UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018

OR

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number 001-37355

 

VIKING THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

(858) 704-4660

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   ☒     No   ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes   ☒     No   ☐

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:

 

 

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐     No  ☒

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

 

 

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VIKING THERAPEUTICS, INC.

FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Balance Sheets

 

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

 

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Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

 

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Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

 

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

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Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows

 

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

 

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Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

 

1. Organization, Liquidity and Management’s Plan, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Company

Viking Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders.

The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 24, 2012 and its principal executive offices are located in San Diego, California.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The accompanying balance sheet as of June 30, 2018, statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited. These unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2017 contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 7, 2018. The unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2018, the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The December 31, 2017 balance sheet included herein was derived from the audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures or notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes to the financial statements related to the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for an entire year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying financial statements. Significant estimates made in preparing these financial statements relate to determining the fair value of the debt conversion feature liability, through May 21, 2018, and accounting for certain commitments. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted Accounting Standards

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes all existing revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the company expects to receive for those goods or services. The FASB has subsequently issued the following amendments to ASU No. 2014-09, which have the same effective date and transition date of January 1, 2018:

 

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The Company evaluated the potential impact that these standards had on its financial position and results of operations.  There is no current impact of this new guidance on its financial statements as the Company does not currently have any revenue generating arrangements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”), which amends ASC Topic 230 to add or clarify guidance on eight classification issues related to the statement of cash flows such as debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, and contingent consideration payments made after a business combination. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and must be adopted using a retrospective transition method to each period presented but may be applied prospectively if retrospective application would be impracticable. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company’s adoption of ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018 did not have a material effect on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASU 2017-09”), which clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as a modification. Entities will apply the modification accounting guidance if the value, vesting conditions, or classification of the award changes. The Company’s adoption of ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018 did not have a material effect on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2018-07”), which simplifies the accounting for non-employee share-based payment transactions. The new standard expands the scope of ASC Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees. ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (including interim periods within that fiscal year), with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the new standard in the second quarter of 2018 and determined that the application of the new standard did not have a material effect on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which amends the existing accounting standards for leases. The new standard requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet (with the exception of short-term leases). For lessees, leases will continue to be classified as either operating or financing in the statement of operations. This ASU becomes effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 and early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-02 is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach and requires application of the new standard at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-02 to have a material effect on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires that financial assets measured at amortized cost be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Currently, GAAP delays recognition of the full amount of credit losses until the loss is probable of occurring. Under this new standard, the statement of operations will reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. The measurement of expected credit losses will be based upon historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a direct write-down to the security. The new standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-13 will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

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In July 2017, the FASB issued a two-part ASU No. 2017-11, I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features and II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception (“ASU 2017-11”). ASU 2017-11 amends guidance in FASB ASC Topic 260: Earnings Per Share, FASB ASC Topic 480: Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and FASB ASC Topic 815: Derivatives and Hedging. The amendments in Part I of ASU 2017-11 change the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments (or embedded features) with down round features. The amendments in Part II of ASU 2017-11 re-characterize the indefinite deferral of certain provisions of FASB ASC Topic 480 that now are presented as pending content in the ASC, to a scope exception. ASU 2017-11 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.  The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2017-11 will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Investments Available-for-Sale

Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. The amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts is included in interest income. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary, if any, on available-for-sale securities are included in other income (expense). The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Interest and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in interest income.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company maintains deposits in federally insured depository institutions in excess of federally insured limits. Management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held. Additionally, the Company has established guidelines regarding approved investments and maturities of investments, which are designed to maintain safety and liquidity.

Prepaid Clinical Trial and Preclinical Study Costs

Prepaid clinical trial and preclinical study costs represent advance payments by the Company for future clinical trial and preclinical study services to be performed by the clinical research organization and other research organizations.  Such amounts are recognized as research and development expense as the related clinical trial and preclinical study services are performed.  

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs represent legal, accounting and other direct costs related to the Company’s efforts to raise capital through a public or private sale of the Company’s common stock. Costs related to public sales of the Company’s common stock are deferred until the completion of the applicable offering, at which time such costs are reclassified to additional paid-in-capital as a reduction of the proceeds.  Costs related to private sales of the Company’s common stock are deferred until the completion of the applicable offering, at which time such costs are amortized over the term of the applicable purchase agreement.

Revenue Recognition

The Company has not recorded any revenues since its inception. However, in the future, the Company may enter into collaborative research and licensing agreements, under which the Company could be eligible for payments made in the form of upfront license fees, research funding, cost reimbursement, contingent event-based payments and/or royalties.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and all related amendments ("ASC 606" or "the new revenue standard"). ASC 606 is a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The new revenue standard is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principle, ASC 606 provides that an entity should apply the following steps: (1) identify the contract(s)

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with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The new revenue standard also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, and costs to obtain or fulfill contracts. The Company will apply ASC 606 prospectively to all contracts.

Research and Development Expenses

All costs of research and development are expensed in the period incurred. Research and development costs primarily consist of fees paid to contract research organizations (“CROs”) and clinical trial sites, employee and consultant related expenses, which include salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation for research and development personnel, external research and development expenses incurred pursuant to agreements with third-party manufacturing organizations, facilities costs, travel costs, dues and subscriptions, depreciation and materials used in preclinical studies, clinical trials and research and development.

The Company estimates its preclinical study and clinical trial expenses based on the services it received pursuant to contracts with research institutions and CROs that conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on the Company’s behalf. Clinical trial-related contracts vary significantly in length, and may be for a fixed amount, based on milestones or deliverables, a variable amount based on actual costs incurred, capped at a certain limit, or for a combination of these elements. The Company accrues service fees based on work performed, which relies on estimates of total costs incurred based on milestones achieved, patient enrollment and other events. The majority of the Company’s service providers invoice the Company in arrears, and to the extent that amounts invoiced differ from its estimates of expenses incurred, the Company accrues for additional costs. The financial terms of these agreements vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven expenses and payment flows. Preclinical study and clinical trial expenses include:

Payments under some of these agreements depend on factors such as the milestones accomplished, including enrollment of certain numbers of patients, site initiation and the completion of clinical trial milestones. To date, the Company has not experienced any events requiring it to make material adjustments to its accruals for service fees. If the Company does not identify costs that it has begun to incur or if it underestimates or overestimates the level of services performed or the costs of these services, its actual expenses could differ from its estimates which could materially affect its results of operations. Adjustments to the Company’s accruals are recorded as changes in estimates become evident. Furthermore, based on amounts invoiced to the Company by its service providers, the Company may also record payments made to those providers as prepaid expenses that will be recognized as expense in future periods as services are rendered.

In May 2014, the Company entered into the Master License Agreement, pursuant to which it acquired certain rights to a number of research and development programs from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (“Ligand”). In doing so, the Company updated its policy on research and development to include the purchase of rights to intangible assets. In accordance with ASC Topic 730, Research and Development, intangible assets that are acquired and have an alternative future use, as defined, should be capitalized and reported as an intangible asset; however, the cost of acquired intangible assets that do not have alternative future uses should be reported as research and development expense as incurred. The Company notes that intangible assets acquired that are in the preclinical or clinical stages of development when acquired, and not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are deemed to have not satisfied the definition of having an alternative future use, as defined. Accordingly, assets acquired in the preclinical and clinical stages of development are expensed as incurred in the Company’s statement of operations.

Patent Costs

Costs related to filing and pursuing patent applications are expensed as incurred to general and administrative expense, as recoverability of such expenditures is uncertain.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company generally uses the straight-line method to allocate compensation cost to reporting periods over each optionee’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, and estimates the fair value of stock-based awards or restricted stock units to employees and directors using the Black-Scholes option-valuation model. The Black-Scholes model requires the input of subjective assumptions, including volatility, the expected term and the fair value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, among other inputs. For restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards, the Company generally uses the straight-line method to allocate

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compensation cost to reporting periods over the holder’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, and uses the fair value at grant date to value the awards. For restricted stock that vests upon the satisfaction of certain performance conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense when it becomes probable that the performance conditions will be met. At the point that it becomes probable that the performance conditions will be met, the Company records a cumulative catch-up of the expense from the grant date to the current date, and the Company then amortizes the remainder of the expense over the remaining service period.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for its income taxes using the liability method whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the basis used for financial reporting and income tax reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes are provided based on the enacted tax rates in effect at the time such temporary differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize those tax assets through future operations.

ASC Topic 740-10, Income Taxes, clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP.  Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized. Income tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met.

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

Net Loss per Common Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method.  For purposes of this calculation, the Company currently does not have any deemed common share equivalents; therefore, its basic and diluted net loss per share calculations are the same.

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted net loss per common share (in thousands, except share and per share data):

 

 

 

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Potentially dilutive securities that are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share because their effect is anti-dilutive are as follows (in common equivalent shares):

 

 

Segments

The Company operates in only one segment. Management uses cash flows as the primary measure to manage its business and does not segment its business for internal reporting or decision making purposes.

 

 

2. Investments in Marketable Securities

The Company’s investment strategy is focused on capital preservation. The Company invests in instruments that meet the credit quality standards outlined in the Company’s investment policy. This policy also limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issue or type of instrument. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s investments were in government money market funds, certificates of deposit and corporate debt securities. There were no sales of available-for-sale securities during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 or during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Investments classified as available-for-sale as of June 30, 2018 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

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Investments classified as available-for-sale as of December 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments and accounts payable and, through May 21, 2018, debt and its related debt conversion feature liability. The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments. Further, the Company believes the fair value of the debt approximates its carrying value based on relatively stable interest rates and short-term maturity of this instrument.  Fair value measurements are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1 —Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 —Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, 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.

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all of the Company’s financial assets that were subject to fair value measurements were valued using observable inputs. The Company’s financial assets valued based on Level 1 inputs consist of money market funds and certificates of deposit. The Company’s financial assets valued based on Level 2 inputs consist of corporate debt securities, which consist of investments in highly-rated investment-grade corporations.

The Company’s financial liability that was subject to fair value measurement consisted of a debt conversion feature that has been recorded as a liability based on Level 3 unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2017. There was no similar financial liability as of June 30, 2018.

The fair value of the debt conversion feature, current as of December 31, 2017 required management to estimate fair value based on the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model.  The Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model was adopted as a result of the Company’s entry in January 2016 into the second amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement with Ligand (the “Loan and Security Agreement”), which amended the conversion terms of the Secured Convertible Promissory Note (“Ligand Note”) issued pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement.

The debt conversion feature embedded in each tranche of the Ligand Note was accounted for under ASC Topic 815 – Derivatives and Hedging. At each issuance date, the fair value of the debt conversion feature was determined. The fair value of the debt conversion

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feature was allocated from the gross proceeds of the Ligand Note with the respective discount amortized to interest expense over the original term of the Ligand Note using the effective interest method.  The Company was required to mark to market the value of the conversion feature liability; however, on May 21, 2018, the Company paid in cash the remaining debt balance of the Ligand Note.

The Company’s investment strategy is focused on capital preservation. The Company invests in instruments that meet the credit quality standards outlined in the Company’s investment policy. This policy also limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issue or type of instrument. As of June 30, 2018, the Company’s investments were in government money market funds, certificates of deposit and corporate debt securities.

The fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are presented below (in thousands):

 

 

The table below presents a summary of changes in the Company’s debt conversion feature liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

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The following table sets forth the Company’s valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used to determine fair value for significant Level 3 liabilities (in thousands, except for volatility and risk free rate):

 

 

 

Level 3 Fair Value Sensitivity

Debt Conversion Feature Liability

As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the debt conversion feature liability includes the estimated volatility and risk free rate.  The higher/lower the estimated volatility, the higher/lower the value of the debt conversion feature liability. The higher/lower the risk free interest rate, the higher/lower the value of the debt conversion feature liability.

 

Convertible notes payable consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

Pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement, among other things, Ligand provided the Company with loans in the aggregate amount of $2.5 million.  Up until January 21, 2016, the principal amount outstanding under the loans accrued interest at a fixed per annum rate equal to the lesser of 5.0% or the maximum interest rate permitted by law. Effective as of January 22, 2016, the principal amount outstanding under the loans accrue interest at a fixed per annum rate equal to the lesser of 2.5% or the maximum interest rate permitted by law. In the event the Company defaults under the loans, the loans will accrue interest at a fixed per annum rate equal to the lesser of 8% or the maximum interest rate permitted by law. The loans are evidenced by the Ligand Note. Pursuant to the terms of the Loan and Security Agreement and the Ligand Note, the loans will become due and payable upon the written demand of Ligand at any time after the earlier to occur of an event of default under the Loan and Security Agreement or the Ligand Note, or May 21, 2018, unless the loans are repaid in cash or converted into equity prior to such time. In addition, under the Loan and Security Agreement, the Company may not declare or pay dividends in respect of its common stock without Ligand’s prior written consent.  

On May 8, 2017, the Company entered into the Third Amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement (the “Third Loan Amendment”), which: (1) extended the maturity date of the Loans from May 21, 2017 to May 21, 2018, and (2) provided that the Company was required to repay $200,000 of the Ligand Note in the third quarter of 2017, which payment had to be made solely in cash (the “Required Repayment”).  The Company made the Required Repayment on July 13, 2017. The Required Repayment was applied, first, to accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and, second, to the unpaid principal amount of the Loans. Each $1.00 of value of the Required Repayment reduced the amount of accrued and unpaid interest and then unpaid principal amount on the Loans by $0.50.  As a result of the Third Loan Amendment, the Company recorded a debt modification adjustment of $1.0 million to the debt conversion feature liability primarily due to the longer expected term, offset with an adjustment recorded to the Ligand Note discount.   

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In connection with the Loan and Security Agreement, the Company also granted Ligand a continuing security interest in all of its right, title and interest in and to its assets as collateral for the full, prompt, complete and final payment and performance when due of all obligations under the Loan and Security Agreement and the Ligand Note.

On May 21, 2018, the Company repaid the entire remaining balance of $3.9 million due on the Ligand Note in cash.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recorded $14,000 and $38,000 of interest expense, respectively, $146,000 and $404,000 of amortization of debt discount, respectively, and $37,000 and $1.4 million as other income related to the decrease in the fair value of the debt conversion feature liability, respectively.  

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded $24,000 and $49,000 of interest expense, respectively, $337,000 and $768,000 of amortization of debt discount, respectively, and $571,000 and $848,000 as other income related to the decrease in the fair value of the debt conversion feature liability, respectively.  

 

5. Stockholders’ Equity

 

Preferred Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.00001 par value per share, with no shares outstanding as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The Board of Directors is authorized to designate the terms and conditions of any preferred stock the Company may issue without further action by the stockholders of the Company.

 

Common Stock

The Company is authorized to issue up to 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.00001 par value per share.

In February 2014, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with one of its founders. The agreement provided for the purchase of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $0.01 in exchange for future services to be rendered to the Company as measured by certain performance criteria. The shares were subject to a repurchase option and were to vest in two tranches of 500,000 shares each, upon achievement of the performance target or upon a triggering event as defined.

The Company determined that the fair value of the unrecognized expense was $168,000 at February 20, 2014, the grant date. In May 2015, the Company repurchased 633,810 of these shares at a purchase price of $0.00001 per share. In connection with the repurchase, the Company entered into an amendment to the stock purchase agreement to provide that the remaining 366,190 shares will continue to vest in two tranches of 183,095 shares each, upon achievement of the performance target or upon a triggering event as defined. The pro rata grant date fair value of the unrecognized expense is $62,000.  In October 2015, a triggering event became probable of occurrence and was deemed achieved in October 2016; therefore, the Company recorded $31,000 of stock-based compensation expense through December 31, 2016.  No similar expense was recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.  The Company will continue to reassess at each reporting period whether it is probable that the performance target will be achieved, and if and when it is deemed probable, the Company will begin to record compensation expense using the fair value to determine stock-based compensation expense in its financial statements over the period the Company estimates the performance target will actually be achieved.

On June 20, 2016, the Company entered into the Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) pursuant to which the Company was able to offer and sell, from time to time, through Maxim up to 3,748,726 shares of its common stock (the “Maxim Offering”).  Effective July 26, 2017, the Distribution Agreement terminated automatically in accordance with the terms thereof.  All shares of common stock offered and sold in the Maxim Offering were issued pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-212134) filed with the SEC on June 20, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed with the SEC on July 26, 2016, and declared effective on July 26, 2016 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) and the prospectus relating to the Maxim Offering that forms a part of the registration statement on Form S-3.  The registration statement on Form S-3 was declared effective by the SEC on July 26, 2016.  From the inception of the Distribution Agreement through July 26, 2017, the Company sold 1,267,237 shares of its common stock under the Distribution Agreement resulting in net proceeds to the Company of $1.6 million, after deducting the sales agent’s commission.

 

On August 24, 2016, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Aspire Capital Fund, LLC (“Aspire Capital”) was committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $12.5 million of shares of the Company’s common stock over the 30-month term of the Purchase Agreement. Upon execution of the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued and sold 333,333 shares of common stock (the “Initial Shares”) at a price per share of $1.50, for an aggregate purchase price of $500,000 to Aspire Capital under the Purchase Agreement.  Concurrently with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, and as consideration for Aspire Capital entering into the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued 336,116 shares of common stock as a commitment fee (the “Commitment Shares”) to Aspire Capital with a fair value of $440,000, which has been recorded as deferred financing costs, with a prorated portion charged to additional paid-in-capital for the Initial Shares, with the

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remainder of the costs amortized over the term of the Purchase Agreement as there was no guarantee that additional shares would be sold under the Purchase Agreement.  Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company was able to, from time to time and subject to certain limitations, direct Aspire Capital to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock using pricing formulas based on average prevailing market prices around the time of each sale.  Additionally, the Company and Aspire may not effect any sales of shares of the Company's common stock under the Purchase Agreement during the continuance of an event of default or on any trading day that the closing sale price of its common stock is less than $0.40 per share (subject to adjustment for stock dividends, splits, combinations or similar transactions or events).  Effective June 19, 2017, the Company terminated the Purchase Agreement, resulting in a write off of the remaining capitalized deferred financing costs relating to the Purchase Agreement of $337,000.  From the inception of the Purchase Agreement through June 19, 2017, the Company sold 1,476,991 shares of its common stock under the Purchase Agreement resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $2.0 million, in addition to the Initial Shares and the Commitment Shares.  

On February 8, 2017, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with PoC Capital, LLC (“PoC”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company issued to PoC 1,286,173 shares of its common stock.  Under the terms of the SPA, PoC has agreed to fund $1.8 million in study costs associated with certain clinical studies, including a planned proof-of-concept trial in patients with Glycogen Storage Disease type Ia.  Any study costs in excess of that amount will be the Company’s sole responsibility.  The Company has accounted for the $1.8 million as a prepaid expense on the balance sheet.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recorded amortization expense of $252,000 and $477,000, respectively, in clinical study costs related to the SPA with PoC. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded amortization expense of $357,000 and $400,000, respectively.  The remaining prepaid balance of $329,000 was recorded on the balance sheet as of June 30, 2018.

On June 14, 2017, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with certain accredited investors (the “Purchasers”) pursuant to which the Company sold an aggregate of 3,749,783 shares (the “Shares”) of its common stock in a registered direct offering (the “Registered Direct Offering”).  The Shares were offered by the Company pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.  In a concurrent private placement, the Company also agreed, pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each of the Purchasers a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock (the “Warrants”) for each share of common stock purchased by a Purchaser in the Registered Direct Offering (the “Private Placement” and, together with the Registered Direct Offering, the “Offerings”).  The exercise price of the Warrants is $1.30 per share, subject to adjustment as provided therein, and will be exercisable beginning on December 19, 2017 through December 19, 2022.  The combined purchase price for one Share and one Warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock in the Offerings was $1.15. The closing of the Offerings occurred on June 19, 2017. The aggregate net proceeds from the Offerings, after deducting the placement agents’ fees and offering expenses, were $3.9 million. 

 

On September 28, 2017, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “Registered Offering Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which, on September 29, 2017, the Company sold to Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (“LPC”) 701,282 shares of common stock (the “LPC Initial Shares”) at a price of approximately $1.78 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $1.3 million, pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus supplement thereto dated September 28, 2017.

 

On September 28, 2017, the Company also entered a purchase agreement (the “Commitment Purchase Agreement”) and a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with LPC, pursuant to which the Company has the right to sell to LPC up to $15.0 million in shares of common stock, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the Commitment Purchase Agreement. Upon the satisfaction of the conditions in the Commitment Purchase Agreement (the “Commencement”) the Company will have the right, from time to time at its sole discretion over the 30-month period from and after the Commencement, to direct LPC to purchase up to 75,000 shares of common stock on any business day (subject to certain limitations contained in the Commitment Purchase Agreement), with such amounts increasing based on certain threshold prices set forth in the Commitment Purchase Agreement; however, not to exceed $1.0 million in total purchase proceeds per purchase date. The purchase price of shares of common stock that the Company elects to sell to LPC pursuant to the Commitment Purchase Agreement will be based on the market prices of the common stock at the time of such purchases as set forth in the Commitment Purchase Agreement. In addition to regular purchases, as described above, the Company may also direct LPC to purchase additional amounts as accelerated purchases or as additional purchases if the closing sale price of the common stock is not below certain threshold prices, as set forth in the Commitment Purchase Agreement. In all instances, the Company may not sell shares of its common stock to LPC under the Commitment Purchase Agreement if it would result in LPC beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the Common Stock. As consideration for LPC’s commitment to purchase shares of common stock pursuant to the Commitment Purchase Agreement, the Company issued to LPC 100,000 shares of common stock (the “LPC Commitment Shares”).  From inception of the Commitment Purchase Agreement through December 31, 2017, 343,051 shares were issued pursuant to the Commitment Purchase Agreement resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of $802,000 in addition to the LPC Initial Shares and the LPC Commitment Shares.  No additional shares were issued during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018.

 

On December 11, 2017, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 5,900,000 shares of its common stock, including 769,565 shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ full exercise of their option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments,

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pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement at a public offering price of $2.50 per share, for total net proceeds of $13.4 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.

On February 6, 2018, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of common stock pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (the “February 2018 Offering”). In the February 2018 Offering, the Company sold 12,650,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a public offering price of $5.00 per share of common stock. Upon the closing of the February 2018 Offering on February 6, 2018, the Company received net proceeds of $58.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses.

 

On June 11, 2018, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of common stock (the “June 2018 Offering”) pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and a registration statement on Form S-3MEF (File No. 333-225479) filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  In the June 2018 Offering, the Company sold 8,625,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a public offering price of $9.00 per share of common stock. Upon the closing of the June 2018 Offering on June 11, 2018, the Company received net proceeds of $72.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses.

