request”), which Change Request shall detail the nature and extent of any such Change. Such Change Request must be signed by Tenant’s Representative. Landlord shall review and approve or disapprove such Change Request within 10 business days thereafter, provided that Landlord’s approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(b) Implementation of Changes. If Landlord approves such Change and Tenant deposits with Landlord any Excess TI Costs (as defined in Section 5(d) below) required in connection with such Change, Tenant may cause the approved Change to be instituted. If any TI Permit modification or change is required as a result of such Change, Tenant shall promptly provide Landlord with a copy of such TI Permit modification or change.

5. Costs.

(a) Budget For Tenant Improvements. Before the commencement of construction of the Tenant Improvements, Tenant shall obtain a detailed breakdown, by trade, of the costs incurred or that will be incurred, in connection with the design and construction of the Tenant Improvements (the “Budget”), and deliver a copy of the Budget to Landlord for Landlord’s approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Budget shall be based upon the TI Construction Drawings approved by Landlord. The Budget shall include a payment to Landlord of administrative rent (“Administrative Rent”) equal to 1% of the TI Allowance (as hereinafter defined) for monitoring and inspecting the construction of the Tenant Improvements, which sum shall be payable from the TI Fund, Such Administrative Rent shall include, without limitation, all out-of-pocket costs, expenses and fees incurred by or on behalf of Landlord arising from, out of, or in connection with, such monitoring of the construction of the Tenant Improvements. If the Budget is greater than the Tenant Improvement Allowance, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord the difference, in cash, prior to the commencement of construction of the Tenant Improvements, for disbursement by Landlord as described in Section 5(d).

(b) Tenant Improvement Allowance. Landlord shall provide to Tenant a “Tenant Improvement Allowance” in the maximum amount of $50.00 per rentable square foot in the Third Expansion Premises, or $429,700 in the aggregate, which is included in the Base Rent set forth in Section 5(b) of the Fifth Amendment.

 

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The Tenant Improvement Allowance shall be disbursed in accordance with this Fifth Amendment Work Letter. Tenant shall have no right to the use or benefit (including any reduction to Base Rent) of any portion of the Tenant Improvement Allowance not required for the design and construction of (i) the Tenant Improvements described in the TI Construction Drawings approved pursuant to Section 2(d) or (ii) any Changes pursuant to Section 4. Tenant shall have no right to any portion of the Tenant Improvement Allowance that is not disbursed before the last day of the month that is 12 months after the Third Expansion Premises Commencement Date.

(c) Costs Includable in TI Fund. The TI Fund shall be used solely for the payment of design, permits and construction costs in connection with the construction of the Tenant Improvements, including, without limitation, the cost of electrical power and other utilities used in connection with the construction of the Tenant Improvements, the cost of preparing the TI Design Drawings and the TI Construction Drawings, all costs set forth in the Budget, including Landlord’s Administrative Rent, and the cost of Changes (collectively, “TI Costs”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the TI Fund shall not be used to purchase any furniture, personal property or other non-Building system materials or equipment, including, but not limited to, Tenant’s voice or data cabling, non-ducted biological safety cabinets and other scientific equipment not incorporated into the Tenant Improvements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Tenant may use a reasonable and customary portion of the Tenant Improvement Allowance, as reasonably approved by Landlord, toward the cost of purchasing and installing the Building Signs which Tenant is entitled to install pursuant to Section 38 of the Lease.

(d) Excess TI Costs. Landlord shall have no obligation to bear any portion of the cost of any of the Tenant Improvements except to the extent of the Tenant Improvement Allowance. If at any time and from time-to-time, the remaining TI Costs under the Budget exceed the remaining unexpended Tenant Improvement Allowance, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord, as a condition precedent to Landlord’s obligation to fund the Tenant Improvement Allowance, 100% of the then current TI Cost in excess of the remaining Tenant Improvement Allowance (“Excess TI Costs”). If Tenant fails to deposit, or is late in depositing any Excess TI Costs with Landlord, Landlord shall have all of the rights and remedies set forth in the Lease for nonpayment of Rent (including, but not limited to, the right to interest at the Default Rate and the right to assess a late charge). For purposes of any litigation instituted with regard to such amounts, those amounts will be deemed Rent under the Lease. The Tenant Improvement Allowance and Excess TI Costs is herein referred to as the “TI Fund.” Funds deposited by Tenant shall be the first thereafter disbursed to pay TI Costs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 5(d), Tenant shall be fully and solely liable for TI Costs and the cost of Minor Variations in excess of the Tenant Improvement Allowance. If upon Substantial Completion of the Tenant Improvements and the payment of all sums due in connection therewith there remains any undisbursed portion of the TI Fund, Tenant shall be entitled to such undisbursed TI Fund solely to the extent of any Excess TI Costs deposit Tenant has actually made with Landlord.

(e) Payment for TI Costs. During the course of design and construction of the Tenant Improvements, Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for TI Costs once a month against a draw request in Landlord’s standard form, containing evidence of payment of such TI Costs by Tenant and such certifications, lien waivers (including a conditional lien release for each progress payment and unconditional lien releases for the prior month’s progress payments), inspection reports and other matters as Landlord reasonably and customarily obtains, to the extent of Landlord’s approval thereof for payment, no later than 30 days following receipt of such draw request. Upon completion of the Tenant Improvements (and prior to any final disbursement of the TI Fund), Tenant shall deliver to Landlord: (i) sworn statements setting forth the names of all contractors and first tier subcontractors who did the work and final, unconditional lien waivers from all such contractors and first tier subcontractors; (ii) as-built plans (one copy in print format and two copies in electronic CAD format) for such Tenant Improvements; (iii) a certification of substantial completion in Form MA G704, (iv) a certificate or temporary of occupancy for the Premises (or an equivalent approval); and (v) copies of all operation and maintenance manuals and warranties affecting the Premises.

 

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6. Miscellaneous.

(a) Consents. Whenever consent or approval of either party is required under this Fifth Amendment Work Letter, that party shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay such consent or approval, except as may be expressly set forth herein to the contrary.

(b) Modification. No modification, waiver or amendment of this Fifth Amendment Work Letter or of any of its conditions or provisions shall be binding upon Landlord or Tenant unless in writing signed by Landlord and Tenant.

(c) No Default Funding. In no event shall Landlord have any obligation to fund any portion of the Tenant Improvement Allowance during any period that Tenant is in Default under the Lease.

 

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