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, and in accordance with the Company’s 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), the Company issued an aggregate of 72,597 and 19,887 shares of its common stock to certain employees, respectively.

 

6. Stock-Based Compensation

In connection with the Company’s initial public offering of common stock (the “IPO”), the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and the ESPP became effective on April 28, 2015, the date of the execution and delivery of the underwriting agreement for the IPO. A total of 1,527,770 shares of the Company’s common stock were initially reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, and 458,331 shares of the Company’s common stock were initially reserved for issuance under the ESPP.  From January 1, 2016 and through June 30, 2018, in accordance with the terms of the 2014 Plan, an additional 2,321,363 shares of the Company’s common stock were added to the number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan, respectively, and, in accordance with the terms of the ESPP, an additional 663,246 shares of the Company’s common stock were added to the number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP, respectively.

The Company generally uses the straight-line method to allocate compensation cost to reporting periods over each optionee’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, and estimates the fair value of stock-based awards or restricted stock units to employees and directors using the Black-Scholes option-valuation model. The Black-Scholes model requires the input of subjective assumptions, including volatility, the expected term and the fair value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, among other inputs. Stock options granted to non-employees are accounted for using the fair value approach. Stock options granted to non-employees are subject to periodic revaluation over their vesting terms.

2014 Plan. The 2014 Plan provides that the compensation committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) may grant or issue stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units and unrestricted shares, deferred share units, performance and cash-settled awards and dividend equivalent rights to participants under the 2014 Plan. Initially, a total of 1,527,770 shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2014 Plan, which number is also the limit on shares of common stock available for awards of incentive stock options. The number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan will, unless otherwise determined by the Company’s Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, be automatically increased on January 1st of each year commencing on January 1, 2016 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2024, in an amount equal to 3.5% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year. The shares of common stock deliverable pursuant to awards under the 2014 Plan are authorized but unissued shares of the Company’s common stock, or shares of the Company’s common stock that the Company otherwise holds in treasury or in trust. Any shares of the Company’s common stock underlying awards that are settled in cash or otherwise expire, or are forfeited, terminated or cancelled (including pursuant to an exchange program established by the Compensation Committee) prior to the issuance of stock will again be available for issuance under the 2014 Plan. In addition, shares of the Company’s common stock that are withheld (or not issued) in payment of the exercise price or taxes relating to an award, and shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the number surrendered in payment of any exercise price or withholding taxes relating to an award, will again be available for issuance under the 2014 Plan.

ESPP. Initially, a total of 458,331 shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the ESPP. The number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP will, unless otherwise determined by the Company’s Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, be automatically increased on January 1st of each year commencing on January 1, 2016 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2024, in an amount equal to 1% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year. The shares of common stock available for purchase pursuant to the ESPP are authorized but unissued shares of the Company’s common stock, shares of the Company’s common stock that the Company otherwise holds in treasury or shares of the Company’s common stock that were purchased on the open market in arms’ length transactions in

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accordance with applicable securities laws. Shares of the Company’s common stock will be offered for purchase under the ESPP as determined by the Compensation Committee through a series of successive offerings that each have a term of 24 months and consist of four consecutive purchase periods of six months each. Prior to the commencement of any future offering under the ESPP, the Compensation Committee may determine that the current offering shall end, may commence a new offering on the first day after the end of such terminal purchase period (or any desired later date), and may decide that future offerings will consist of one or more consecutive purchase periods, each to be of such duration as determined by the Compensation Committee; however, no offering will exceed 27 months and no purchase period will exceed one year. Each employee of the Company who (1) is an employee on the first date of any offering under the ESPP, (2) is customarily scheduled to work for more than 20 hours per week and more than five months per calendar year, and (3) meets such other criteria as may be determined by the Compensation Committee (consistent with Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), is eligible to participate in the ESPP for each purchase period within such offering. The purchase price per share of the Company’s common stock under the ESPP may not be less than, and will initially be equal to, the lesser of: (1) 85% of the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the first day of the offering, or (2) 85% of the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date the purchase right is exercised, which will be the last day of the applicable purchase period.

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized the following stock-based compensation expense (in thousands):

 

 

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, by type of award and the weighted-average period over which that expense is expected to be recognized (in thousands, except for years):

 

 

The following table is a summary of restricted stock activity during the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

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The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity during the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

 

 

The following table summarizes stock option activity during the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

 

The Company received $239,000 in cash proceeds from exercises of stock options during the six months ended June 30, 2018.  There were no option exercises during the six months ended June 30, 2017.  

 

Compensation cost for stock options granted to employees is based on the estimated grant date fair value and is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the applicable option. The estimated per share weighted average fair value of stock options granted to employees during the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $3.38.

As stock-based compensation expense recognized is based on options ultimately expected to vest, the fair value of each employee option grant during the six months ended June 30, 2018 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

 

 

Expected Volatility. The expected volatility rate used to value stock option grants is based on volatilities of a peer group of similar companies whose share prices are publicly available. The peer group was developed based on companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in a similar stage of development to the Company.

Expected Term. The Company elected to utilize the “simplified” method for “plain vanilla” options to value stock option grants. Under this approach, the weighted-average expected life is presumed to be the average of the vesting term and the contractual term of the option.

Risk-free Interest Rate. The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on zero-coupon U.S. Treasury instruments that had terms consistent with the expected term of the Company’s stock option grants.

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Expected Dividend Yield. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Forfeitures are accounted for as actual forfeitures occur.   

Since the Company had a net operating loss carryforward as of June 30, 2018, no excess tax benefits for the tax deductions related to stock-based awards were recognized in the Statements of Operations.

 

 

7. Warrants

Upon the closing of the IPO, on May 4, 2015, the Company issued to the representative of the underwriters as additional compensation a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 82,500 shares of the Company’s common stock. The warrant is exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis at a per share exercise price equal to $10.00 commencing on April 28, 2016, one year following the date of the prospectus filed with the SEC relating to the IPO, and expiring on April 28, 2020. The warrant also provides for registration rights upon request, under certain circumstances. The piggyback registration right provided in connection with the warrant will terminate on April 28, 2022.

 

On April 13, 2016, pursuant to the Offering, the Company sold 7,500,000 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase up to 7,500,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $1.25 per share of common stock and related warrant. The warrants have an exercise price of $1.50 per share of common stock, were immediately exercisable upon issuance and will expire on April 13, 2021. Additionally, on April 13, 2016, the underwriters for the Offering partially exercised the over-allotment option for warrants to purchase an additional 1,125,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a public offering price of $0.01 per warrant to purchase a share of common stock. As of June 30, 2018, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,802,295 shares were outstanding and 889,148 and 2,370,404 warrants were exercised during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.

 

On April 13, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the Loan and Security Agreement, the Company issued to Ligand the Ligand Warrant to purchase up to 960,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Ligand Warrant has an exercise price of $1.50 per share of Company common stock, was immediately exercisable upon issuance (subject to a limitation on exercise to the extent that any exercise thereof would increase Ligand’s beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock to greater than 49.9%) and expires on April 13, 2021.  The Ligand Warrant was issued to Ligand as a part of the repayment of $1.2 million of the Company’s obligation under the Ligand Note.

 

On June 14, 2017, pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company sold Shares and the Warrants to purchase up to 2,812,337 shares of its common stock to the Purchasers.  The combined purchase price for one Share and one Warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock in the Offerings, was $1.15. The closing of the Offerings occurred on June 19, 2017.  The Warrants have an exercise price of $1.30 per share, subject to adjustment as provided therein, and will be exercisable beginning on December 19, 2017 through December 19, 2022.  Each holder of a Warrant will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Warrant if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that upon 61 days’ prior notice to the Company, the holder may increase the Beneficial Ownership Limitation; however, in no event shall the Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 9.99%. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants will be subject to adjustment in the event of any stock dividends and splits, reverse stock split, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction, as described in the Warrants. If a registration statement covering the issuance or resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is not available for the issuance or resale, as applicable, the Purchasers may exercise the Warrants by means of a “cashless exercise.”  On January 16, 2018, the resale registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-222202) that the Company filed related to the 1,987,337 shares subject to unexercised warrants was declared effective by the SEC.  As of June 30, 2018, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,010,395 shares were outstanding and 36,500 and 976,942 warrants were exercised during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.

 

8. Commitments and Contingencies

On July 7, 2015, the Company entered into a Sublease (the “Sublease”) for approximately 7,049 rentable square feet of space located at 12340 El Camino Real, Suite 250, San Diego, California 92130 (the “Premises”). 

Under the Sublease, the Company is responsible for certain charges for common area maintenance and other costs, and the Sublease provides for abatement of rent during certain periods and escalating rent payments throughout the term of the Sublease. Rent expense is being recorded on a straight line basis over the life of the Sublease and the difference between the rent expense and rent paid is being recorded as deferred rent.  

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Rent expense was $63,000 and $59,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Rent expense was $125,000 and $122,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Future minimum payments pursuant to the Sublease are $43,000 in the aggregate through September 30, 2018, the remaining term of the Sublease.

Additionally, on May 25, 2018, the Company entered into an Office Lease (the “Lease”) with Kilroy Realty, L.P. (the “Landlord”). The Lease is for approximately 7,149 rentable square feet of space located at the Premises. The Premises will continue to be the Company’s corporate headquarters.

The Lease will commence on November 1, 2018 and will expire on January 31, 2022, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Lease (the “Term”). Monthly base rent payments due under the Lease for the Premises will be $26,808.75, subject to annual increases of 3.0% during the term of the Lease. The Company is also responsible for certain other costs under the Lease, including electricity and utility expenses and certain repair and maintenance obligations.

The Lease provides the Company with an option to extend the term of the lease for a period of three years beyond the Term. If the option is exercised, the renewal term will be upon the same terms and conditions as the original Term, except that the base rent will be equal to the prevailing market rate as determined pursuant to the terms of the Lease.

Future minimum payments pursuant to the Lease are as follows (in thousands):

 

9. Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated all subsequent events through the date of filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, to ensure that this filing includes appropriate disclosure of events both recognized in the financial statements as of June 30, 2018, and events which occurred subsequent to June 30, 2018, but which were not recognized in the financial statements.  

On July 11, 2018, the Company filed with the SEC a universal Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-226133) (the “New Shelf Registration Statement”) to replace the Shelf Registration Statement, which was fully exhausted following the completion of the June 2018 Offering. The New Shelf Registration Statement provides the Company with the ability to offer up to $450.0 million of securities, including equity, debt and other securities as described in the New Shelf Registration Statement. The New Shelf Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on July 19, 2018. Pursuant to the New Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may offer such securities from time to time and through one or more methods of distribution, subject to market conditions and the Company’s capital needs. Specific terms and prices will be determined at the time of each offering under a separate prospectus supplement, which will be filed with the SEC at the time of any offering.

 

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This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include estimates of our expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; statements regarding our ability to develop, acquire and advance drug candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials and preclinical studies; statements concerning new product candidates; risks and uncertainties associated with our research and development activities, including our clinical trials and preclinical studies; our expectations regarding the potential market size and the size of the patient populations for our drug candidates, if approved for commercial use, and our ability to serve such markets; statements regarding our ability to maintain and establish collaborations or obtain additional funding; statements regarding developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry and other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts or statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These statements are often identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may” or “will,” the negative versions of these terms and similar expressions or variations. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management based on information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially and adversely from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below, and those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, filings. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of such statements.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel, first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Our lead clinical program, VK5211, is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator, or SARM. A SARM is designed to selectively interact with a subset of receptors that have a normal physiologic role of interacting with naturally-occurring hormones called androgens. Broad activation of androgen receptors with drugs, such as exogenous testosterone, can stimulate muscle growth and improve bone mineral density, but often results in unwanted side effects such as prostate growth, hair growth and acne. VK5211 is expected to selectively produce the therapeutic benefits of testosterone in muscle and bone tissue, potentially accelerating rehabilitation and improving patient outcomes. VK5211 is also expected to have improved safety, tolerability and patient acceptance relative to testosterone. We believe that VK5211 may also have potential benefits to patients suffering from muscle loss in other settings, such as joint replacements or muscle wasting disorders.

In October 2015, we commenced enrollment in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial in 108 patients recovering from non-elective hip fracture surgery. In November 2017, we announced positive top-line results from this study.  Top-line data showed that the trial achieved its primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant, dose dependent increases in lean body mass, less head, following treatment with VK5211 as compared to placebo.  The study also achieved certain secondary endpoints, demonstrating statistically significant increases in appendicular lean body mass and total lean body mass for all doses of VK5211, compared to placebo.  VK5211 demonstrated encouraging safety and tolerability in this study, with no drug-related serious adverse events, or SAEs, reported. We expect to engage in further discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, regarding the potential further clinical development of VK5211 in hip fracture as well as other potential acute use settings.

Our second clinical program, VK2809, an orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor beta, or TRß, is in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease. VK2809 belongs to a family of novel prodrugs which are cleaved in vivo to release potent thyromimetics. Selective activation of the TRß receptor in liver tissue is believed to favorably affect cholesterol and lipoprotein levels via multiple mechanisms, including increasing the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptors and increasing mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. We are currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of VK2809 in approximately 60 patients with hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease. In June 2018, we announced that enrollment had been completed for this study and that we expect to report initial results from this Phase 2 clinical trial in the second half of 2018. In October 2017, we announced positive final results from an eight-week study of VK2809 in an in vivo model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. Treatment with VK2809 resulted in: (1) statistically significant reductions in several key measures of steatosis, including liver triglyceride content and total liver lipid content, (2) fibrotic activity, including total liver fibrosis, type I collagen and hydroxyproline, relative to vehicle controls, and (3) statistically significant changes in the expression of key genes associated with NASH development and progression, relative to vehicle control, suggesting improved lipid and cholesterol metabolism, improved lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity and reduced fibrotic activity.

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In February 2017, we announced that we are commencing efforts to utilize VK2809 to potentially help patients who suffer from Glycogen Storage Disease type Ia, or GSD Ia.  GSD Ia is a rare, orphan genetic disease caused by a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase, or G6PC, an enzyme responsible for the liver’s production of free glucose from glycogen and gluconeogenesis.  Approximately 2,000 patients in the U.S. suffer from GSD Ia. We have conducted a proof-of-concept study utilizing VK2809 in an in vivo model of GSD Ia. Data demonstrated that treatment with VK2809 led to statistically significant reductions in key metabolic markers of GSD Ia. VK2809’s potential to rapidly reduce hepatic triglyceride levels, as demonstrated in this initial evaluation in a GSD Ia model, provides support for the continued investigation of the compound in this indication. We expect to initiate a Phase 1 human proof-of-concept clinical trial to evaluate VK2809 in patients with GSD Ia in 2018.

We are also developing VK0214 for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, or X-ALD, a rare X-linked, inherited neurological disorder characterized by a breakdown in the protective barriers surrounding brain and nerve cells. The disease, for which there is no approved treatment, is caused by mutations in a peroxisomal transporter of very long chain fatty acids, or VLCFA, known as ABCD1. As a result, transporter function is impaired and patients are unable to efficiently metabolize VLCFA. The TRß receptor is known to regulate expression of an alternative VLCFA transporter, known as ABCD2. Various preclinical models have demonstrated that increased expression of ABCD2 can lead to normalization of VLCFA metabolism. Preliminary data suggest that VK0214 stimulates ABCD2 expression in an in vitro model and reduces VLCFA levels in an in vivo model of X-ALD.  Pending completion of certain ongoing toxicology studies, we expect to file an IND to initiate a proof-of-concept study in patients with X-ALD in the first half of 2019.

On February 6, 2018, we completed an underwritten public offering of common stock, or the February 2018 Offering, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-212134), as amended, that was declared effective on July 26, 2016, or the Shelf Registration Statement. In the February 2018 Offering, we sold 12,650,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $5.00 per share of common stock. Upon the closing of the February 2018 Offering, we received net proceeds of $58.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses.

On June 11, 2018, we completed an underwritten public offering of common stock, or the June 2018 Offering, pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and a registration statement on Form S-3MEF (File No. 333-225479) filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. In the June 2018 Offering, we sold 8,625,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $9.00 per share of common stock. Upon the closing of the June 2018 Offering, we received net proceeds of $72.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses.

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 24, 2012. Since our incorporation, we have devoted most of our efforts towards conducting certain clinical trials and preclinical studies related to our VK5211, VK2809 and VK0214 programs, as well as efforts towards raising capital and building infrastructure. We obtained exclusive worldwide rights to our VK5211, VK2809 and VK0214 programs and certain other assets pursuant to an exclusive license agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, or Ligand. The terms of this license agreement are detailed in the Master License Agreement which we entered into on May 21, 2014 with Ligand, as amended, or the Master License Agreement. A summary of the Master License Agreement can be found under the heading “Agreements with Ligand—Master License Agreement” under Part I, “Item 1. Business” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2018.

Financial Operations Overview

Revenues

To date, we have not generated any revenue. We do not expect to receive any revenue from any drug candidates that we develop unless and until we obtain regulatory approval for, and commercialize, our drug candidates or enter into collaborative agreements with third parties.

Research and Development Expenses

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we charged $13.7 million to research and development expense as we continued our efforts in conducting Phase 2 clinical trials for VK5211 and VK2809 and performed additional in vivo studies for VK2809 and VK0214.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we charged $5.2 million and $8.3 million, respectively, to research and development expense related to our continued efforts in conducting Phase 2 clinical trials for VK5211 and VK2809, preparing for the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for VK2809 in patients with GSD Ia and initiating certain toxicology studies. We expect that our ongoing research and development expenses will consist of costs incurred for the development of our drug candidates, including, but not limited to:

 

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We expense all research and development costs as incurred.

The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time consuming and the successful development of our drug candidates is highly uncertain. Our future research and development expenses will depend on the clinical success of each of our drug candidates, as well as ongoing assessments of the commercial potential of such drug candidates. In addition, we cannot forecast with any degree of certainty which drug candidates may be subject to future collaborations, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our development plans and capital requirements. We expect to incur increased research and development expenses in the future as we continue our Phase 2 clinical trials for VK5211 and VK2809 and seek to advance our additional programs.

General and Administrative Expenses

We expect that our general and administrative expenses will continue to increase in the future in order to support our expected increase in research and development activities, including increased salaries and other related costs, stock-based compensation and consulting fees for executive, finance, accounting and business development functions. We also expect general and administrative expenses to increase as a result of additional costs associated with continuing as a public company, including expenses related to continued compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, additional insurance expenses, investor relations activities and other administrative and professional services. Other significant costs are expected to include legal fees relating to patent and corporate matters, facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses, and fees for accounting and other consulting services.

Other Expense

Through May 21, 2018, other expense includes the change in fair value of the debt conversion feature liability contained in the Secured Convertible Promissory Note, or Ligand Note, issued pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement with Ligand, and its related interest expense, as well as the non-cash amortization of debt discount cost associated with the Ligand Note, offset by interest income earned from our cash and short-term investments. After May 21, 2018, other expense includes only interest income earned from our cash and short-term investments as the Ligand Note and related interest were paid in full on May 21, 2018.

JOBS Act

We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the rules under the Securities Act, and we utilize certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies. For example, as an emerging growth company, we are not required to provide an auditor’s attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual reports on Form 10-K as otherwise required by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended. In addition, Section 107 of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, provides that an emerging growth company can utilize the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected to “opt out” of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act. As a result, we are complying with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these

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financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments related to the preclinical, nonclinical and clinical development costs and drug manufacturing costs. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 and Note 3 to our financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017

Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except % change).

 

 

The increase in research and development expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily due to increases in expenses of $1.4 million related to certain pre-clinical study efforts, $303,000 related to services provided by certain third party consultants, and $122,000 in stock-based compensation expense offset by a decrease of $350,000 primarily related to the manufacturing of certain of our drug candidates.

General and Administrative Expenses

The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except % change).

 

The increase in general and administrative expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily due to increases in stock-based compensation expense of $167,000, salary and benefits related expenses of $162,000 and franchise tax expense of $51,000.

 

Other income (expense)

The following table summarizes our other income (expense) for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except % change).

 

 

Other income (expense) recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2018 consisted primarily of income of $37,000 related to the decrease in fair value of the Ligand Note’s conversion feature and interest income of $406,000 offset by $146,000 of expense related to the amortization of the Ligand Note discount, $14,000 of interest expense related to the Ligand Note and $30,000 of expense relating to the amortization of certain financing costs.

 

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Other income (expense) recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2017 consisted primarily of an expense of $337,000 related to the amortization of the Ligand Note discount, $24,000 of interest expense related to the Ligand Note and $422,000 of expense relating to the amortization of financing costs relating to the Distribution Agreement with Maxim and the Purchase Agreement with Aspire Capital, offset by $571,000 of income related to the change in fair value of the Ligand Note’s conversion feature.  

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017

Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except % change).

 

The increase in research and development expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily due to increases in expenses of $1.6 million related to certain pre-clinical study efforts, $447,000 related to services provided by certain third party consultants and $178,000 in stock-based compensation expense offset by decreases of $851,000 primarily related to the manufacturing of certain of our drug candidates and $265,000 in clinical trial activity primarily related to our VK5211 program.

General and Administrative Expenses

The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except % change).

 

The increase in general and administrative expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily due to increases in stock-based compensation expense of $319,000, salary and benefits related expenses of $253,000, legal expenses of $45,000, and franchise tax expense of $63,000.

 

Other income (expense)

The following table summarizes our other income (expense) for the six months June 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except % change).

 

Other income (expense) recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2018 consisted primarily of income of $1.4 million related to the decrease in fair value of the Ligand Note’s conversion feature and interest income of $611,000 offset by $404,000 of expense related to the amortization of the Ligand Note discount, $38,000 of interest expense related to the Ligand Note and $60,000 of expense relating to the amortization of certain financing costs.

 

Other income (expense) recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2017 consisted primarily of an expense of $768,000 related to the amortization of the Ligand Note discount, $49,000 of interest expense related to the Ligand Note and $520,000 of expense relating to the amortization of financing costs relating to the Equity Distribution Agreement with Maxim Group LLC and the Purchase Agreement with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC, offset by $848,000 of income related to the change in fair value of the Ligand Note’s conversion feature and $46,000 of interest income on investments.  

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations and have not generated any revenues since our inception. As of June 30, 2018, we had cash, cash equivalents and short term investments of $142.2 million. As such, we believe our cash, cash equivalents

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and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operations through at least the third quarter of 2019, which is more than one year after the date of our filing this Form 10-Q.

Our primary use of cash is to fund operating expenses, which to date have consisted of the cost to obtain the license of intellectual property from Ligand, certain research and development expenses related to furthering the development of VK5211, VK2809 and VK0214 efforts and general and administrative expenses. Since we have not generated any revenues to date, we have incurred operating losses since our inception. Cash used to fund operating expenses is impacted by the timing of payment of these expenses, as reflected in the change in our outstanding accounts payable and accrued expenses.

On April 13, 2016, we completed an underwritten public offering of our common stock and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, or the Offering, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208182) that was declared effective on April 7, 2016, and a registration statement on Form S-1MEF (File No. 333-210650) filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act. In the Offering, we sold 7,500,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase up to 7,500,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $1.25 per share of common stock and related warrant. The warrants have an exercise price of $1.50 per share of common stock, were immediately exercisable upon issuance and will expire on April 13, 2021. We granted the underwriters for the Offering a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,125,000 shares of our common stock and/or warrants to purchase up to an additional 1,125,000 shares of our common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. On April 13, 2016, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option for warrants to purchase an additional 1,125,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $0.01 per warrant. Upon the closing of the Offering on April 13, 2016, we received net proceeds of $7.8 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses of $1.6 million.  

On April 27, 2016, the underwriters for the Offering exercised their over-allotment option to purchase 1,125,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $1.24 per share.  On April 29, 2016, we sold the 1,125,000 shares to the underwriters pursuant to the over-allotment option and received additional net proceeds of $1.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses of $111,600. Through June 30, 2018, we have received $4.2 million in proceeds related to the exercise of the warrants that were issued in the Offering.

 

On June 14, 2017, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain accredited investors, or the Purchasers, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 3,749,783 shares of our common stock in a registered direct offering, or the Registered Direct Offering. The shares were offered by us pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.  In a concurrent private placement, we also agreed, pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, to issue and sell to each of the Purchasers a warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock for each share of common stock purchased by a Purchaser in the Registered Direct Offering. The exercise price of the warrants is $1.30 per share, subject to adjustment as provided therein, and became exercisable beginning on December 19, 2017 through December 19, 2022. The combined purchase price for one share and one warrant to purchase 0.75 shares of common stock in these offerings was $1.15. The closing of the offerings occurred on June 19, 2017. The aggregate net proceeds from the offerings, after deducting the placement agents’ fees and other offering expenses, were $3.9 million. Through June 30, 2018, we have received $1.3 million in proceeds related to the exercise of the warrants that were issued as a part of this private placement.

 

On September 28, 2017, we entered into a purchase agreement pursuant to which, on September 29, 2017, we sold to Lincoln Park Capital, LLC, or LPC, 701,282 shares of common stock, at a price of approximately $1.78 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $1.3 million, pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus supplement thereto dated September 28, 2017.

On September 28, 2017, we also entered into a purchase agreement, or the Commitment Purchase Agreement, with LPC, pursuant to which we have the right to sell to LPC up to $15.0 million in shares of common stock, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the Commitment Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Commitment Purchase Agreement, we have the right, from time to time at our sole discretion over the 30-month period from and after October 26, 2017 to direct LPC to purchase up to 75,000 shares of common stock on any business day (subject to certain limitations contained in the Commitment Purchase Agreement), with such amounts increasing based on certain threshold prices set forth in the Commitment Purchase Agreement; however, not to exceed $1.0 million in total purchase proceeds per purchase date. The purchase price of shares of common stock that we elect to sell to LPC pursuant to the Commitment Purchase Agreement will be based on the market prices of the common stock at the time of such purchases as set forth in the Commitment Purchase Agreement. In addition to regular purchases, as described above, we may also direct LPC to purchase additional amounts as accelerated purchases or as additional purchases if the closing sale price of the common stock is not below certain threshold prices, as set forth in the Commitment Purchase Agreement. In all instances, we may not sell shares of its common stock to LPC under the Commitment Purchase Agreement if it would result in LPC beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the Common Stock. As consideration for LPC’s commitment to purchase shares of common stock pursuant to the Commitment Purchase Agreement, we issued to LPC 100,000 shares of common stock. Since inception of this purchase agreement, we sold to LPC in accordance with the terms of the agreement 343,051 shares of our common stock for aggregate proceeds of $802,000.

 

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On December 11, 2017, we closed an underwritten public offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement of 5,900,000 shares of our common stock, including 769,565 shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ full exercise of their option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments, at a public offering price of $2.50 per share, for total net proceeds of $13.4 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.

On February 6, 2018, we completed the February 2018 Offering. In the February 2018 Offering, we sold 12,650,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $5.00 per share of common stock. Upon the closing of the February 2018 Offering, we received net proceeds of $58.7 million after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses.

On June 11, 2018, we completed the June 2018 Offering. In the June 2018 Offering, we sold 8,625,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $9.00 per share of common stock. Upon the closing of the June 2018 Offering, we received net proceeds of $72.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses.

On July 11, 2018, we filed with the SEC a universal Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-226133), or the New Shelf Registration Statement, to replace the Shelf Registration Statement, which was fully exhausted following the completion of the June 2018 Offering. The New Shelf Registration Statement provides us with the ability to offer up to $450.0 million of securities, including equity, debt and other securities as described in the New Shelf Registration Statement. The New Shelf Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on July 19, 2018.  Pursuant to the New Shelf Registration Statement, we may offer such securities from time to time and through one or more methods of distribution, subject to market conditions and our capital needs. Specific terms and prices will be determined at the time of each offering under a separate prospectus supplement, which will be filed with the SEC at the time of any offering.

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated below (in thousands):

Cash Used in Operating Activities

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, cash used in operating activities of $10.6 million primarily reflected our net losses for the period, adjusted by non-cash charges such as amortization of discount charged to interest expense on the Ligand Note, amortization of investment premiums, amortization of financing costs, amortization of non-cash clinical trial costs, stock-based compensation and a decrease in the fair value of the debt conversion feature liability for the Ligand Note as well as changes in our working capital accounts, primarily consisting of an increase in prepaid expenses.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, cash used in operating activities of $7.5 million primarily reflected our net losses for the period, adjusted by non-cash charges such as amortization of discount charged to interest expense on the Ligand Note, amortization of investment premiums, amortization of financing costs, stock-based compensation and changes in our working capital accounts, primarily consisting of increases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and prepaid expenses, offset by a decrease in the fair value of the debt conversion feature liability for the Ligand Note.

Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, cash used in investing activities of $96.3 million resulted primarily from the purchase of investments of $113.7 million offset by proceeds of sales and maturities of investments of $17.5 million.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, cash provided by investing activities of $1.3 million resulted primarily from the proceeds of sales and maturities of investments of $11.7 million, offset by the purchase of investments of $10.4 million.

Cash Provided by Financing Activities

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, cash provided by financing activities was $132.4 million, which consisted primarily of proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net of discount, of $72.6 million and $58.8 million in the June 2018 Offering and February 2018 Offering, respectively, proceeds from certain warrant exercises of $4.9 million and proceeds from certain stock option exercises of $239,000, offset by the repayment of the Ligand Note of $3.8 million and payments of certain deferred offering and financing costs of $266,000.

 

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During the six months ended June 30, 2017, cash provided by financing activities was $6.5 million, which consisted primarily of proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net of discount, of $6.6 million, offset by $62,000 in payments of certain deferred offering and financing costs.

Future Funding Requirements

As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and based upon our current operating plan, we believe that we have sufficient capital to fund our operating and capital requirements for at least the next 12 months. We anticipate, however, that we will continue to generate losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect the losses to increase materially as we continue the development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our drug candidates, and seek to commercialize any drugs for which we receive regulatory approval. We will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations and complete our ongoing and planned clinical trials. Although we expect to finance future cash needs through public or private equity or debt offerings, funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our drug development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market drug candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of June 30, 2018, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

 

We are a smaller reporting company, as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Our disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. As

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required by Rule 13a-15(b) or Rule 15d-15(b) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on the foregoing, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended June 30, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

We are not currently party to, and none of our property is currently the subject of, any material legal proceedings.

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, before making a decision to invest in our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below may not be the only ones we face. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

 

Risk factors marked with an asterisk (*) below include a change from or an update to the risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 7, 2018.

Risks Relating to Our Business

* We are a clinical-stage company, have a very limited operating history and are expected to incur significant operating losses during the next stages of our corporate development.

We are a clinical-stage company. We were incorporated in, and have been conducting operations since, September 2012. Our operations have been limited to raising capital, building infrastructure, obtaining the worldwide rights to certain technology from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, or Ligand, and planning, preparing and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials of our drug candidates, including VK5211, VK2809 and VK0612, which are currently in Phase 2 clinical development, and VK0214 and the erythropoietin receptor, or EPOR, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1, or DGAT-1, programs, which are each currently in preclinical development. As a result, we have no meaningful historical operations upon which to evaluate our business and prospects and have not yet demonstrated an ability to obtain marketing approval for any of our drug candidates or successfully overcome the risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in the biopharmaceutical industry. We also have not generated any revenue to date, and we continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses.  As of June 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $91.1 million. For the foreseeable future, we expect to continue to incur losses, which will increase significantly from historical levels as we expand our drug development activities, seek potential partnering opportunities and/or regulatory approvals for our drug candidates and begin to commercialize them if they are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, or comparable foreign authorities. Even if we succeed in partnering or developing and commercializing one or more drug candidates, we may never become profitable. If we fail to achieve or maintain profitability, it would adversely affect the value of our common stock.

We are substantially dependent on technologies we licensed from Ligand, and if we lose the license to such technologies or our master license agreement with Ligand, or the Master License Agreement, is terminated for any reason, our ability to develop existing and new drug candidates would be harmed, and our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

Our business is substantially dependent upon technology licensed from Ligand. Pursuant to the Master License Agreement, we have been granted exclusive worldwide rights to VK5211, VK2809, VK0214, VK0612 and preclinical programs for anemia and metabolic disorders. Selective androgen receptor modulators, or SARMs, such as our lead program VK5211, are key compounds used by us in the development and commercialization of our drug candidates. Most of the intellectual property related to our drug candidates is currently owned by Ligand, and we have the rights to use such intellectual property pursuant to the Master License Agreement. Therefore, our ability to develop and commercialize our drug candidates depends entirely on the effectiveness and continuation of the

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Master License Agreement. If we lose the right to license any of these key compounds, our ability to develop existing and new drug candidates would be harmed.

Ligand has the right to terminate the Master License Agreement under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to: (1) in the event of our insolvency or bankruptcy, (2) if we do not pay an undisputed amount owing under the Master License Agreement when due and fail to cure such default within a specified period of time, or (3) if we default on certain of our material obligations and fail to cure the default within a specified period of time.

We are dependent on the success of one or more of our current drug candidates and we cannot be certain that any of them will receive regulatory approval or be commercialized.

We have spent significant time, money and effort on the licensing and development of our core metabolic and endocrine disease assets, VK5211, VK2809, VK0214, VK0612 and our earlier-stage assets, the EPOR and DGAT-1 programs. To date, no pivotal clinical trials designed to provide clinically and statistically significant proof of efficacy, or to provide sufficient evidence of safety to justify approval, have been completed with any of our drug candidates. All of our drug candidates will require additional development, including clinical trials as well as further preclinical studies to evaluate their toxicology, carcinogenicity and pharmacokinetics and optimize their formulation, and regulatory clearances before they can be commercialized. Positive results obtained during early development do not necessarily mean later development will succeed or that regulatory clearances will be obtained. Our drug development efforts may not lead to commercial drugs, either because our drug candidates fail to be safe and effective or because we have inadequate financial or other resources to advance our drug candidates through the clinical development and approval processes. If any of our drug candidates fail to demonstrate safety or efficacy at any time or during any phase of development, we would experience potentially significant delays in, or be required to abandon, development of the drug candidate.

We do not anticipate that any of our current drug candidates will be eligible to receive regulatory approval from the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities and begin commercialization for a number of years, if ever. Even if we ultimately receive regulatory approval for any of these drug candidates, we or our potential future partners, if any, may be unable to commercialize them successfully for a variety of reasons. These include, for example, the availability of alternative treatments, lack of cost-effectiveness, the cost of manufacturing the product on a commercial scale and competition with other drugs. The success of our drug candidates may also be limited by the prevalence and severity of any adverse side effects. If we fail to commercialize one or more of our current drug candidates, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenues to attain or maintain profitability, and our financial condition and stock price may decline.

*If development of our drug candidates does not produce favorable results, we and our collaborators, if any, may be unable to commercialize these products.

To receive regulatory approval for the commercialization of our core metabolic and endocrine disease assets, VK5211, VK2809, VK0214, VK0612 and our earlier-stage assets, the EPOR and DGAT-1 programs, or any other drug candidates that we may develop, adequate and well-controlled clinical trials must be conducted to demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans to the satisfaction of the FDA, EMA and comparable foreign authorities. In order to support marketing approval, these agencies typically require successful results in one or more Phase 3 clinical trials, which our current drug candidates have not yet reached and may never reach. The development process is expensive, can take many years and has an uncertain outcome. Failure can occur at any stage of the process. We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, the development process that could delay or prevent commercialization of our current or future drug candidates, including the following:

 

 

 

 

 

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Success in early development does not mean that later development will be successful because, for example, drug candidates in later-stage clinical trials may fail to demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy despite having progressed through initial clinical trials.

We licensed all of the intellectual property related to our drug candidates from Ligand pursuant to the Master License Agreement. In late 2017, we reported positive top-line results from a Phase 2 clinical trial for VK5211. We are also currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial and certain preclinical studies for VK2809 and certain preclinical studies for VK0214. All other clinical trials, preclinical studies and other analyses performed to date with respect to our drug candidates have been conducted by Ligand. Therefore, as a company, we have limited experience in conducting clinical trials for our drug candidates. Since our experience with our drug candidates is limited, we will need to train our existing personnel and hire additional personnel in order to successfully administer and manage our clinical trials and other studies as planned, which may result in delays in completing such planned clinical trials and preclinical studies. Moreover, to date our drug candidates have been tested in less than the number of patients that will likely need to be studied to obtain regulatory approval. The data collected from clinical trials with larger patient populations may not demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to support regulatory approval of these drug candidates.

We currently do not have strategic collaborations in place for clinical development of any of our current drug candidates. Therefore, in the future, we or any potential future collaborative partner will be responsible for establishing the targeted endpoints and goals for development of our drug candidates. These targeted endpoints and goals may be inadequate to demonstrate the safety and efficacy levels required for regulatory approvals. Even if we believe data collected during the development of our drug candidates are promising, such data may not be sufficient to support marketing approval by the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities. Further, data generated during development can be interpreted in different ways, and the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities may interpret such data in different ways than us or our collaborators. Our failure to adequately demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our drug candidates would prevent our receipt of regulatory approval, and ultimately the potential commercialization of these drug candidates.

Since we do not currently possess the resources necessary to independently develop and commercialize our drug candidates, including our core metabolic and endocrine disease assets, VK5211, VK2809, VK0214, VK0612 and our earlier-stage assets, the EPOR and DGAT-1 programs, or any other drug candidates that we may develop, we may seek to enter into collaborative agreements to assist in the development and potential future commercialization of some or all of these assets as a component of our strategic plan. However, our discussions with potential collaborators may not lead to the establishment of collaborations on acceptable terms, if at all, or it may take longer than expected to establish new collaborations, leading to development and potential commercialization delays, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We expect to continue to incur significant research and development expenses, which may make it difficult for us to attain profitability.

We expect to expend substantial funds in research and development, including preclinical studies and clinical trials of our drug candidates, and to manufacture and market any drug candidates in the event they are approved for commercial sale. We also may need additional funding to develop or acquire complementary companies, technologies and assets, as well as for working capital requirements and other operating and general corporate purposes. Moreover, our planned increases in staffing will dramatically increase our costs in the near and long-term.

However, our spending on current and future research and development programs and drug candidates for specific indications may not yield any commercially viable products. Due to our limited financial and managerial resources, we must focus on a limited number of research programs and drug candidates and on specific indications. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities.

Because the successful development of our drug candidates is uncertain, we are unable to precisely estimate the actual funds we will require to develop and potentially commercialize them. In addition, we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue, even if we are able to commercialize any of our drug candidates, to become profitable.

*Given our lack of current cash flow, we will need to raise additional capital; however, it may be unavailable to us or, even if capital is obtained, may cause dilution or place significant restrictions on our ability to operate our business.

Since we will be unable to generate sufficient, if any, cash flow to fund our operations for the foreseeable future, we will need to seek additional equity or debt financing to provide the capital required to maintain or expand our operations. As of June 30, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents and investments totaling $142.2 million. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise sufficient

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additional capital on acceptable terms or at all. If such additional financing is not available on satisfactory terms, or is not available in sufficient amounts, we may be required to delay, limit or eliminate the development of business opportunities and our ability to achieve our business objectives, our competitiveness, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. In addition, we may be required to grant rights to develop and market drug candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. Our inability to fund our business could lead to the loss of your investment.

 

Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders may be reduced, and accordingly these stockholders may experience substantial dilution. We may also issue equity securities that provide for rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our common stock. Given our need for cash and that equity issuances are the most common type of fundraising for companies like ours, the risk of dilution is particularly significant for stockholders of our company.

Our drug candidates may cause undesirable side effects that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval or commercialization or have other significant adverse implications on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Undesirable side effects observed in clinical trials or in supportive preclinical studies with our drug candidates could interrupt, delay or halt their development and could result in the denial of regulatory approval by the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities for any or all targeted indications or adversely affect the marketability of any such drug candidates that receive regulatory approval. In turn, this could eliminate or limit our ability to commercialize our drug candidates.

Our drug candidates may exhibit adverse effects in preclinical toxicology studies and adverse interactions with other drugs. There are also risks associated with additional requirements the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities may impose for marketing approval with regard to a particular disease.

Our drug candidates may require a risk management program that could include patient and healthcare provider education, usage guidelines, appropriate promotional activities, a post-marketing observational study, and ongoing safety and reporting mechanisms, among other requirements. Prescribing could be limited to physician specialists or physicians trained in the use of the drug, or could be limited to a more restricted patient population. Any risk management program required for approval of our drug candidates could potentially have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Undesirable side effects involving our drug candidates may have other significant adverse implications on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example:

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In addition, if any of our drug candidates receive marketing approval and we or others later identify undesirable side effects caused by the product:

Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the affected product and could substantially increase the costs and expenses of commercializing the product, which in turn could delay or prevent us from generating significant revenues from the sale of the product.

Our efforts to discover drug candidates beyond our current drug candidates may not succeed, and any drug candidates we recommend for clinical development may not actually begin clinical trials.

We intend to use our technology, including our licensed technology, knowledge and expertise to develop novel drugs to address some of the world’s most widespread and costly chronic diseases. We intend to expand our existing pipeline of core assets by advancing drug compounds from current ongoing discovery programs into clinical development. However, the process of researching and discovering drug compounds is expensive, time-consuming and unpredictable. Data from our current preclinical programs may not support the clinical development of our lead compounds or other compounds from these programs, and we may not identify any additional drug compounds suitable for recommendation for clinical development. Moreover, any drug compounds we recommend for clinical development may not demonstrate, through preclinical studies, indications of safety and potential efficacy that would support advancement into clinical trials. Such findings would potentially impede our ability to maintain or expand our clinical development pipeline. Our ability to identify new drug compounds and advance them into clinical development also depends upon our ability to fund our research and development operations, and we cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all.

Delays in the commencement or completion of clinical trials could result in increased costs to us and delay our ability to establish strategic collaborations.

Delays in the commencement or completion of clinical trials could significantly impact our drug development costs. We do not know whether planned clinical trials will begin on time or be completed on schedule, if at all. The commencement of clinical trials can be delayed for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, delays related to:

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In addition, once a clinical trial has begun, it may be suspended or terminated by us, our collaborators, the institutional review boards or data safety monitoring boards charged with overseeing our clinical trials, the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities due to a number of factors, including:

If we experience delays in the completion or termination of any clinical trial of our product candidates, the commercial prospects of our product candidates will be harmed, and our ability to commence product sales and generate product revenues from any of our product candidates will be delayed. In addition, any delays in completing our clinical trials will increase our costs and slow down our product candidate development and approval process. Delays in completing our clinical trials could also allow our competitors to obtain marketing approval before we do or shorten the patent protection period during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our product candidates. Any of these occurrences may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly. In addition, 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 approval of our product candidates.

Results of earlier clinical trials may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials.

The results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of product candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials. Product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy results despite having progressed through preclinical studies and initial clinical trials. Many companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to adverse safety profiles or lack of efficacy, notwithstanding promising results in earlier studies. Similarly, our future clinical trial results may not be successful for these or other reasons.

This drug candidate development risk is heightened by any changes in the planned clinical trials compared to the completed clinical trials. As product candidates are developed through preclinical to early to late stage clinical trials towards approval and commercialization, it is customary that various aspects of the development program, such as manufacturing and methods of administration, are altered along the way in an effort to optimize processes and results. While these types of changes are common and are intended to optimize the product candidates for late stage clinical trials, approval and commercialization, such changes carry the risk that they will not achieve these intended objectives.

Any of these changes could make the results of our planned clinical trials or other future clinical trials we may initiate less predictable and could cause our product candidates to perform differently, including causing toxicities, which could delay completion of our clinical trials, delay approval of our product candidates, and/or jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenues.

If we experience delays in the enrollment of patients in our clinical trials, our receipt of necessary regulatory approvals could be delayed or prevented.

We may not be able to initiate or continue clinical trials for our product candidates if we are unable to locate and enroll a sufficient number of eligible patients to participate in these trials as required by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. Patient enrollment, a significant factor in the timing of clinical trials, is affected by many factors, including the size and nature of the patient population, the proximity of patients to clinical sites, the eligibility criteria for the trial, the design of the clinical trial, competing clinical trials and clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages of the drug being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs that may be approved for the indications we are investigating.

If we fail to enroll and maintain the number of patients for which the clinical trial was designed, the statistical power of that clinical trial may be reduced, which would make it harder to demonstrate that the product candidate being tested in such clinical trial is safe and effective. Additionally, enrollment delays in our clinical trials may result in increased development costs for our product candidates, which would cause the value of our company to decline and limit our ability to obtain additional financing. Our inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients for any of our current or future clinical trials would result in significant delays or may require us to abandon one or more clinical trials altogether.

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We intend to rely on third parties to conduct our preclinical studies and clinical trials and perform other tasks for us. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines, or comply with regulatory requirements, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our drug candidates and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be substantially harmed.

We have relied upon and plan to continue to rely upon third-party CROs, medical institutions, clinical investigators and contract laboratories to monitor and manage data for our licensed ongoing preclinical and clinical programs. Nevertheless, we maintain responsibility for ensuring that each of our clinical trials and preclinical studies is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal, regulatory, and scientific standards and our reliance on these third parties does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. We and our CROs and other vendors are required to comply with current requirements on good manufacturing practices, or cGMP, good clinical practices, or GCP, and good laboratory practice, or GLP, which are a collection of laws and regulations enforced by the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities for all of our drug candidates in clinical development. Regulatory authorities enforce these regulations through periodic inspections of preclinical study and clinical trial sponsors, principal investigators, preclinical study and clinical trial sites, and other contractors. If we or any of our CROs or vendors fails to comply with applicable regulations, the data generated in our preclinical studies and clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities may require us to perform additional preclinical studies and clinical trials before approving our marketing applications. We cannot assure you that upon inspection by a given regulatory authority, such regulatory authority will determine that any of our clinical trials comply with GCP regulations. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with products produced consistent with cGMP regulations. Our failure to comply with these regulations may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the development and regulatory approval processes.

If any of our relationships with these third-party CROs, medical institutions, clinical investigators or contract laboratories terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. In addition, our CROs are not our employees, and except for remedies available to us under our agreements with such CROs, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our ongoing preclinical and clinical programs. If CROs do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our protocols, regulatory requirements, or for other reasons, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize our drug candidates. CROs may also generate higher costs than anticipated. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations and the commercial prospects for our drug candidates could be materially and adversely affected, our costs could increase, and our ability to generate revenue could be delayed.

Switching or adding additional CROs, medical institutions, clinical investigators or contract laboratories involves additional cost and requires management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new CRO commences work replacing a previous CRO. As a result, delays occur, which can materially impact our ability to meet our desired clinical development timelines. Though we carefully manage our relationships with our CROs, there can be no assurance that we will not encounter similar challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our drug candidates are subject to extensive regulation under the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities, which can be costly and time consuming, cause unanticipated delays or prevent the receipt of the required approvals to commercialize our drug candidates.

The clinical development, manufacturing, labeling, storage, record-keeping, advertising, promotion, export, marketing and distribution of our drug candidates are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other U.S. regulatory agencies, EMA or comparable authorities in foreign markets. In the U.S., neither we nor our collaborators are permitted to market our drug candidates until we or our collaborators receive approval of a new drug application, or an NDA, from the FDA or receive similar approvals abroad. The process of obtaining these approvals is expensive, often takes many years, and can vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the drug candidates involved. Approval policies or regulations may change and may be influenced by the results of other similar or competitive products, making it more difficult for us to achieve such approval in a timely manner or at all. For example, the FDA has released draft guidance regarding clinical trials for drug candidates treating diabetes that may result in more stringent requirements for the clinical trials and regulatory approval of such drug candidates. This and any future guidance that may result from recent FDA advisory panel discussions may make it more expensive to develop and commercialize such drug candidates. Such increased expense could make it more difficult to obtain favorable terms in the collaborative arrangements we require to maximize the value of our programs seeking to develop new drug candidates for diabetes. In addition, as a company, we have not previously filed NDAs with the FDA or filed similar applications with other foreign regulatory agencies. This lack of experience may impede our ability to obtain FDA or other foreign regulatory agency approval in a timely manner, if at all, for our drug candidates for which development and commercialization is our responsibility.

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Despite the time and expense invested, regulatory approval is never guaranteed. The FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities can delay, limit or deny approval of a drug candidate for many reasons, including:

Our inability to obtain these approvals would prevent us from commercializing our drug candidates.

Even if our drug candidates receive regulatory approval in the U.S., we may never receive approval or commercialize our products outside of the U.S.

In order to market any products outside of the U.S., we must establish and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements of other countries regarding safety and efficacy. Approval procedures vary among countries and can involve additional product testing and additional administrative review periods. The time required to obtain approval in other countries might differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. The regulatory approval process in other countries may include all of the risks detailed above regarding FDA approval in the U.S. as well as other risks. Regulatory approval in one country does not ensure regulatory approval in another, but a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may have a negative effect on the regulatory process in others. Failure to obtain regulatory approval in other countries or any delay seeking or obtaining such approval would impair our ability to develop foreign markets for our drug candidates.

Even if any of our drug candidates receive regulatory approval, our drug candidates may still face future development and regulatory difficulties.

If any of our drug candidates receive regulatory approval, the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities may still impose significant restrictions on the indicated uses or marketing of the drug candidates or impose ongoing requirements for potentially costly post-approval studies and trials. In addition, regulatory agencies subject a product, its manufacturer and the manufacturer’s facilities to continual review and periodic inspections. If a regulatory agency discovers previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, a regulatory agency may impose restrictions on that product, our collaborators or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product from the market. Our drug candidates will also be subject to ongoing FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities’ requirements for the labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, record-keeping and submission of safety and other post-market information on the drug. If our drug candidates fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, a regulatory agency may:

The FDA, EMA and comparable foreign authorities actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses.

The FDA, EMA and comparable foreign authorities strictly regulate the promotional claims that may be made about prescription products, such as our drug candidates, if approved. In particular, a product may not be promoted for uses that are not approved by the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities as reflected in the product’s approved labeling. If we receive marketing approval for our drug candidates for our proposed indications, physicians may nevertheless use our products for their patients in a manner that is inconsistent with the approved label, if the physicians personally believe in their professional medical judgment that our products could be used in such manner. However, if we are found to have promoted our products for any off-label uses, the federal government

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could levy civil, criminal or administrative penalties, and seek fines against us. Such enforcement has become more common in the industry. The FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities could also request that we enter into a consent decree or a corporate integrity agreement or seek a permanent injunction against us under which specified promotional conduct is monitored, changed or curtailed. If we cannot successfully manage the promotion of our drug candidates, if approved, we could become subject to significant liability, which would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

*If our competitors have drug candidates that are approved faster, marketed more effectively, are better tolerated, have a more favorable safety profile or are demonstrated to be more effective than ours, our commercial opportunity may be reduced or eliminated.

The biopharmaceutical industry is characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on proprietary products. While we believe that our technology, knowledge, experience and scientific resources provide us with competitive advantages, we face potential competition from many different sources, including commercial biopharmaceutical enterprises, academic institutions, government agencies and private and public research institutions. Any drug candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future.

Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical studies, clinical trials, regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. Our competitors may succeed in developing technologies and therapies that are more effective, better tolerated or less costly than any which we are developing, or that would render our drug candidates obsolete and noncompetitive. Even if we obtain regulatory approval for any of our drug candidates, our competitors may succeed in obtaining regulatory approvals for their products earlier than we do. We will also face competition from these third parties in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, in establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, and in acquiring and in-licensing technologies and products complementary to our programs or advantageous to our business.

The key competitive factors affecting the success of each of our drug candidates, if approved, are likely to be its efficacy, safety, tolerability, frequency and route of administration, convenience and price, the level of branded and generic competition and the availability of coverage and reimbursement from government and other third-party payors.

VK5211

In the U.S., there are currently no marketed therapies for the maintenance or improvement of lean body mass, bone mineral density or physical function in patients recovering from non-elective hip fracture surgery. However, VK5211, if approved, will face competition from several experimental therapies that are in various stages of development for acute rehabilitation following hip fracture surgery, including programs in development at Novartis AG and Morphosys AG. There are also several experimental therapies that are in various stages of clinical development for conditions characterized by muscle wasting by companies including Helsinn Group, F. Hoffman – La Roche and Eli Lilly and Company. In addition, nutritional and growth hormone-based therapies are sometimes used in patients experiencing muscle wasting.

VK2809

While no therapies are currently approved for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, we are aware of numerous development-stage programs targeting this disease, including obeticholic acid from Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., elafibranor from Genfit SA, selonsertib, GS-0976 and GS-9674 from Gilead Sciences, Inc., cenicriviroc from Allergan plc (via acquisition of Tobira Therapeutics, Inc.), aramchol from Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd., GR-MD-02 from Galectin Therapeutics Inc., emricasan from Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc., tropifexor from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, MSDC-0602K from Cirius Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Octeta Therapeutics, LLC), BMS-986036 from Bristol-Myers Squibb, NGM282 from NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., IMM-124E from Immuron Ltd., and MGL-3196 from Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In addition, we are aware of active programs at Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk A/S, Inventiva S.A., Sanofi, Shire plc, Pfizer Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Nitto Denko Corporation, Inc., Durect Corporation, NuSirt Biopharma, Inc., MiNA Therapeutics, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and AstraZeneca plc.

There are many therapies currently available and numerous others being developed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia. If approved, VK2809 will face competition from therapies that are currently available and from therapies that may become available in the future. Generic statin therapies such as atorvastatin are widely prescribed for the initial treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors such as Merck & Co., Inc.’s Zetia (ezetimibe), generic bile acid sequestrants such as coleselevam and generic fibrates such as fenofibrate are also prescribed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Various

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combinations of these therapies are often prescribed for patients suffering from dyslipidemia. In addition, recently-approved antibody therapies targeting the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, or PCSK9, gene are expected to be prescribed for patients whose LDL remains elevated despite treatment with existing cholesterol-lowering agents.

In the U.S., there are currently no marketed pharmacologic therapies for the treatment of Glycogen Storage Disease type Ia, or GSD Ia. We are aware of one competitor, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., which initiated a Phase 1/2 study in July 2018 utilizing a gene therapy approach with DTX401.

VK0214

In the U.S., there are currently no marketed therapies for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, or X-ALD. Hematopoietic stem cell therapy has been used to treat the most severe form of X-ALD, cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, or CALD. More recently, gene therapy has been shown to be effective in CALD as well. However, both treatments are invasive, requiring surgical intervention, and these do not appear to have an effect on the most pervasive form of X-ALD, adrenomyeloneuropathy, or AMN. High-dose biotin is under investigation for the treatment of AMN. There are several experimental therapies that are in various stages of clinical development for X-ALD by companies, including Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MedDay Pharmaceuticals SAS, Minoryx Therapeutics S.L. bluebird bio, Inc., Orpheris, Inc., Magenta Therapeutics, Inc. and NeuroVia, Inc., which may be competitive with VK0214, if approved.

We, or any future collaborators, may not be able to obtain orphan drug designation or orphan drug exclusivity for our product candidates.

Regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions, including the United States and Europe, may designate drugs for relatively small patient populations as orphan drugs. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a product as an orphan drug if it is a drug intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally defined as a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals annually in the United States. While we received orphan drug designation from the FDA for VK0214 for the treatment X-ALD in December 2016 and plan to seek orphan drug designation from the FDA for VK2809 for the treatment of GSD Ia, we, or any future collaborators, may not be granted orphan drug designations for our product candidates in the U.S. or in other jurisdictions.

Even if we, or any future collaborators, obtain orphan drug designation for a product candidate, we, or they, may not be able to obtain orphan drug exclusivity for that product candidate. Generally, a product with orphan drug designation only becomes entitled to orphan drug exclusivity if it receives the first marketing approval for the indication for which it has such designation, in which case the FDA or the EMA will be precluded from approving another marketing application for the same drug for that indication for the applicable exclusivity period. The applicable exclusivity period is seven years in the United States and ten years in Europe. The European exclusivity period can be reduced to six years if a drug no longer meets the criteria for orphan drug designation or if the drug is sufficiently profitable so that market exclusivity is no longer justified. Orphan drug exclusivity may be lost if the FDA or the EMA determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantity of the drug to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition.

Even if we, or any future collaborators, obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a product, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because FDA has taken the position that, under certain circumstances, another drug with the same active moiety can be approved for the same condition.  Specifically, the FDA’s regulations provide that it can approve another drug with the same active moiety for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later drug is clinically superior in that it is shown to be safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care.

We are subject to a multitude of manufacturing risks, any of which could substantially increase our costs and limit supply of our drug candidates.

The process of manufacturing our drug candidates is complex, highly regulated, and subject to several risks. For example, the process of manufacturing our drug candidates is extremely susceptible to product loss due to contamination, equipment failure or improper installation or operation of equipment, or vendor or operator error. Even minor deviations from normal manufacturing processes for any of our drug candidates could result in reduced production yields, product defects, and other supply disruptions. If microbial, viral, or other contaminations are discovered in our drug candidates or in the manufacturing facilities in which our drug candidates are made, such manufacturing facilities may need to be closed for an extended period of time to investigate and remedy the contamination. In addition, the manufacturing facilities in which our drug candidates are made could be adversely affected by equipment failures, labor shortages, natural disasters, power failures and numerous other factors.

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In addition, any adverse developments affecting manufacturing operations for our drug candidates may result in shipment delays, inventory shortages, lot failures, withdrawals or recalls, or other interruptions in the supply of our drug candidates. We also may need to take inventory write-offs and incur other charges and expenses for drug candidates that fail to meet specifications, undertake costly remediation efforts, or seek costlier manufacturing alternatives.

We rely completely on third parties to manufacture our preclinical and clinical drug supplies, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed if those third parties fail to provide us with sufficient quantities of drug product, or fail to do so at acceptable quality levels or prices.

We do not currently have, nor do we plan to acquire, the infrastructure or capability internally to manufacture our preclinical and clinical drug supplies for use in our clinical trials, and we lack the resources and the capability to manufacture any of our drug candidates on a clinical or commercial scale. We rely on our manufacturers to purchase from third-party suppliers the materials necessary to produce our drug candidates for our clinical trials. There are a limited number of suppliers for raw materials that we use to manufacture our drugs, and there may be a need to identify alternate suppliers to prevent a possible disruption of the manufacture of the materials necessary to produce our drug candidates for our clinical trials, and, if approved, ultimately for commercial sale. We do not have any control over the process or timing of the acquisition of these raw materials by our manufacturers. Although we generally do not begin a clinical trial unless we believe we have a sufficient supply of a drug candidate to complete such clinical trial, any significant delay or discontinuity in the supply of a drug candidate, or the raw material components thereof, for an ongoing clinical trial due to the need to replace a third-party manufacturer could considerably delay completion of our clinical trials, product testing and potential regulatory approval of our drug candidates, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We and our contract manufacturers are subject to significant regulation with respect to manufacturing our drug candidates. The manufacturing facilities on which we rely may not continue to meet regulatory requirements.

All entities involved in the preparation of therapeutics for clinical trials or commercial sale, including our existing contract manufacturers for our drug candidates, are subject to extensive regulation. Components of a finished therapeutic product approved for commercial sale or used in late-stage clinical trials must be manufactured in accordance with cGMP. These regulations govern manufacturing processes and procedures and the implementation and operation of quality systems to control and assure the quality of investigational products and products approved for sale. Poor control of production processes can lead to the introduction of contaminants or to inadvertent changes in the properties or stability of our drug candidates that may not be detectable in final product testing. We or our contract manufacturers must supply all necessary documentation in support of an NDA or marketing authorization application, or MAA, on a timely basis and must adhere to GLP and cGMP regulations enforced by the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities through their facilities inspection program. Some of our contract manufacturers may not have produced a commercially approved pharmaceutical product and therefore may not have obtained the requisite regulatory authority approvals to do so. The facilities and quality systems of some or all of our third-party contractors must pass a pre-approval inspection for compliance with the applicable regulations as a condition of regulatory approval of our drug candidates or any of our other potential products. In addition, the regulatory authorities may, at any time, audit or inspect a manufacturing facility involved with the preparation of our drug candidates or any of our other potential products or the associated quality systems for compliance with the regulations applicable to the activities being conducted. Although we oversee the contract manufacturers, we cannot control the manufacturing process of, and are completely dependent on, our contract manufacturing partners for compliance with the regulatory requirements. If these facilities do not pass a pre-approval plant inspection, regulatory approval of the products may not be granted or may be substantially delayed until any violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the regulatory authority, if ever.

The regulatory authorities also may, at any time following approval of a product for sale, audit the manufacturing facilities of our third-party contractors. If any such inspection or audit identifies a failure to comply with applicable regulations or if a violation of our product specifications or applicable regulations occurs independent of such an inspection or audit, we or the relevant regulatory authority may require remedial measures that may be costly or time consuming for us or a third party to implement, and that may include the temporary or permanent suspension of a clinical trial or commercial sales or the temporary or permanent closure of a facility. Any such remedial measures imposed upon us or third parties with whom we contract could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we or any of our third-party manufacturers fail to maintain regulatory compliance, the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign authorities can impose regulatory sanctions including, among other things, refusal to approve a pending application for a drug candidate, withdrawal of an approval, or suspension of production. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Additionally, if supply from one manufacturer is interrupted, an alternative manufacturer would need to be qualified through an NDA supplement or MAA variation, or equivalent foreign regulatory filing, which could result in further delay. The regulatory agencies may also require additional studies or trials if a new manufacturer is relied upon for commercial production. Switching manufacturers may involve substantial costs and is likely to result in a delay in our desired clinical and commercial timelines.

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These factors could cause us to incur higher costs and could cause the delay or termination of clinical trials, regulatory submissions, required approvals, or commercialization of our drug candidates. Furthermore, if our suppliers fail to meet contractual requirements and we are unable to secure one or more replacement suppliers capable of production at a substantially equivalent cost, our clinical trials may be delayed, or we could lose potential revenue.

Any collaboration arrangement that we may enter into in the future may not be successful, which could adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our current and potential future drug candidates.

We may seek collaboration arrangements with biopharmaceutical companies for the development or commercialization of our current and potential future drug candidates. To the extent that we decide to enter into collaboration agreements, we will face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators. Moreover, collaboration arrangements are complex and time consuming to negotiate, execute and implement. We may not be successful in our efforts to establish and implement collaborations or other alternative arrangements should we choose to enter into such arrangements, and the terms of the arrangements may not be favorable to us. If and when we collaborate with a third party for development and commercialization of a drug candidate, we can expect to relinquish some or all of the control over the future success of that drug candidate to the third party. The success of our collaboration arrangements will depend heavily on the efforts and activities of our collaborators. Collaborators generally have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to these collaborations.

Disagreements between parties to a collaboration arrangement can lead to delays in developing or commercializing the applicable drug candidate and can be difficult to resolve in a mutually beneficial manner. In some cases, collaborations with biopharmaceutical companies and other third parties are terminated or allowed to expire by the other party. Any such termination or expiration would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we are unable to develop our own commercial organization or enter into agreements with third parties to sell and market our drug candidates, we may be unable to generate significant revenues.

We do not have a sales and marketing organization, and we have no experience as a company in the sales, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical products. If any of our drug candidates are approved for commercialization, we may be required to develop our sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, or make arrangements with a third party to perform sales and marketing services. Developing a sales force for any resulting product or any product resulting from any of our other drug candidates is expensive and time consuming and could delay any product launch. We may be unable to establish and manage an effective sales force in a timely or cost-effective manner, if at all, and any sales force we do establish may not be capable of generating sufficient demand for our drug candidates. To the extent that we enter into arrangements with collaborators or other third parties to perform sales and marketing services, our product revenues are likely to be lower than if we marketed and sold our drug candidates independently. If we are unable to establish adequate sales and marketing capabilities, independently or with others, we may not be able to generate significant revenues and may not become profitable.

The commercial success of our drug candidates depends upon their market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare payors and the medical community.

Even if our drug candidates obtain regulatory approval, our products, if any, may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare payors and the medical community. The degree of market acceptance of any of our approved drug candidates will depend on a number of factors, including:

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In addition, the potential market opportunity for our drug candidates is difficult to precisely estimate. Our estimates of the potential market opportunity for our drug candidates include several key assumptions based on our industry knowledge, industry publications, third-party research reports and other surveys. Independent sources have not verified all of our assumptions. If any of these assumptions proves to be inaccurate, then the actual market for our drug candidates could be smaller than our estimates of our potential market opportunity. If the actual market for our drug candidates is smaller than we expect, our product revenue may be limited, it may be harder than expected to raise funds and it may be more difficult for us to achieve or maintain profitability. If we fail to achieve market acceptance of our drug candidates in the U.S. and abroad, our revenue will be limited and it will be more difficult to achieve profitability.

If we fail to obtain and sustain an adequate level of reimbursement for our potential products by third-party payors, potential future sales would be materially adversely affected.

There will be no viable commercial market for our drug candidates, if approved, without reimbursement from third-party payors. Reimbursement policies may be affected by future healthcare reform measures. We cannot be certain that reimbursement will be available for our current drug candidates or any other drug candidate we may develop. Additionally, even if there is a viable commercial market, if the level of reimbursement is below our expectations, our anticipated revenue and gross margins will be adversely affected.

Third-party payors, such as government or private healthcare insurers, carefully review and increasingly question and challenge the coverage of and the prices charged for drugs. Reimbursement rates from private health insurance companies vary depending on the company, the insurance plan and other factors. Reimbursement rates may be based on reimbursement levels already set for lower cost drugs and may be incorporated into existing payments for other services. There is a current trend in the U.S. healthcare industry toward cost containment.

Large public and private payors, managed care organizations, group purchasing organizations and similar organizations are exerting increasing influence on decisions regarding the use of, and reimbursement levels for, particular treatments. Such third-party payors, including Medicare, may question the coverage of, and challenge the prices charged for, medical products and services, and many third-party payors limit coverage of or reimbursement for newly approved healthcare products. In particular, third-party payors may limit the covered indications. Cost-control initiatives could decrease the price we might establish for products, which could result in product revenues being lower than anticipated. We believe our drugs will be priced significantly higher than existing generic drugs and consistent with current branded drugs. If we are unable to show a significant benefit relative to existing generic drugs, Medicare, Medicaid and private payors may not be willing to provide reimbursement for our drugs, which would significantly reduce the likelihood of our products gaining market acceptance.

We expect that private insurers will consider the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, safety and tolerability of our potential products in determining whether to approve reimbursement for such products and at what level. Obtaining these approvals can be a time consuming and expensive process. Our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected if we do not receive approval for reimbursement of our potential products from private insurers on a timely or satisfactory basis. Limitations on coverage could also be imposed at the local Medicare carrier level or by fiscal intermediaries. Medicare Part D, which provides a pharmacy benefit to Medicare patients as discussed below, does not require participating prescription drug plans to cover all drugs within a class of products. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected if Part D prescription drug plans were to limit access to, or deny or limit reimbursement of, our drug candidates or other potential products.

Reimbursement systems in international markets vary significantly by country and by region, and reimbursement approvals must be obtained on a country-by-country basis. In many countries, the product cannot be commercially launched until reimbursement is approved. In some foreign markets, prescription pharmaceutical pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted. The negotiation process in some countries can exceed 12 months. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our products to other available therapies.

If the prices for our potential products are reduced or if governmental and other third-party payors do not provide adequate coverage and reimbursement of our drugs, our future revenue, cash flows and prospects for profitability will suffer.

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*Current and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost of commercializing our drug candidates and may affect the prices we may obtain if our drug candidates are approved for commercialization.

In the U.S. and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of adopted and proposed legislative and regulatory changes regarding the healthcare system that could prevent or delay regulatory approval of our drug candidates, restrict or regulate post-marketing activities and affect our ability to profitably sell any of our drug candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval.

In the U.S., the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or the MMA, changed the way Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products. Cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of this legislation could limit the coverage and reimbursement rate that we receive for any of our approved products. While the MMA only applies to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Therefore, any reduction in reimbursement that results from the MMA may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively the PPACA, was enacted.  The PPACA was intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against healthcare fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on the health industry and impose additional health policy reforms. The PPACA increased manufacturers’ rebate liability under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program by increasing the minimum rebate amount for both branded and generic drugs and revised the definition of “average manufacturer price,” or AMP, which may also increase the amount of Medicaid drug rebates manufacturers are required to pay to states. The legislation also expanded Medicaid drug rebates and created an alternative rebate formula for certain new formulations of certain existing products that is intended to increase the rebates due on those drugs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, also has proposed to expand Medicaid rebates to the utilization that occurs in the territories of the U.S., such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Further, beginning in 2011, the PPACA imposed a significant annual fee on companies that manufacture or import branded prescription drug products and required manufacturers to provide a 50% discount off the negotiated price of prescriptions filled by beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, referred to as the “donut hole.” Legislative and regulatory proposals have been introduced at both the state and federal level to expand post-approval requirements and restrict sales and promotional activities for pharmaceutical products.

There have been recent public announcements by members of the U.S. Congress, President Trump and his administration regarding their plans to repeal and replace the PPACA and Medicare.  For example, on December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which, among other things, eliminated the individual mandate requiring most Americans (other than those who qualify for a hardship exemption) to carry a minimum level of health coverage, effective January 1, 2019. We are not sure whether additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes on the marketing approvals of our drug candidates, if any, may be. In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress of the FDA’s approval process may significantly delay or prevent marketing approval, as well as subject us to more stringent product labeling and post-marketing approval testing and other requirements.

In Europe, the United Kingdom has indicated its intent to withdraw from the European Union in the future.  A significant portion of the regulatory framework in the United Kingdom is derived from the regulations of the European Union, and the EMA is currently located in the United Kingdom.  We cannot predict what consequences the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, if it occurs, might have on the regulatory frameworks of the United Kingdom or the European Union, or on our future operations, if any, in these jurisdictions.

Changes in government funding for the FDA and other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, properly administer drug innovation, or prevent our product candidates from being developed or commercialized, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The ability of the FDA to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel, and statutory, regulatory and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other agencies that fund research and development activities is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.

In December 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law. This new legislation is designed to advance medical innovation and empower the FDA with the authority to directly hire positions related to drug and device development and review. However, government proposals to reduce or eliminate budgetary deficits may include reduced allocations to the FDA and other related government agencies. These budgetary pressures may result in a reduced ability by the FDA to perform their respective roles; including the related impact to academic institutions and research laboratories whose funding is fully or partially dependent on both the level and timing of funding from government sources.

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Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for our product candidates to be reviewed or approved by necessary government agencies, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to “fraud and abuse” and similar laws and regulations, and a failure to comply with such regulations or prevail in any litigation related to noncompliance could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In the U.S., we are subject to various federal and state healthcare “fraud and abuse” laws, including anti-kickback laws, false claims laws and other laws intended, among other things, to reduce fraud and abuse in federal and state healthcare programs. The federal Anti-Kickback Statute makes it illegal for any person, including a prescription drug manufacturer, or a party acting on its behalf, to knowingly and willfully solicit, receive, offer or pay any remuneration that is intended to induce the referral of business, including the purchase, order or prescription of a particular drug, or other good or service for which payment in whole or in part may be made under a federal healthcare program, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Although we seek to structure our business arrangements in compliance with all applicable requirements, these laws are broadly written, and it is often difficult to determine precisely how the law will be applied in specific circumstances. Accordingly, it is possible that our practices may be challenged under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.

The federal False Claims Act prohibits anyone from, among other things, knowingly presenting or causing to be presented for payment to the government, including the federal healthcare programs, claims for reimbursed drugs or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services that were not provided as claimed, or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, we are prohibited from knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private payors, or 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 healthcare benefits, items or services to obtain money or property of any healthcare benefit program. Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal or civil sanctions, including penalties, fines or exclusion or suspension from federal and state healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and debarment from contracting with the U.S. government. In addition, private individuals have the ability to bring actions on behalf of the government under the federal False Claims Act as well as under the false claims laws of several states.

Many states have adopted laws similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, some of which apply to the referral of patients for healthcare services reimbursed by any source, not just governmental payors. In addition, some states have passed laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the April 2003 Office of Inspector General Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers or the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America’s Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. Several states also impose other marketing restrictions or require pharmaceutical companies to make marketing or price disclosures to the state. There are ambiguities as to what is required to comply with these state requirements and if we fail to comply with an applicable state law requirement we could be subject to penalties.

Neither the government nor the courts have provided definitive guidance on the application of fraud and abuse laws to our business. Law enforcement authorities are increasingly focused on enforcing these laws, and it is possible that some of our practices may be challenged under these laws. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. If we are found in violation of one of these laws, we could be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, exclusion from governmental funded federal or state healthcare programs and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. If this occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

If we face allegations of noncompliance with the law and encounter sanctions, our reputation, revenues and liquidity may suffer, and any of our drug candidates that are ultimately approved for commercialization could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.

Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response, and could generate negative publicity. Any failure to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements may significantly and adversely affect our ability to generate revenues from any of our drug candidates that are ultimately approved for commercialization. If regulatory sanctions are applied or if regulatory approval is withdrawn, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected. Additionally, if we are unable to generate revenues from product sales, our potential for achieving profitability will be diminished and our need to raise capital to fund our operations will increase.

*If we fail to retain current members of our senior management and scientific personnel, or to attract and keep additional key personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop or commercialize our drug candidates.

Our success depends on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified management and scientific personnel. As of June 30, 2018, we had twelve full-time employees, three part-time employees and a small number of consultants, which may make

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us more reliant on our individual employees than companies with a greater number of employees.  The loss of any of our key personnel could delay or prevent the development of our drug candidates. These personnel are “at-will” employees and may terminate their employment with us at any time; however, our current executive officers have agreed to provide us with at least 60 days’ advance notice of resignation pursuant to their employment agreements with us. The replacement of key personnel likely would involve significant time and costs, and may significantly delay or prevent the achievement of our business objectives. We do not maintain “key person” insurance on any of our employees.

From time to time, our management seeks the advice and guidance of certain scientific advisors and consultants regarding clinical and regulatory development programs and other customary matters. These scientific advisors and consultants are not our employees and may have commitments to, or consulting or advisory contracts with, other entities that may limit their availability to us. In addition, our scientific advisors may have arrangements with other companies to assist those companies in developing products or technologies that may compete with ours.

Competition for qualified personnel is intense, especially in the greater San Diego, California area where we have a substantial presence and need for highly skilled personnel. We may not be successful in attracting qualified personnel to fulfill our current or future needs. Competitors and others have in the past attempted, and are likely in the future to attempt, to recruit our employees. While our employees are required to sign standard agreements concerning confidentiality and ownership of inventions, we generally do not have employment contracts or non-competition agreements with any of our personnel. The loss of the services of any of our key personnel, the inability to attract or retain highly qualified personnel in the future or delays in hiring such personnel, particularly senior management and other technical personnel, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We will need to increase the size of our organization and may not successfully manage our growth.

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a small number of employees, and our management systems currently in place are not likely to be adequate to support our future growth plans. Our ability to grow and to manage our growth effectively will require us to hire, train, retain, manage and motivate additional employees and to implement and improve our operational, financial and management systems. These demands also may require the hiring of additional senior management personnel or the development of additional expertise by our senior management personnel. Hiring a significant number of additional employees, particularly those at the management level, would increase our expenses significantly. Moreover, if we fail to expand and enhance our operational, financial and management systems in conjunction with our potential future growth, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our management’s relative lack of public company experience could put us at greater risk of incurring fines or regulatory actions for failure to comply with federal securities laws and could put us at a competitive disadvantage, and could require our management to devote additional time and resources to ensure compliance with applicable corporate governance requirements.

Our executive officers have limited experience in managing and operating a public company, which could have an adverse effect on their ability to quickly respond to problems or adequately address issues and matters applicable to public companies. Any failure to comply with federal securities laws, rules or regulations could subject us to fines or regulatory actions, which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, since our executive officers have limited public company experience, we may have to dedicate additional time and resources to comply with legally mandated corporate governance policies relative to our competitors whose management teams have more public company experience.

We are exposed to product liability, non-clinical and clinical liability risks which could place a substantial financial burden upon us, should lawsuits be filed against us.

Our business exposes us to potential product liability and other liability risks that are inherent in the testing, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical formulations and products. In addition, the use in our clinical trials of pharmaceutical products and the subsequent sale of these products by us or our potential collaborators may cause us to bear a portion of or all product liability risks. A successful liability claim or series of claims brought against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We currently maintain product liability insurance; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to maintain such insurance, and we may be unable to obtain replacement product liability insurance on commercially reasonable terms or in adequate amounts. On occasion, large judgments have been awarded in class action lawsuits based on drugs that had unanticipated adverse effects. A successful product liability claim or series of claims brought against us could cause our stock price to decline and, if judgments exceed our insurance coverage, could adversely affect our results of operations and business.

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Our research and development activities involve the use of hazardous materials, which subject us to regulation, related costs and delays and potential liabilities.

Our research and development activities involve the controlled use of hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive compounds, and we will need to develop additional safety procedures for the handling and disposing of hazardous materials. If an accident occurs, we could be held liable for resulting damages, which could be substantial. We are also subject to numerous environmental, health and workplace safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures, exposure to blood-borne pathogens and the handling of biohazardous materials. Additional federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting our operations may be adopted in the future. We may incur substantial costs to comply with, and substantial fines or penalties if we violate any of these laws or regulations.

We rely significantly on information technology and any failure, inadequacy, interruption or security lapse of that technology, including any cybersecurity incidents, could harm our ability to operate our business effectively.

Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of third parties with which we contract are vulnerable to damage from cyber-attacks, computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. System failures, accidents or security breaches could cause interruptions in our operations, and could result in a material disruption of our drug development and clinical activities and business operations, in addition to possibly requiring substantial expenditures of resources to remedy. The loss of drug development or clinical trial data could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and our development programs and the development of our drug candidates could be delayed.

Our employees and consultants may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.

We are exposed to the risk of employee or consultant fraud or other misconduct. Misconduct by our employees or consultants could include intentional failures to comply with FDA regulations, provide accurate information to the FDA, comply with manufacturing standards, comply with federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations, 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 fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commissions, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Employee and consultant misconduct also could involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter such misconduct, and the 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 be in compliance with such laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and result in the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions against us.

Business disruptions such as natural disasters could seriously harm our future revenues and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses.

Our corporate headquarters are located in greater San Diego, California, a region known for seismic activity. In addition, one of our third party manufacturers is located in the southeastern part of the United States, an area subject to hurricanes and related natural disasters. Our suppliers may also experience a disruption in their business as a result of natural disasters. A significant natural disaster, such as an earthquake, hurricane, flood or fire, could severely damage or destroy our headquarters or facilities or the facilities of our manufacturers or suppliers, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, terrorist acts or acts of war targeted at the U.S., and specifically the greater San Diego, California region, could cause damage or disruption to us, our employees, facilities, partners and suppliers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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We may engage in strategic transactions that could impact our liquidity, increase our expenses and present significant distractions to our management.

From time to time, we may consider strategic transactions, such as acquisitions of companies, asset purchases and out-licensing or in-licensing of products, drug candidates or technologies. Additional potential transactions that we may consider include a variety of different business arrangements, including spin-offs, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, restructurings, divestitures, business combinations and investments. Any such transaction may require us to incur non-recurring or other charges, may increase our near- and long-term expenditures and may pose significant integration challenges or disrupt our management or business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, these transactions may entail numerous operational and financial risks, including:

Accordingly, although there can be no assurance that we will undertake or successfully complete any transactions of the nature described above, any transactions that we do complete may be subject to the foregoing or other risks, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our employment agreements with each of our executive officers may require us to pay severance benefits to any of those persons who are terminated in connection with a change in control of our company, which could harm our financial condition or results.

All of our executive officers are parties to employment agreements that contain change in control and severance provisions in the event of a termination of employment in connection with a change in control of our company providing for cash payments for severance and other benefits and acceleration of vesting of stock options and shares of restricted stock. The accelerated vesting of options and shares of restricted stock could result in dilution to our existing stockholders and lower the market price of our common stock. The payment of these severance benefits could harm our financial condition and results. In addition, these potential severance payments may discourage or prevent third parties from seeking a business combination with us.

Risks Relating to Our Intellectual Property

*We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to our drug candidates through acquisitions and in-licenses.

We currently have intellectual property rights to develop our drug candidates through a license from Ligand. As of June 30, 2018, we owned or co-owned seven patent applications and did not own any patents. Because our programs require the use of proprietary rights held by Ligand, the growth of our business will likely depend in part on our ability to maintain and exploit these proprietary rights. In addition, we may need to acquire or in-license additional intellectual property in the future. We may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, processes or other intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify as necessary for our drug candidates. We face competition with regard to acquiring and in-licensing third-party intellectual property rights, including from a number of more established companies. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities. In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license intellectual property rights to us. We also may be unable to acquire or in-license third-party intellectual property rights on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our investment.

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We may enter into collaboration agreements with U.S. and foreign academic institutions to accelerate development of our current or future preclinical drug candidates. Typically, these agreements include an option for the company to negotiate a license to the institution’s intellectual property rights resulting from the collaboration. Even with such an option, we may be unable to negotiate a license within the specified timeframe or under terms that are acceptable to us. If we are unable to license rights from a collaborating institution, the institution may offer the intellectual property rights to other parties, potentially blocking our ability to pursue our desired program.

If we are unable to successfully obtain required third-party intellectual property rights or maintain our existing intellectual property rights, we may need to abandon development of the related program and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

If we fail to comply with our obligations in the agreements under which we in-license intellectual property and other rights from third parties or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our licensors, we could lose intellectual property rights that are important to our business.

The Master License Agreement is important to our business and we expect to enter into additional license agreements in the future. The Master License Agreement imposes, and we expect that future license agreements will impose, various diligence, milestone payment, royalty and other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with our obligations under these agreements, or if we file for bankruptcy, we may be required to make certain payments to the licensor, we may lose the exclusivity of our license, or the licensor may have the right to terminate the license, in which event we would not be able to develop or market products covered by the license. Additionally, the milestone and other payments associated with these licenses could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Pursuant to the terms of the Master License Agreement, Ligand may terminate the Master License Agreement under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to: (1) in the event of our insolvency or bankruptcy, (2) if we do not pay an undisputed amount owing under the Master License Agreement when due and fail to cure such default within a specified period of time, or (3) if we default on certain of our material obligations and fail to cure the default within a specified period of time. If the Master License Agreement is terminated in its entirety or with respect to a specific licensed program for any reason, among other consequences, all licenses granted to us under the Master License Agreement (or with respect to the specific licensed program) will terminate and we may be requested to assign and transfer to Ligand certain regulatory documentation and regulatory approvals related to the licensed programs (or those related to the specific licensed program), and we may be required to wind down any ongoing clinical trials with respect to the licensed programs (or those related to the specific licensed program). Additionally, Ligand may require us to assign to Ligand the trademarks owned by us relating to the licensed programs (or those related to the specific licensed program), and we would be obligated to grant to Ligand a license under any patent rights and know-how controlled by us to the extent necessary to make, have made, import, use, offer to sell and sell the licensed programs (or those related to the specific licensed program) anywhere in the world at a royalty rate in the low single digits.

In some cases, patent prosecution of our licensed technology may be controlled solely by the licensor. If our licensor fails to obtain and maintain patent or other protection for the proprietary intellectual property we in-license, then we could lose our rights to the intellectual property or our exclusivity with respect to those rights, and our competitors could market competing products using the intellectual property. In certain cases, we may control the prosecution of patents resulting from licensed technology. In the event we breach any of our obligations related to such prosecution, we may incur significant liability to our licensing partners. Licensing of intellectual property is of critical importance to our business and involves complex legal, business and scientific issues. Disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a licensing agreement, including, but not limited to:

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If disputes over intellectual property and other rights that we have in-licensed prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current licensing arrangements on acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected drug candidates. If we fail to comply with any such obligations to our licensor, such licensor may terminate their licenses to us, in which case we would not be able to market products covered by these licenses. The loss of our license with Ligand, and potentially other licenses that we enter into in the future, would have a material adverse effect on our business.

We may be required to pay milestones and royalties to Ligand in connection with our use of the licensed technology under the Master License Agreement, which could adversely affect the overall profitability for us of any products that we may seek to commercialize.

Under the terms of the Master License Agreement, we may be obligated to pay Ligand up to an aggregate of approximately $1.54 billion in development, regulatory and sales milestones. We will also be required to pay Ligand single-digit royalties on future worldwide net product sales. These royalty payments could adversely affect the overall profitability for us of any products that we may seek to commercialize.

We may not be able to protect our proprietary or licensed technology in the marketplace.

We depend on our ability to protect our proprietary or licensed technology. We rely on trade secret, patent, copyright and trademark laws, and confidentiality, licensing and other agreements with employees and third parties, all of which offer only limited protection. Our success depends in large part on our ability, Ligand’s and any future licensor’s or licensee’s ability to obtain and maintain patent protection in the U.S. and other countries with respect to our proprietary or licensed technology and products. We currently in-license most of our intellectual property rights to develop our drug candidates and may in-license additional intellectual property rights in the future. Under the terms of the Master License Agreement, Ligand has the first right to file, prosecute and maintain the patents subject to the Master License Agreement in its name. We cannot be certain that patent enforcement activities by our current or future licensors have been or will be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or will result in valid and enforceable patents or other intellectual property rights. We also cannot be certain that our current or future licensors will allocate sufficient resources or prioritize their or our enforcement of such patents. Even if we are not a party to these legal actions, an adverse outcome could prevent us from continuing to license intellectual property that we may need to operate our business, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We believe we will be able to obtain, through prosecution of patent applications covering technology licensed from others, adequate patent protection for our proprietary drug technology, including those related to our in-licensed intellectual property. If we are compelled to spend significant time and money protecting or enforcing our licensed patents and future patents we may own, designing around patents held by others or licensing or acquiring, potentially for large fees, patents or other proprietary rights held by others, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. If we are unable to effectively protect the intellectual property that we own or in-license, other companies may be able to offer the same or similar products for sale, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The patents of others from whom we may license technology, and any future patents we may own, may be challenged, narrowed, invalidated or circumvented, which could limit our ability to stop competitors from marketing the same or similar products or limit the length of term of patent protection that we may have for our products.

*Obtaining and maintaining patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection for licensed patents, pending patent applications and potential future patent applications and patents could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

 

Periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees and various other governmental fees on patents and/or patent applications will be due to be paid to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or the USPTO, and various governmental patent agencies outside of the U.S. in several stages over the lifetime of the applicable patent and/or patent application. The USPTO and various non-U.S. governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other similar provisions during the patent application process. In many cases, an inadvertent lapse can be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules. However, there are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. If this occurs with respect to our in-licensed patents or patent applications we may file in the future, our competitors might be able to use our technologies, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.    

The patent positions of pharmaceutical products are often complex and uncertain. The breadth of claims allowed in pharmaceutical patents in the U.S. and many jurisdictions outside of the U.S. is not consistent. For example, in many jurisdictions, the support standards for pharmaceutical patents are becoming increasingly strict. Some countries prohibit method of treatment claims in patents.

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Changes in either the patent laws or interpretations of patent laws in the U.S. and other countries may diminish the value of our licensed or owned intellectual property or create uncertainty. In addition, publication of information related to our current drug candidates and potential products may prevent us from obtaining or enforcing patents relating to these drug candidates and potential products, including without limitation composition-of-matter patents, which are generally believed to offer the strongest patent protection.

Our intellectual property includes licenses covering issued patents and pending patent applications for composition of matter and method of use. For VK5211, as of June 30, 2018, we in-licensed seven patents in the U.S. and several other patents in certain foreign jurisdictions. As of June 30, 2018, for each of VK2809 and VK0214, we in-licensed one patent and one patent application in the U.S. and additional patents or patent applications in certain foreign jurisdictions, and owned or co-owned and in-licensed four PCT applications and two U.S. provisional applications.  We also in-licensed one additional PCT application and one additional U.S. application directed to VK0214 as of June 30, 2018. For VK0612, as of June 30, 2018, we in-licensed two patents in the U.S. and several other patents in certain foreign jurisdictions, and own one PCT patent application. With respect to our other current drug candidates, we have a license covering several issued patents and pending patent applications both in the U.S. and in certain foreign jurisdictions.

Patents that we currently license and patents that we may own or license in the future do not necessarily ensure the protection of our licensed or owned intellectual property for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If we encounter delays in our development or clinical trials, the period of time during which we could market our potential products under patent protection would be reduced.

Our competitors may be able to circumvent our licensed patents or future patents we may own by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-infringing manner. Our competitors may seek to market generic versions of any approved products by submitting abbreviated new drug applications to the FDA in which our competitors claim that our licensed patents or any future patents we may own are invalid, unenforceable or not infringed. Alternatively, our competitors may seek approval to market their own products similar to or otherwise competitive with our products. In these circumstances, we may need to defend or assert our licensed patents or any future patents we may own, including by filing lawsuits alleging patent infringement. In any of these types of proceedings, a court or other agency with jurisdiction may find our licensed patents or any future patents we may own invalid or unenforceable. We may also fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development before it is too late to obtain patent protection. Even if we own or in-license valid and enforceable patents, these patents still may not provide protection against competing products or processes sufficient to achieve our business objectives.

The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, ownership, priority, validity or enforceability. In this regard, third parties may challenge our licensed patents or any future patents we may own in the courts or patent offices in the U.S. and abroad. Such challenges may result in loss of exclusivity or freedom to operate or in patent claims being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, in whole or in part, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and potential products. In addition, given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new drug candidates, patents protecting such drug candidates might expire before or shortly after such drug candidates are commercialized.

We may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may prevent or delay our drug development efforts and prevent us from commercializing or increase the costs of commercializing our products.

Our commercial success depends significantly on our ability to operate without infringing the patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties. For example, there could be issued patents of which we are not aware that our current or potential future drug candidates infringe. There also could be patents that we believe we do not infringe, but that we may ultimately be found to infringe.

Moreover, patent applications are in some cases maintained in secrecy until patents are issued. The publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature frequently occurs substantially later than the date on which the underlying discoveries were made and patent applications were filed. Because patents can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending applications of which we are unaware that may later result in issued patents that our drug candidates or potential products infringe. For example, pending applications may exist that claim or can be amended to claim subject matter that our drug candidates or potential products infringe. Competitors may file continuing patent applications claiming priority to already issued patents in the form of continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part applications, in order to maintain the pendency of a patent family and attempt to cover our drug candidates.

Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization and may sue us for patent or other intellectual property infringement. These lawsuits are costly and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and divert the attention of managerial and scientific personnel. If we are sued for patent infringement, we would need to demonstrate that our drug candidates, potential products or methods either do not infringe the claims of the relevant patent or that the patent claims are invalid, and we may not be able to do this. Proving invalidity is difficult. For example, in the U.S., proving invalidity requires a showing of clear and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption of validity enjoyed by issued patents. Even if we are successful in these proceedings, we may incur substantial costs and the time and attention of our management and scientific personnel could be diverted in pursuing these proceedings, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, we may not have sufficient resources to bring these actions to a successful conclusion. If a court holds that any third-party patents are valid, enforceable and cover our products or their use, the holders of any of these patents may be able to block our ability to commercialize our products unless we acquire or obtain a license under the applicable patents or until the patents expire.

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We may not be able to enter into licensing arrangements or make other arrangements at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms. Any inability to secure licenses or alternative technology could result in delays in the introduction of our products or lead to prohibition of the manufacture or sale of products by us. Even if we are able to obtain a license, it may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. We could be forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing the infringing technology or product. In addition, in any such proceeding or litigation, we could be found liable for monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed a patent. A finding of infringement could prevent us from commercializing our drug candidates or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any claims by third parties that we have misappropriated their confidential information or trade secrets could have a similar material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, any uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our operations.

Any claims or lawsuits relating to infringement of intellectual property rights brought by or against us will be costly and time consuming and may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be required to initiate litigation to enforce or defend our licensed and owned intellectual property. For example, we are currently aware of at least two third-party companies that are selling products in the U.S. bearing the name “LGD-4033”, which is the name previously used by Ligand to refer to VK5211, without authority from either us or Ligand, and we may experience other potential intellectual property infringement in the future. Lawsuits to protect our intellectual property rights can be very time consuming and costly. There is a substantial amount of litigation involving patent and other intellectual property rights in the biopharmaceutical industry generally. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating expenses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities.

In any infringement litigation, any award of monetary damages we receive may not be commercially valuable. 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 litigation. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will have sufficient financial or other resources to file and pursue such infringement claims, which typically last for years before they are resolved. Further, any claims we assert against a perceived infringer could provoke these parties to assert counterclaims against us alleging that we have infringed their patents. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace.

In addition, our licensed patents and patent applications, and patents and patent applications that we may apply for, own or license in the future, could face other challenges, such as interference proceedings, opposition proceedings, re-examination proceedings and other forms of post-grant review. Any of these challenges, if successful, could result in the invalidation of, or in a narrowing of the scope of, any of our licensed patents and patent applications and patents and patent applications that we may apply for, own or license in the future subject to challenge. Any of these challenges, regardless of their success, would likely be time consuming and expensive to defend and resolve and would divert our management and scientific personnel’s time and attention.

In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

Changes in U.S. patent law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products.

As is the case with other biopharmaceutical companies, our success is heavily dependent on intellectual property, particularly patents. Obtaining and enforcing patents in the biopharmaceutical industry involves both technological and legal complexity and is costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain. For example, the U.S. previously enacted and is currently implementing wide-ranging patent reform legislation. Specifically, on September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy-Smith Act, was signed into law and included a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law, and many of the provisions became effective in March 2013. However, it may take the courts years to interpret the provisions of the Leahy-Smith Act, and the implementation of the statute could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our licensed and future patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our licensed and future patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on several patent cases in recent years, either narrowing the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances or weakening 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

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governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce patents that we might obtain in the future.

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

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on drug candidates throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive. Competitors may use our licensed and owned technologies in jurisdictions where we have not licensed or obtained patent protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we may obtain or license patent protection, but where patent enforcement is not as strong as that in the U.S. These products may compete with our products in jurisdictions where we do not have any issued or licensed patents and any future patent claims or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from so competing.

Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biopharmaceuticals, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our licensed patents and future patents we may own, or marketing of competing products in violation of our proprietary rights generally. Further, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent or in the same manner as the laws of the U.S. As a result, we may encounter significant problems in protecting and defending our licensed and owned intellectual property both in the U.S. and abroad. For example, China, where we currently have a number of licensed patents and licensed patent applications, currently affords less protection to a company’s intellectual property than some other jurisdictions. As such, the lack of strong patent and other intellectual property protection in China may significantly increase our vulnerability regarding unauthorized disclosure or use of our intellectual property and undermine our competitive position. Proceedings to enforce our future patent rights, if any, in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business.

Many countries, including European Union countries, India, Japan and China, have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled under certain circumstances to grant licenses to third parties. In those countries, as of June 30, 2018, we had several licensed patents and several licensed patent applications and may have limited remedies if such patents are infringed or if we are compelled to grant a license to a third party, which could materially diminish the value of such patents. This could limit our potential revenue opportunities. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we own or license.

We may be unable to adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.

In order to protect our proprietary and licensed technology and processes, we rely in part on confidentiality agreements with our corporate partners, employees, consultants, manufacturers, outside scientific collaborators and sponsored researchers and other advisors. These agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of our confidential information and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and proprietary information. Failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.

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

We employ individuals who were previously employed at other biopharmaceutical companies. Although we have no knowledge of any such claims against us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed confidential information of our employees’ former employers or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. There is no guarantee of success in defending these claims, and even if we are successful, litigation could result in substantial cost and be a distraction to our management and other employees. To date, none of our employees have been subject to such claims.

We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship of our licensed patents, any future patents we may own and other intellectual property.

Although we are not currently experiencing any claims challenging the inventorship of our licensed patents or our licensed or owned intellectual property, we may in the future be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in our licensed patents or other licensed or owned intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor. For example, we may have inventorship disputes arise from conflicting obligations of consultants or others who are involved in developing our drug candidates. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and other claims challenging inventorship. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership

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of, or right to use, valuable intellectual property. Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 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.

If we do not obtain additional protection under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments and similar foreign legislation extending the terms of our licensed patents and any future patents we may own, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of FDA regulatory approval for our drug candidates, one or more of our licensed U.S. patents or future U.S. patents that we may license or own may be eligible for limited patent term restoration under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Amendments. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent restoration term of up to five years as compensation for patent term lost during drug development and the FDA regulatory review process. This period is generally one-half the time between the effective date of an investigational new drug application, or IND (falling after issuance of the patent), and the submission date of an NDA, plus the time between the submission date of an NDA and the approval of that application. Patent term restorations, however, cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval by the FDA.

The application for patent term extension is subject to approval by the USPTO, in conjunction with the FDA. It takes at least six months to obtain approval of the application for patent term extension. We may not be granted an extension because of, for example, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded could be less than we request. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or restoration or the term of any such extension is less than we request, the period during which we will have the right to exclusively market our product will be shortened and our competitors may obtain earlier approval of competing products, and our ability to generate revenues could be materially adversely affected.

Risks Relating to Ownership of Our Common Stock

The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile.

The trading price of our common stock is likely to be volatile. Our stock price could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors, including the following:

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In addition, the stock market, in general, and small biopharmaceutical companies, in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. Further, a decline in the financial markets and related factors beyond our control may cause our stock price to decline rapidly and unexpectedly.

An active trading market for our common stock may not be sustained, and you may not be able to resell your common stock at a desired market price.

If no active trading market for our common stock is sustained, you may be unable to sell your shares when you wish to sell them or at a price that you consider attractive or satisfactory. The lack of an active market may also adversely affect our ability to raise capital by selling securities in the future, or impair our ability to acquire or in-license other drug candidates, businesses or technologies using our shares as consideration.

*Our management owns a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to stockholder approval.

As of June 30, 2018, our executive officers, directors and 5% or greater stockholders beneficially owned 16.1% of our common stock. Therefore, our executive officers, directors and 5% or greater stockholders have the ability to influence us through this ownership position.

This significant concentration of stock ownership may adversely affect the trading price for our common stock because investors often perceive disadvantages in owning stock in companies with controlling stockholders. As a result, these stockholders, if they acted together, could significantly influence all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions. These stockholders may be able to determine all matters requiring stockholder approval. The interests of these stockholders may not always coincide with our interests or the interests of other stockholders. This may also prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our stockholders and they may act in a manner that advances their best interests and not necessarily those of other stockholders, including seeking a premium value for their common stock, and might affect the prevailing market price for our common stock.

*Ligand is our largest stockholder, which may limit the ability of our stockholders to influence corporate matters and may give rise to conflicts of interest.

As of June 30, 2018, Ligand and its affiliates beneficially owned approximately 12.6% of our outstanding common stock.  Accordingly, Ligand may be able to exert significant influence over us and any action requiring the approval of the holders of our common stock, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions. This concentration of voting power may make it less likely that any other holder of our common stock or our board of directors will be able to affect the way we are managed and could delay or prevent an acquisition of us on terms that other stockholders may desire.

Furthermore, the interests of Ligand may not be aligned with our other stockholders and this could lead to actions that may not be in the best interests of our other stockholders. For example, Ligand may have different tax positions or strategic plans for us, which could influence its decisions regarding whether and when we should dispose of assets or incur new indebtedness. In addition, Ligand’s significant ownership in us may discourage someone from making a significant equity investment in us, or could discourage transactions involving a change in control, including transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over the then-current market price.

Pursuant to the management rights letter between us and Ligand, dated May 21, 2014, Ligand has the right to nominate one individual for election to our board of directors. Matthew W. Foehr, Ligand’s President and Chief Operating Officer, is the current member of our board of directors nominated by Ligand. As a result of our relationship with Ligand, there may be transactions between us and Ligand that could present an actual or perceived conflict of interest. These conflicts of interest may lead Mr. Foehr to recuse himself from deliberation and voting as a member of our board of directors with respect to any transactions involving Ligand or its affiliates.

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We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and if we decide to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, our common stock could be less attractive to investors.

For as long as we remain an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, we will have the option to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting and other requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We may take advantage of these and other exemptions until we are neither an “emerging growth company” nor a “smaller reporting company”.

The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, we have chosen to “opt out” of such extended transition period, and as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. Our decision to “opt out” of the extended transition period is irrevocable.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (1) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more, (2) December 31, 2020 (the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering), (3) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt, and (4) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act (i.e., the first day of the fiscal year after we have (a) more than $700,000,000 in outstanding common equity held by our non-affiliates, measured each year on the last day of our second fiscal quarter, and (b) been public for at least 12 months).

Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements including exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

Our internal control over financial reporting may not meet the standards required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, could have a material adverse effect on our business and share price.

 

Our management is required to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, under the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” The rules governing the standards that must be met for our management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation.

In connection with the implementation of the necessary procedures and practices related to internal control over financial reporting, we may identify deficiencies or material weaknesses that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the deadline imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. In addition, we may encounter problems or delays in completing the implementation of any requested improvements and receiving a favorable attestation in connection with the attestation provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. Failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and could limit our ability to report our financial results accurately and in a timely manner.

We will incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, our management has limited experience managing a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.

As a public company and particularly after we cease to be an “emerging growth company,” we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC have imposed various requirements on public companies. There are significant corporate governance and executive compensation related provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act that require the SEC to adopt additional rules and regulations in these areas. Stockholder activism, the current political environment and the current high level of government intervention and

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regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact (in ways we cannot currently anticipate) the manner in which we operate our business. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, we expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to incur substantial costs to maintain our current levels of such insurance coverage.

As a publicly traded company, we have incurred and will incur legal, accounting and other expenses associated with the SEC reporting requirements applicable to a company whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, as well as corporate governance requirements, including those under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act and other rules implemented by the SEC and The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. In addition, we expect that we will need to hire additional personnel in our finance department to help us comply with the various requirements applicable to public companies. The expenses incurred by public companies generally to meet SEC reporting, finance and accounting and corporate governance requirements have been increasing in recent years as a result of changes in rules and regulations and the adoption of new rules and regulations applicable to public companies.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research, about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock depends, in part, on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. In addition, if our operating results fail to meet the forecast of analysts, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our common stock could decrease, which might cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.

*Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market by our existing stockholders, exercises and sales of outstanding warrants or future issuances of our common stock or rights to purchase our common stock, could cause our stock price to fall.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by our existing stockholders, including Ligand, in the public market, or the perception that these sales might occur, 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 such sales may have on the prevailing market price of our common stock.

On February 6, 2018, we closed an underwritten public offering of 12,650,000 shares of our common stock, including 1,650,000 shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ full exercise of their option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments, at a public offering price of $5.00 per share, for net proceeds of $58.7 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

On June 11, 2018, we closed an underwritten public offering of 8,625,000 shares of our common stock, including 1,125,000 shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ full exercise of their option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments, or the June 2018 Offering, at a public offering price of $9.00 per share, for net proceeds of $72.3 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

If a large number of the holders of shares issued in our recent underwritten public offerings decided to sell their stock, or if there is even the perception that these sales may occur, the trading price of our common stock could be materially and adversely effected.

*Our management will continue to have broad discretion over the use of the proceeds we received from our prior financings and available cash, and might not apply the proceeds in ways that increase the value of your investment.

Our management will continue to have broad discretion to use the net proceeds from our prior financings and available cash and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of these proceeds. Our management might not apply the proceeds in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment and the failure by our management to apply these proceeds effectively could harm our business. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of these remaining net proceeds, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. If we do not invest or apply these net proceeds in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve the expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

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We are at risk of securities class action litigation.

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following a decline in the market price of its securities. This risk is especially relevant for us because biopharmaceutical companies have experienced significant stock price volatility in recent years. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to certain limitations.

 

At December 31, 2017, we had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $17.8 million for federal and $17.4 million for state tax purposes, both of which will begin to expire in 2032. Our ability to utilize our federal net operating loss carryforwards may be limited under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. In the event of an “ownership change,” Section 382 imposes an annual limitation on the amount of post-ownership change taxable income that may be offset with pre-ownership change net operating losses of the loss corporation experiencing the ownership change. An “ownership change” is defined by Section 382 as a cumulative change in ownership of our company of more than 50% within a three-year period. Our initial public offering in May 2015 resulted in an “ownership change” of us. Additionally, we have determined that our underwritten public offering of common stock completed in February 2018 resulted in an “ownership change” of us.  We performed an analysis as of both dates in May 2015 and February 2018 and determined that, while the amount of net operating losses available to use each year may be limited, the full amounts of the $17.8 million federal and $17.4 million state tax net operating loss carryforwards are available for utilization as of December 31, 2017.  We also performed an analysis as of June 11, 2018, the date of the closing of the June 2018 Offering, and determined that there was no ownership change.  In addition, current or future changes in our stock ownership may trigger an “ownership change,” some of which may be outside our control. Accordingly, our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards to offset federal taxable income, if any, will likely be limited by Section 382, which could potentially result in increased future tax liability to us.

*We may never pay dividends on our common stock so any returns would be limited to the appreciation of our stock.

We have never declared or paid any cash dividend on our common stock. We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any return to stockholders will therefore be limited to the appreciation of their stock.

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could make it more difficult or expensive for a third party to acquire us or change our board of directors or current management.

Some provisions of our charter documents and Delaware law may have anti-takeover effects that could discourage an acquisition of us by others, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management. These provisions include:

These provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors, which is responsible for appointing the members of our management. In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with an interested

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stockholder for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless such transactions are approved in advance by our board of directors or ratified by our board of directors and certain of our stockholders. This provision could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control, whether or not it is desired by or beneficial to our stockholders. Further, other provisions of Delaware law may also discourage, delay or prevent someone from acquiring us or merging with us.

Our amended and restated bylaws designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees.

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware 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 owed by any director, officer or other employee to us or our stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against us or our directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of our amended and restated bylaws, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the DGCL, (4) any action asserting a claim against us or our directors, officers or employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, or (5) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our amended and restated bylaws or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this provision of our amended and restated bylaws. This choice-of-forum provision may limit our stockholders’ 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. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our amended and restated bylaws inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we fail to comply with the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market, our common stock may be delisted and the price of our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets could be negatively impacted.

For six consecutive days in August 2017, the last reported sale price for our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was less than $1.00 per share. We must continue to satisfy the Nasdaq Capital Market’s continued listing requirements, including, among other things, a minimum closing bid price requirement of $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days. If a company fails for 30 consecutive business days to meet the $1.00 minimum closing bid price requirement, Nasdaq will send a deficiency notice to the company, advising that it has been afforded a “compliance period” of 180 calendar days to regain compliance with the applicable requirements.

 

A delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market could materially reduce the liquidity of our common stock and result in a corresponding material reduction in the price of our common stock. In addition, delisting could harm our ability to raise capital through alternative financing sources on terms acceptable to us, or at all, and may result in the potential loss of confidence by investors and employees.

 

Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

We satisfy certain U.S. federal and state tax withholding obligations due upon the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards by automatically withholding from the shares being issued in connection with such award a number of shares of our common stock with an aggregate fair market value on the date of vesting equal to the minimum tax withholding obligations. The following table sets forth information with respect to shares of our common stock repurchased by us to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations during the quarter ended June 30, 2018:

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(1)Represents shares of our common stock withheld from employees for the payment of taxes.

Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

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Item 6.Exhibits

 

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, (ii) Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, (iii) Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the period from December 31, 2017 to June 30, 2018, (iv) Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, and (v) Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

DEL MAR CORPORATE CENTRE II

OFFICE LEASE

This Office Lease (this "Lease"), dated as of the date set forth in Section 1 of the Summary of Basic Lease Information (the "Summary"), below, is made by and between KILROY REALTY, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Landlord"), and VIKING THERAPEUTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Tenant").

SUMMARY OF BASIC LEASE INFORMATION

 

 

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ARTICLE 1

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PREMISES, BUILDING, PROJECT, AND COMMON AREAS

1.1Premises, Building, Project and Common Areas.  

1.1.1The Premises.  Landlord hereby leases to Tenant and Tenant hereby leases from Landlord the premises set forth in Section 2.2 of the Summary (the "Premises").  The outline of the Premises is set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and the Premises has the number of rentable square feet as set forth in Section 2.2 of the Summary.  The parties hereto agree that the lease of the Premises is upon and subject to the terms, covenants and conditions (the "TCCs") herein set forth, and Tenant covenants as a material part of the consideration for this Lease to keep and perform each and all of such TCCs by it to be kept and performed and that this Lease is made upon the condition of such performance.  The parties hereto hereby acknowledge that the purpose of Exhibit A is to show the approximate location of the Premises in the "Building," as that term is defined in Section 1.1.2, below, only, and such Exhibit is not meant to constitute an agreement, representation or warranty as to the construction of the Premises, the precise area thereof or the specific location of the "Common Areas," as that term is defined in Section 1.1.3, below, or the elements thereof or of the accessways to the Premises or the "Project," as that term is defined in Section 1.1.2, below.  The parties acknowledge that Tenant is currently in occupancy of the Premises pursuant to an existing sublease.  Tenant shall continue to accept the Premises in its existing "as-is" condition and Landlord shall not be obligated to provide or pay for any improvement work or services related to the improvement of the Premises.  Tenant also acknowledges that neither Landlord nor any agent of Landlord has made any representation or warranty regarding the condition of the Premises, the Building or the Project or with respect to the suitability of any of the foregoing for the conduct of Tenant's business, except as specifically set forth in this Lease.  The continued possession of the Premises by Tenant shall conclusively establish that the Premises and the Building were at such time in good and sanitary order, condition and repair.  

1.1.2The Building and the Project.  The Premises is a part of the building set forth in Section 2.1 of the Summary (the "Building").  The Building is part of an office project known as "Del Mar Corporate Centre II." The term "Project," as used in this Lease, shall mean (i) the Building and the Common Areas, (ii) the land (which is improved with landscaping, parking facilities and other improvements) upon which the Building and the Common Areas are located, (iii) the other office building commonly known as 12390 El Camino Real, which is located adjacent to the Building, and the land upon which such adjacent office building is located, and (iv) at Landlord's discretion, any additional real property, areas, land, buildings or other improvements added thereto.

1.1.3Common Areas.  Tenant shall have the non-exclusive right to use in common with other tenants in the Project, and subject to the rules and regulations referred to in Article 5 of this Lease, those portions of the Project which are provided, from time to time, for use in common by Landlord, Tenant and any other tenants of the Project (such areas, together with such other portions of the Project designated by Landlord, in its discretion, including certain areas designated for the exclusive use of certain tenants, or to be shared by Landlord and certain tenants, are collectively referred to herein as the "Common Areas").  The Common Areas shall consist of the "Project Common Areas" and the "Building Common Areas" (as both of those terms are defined below).  The term "Project Common Areas," as used in this Lease, shall mean the portion of the Project designated as such by Landlord.  The term "Building Common Areas," as used in this Lease, shall mean the portions of the Common Areas located within the Building designated as such by Landlord.  The manner in which the Common Areas are maintained and operated shall be at the sole discretion of Landlord and the use thereof shall be subject to such rules, regulations and restrictions as Landlord may make from time to time, provided that such rules, regulations and restrictions do not unreasonably interfere with the rights granted to Tenant under this Lease and the Permitted Use.  Landlord reserves the right to close temporarily, make alterations or additions to, or change the location of elements of the Project and the Common Areas; provided that no such changes shall be permitted which materially reduce Tenant's rights or access hereunder.  Except when and where Tenant's right of access is specifically excluded in this Lease, Tenant shall have the right of access to the Premises, the Building, and the Project parking facility twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week during the "Lease Term," as that term is defined in Article 2, below.

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1.2Stipulation of Rentable Square Feet of Premises and Building.  For purposes of this Lease, "rentable square feet" and "usable square feet" of the Premises shall be deemed as set forth in Section 2.2 of the Summary and the rentable square feet of the Building shall be deemed as set forth in Section 2.1 of the Summary.    

ARTICLE 2

LEASE TERM; OPTION TERM

2.1Initial Lease Term.  The TCCs and provisions of this Lease shall be effective as of the date of this Lease.  The term of this Lease (the "Lease Term") shall be as set forth in Section 3.1 of the Summary, shall commence on the date set forth in Section 3.2 of the Summary (the "Lease Commencement Date"), and shall terminate on the date set forth in Section 3.3 of the Summary (the "Lease Expiration Date") unless this Lease is sooner terminated as hereinafter provided.  For purposes of this Lease, the term "Lease Year" shall mean each consecutive twelve (12) calendar month period during the Lease Term; provided, however, that the first Lease Year shall commence on the Lease Commencement Date and end on the last day of the month in which the first anniversary of the Lease Commencement Date occurs (or if the Lease Commencement Date is the first day of a calendar month, then the first Lease Year shall commence on the Lease Commencement Date and end on the day immediately preceding the first anniversary of the Lease Commencement Date), and the second and each succeeding Lease Year shall commence on the first day of the next calendar month; and further provided that the last Lease Year shall end on the Lease Expiration Date.  For purposes of this Lease, the term "Lease Month" shall mean each succeeding calendar month during the Lease Term; provided that the first Lease Month shall commence on the Lease Commencement Date and shall end on the last day of the first (1^st) full calendar month of the Lease Term and that the last Lease Month shall expire on the Lease Expiration Date.  At any time during the Lease Term, Landlord may deliver to Tenant a notice in the form as set forth in Exhibit C, attached hereto, as a confirmation only of the information set forth therein, which Tenant shall execute and return to Landlord within five (5) days of receipt thereof.

2.2Option Term.

2.2.1Option Right.  Landlord hereby grants the tenant originally named herein (the "Original Tenant") and its "Permitted Transferee Assignee," as that term is set forth in Section 14.8 of this Lease, one (1) option to extend the Lease Term for the entire Premises by a period of three (3) years (the "Option Term").  Such option shall be exercisable only by "Notice" (as that term is defined in Section 29.18 of this Lease) delivered by Tenant to Landlord as provided below, provided that, as of the date of delivery of such Notice, (i) Tenant is not then in default under this Lease, (ii) Tenant has not been in default under this Lease (beyond the applicable notice and cure periods) during the prior Lease Term, and (iii) there has been no material adverse change in Tenant's financial condition during the prior twenty-four (24)-month period.  Upon the proper exercise of such option to extend (and provided that, at Landlord's election, as of the end of the Lease Term, (A) Tenant is not in default under this Lease, (B) Tenant has not been in default under this Lease (beyond the applicable notice and cure periods) during the prior Lease Term, and (C) there has been no material adverse change in Tenant's financial condition during the prior twenty-four (24)-month period), then the Lease Term, as it applies to the entire Premises, shall be extended for a period of three (3) years.  The rights contained in this Section 2.2 shall only be exercised by the Original Tenant or its Permitted Transferee Assignee (and not any other assignee, sublessee or other transferee of the Original Tenant's interest in this Lease) if Original Tenant and/or its Permitted Transferee Assignee is in occupancy of the entire then-existing Premises.  

2.2.2Option Rent.  The Rent payable by Tenant during the Option Term (the "Option Rent") shall be equal to the "Market Rent" as set forth below.  For purposes of this Lease, the term "Market Rent" shall mean rent (including additional rent, and considering (x) any "base year" or "expense stop" applicable thereto, as well as (y) the inclusion of any utility expenses as a part thereof), including all escalations, at which tenants, as of the commencement of the term are, pursuant to transactions completed within the twelve (12) months prior to the first day of the Option Term, provided that timing adjustments shall be made to reflect any changes in the Market Rent following the date of any particular Comparable Deal up to the date of the commencement of the Option Term, leasing non-sublease, non-encumbered, non-synthetic, non-equity, non-expansion space (unless such space was leased pursuant to a definition of "fair market" comparable to the definition of Market Rent) comparable in size, location and quality to the Premises for a

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"Comparable Term," as that term is defined in this Section 2.2.2 (the "Comparable Deals"), which comparable space is located in the "Comparable Buildings," as that term is defined in this Section 2.2.2, giving appropriate consideration to the annual rental rates per rentable square foot, the standard of measurement by which the rentable square footage is measured, the ratio of rentable square feet to usable square feet, and taking into consideration only, and granting only, the following concessions (provided that the rent payable in Comparable Deals in which the terms of such Comparable Deals are determined by use of a discounted fair market rate formula shall be equitably increased in order that such Comparable Deals will not reflect a discounted rate): (a) rental abatement concessions, if any, being granted such tenants in connection with such comparable spaces; (b) improvements or allowances provided or to be provided for such comparable space, taking into account the value of the existing improvements in the Premises, such value to be based upon the age, quality and layout of the improvements and the extent to which the same could be utilized by general office users as contrasted with this specific Tenant, (c) Proposition 13 protection, (d) the type (e.g., surface, covered, subterranean), amount and applicable charges of parking, and (e) all other monetary concessions, if any, being granted such tenants in connection with such comparable space; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no consideration shall be given to the (I) any period of rental abatement, if any, granted to tenants in Comparable Deals in connection with the design, permitting and construction of improvements, or (II) fact that Landlord is or is not required to pay a real estate brokerage commission in connection with the applicable term or the fact that the Comparable Deals do or do not involve the payment of real estate brokerage commissions.  The term "Comparable Term" shall refer to the length of the lease term, without consideration of options to extend such term, for the space in question.  In addition, the determination of the Market Rent shall include a determination as to whether, and if so to what extent, Tenant must provide Landlord with financial security, such as a letter of credit or guaranty, for Tenant's rent obligations during any Option Term.  Such determination shall be made by reviewing the extent of financial security then generally being imposed in Comparable Deals upon tenants of comparable financial condition and credit history to the then existing financial condition and credit history of Tenant (with appropriate adjustments to account for differences in the then-existing financial condition of Tenant and such other tenants).  If in determining the Market Rent, Tenant is entitled to a improvement or comparable allowance for the improvement of the Premises (the "Option Term Improvement Allowance"), Landlord may, at Landlord's sole option, elect any or a portion of the following: (A) to grant some or all of the Option Term Improvement Allowance to Tenant in the form as described above (i.e., as an improvement allowance), and/or (B) to reduce the rental rate component of the Market Rent to be an effective rental rate which takes into consideration that Tenant will not receive the total dollar value of such excess Option Term Improvement Allowance (in which case the Option Term Improvement Allowance evidenced in the effective rental rate shall not be granted to Tenant).  The term "Comparable Buildings" shall mean the Building, and other first-class institutionally-owned office buildings which are comparable to the Building in terms of tenant mix, age (based upon the date of completion of construction or major renovation), quality of construction, level of services and amenities (including the type (e.g., surface, covered, subterranean) and amount of parking), size and appearance, and are located in the "Comparable Area," which is the "Del Mar Area" (defined below) in San Diego.  The "Del Mar Area" in San Diego shall be the Del Mar Heights submarket.   With respect to the Option Term, and notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and agree that if there are not a sufficient number of Comparable Deals having a comparable lease term to the applicable Option Term to determine the Market Rent for a lease of such duration, then the Market Rent for purposes of Section 2.2.2 shall be equal to that of Comparable Deals with a term of five (5) years, provided that the concessions shall be appropriately prorated on a fractional basis to account for the shorter term of lease.

2.2.3Exercise of Option.  The option contained in this Section 2.2 shall be exercised by Tenant, if at all, only in the manner set forth in this Section 2.2.3.  Tenant shall deliver notice (the "Exercise Notice") to Landlord not more than twelve (12) months nor less than nine (9) months prior to the expiration of the initial Lease Term, stating that Tenant is exercising its option.  Concurrently with such Exercise Notice, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord Tenant's calculation of the Market Rent (the "Tenant's Option Rent Calculation").  Landlord shall deliver notice (the "Landlord Response Notice") to Tenant on or before the date which is thirty (30) days after Landlord's receipt of the Exercise Notice and Tenant's Option Rent Calculation (the "Landlord Response Date"), stating that (A) Landlord is accepting Tenant's Option Rent Calculation as the Market Rent, or (B) rejecting Tenant's Option Rent Calculation and setting forth Landlord's calculation of the Market Rent (the "Landlord's Option Rent Calculation").  Within ten (10)

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business days of its receipt of the Landlord Response Notice, Tenant may, at its option, accept the Market Rent contained in the Landlord's Option Rent Calculation.  If Tenant does not affirmatively accept or Tenant rejects the Market Rent specified in the Landlord's Option Rent Calculation, the parties shall follow the procedure set forth in Section 2.2.4 below, and the Market Rent shall be determined in accordance with the terms of Section 2.2.4 below.

2.2.4Determination of Market Rent.  In the event Tenant objects or is deemed to have objected to the Market Rent, Landlord and Tenant shall attempt to agree upon the Market Rent using reasonable good-faith efforts.  If Landlord and Tenant fail to reach agreement within thirty (30) days following Tenant's objection or deemed objection to the Landlord's Option Rent Calculation (the "Outside Agreement Date"), then, within two (2) business days following such Outside Agreement Date, (x) Landlord may reestablish the Landlord's Option Rent Calculation by delivering written notice thereof to Tenant, and (y) Tenant may reestablish the Tenant's Option Rent Calculation by delivering written notice thereof to Landlord.  If Landlord and Tenant thereafter fail to reach agreement within seven (7) business days of the Outside Agreement Date, then in connection with the Option Rent, Landlord's Option Rent Calculation and Tenant's Option Rent Calculation, each as most recently delivered to the other party pursuant to the TCCs of this Section 2.2, shall be submitted to the "Neutral Arbitrator," as that term is defined in Section 2.2.4.1 of this Lease, pursuant to the TCCs of this Section 2.2.4.  The submittals shall be made concurrently with the selection of the Neutral Arbitrator pursuant to this Section 2.2.4 and shall be submitted to arbitration in accordance with Section 2.2.4.1 through 2.2.4.5 of this Lease, but subject to the conditions, when appropriate, of Section 2.2.3.  

2.2.4.1Landlord and Tenant shall mutually, reasonably appoint one (1) arbitrator who shall by profession be a real estate broker, appraiser or attorney who shall have been active over the five (5) year period ending on the date of such appointment in the leasing (or appraisal, as the case may be) of first-class institutionally-owned, mid-rise commercial properties in the Comparable Area (the "Neutral Arbitrator").  The determination of the Neutral Arbitrator shall be limited solely to the issue of whether Landlord's Option Rent Calculation or Tenant's Option Rent Calculation, each as submitted to the Neutral Arbitrator pursuant to Section 2.2.4, above, is the closest to the actual Market Rent as determined by such Neutral Arbitrator, taking into account the requirements of Section 2.2.2 of this Lease.  Such Neutral Arbitrator shall be appointed within fifteen (15) days after the applicable Outside Agreement Date.  Neither the Landlord or Tenant may, directly or indirectly, consult with the Neutral Arbitrator prior to, or subsequent to, his or her appearance.  The Neutral Arbitrator shall be retained via an engagement letter jointly prepared by Landlord's counsel and Tenant's counsel.

2.2.4.2The Neutral Arbitrator shall, within thirty (30) days of his/her appointment, reach a decision as to Market Rent and determine whether the Landlord's Option Rent Calculation or Tenant's Option Rent Calculation, each as submitted to the Neutral Arbitrator pursuant to Section 2.2.4, above, is closest to Market Rent as determined by such Neutral Arbitrator and simultaneously publish a ruling ("Award") indicating whether Landlord's Option Rent Calculation or Tenant's Option Rent Calculation is closest to the Market Rent as determined by such Neutral Arbitrator.  Following notification of the Award, the Landlord's Option Rent Calculation or Tenant's Option Rent Calculation, whichever is selected by the Neutral Arbitrator as being closest to Market Rent, shall become the then applicable Option Rent.

2.2.4.3The Award issued by such Neutral Arbitrator shall be binding upon Landlord and Tenant.

2.2.4.4If Landlord and Tenant fail to appoint the Neutral Arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after the applicable Outside Agreement Date, either party may petition the presiding judge of the Superior Court of San Diego County to appoint such Neutral Arbitrator subject to the criteria in Section 2.2.4.1 of this Lease, or if he or she refuses to act, either party may petition any judge having jurisdiction over the parties to appoint such Neutral Arbitrator.

2.2.4.5The cost of arbitration shall be paid by Landlord and Tenant equally.

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ARTICLE 3

BASE RENT

3.1In General.  Tenant shall pay, without prior notice or demand, to Landlord or Landlord's agent at the management office of the Project, or, at Landlord's option, at such other place as Landlord may from time to time designate in writing, by a check for currency which, at the time of payment, is legal tender for private or public debts in the United States of America, base rent ("Base Rent") as set forth in Section 4 of the Summary, payable in equal monthly installments as set forth in Section 4 of the Summary in advance on or before the first day of each and every calendar month during the Lease Term, without any setoff or deduction whatsoever.  The Base Rent for the first full month of the Lease Term shall be paid at the time of Tenant's execution of this Lease.  If any payment of Rent is for a period which is shorter than one month, the Rent for any such fractional month shall accrue on a daily basis during such fractional month and shall total an amount equal to the product of (i) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such fractional month and the denominator of which is the actual number of days occurring in such calendar month, and (ii) the then-applicable Monthly Installment of Base Rent.  All other payments or adjustments required to be made under the TCCs of this Lease that require proration on a time basis shall be prorated on the same basis.

3.2Base Rent Abatement.  Provided that no event of default is occurring during the three (3) month period commencing on December 1, 2018 and ending on February 28, 2019 (the "Base Rent Abatement Period"), Tenant shall not be obligated to pay any Base Rent otherwise attributable to the Premises during such Base Rent Abatement Period (the "Base Rent Abatement").  Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that the aggregate amount of the Base Rent Abatement equals $80,426.25 (i.e., $26,808.75 per month).  Tenant acknowledges and agrees that during such Base Rent Abatement Period, such abatement of Base Rent for the Premises shall have no effect on the calculation of any future increases in Base Rent or Direct Expenses payable by Tenant pursuant to the terms of this Lease, which increases shall be calculated without regard to such Base Rent Abatement.  Additionally, Tenant shall be obligated to pay all "Additional Rent" (as that term is defined in Section 4.1 of this Lease) during the Base Rent Abatement Period.  Tenant acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing Base Rent Abatement has been granted to Tenant as additional consideration for entering into this Lease, and for agreeing to pay the Base Rent and perform the terms and conditions otherwise required under this Lease.  If Tenant shall be in default under this Lease and shall fail to cure such default within the notice and cure period, if any, permitted for cure pursuant to this Lease, or if this Lease, is terminated for any reason other than Landlord's breach of this Lease, then the dollar amount of the unapplied portion of the Base Rent Abatement as of the date of such default or termination, as the case may be, shall be converted to a credit to be applied to the Base Rent applicable at the end of the Lease Term and Tenant shall immediately be obligated to begin paying Base Rent for the Premises in full.  The foregoing Base Rent Abatement right set forth in this Section 3.2 shall be personal to the Original Tenant and shall only apply to the extent that the Original Tenant (and not any assignee, or any sublessee or other transferee of the Original Tenant's interest in this Lease) is the Tenant under this Lease during such Base Rent Abatement Period.

ARTICLE 4

ADDITIONAL RENT

4.1In General.  In addition to paying the Base Rent specified in Article 3 of this Lease, Tenant shall pay "Tenant's Share" of the annual "Direct Expenses," as those terms are defined in Sections 4.2.6 and 4.2.2, respectively, of this Lease, which are in excess of the amount of Direct Expenses applicable to the "Base Year," as that term is defined in Section 4.2.1, below; provided, however, that in no event shall any decrease in Direct Expenses for any "Expense Year" (as that term is defined in Section 4.2.3, below) below Direct Expenses for the Base Year entitle Tenant to any decrease in Base Rent or any credit against sums due under this Lease.  Such payments by Tenant, together with any and all other amounts payable by Tenant to Landlord pursuant to the TCCs of this Lease, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Additional Rent," and the Base Rent and the Additional Rent are herein collectively referred to as "Rent." All amounts due under this Article 4 as Additional Rent shall be payable for the same periods and in the same manner as the Base Rent; provided, however, the parties hereby acknowledge that the first monthly installment of Tenant's Share of any "Estimated Excess," as that term is set forth in, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of, Section 4.4.2 of this Lease, shall first be due and payable for the

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calendar month occurring immediately following the expiration of the Base Year. Without limitation on other obligations of Tenant which survive the expiration of the Lease Term, the obligations of Tenant to pay the Additional Rent provided for in this Article 4 shall survive the expiration of the Lease Term.

4.2Definitions of Key Terms Relating to Additional Rent.  As used in this Article 4, the following terms shall have the meanings hereinafter set forth:

4.2.1"Base Year" shall mean the period set forth in Section 5 of the Summary.

4.2.2"Direct Expenses" shall mean "Operating Expenses" and "Tax Expenses."

4.2.3"Expense Year" shall mean each calendar year in which any portion of the Lease Term falls, through and including the calendar year in which the Lease Term expires, provided that Landlord, upon notice to Tenant, may change the Expense Year from time to time to any other twelve (12) consecutive month period, and, in the event of any such change, Tenant's Share of Direct Expenses shall be equitably adjusted for any Expense Year involved in any such change.

4.2.4"Operating Expenses" shall mean all expenses, costs and amounts of every kind and nature which Landlord pays or accrues during any Expense Year because of or in connection with the ownership, management, maintenance, security, repair, replacement, renovation, restoration or operation of the Building, or any portion thereof, in accordance with sound real estate management and accounting practices, consistently applied.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Operating Expenses shall specifically include any and all of the following: (i) the cost of supplying all utilities (but excluding the cost of electricity services consumed in the Premises and the premises of other tenants of the Building and any other buildings in the Project (since Tenant is separately paying for the cost of electricity services pursuant to Section 6.1.2 of the Lease)), the cost of operating, repairing, replacing, maintaining, renovating and restoring the utility, telephone, mechanical, sanitary, storm drainage, and elevator systems, and the cost of maintenance and service contracts in connection therewith; (ii) the cost of licenses, certificates, permits and inspections and the cost of contesting any governmental enactments which may affect Operating Expenses, and the costs incurred in connection with a governmentally mandated transportation system management program or similar program; (iii) the cost of all insurance carried by Landlord in connection with the Building; (iv) the cost of landscaping, relamping, and all supplies, tools, equipment and materials used in the operation, repair and maintenance of the Building, or any portion thereof; (v) costs incurred in connection with the parking areas servicing the Building; (vi) fees and other costs, including management fees (provided, however, that in no event shall the management fees exceed three and one-half percent (3.5%) of Building gross revenues), consulting fees, legal fees and accounting fees, of all contractors and consultants in connection with the management, operation, maintenance, replacement, renovation, repair and restoration of the Building; (vii) payments under any equipment rental agreements and the fair rental value of any management office space; (viii) wages, salaries and other compensation and benefits, including taxes levied thereon, of all persons (other than persons generally considered to be higher in rank than the position of "Senior Asset Manager") engaged in the operation, maintenance and security of the Building; (ix) costs under any instrument pertaining to the sharing of costs by the Building; (x) operation, repair, maintenance, renovation, replacement and restoration of all systems and equipment and components thereof of the Building; (xi) the cost of janitorial, alarm, security and other services, replacement, renovation, restoration and repair of wall and floor coverings, ceiling tiles and fixtures in common areas, maintenance, replacement, renovation, repair and restoration of curbs and walkways, repair to the Building roof (to the extent that such repairs would not be covered by an industry standard roof warranty available at the time the roof was installed) and re-roofing of the Building (provided that any re-roofing costs shall be amortized over the useful life of the replacement roof in accordance with clause (xiii) below); (xii) amortization of the cost of acquiring or the rental expense of personal property used in the maintenance, operation and repair of the Building, or any portion thereof (which amortization calculation shall include interest at the "Interest Rate," as that term is set forth in Article 25 of this Lease); (xiii) the cost of capital improvements or other costs incurred in connection with the Building(A) which are intended to effect economies in the operation or maintenance of the Building, or any portion thereof, (B) that are required to comply with present or anticipated conservation programs, (C) which are replacements or modifications of nonstructural items located in the Common Areas required to keep the Common Areas in good order or condition, (D) that are required under any governmental

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law or regulation by a federal, state or local governmental agency, except for capital repairs, replacements or other improvements to remedy a condition existing prior to the Lease Commencement Date which an applicable governmental authority, if it had knowledge of such condition prior to the Lease Commencement Date, would have then required to be remedied pursuant to then-current governmental laws or regulations in their form existing as of the Lease Commencement Date and pursuant to the then-current interpretation of such governmental laws or regulations by the applicable governmental authority as of the Lease Commencement Date, (E) which are required in order for the Building, or any portion thereof, to obtain or maintain a certification under the U.S.  Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ("LEED"), or other applicable certification agency in connection with Landlord's sustainability practices for the Building (as such sustainability practices are to be determined by Landlord, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time), or (F) that relate to the safety or security of the Project; provided, however, that any capital expenditure shall be amortized with interest at the Interest Rate over the shorter of (X) seven (7) years, (Y) its useful life as Landlord shall reasonably determine in accordance with sound real estate management and accounting practices, consistently applied, or (Z) with respect to those items included under item (A) above, their recovery/payback period as Landlord shall reasonably determine in accordance with sound real estate management and accounting practices, consistently applied; (xiv) costs, fees, charges or assessments imposed by, or resulting from any mandate imposed on Landlord by, any federal, state or local government for fire and police protection, trash removal, community services, or other services which do not constitute "Tax Expenses" as that term is defined in Section 4.2.5, below; (xv) payments under any easement, license, operating agreement, declaration, restrictive covenant, or instrument pertaining to the sharing of costs by the Project and (xvi) costs of any additional services not provided to the Project as of the Lease Commencement Date but which are thereafter provided by Landlord in connection with its prudent management of the Project.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Lease, Operating Expenses shall not, however, include:

(a)costs, including marketing costs, legal fees, space planners' fees, advertising and promotional expenses, and brokerage fees incurred in connection with the original construction or development, or original or future leasing of the Project, and costs, including permit, license and inspection costs, incurred with respect to the installation of improvements made for new tenants initially occupying space in the Project after the Lease Commencement Date or incurred in renovating or otherwise improving, decorating, painting or redecorating vacant space for tenants or other occupants of the Project (excluding, however, such costs relating to any common areas of the Project or parking facilities);

(b)except as set forth in items (xi), (xii), (xiii), and (xiv) above, depreciation, interest and principal payments on mortgages and other debt costs, if any, penalties and interest;

(c)costs for which the Landlord is reimbursed by any tenant or occupant of the Project or by insurance by its carrier or any tenant's carrier or by anyone else (except to the extent of deductibles), and electric power costs for which any tenant directly contracts with the local public service company;

(d)any bad debt loss, rent loss, or reserves for bad debts or rent loss;

(e)costs associated with the operation of the business of the partnership or entity which constitutes the Landlord, as the same are distinguished from the costs of operation of the Project (which shall specifically include, but not be limited to, accounting costs associated with the operation of the Project).  Costs associated with the operation of the business of the partnership or entity which constitutes the Landlord include costs of partnership accounting and legal matters, costs of defending any lawsuits with any mortgagee (except as the actions of the Tenant may be in issue), costs of selling, syndicating, financing, mortgaging or hypothecating any of the Landlord's interest in the Project, and costs incurred in connection with any disputes between Landlord and its employees, between Landlord and Project management, or between Landlord and other tenants or occupants, and Landlord's general corporate overhead and general and administrative expenses;

(f)the wages and benefits of any employee who does not devote substantially all of his or her employed time to the Project unless such wages and benefits are

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prorated to reflect time spent on operating and managing the Project vis-a-vis time spent on matters unrelated to operating and managing the Project; provided, that in no event shall Operating Expenses for purposes of this Lease include wages and/or benefits attributable to personnel above the level of Senior Asset Manager;

(g)amount paid as ground rental for the Project by the Landlord;

(h)overhead and profit increment paid to the Landlord or to subsidiaries or affiliates of the Landlord for services in the Project to the extent the same exceeds the costs of such services rendered by qualified, first-class unaffiliated third parties on a competitive basis;

(i)any compensation paid to clerks, attendants or other persons in commercial concessions operated by the Landlord, provided that any compensation paid to any concierge or parking attendants at the Project shall be includable as an Operating Expense;

(j)rentals and other related expenses incurred in leasing air conditioning systems, elevators or other equipment which if purchased the cost of which would be excluded from Operating Expenses as a capital cost, except equipment not affixed to the Project which is used in providing janitorial or similar services and, further excepting from this exclusion such equipment rented or leased to remedy or ameliorate an emergency condition in the Project ;

(k)all items and services for which Tenant or any other tenant in the Project reimburses Landlord or which Landlord provides selectively to one or more tenants (other than Tenant) without reimbursement;

(l)costs, other than those incurred in ordinary maintenance and repair, for sculpture, paintings, fountains or other objects of art;

(m)any costs expressly excluded from Operating Expenses elsewhere in this Lease;

(n)rent for any office space occupied by Project management personnel to the extent the size or rental rate of such office space exceeds the size or fair market rental value of office space occupied by management personnel of the comparable buildings in the vicinity of the Project, with adjustment where appropriate for the size of the applicable project;

(o)costs to the extent arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Landlord or its agents, employees, vendors, contractors, or providers of materials or services;

(p)costs incurred to comply with laws relating to the removal of hazardous material or substance (as defined under applicable law) which was in existence in the Building or on the Project prior to the Lease Commencement Date, and was of such a nature that a federal, state, local or municipal governmental authority, if it had then had knowledge of the presence of such hazardous material or substance, in the state, and under the conditions that it then existed in the Building or on the Project, would have then required the removal of such hazardous material or substance or other remedial or containment action with respect thereto, but only to the extent those laws were then being actively enforced by the applicable government authority; and costs incurred to remove, remedy, contain, or treat hazardous material or substance, which hazardous material or substance is brought into the Building or onto the Project after the date hereof by Landlord or any other tenant of the Project and is of such a nature, at that time, that a federal, state, local or municipal governmental authority, if it had then had knowledge of the presence of such hazardous material or substance, in the state, and under the conditions, that it then exists in the Building or on the Project, would have then required the removal of such hazardous material or substance or other remedial or containment action with respect thereto, but only to the extent those laws were then being actively enforced by the applicable government authority; and

(q)any costs covered by any warranty, rebate, guarantee or service contract which are actually collected by Landlord (which shall not prohibit Landlord from passing through the costs of any such warranty, rebate, guarantee or service contract if otherwise includable in Operating Expenses).

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If Landlord is not furnishing any particular work or service (the cost of which, if performed by Landlord, would be included in Operating Expenses) to a tenant who has undertaken to perform such work or service in lieu of the performance thereof by Landlord, Operating Expenses shall be deemed to be increased by an amount equal to the additional Operating Expenses which would reasonably have been incurred during such period by Landlord if it had at its own expense furnished such work or service to such tenant.  If the Project is not at least ninety-five percent (95%) occupied during all or a portion of the Base Year or any Expense Year, Landlord may elect to make an appropriate adjustment to the components of Operating Expenses for such year to determine the amount of Operating Expenses that would have been incurred had the Project been  ninety-five percent (95%) occupied; and the amount so determined shall be deemed to have been the amount of Operating Expenses for such year.  Operating Expenses for the Base Year and subsequent Expense Years shall not include market-wide cost increases (including utility rate increases) due to extraordinary circumstances, including, but not limited to, Force Majeure, boycotts, strikes, conservation surcharges, embargoes or shortages, or amortized costs relating to capital improvements.  In no event shall each of the components of Direct Expenses for any Expense Year related to utility costs, Tax Expenses, Project services costs or Project insurance costs be less than each of the corresponding components of Direct Expenses related to such utility costs, Tax Expenses, Project services costs and Project insurance costs in the Base Year. Landlord shall not (i) make a profit by charging items to Operating Expenses that are otherwise also charged separately to others and (ii) subject to Landlord's right to adjust the components of Operating Expenses described above in this paragraph, collect Operating Expenses from Tenant and all other tenants in the Building in an amount in excess of what Landlord incurs for the items included in Operating Expenses.

4.2.5Taxes.  

4.2.5.1"Tax Expenses" shall mean all federal, state, county, or local governmental or municipal taxes, fees, charges or other impositions of every kind and nature, whether general, special, ordinary or extraordinary, (including, without limitation, real estate taxes, general and special assessments, transit taxes, leasehold taxes or taxes based upon the receipt of rent, including gross receipts or sales taxes applicable to the receipt of rent, unless required to be paid by Tenant, personal property taxes imposed upon the fixtures, machinery, equipment, apparatus, systems and equipment, appurtenances, furniture and other personal property used in connection with the Project, or any portion thereof), which shall be paid or accrued during any Expense Year (without regard to any different fiscal year used by such governmental or municipal authority) because of or in connection with the ownership, leasing and operation of the Project, or any portion thereof (including, without limitation, the land upon which the Building and the parking facilities serving the Building are located).

4.2.5.2Tax Expenses shall include, without limitation: (i) Any tax on the rent, right to rent or other income from the Project, or any portion thereof, or as against the business of leasing the Project, or any portion thereof; (ii) Any assessment, tax, fee, levy or charge in addition to, or in substitution, partially or totally, of any assessment, tax, fee, levy or charge previously included within the definition of real property tax, it being acknowledged by Tenant and Landlord that Proposition 13 was adopted by the voters of the State of California in the June 1978 election ("Proposition 13") and that assessments, taxes, fees, levies and charges may be imposed by governmental agencies for such services as fire protection, street, sidewalk and road maintenance, refuse removal and for other governmental services formerly provided without charge to property owners or occupants, and, in further recognition of the decrease in the level and quality of governmental services and amenities as a result of Proposition 13, Tax Expenses shall also include any governmental or private assessments or the Project's contribution towards a governmental or private cost-sharing agreement for the purpose of augmenting or improving the quality of services and amenities normally provided by governmental agencies; (iii) Any assessment, tax, fee, levy, or charge allocable to or measured by the area of the Premises or the Rent payable hereunder, including, without limitation, any business or gross income tax or excise tax with respect to the receipt of such rent, or upon or with respect to the possession, leasing, operating, management, maintenance, alteration, repair, use or occupancy by Tenant of the Premises, or any portion thereof; (iv) Any assessment, tax, fee, levy or charge, upon this transaction or any document to which Tenant is a party, creating or transferring an interest or an estate in the Premises; and (v) all of the real estate taxes and assessments imposed upon or with respect to the Building and all of the real estate taxes and assessments imposed on the land and improvements comprising the Project.

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4.2.5.3Any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred in attempting to protest, reduce or minimize Tax Expenses shall be included in Tax Expenses in the Expense Year such expenses are paid.  Except as set forth in Section 4.2.5.4, below, refunds of Tax Expenses shall be credited against Tax Expenses and refunded to Tenant regardless of when received, based on the Expense Year to which the refund is applicable, provided that in no event shall the amount to be refunded to Tenant for any such Expense Year exceed the total amount paid by Tenant as an increase in Tax Expenses under this Article 4 for such Expense Year.  If Tax Expenses for any period during the Lease Term or any extension thereof are increased after payment thereof for any reason, including, without limitation, error or reassessment by applicable governmental or municipal authorities, Tenant shall pay Landlord upon demand Tenant's Share of any such increased Tax Expenses included by Landlord as Building Tax Expenses pursuant to the TCCs of this Lease.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4.2.5 (except as set forth in Section 4.2.5.2, above), there shall be excluded from Tax Expenses (i) all excess profits taxes, franchise taxes, gift taxes, capital stock taxes, inheritance and succession taxes, estate taxes, federal and state income taxes, and other taxes to the extent applicable to Landlord's general or net income (as opposed to rents, receipts or income attributable to operations at the Project), (ii) any items included as Operating Expenses, and (iii) any items paid by Tenant under Section 4.5 of this Lease.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Lease, only Landlord may institute proceedings to reduce Tax Expenses and the filing of any such proceeding by Tenant without Landlord's consent shall constitute an event of default by Tenant under this Lease.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord shall not be obligated to file any application or institute any proceeding seeking a reduction in Tax Expenses.

4.2.5.4Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Lease, the amount of Tax Expenses for the Base Year and any Expense Year shall be calculated without taking into account any decreases in real estate taxes obtained in connection with Proposition 8, and, therefore, the Tax Expenses in the Base Year and/or an Expense Year may be greater than those actually incurred by Landlord, but shall, nonetheless, be the Tax Expenses due under this Lease; provided that (i) any costs and expenses incurred by Landlord in securing any Proposition 8 reduction shall not be included in Direct Expenses for purposes of this Lease, and (ii) tax refunds under Proposition 8 shall not be deducted from Tax Expenses, but rather shall be the sole property of Landlord.  Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that this Section 4.2.5.4 is not intended to in any way affect (A) the inclusion in Tax Expenses of the statutory two percent (2.0%) annual maximum allowable increase in Tax Expenses (as such statutory increase may be modified by subsequent legislation), or (B) the inclusion or exclusion of Tax Expenses pursuant to the terms of Proposition 13, which shall be governed pursuant to the terms of Sections 4.2.5.1 through 4.2.5.3, above.

4.2.6"Tenant's Share" shall mean the percentage set forth in Section 6 of the Summary.  

4.3Allocation of Direct Expenses.  The parties acknowledge that the Building is a part of a multi-building project and that the costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Project (i.e.  the Direct Expenses) should be shared between the tenants of the Building and the tenants of the other buildings in the Project.  Accordingly, as set forth in Section 4.2 above, Direct Expenses (which consists of Operating Expenses and Tax Expenses) are determined annually for the Project as a whole, and a portion of the Direct Expenses, which portion shall be determined by Landlord on an equitable basis, shall be allocated to the tenants of the Building (as opposed to the tenants of any other buildings in the Project) and such portion shall be the Direct Expenses for purposes of this Lease.  Such portion of Direct Expenses allocated to the tenants of the Building shall include all Direct Expenses attributable solely to the Building (e.g., any capital improvement costs expressly permitted in accordance with Section 4.2.4(xiii), supplemental assessments relating to improvements made to the Building, etc.) and an equitable portion of the Direct Expenses attributable to the Project Common Areas or otherwise attributable to the Project as a whole; provided, however, any such Direct Expenses attributable solely to the 12390 El Camino Real building or any other future Project building, shall not be allocated to Tenant or other tenants of the Building.

4.4Calculation and Payment of Additional Rent.  If for any Expense Year ending or commencing within the Lease Term, Tenant's Share of Direct Expenses for such Expense Year exceeds Tenant's Share of Direct Expenses applicable to the Base Year, then Tenant shall pay to Landlord, in the manner set forth in Section 4.4.1, below, and as Additional Rent, an amount equal to the excess (the "Excess").

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4.4.1Statement of Actual Direct Expenses and Payment by Tenant.  Landlord shall give to Tenant following the end of each Expense Year, a statement (the "Statement") which shall state in general major categories the Direct Expenses incurred or accrued for the particular Expense Year, and which shall indicate the amount of the Excess.  Landlord shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver such Statement to Tenant on or before May 1 following the end of the Expense Year to which such Statement relates.  Upon receipt of the Statement for each Expense Year commencing or ending during the Lease Term, if an Excess is present, Tenant shall pay, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Statement, the full amount of the Excess for such Expense Year, less the amounts, if any, paid during such Expense Year as "Estimated Excess," as that term is defined in Section 4.4.2, below, and if Tenant paid more as Estimated Excess than the actual Excess, Tenant shall receive a credit in the amount of Tenant's overpayment against Rent next due under this Lease.  The failure of Landlord to timely furnish the Statement for any Expense Year shall not prejudice Landlord or Tenant from enforcing its rights under this Article 4.  Even though the Lease Term has expired and Tenant has vacated the Premises, when the final determination is made of Tenant's Share of Direct Expenses for the Expense Year in which this Lease terminates, if an Excess is present, Tenant shall, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Statement, pay to Landlord such amount, and if Tenant paid more as Estimated Excess than the actual Excess, Landlord shall, within thirty (30) days, deliver a check payable to Tenant in the amount of the overpayment.  The provisions of this Section 4.4.1 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease Term.  Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, Tenant shall not be responsible for Tenant's Share of any Direct Expenses attributable to any Expense Year which are first billed to Tenant more than two (2) calendar years after the Lease Expiration Date, provided that in any event Tenant shall be responsible for Tenant's Share of Direct Expenses which (x) were levied by any governmental authority or by any public utility companies, and (y) Landlord had not previously received an invoice therefor and which are currently due and owing (i.e., costs invoiced for the first time regardless of the date when the work or service relating to this Lease was performed), at any time following the Lease Expiration Date which are attributable to any Expense Year.

4.4.2Statement of Estimated Direct Expenses.  In addition, Landlord shall use commercially reasonable efforts to give Tenant, within one hundred twenty (120) days following the end of each Expense Year, a yearly expense estimate statement (the "Estimate Statement") which shall set forth in general major categories Landlord's reasonable estimate (the "Estimate") of what the total amount of Direct Expenses for the then-current Expense Year shall be and the estimated excess (the "Estimated Excess") as calculated by comparing the Direct Expenses for such Expense Year, which shall be based upon the Estimate, to the amount of Direct Expenses for the Base Year.  The failure of Landlord to timely furnish the Estimate Statement for any Expense Year shall not preclude Landlord from enforcing its rights to collect any Additional Rent under this Article 4, nor shall Landlord be prohibited from revising any Estimate Statement or Estimated Excess theretofore delivered to the extent necessary.  Thereafter, Tenant shall pay, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Estimate Statement, a fraction of the Estimated Excess for the then-current Expense Year (reduced by any amounts paid pursuant to the second to last sentence of this Section 4.4.2).  Such fraction shall have as its numerator the number of months which have elapsed in such current Expense Year, including the month of such payment, and twelve (12) as its denominator.  Until a new Estimate Statement is furnished (which Landlord shall have the right to deliver to Tenant at any time), Tenant shall pay monthly, with the monthly Base Rent installments, an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12) of the total Estimated Excess set forth in the previous Estimate Statement delivered by Landlord to Tenant.  Throughout the Lease Term Landlord shall maintain records with respect to Direct Expenses in accordance with sound real estate management and accounting practices, consistently applied.

4.5Taxes and Other Charges for Which Tenant Is Directly Responsible.  

4.5.1Tenant shall be liable for and shall pay ten (10) days before delinquency, taxes levied against Tenant's equipment, furniture, fixtures and any other personal property located in or about the Premises.  If any such taxes on Tenant's equipment, furniture, fixtures and any other personal property are levied against Landlord or Landlord's property or if the assessed value of Landlord's property is increased by the inclusion therein of a value placed upon such equipment, furniture, fixtures or any other personal property and if Landlord pays the taxes based upon such increased assessment, which Landlord shall have the right to do regardless of the validity thereof but only under proper protest if requested by Tenant, Tenant shall upon demand repay to Landlord the taxes so levied against Landlord or the proportion of such taxes resulting from such increase in the assessment, as the case may be.

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4.5.2If the improvements in the Premises, whether installed and/or paid for by Landlord or Tenant and whether or not affixed to the real property so as to become a part thereof, are assessed for real property tax purposes at a valuation higher than the valuation at which improvements conforming to Landlord's "building standard" in other space in the Building are assessed, then the Tax Expenses levied against Landlord or the property by reason of such excess assessed valuation shall be deemed to be taxes levied against personal property of Tenant and shall be governed by the provisions of Section 4.5.1, above.

4.5.3Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, Tenant shall pay prior to delinquency any (i) rent tax or sales tax, service tax, transfer tax or value added tax, or any other applicable tax on the rent or services herein or otherwise respecting this Lease, (ii) taxes assessed upon or with respect to the possession, leasing, operation, management, maintenance, alteration, repair, use or occupancy by Tenant of the Premises or any portion of the Project, including the Project parking facility; or (iii) taxes assessed upon this transaction or any document to which Tenant is a party creating or transferring an interest or an estate in the Premises.

4.6Landlord's Records.  Upon Tenant's written request given not more than ninety (90) days after Tenant's receipt of a Statement for a particular Expense Year, and provided that Tenant is not then in default under this Lease beyond the applicable notice and cure period provided in this Lease, specifically including, but not limited to, the timely payment of Additional Rent (whether or not a component thereof is the subject of the audit contemplated herein), Landlord shall furnish Tenant with such reasonable supporting documentation pertaining to the calculation of the Excess set forth in the Statement as Tenant may reasonably request.  Landlord shall provide said documentation pertaining to the relevant Excess to Tenant within sixty (60) days after Tenant's written request therefor.  Within one hundred eighty (180) days after receipt of a Statement by Tenant (the "Audit Period"), if Tenant disputes the amount of the Excess set forth in the Statement, an independent certified public accountant (which accountant (A) is a member of a nationally or regionally recognized certified public accounting firm which has previous experience in auditing financial operating records of landlords of office buildings, (B) shall not already be providing primary accounting and/or lease administration services to Tenant and shall not have provided primary accounting and/or lease administration services to Tenant in the past three (3) years, (C) is not working on a contingency fee basis [i.e., Tenant must be billed based on the actual time and materials that are incurred by the certified public accounting firm in the performance of the audit], and (D) shall not currently or in the future be providing accounting and/or lease administration services to another tenant in the Building and/or the Project in connection with a review or audit by such other tenant of similar expense records), designated and paid for by Tenant, may, after reasonable notice to Landlord and at reasonable times, audit Landlord's records with respect to the Excess set forth in the Statement at Landlord's corporate offices, provided that (i) Tenant is not then in default under this Lease (beyond the applicable notice and cure periods provided under this Lease), (ii) Tenant has paid all amounts required to be paid under the applicable Estimate Statement and Statement, and (iii) a copy of the audit agreement between Tenant and its particular certified public accounting firm has been delivered to Landlord prior to the commencement of the audit.  In connection with such audit, Tenant and Tenant's certified public accounting firm must agree in advance to follow Landlord's reasonable rules and procedures regarding an audit of the aforementioned Landlord records, and shall execute a commercially reasonable confidentiality agreement regarding such audit.  Any audit report prepared by Tenant's certified public accounting firm shall be delivered concurrently to Landlord and Tenant within the Audit Period.  Tenant's failure to audit the amount of the Excess set forth in any Statement within the Audit Period shall be deemed to be Tenant's approval of such Statement and Tenant, thereafter, waives the right or ability to audit the amounts set forth in such Statement.  If after such audit, Tenant still disputes such Excess, an audit to determine the proper amount shall be made, at Tenant's expense, by an independent certified public accountant (the "Accountant") selected by Landlord and subject to Tenant's reasonable approval; provided that if such audit by the Accountant proves that the Direct Expenses in the subject Expense Year were overstated by more than five percent (5%), then the cost of the Accountant and the cost of such audit shall be paid for by Landlord.  Tenant hereby acknowledges that Tenant's sole right to audit Landlord's records and to contest the amount of Direct Expenses payable by Tenant shall be as set forth in this Section 4.6, and Tenant hereby waives any and all other rights pursuant to applicable law to audit such records and/or to contest the amount of Direct Expenses payable by Tenant.

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ARTICLE 5

USE OF PREMISES

5.1Permitted Use.  Tenant shall use the Premises solely for the Permitted Use set forth in Section 7 of the Summary and Tenant shall not use or permit the Premises or the Project to be used for any other purpose or purposes whatsoever without the prior written consent of Landlord, which may be withheld in Landlord's sole and absolute discretion.

5.2Prohibited Uses.  The uses prohibited under this Lease shall include, without limitation, use of the Premises or a portion thereof for (i) offices of any agency or bureau of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof; (ii) offices or agencies of any foreign governmental or political subdivision thereof; (iii) offices of any health care professionals or service organization; (iv) schools or other training facilities which are not ancillary to corporate, executive or professional office use; (v) retail or restaurant uses; or (vi) communications firms such as radio and/or television stations.  Tenant's use shall not result in an occupancy density for the Premises which is greater than the total number of parking passes granted to Tenant under this Lease (i.e., as more particularly set forth in Section 9 of the Summary).  Tenant further covenants and agrees that it shall not use, or suffer or permit any person or persons to use, the Premises or any part thereof for any use or purpose contrary to the rules and regulations promulgated by Landlord from time to time ("Rules and Regulations"), the current set of which (as of the date of this Lease) is attached to this Lease as Exhibit D; or in violation of the laws of the United States of America, the State of California, or the ordinances, regulations or requirements of the local municipal or county governing body or other lawful authorities having jurisdiction over the Project, including, without limitation, any such laws, ordinances, regulations or requirements relating to hazardous materials or substances, as those terms are defined by applicable laws now or hereafter in effect; provided, however, Landlord shall not enforce, change or modify the Rules and Regulations in a discriminatory manner and Landlord agrees that the Rules and Regulations shall not be unreasonably modified or enforced in a manner which will unreasonably interfere with the normal and customary conduct of Tenant's business.  Tenant shall not do or permit anything to be done in or about the Premises which will in any way damage the reputation of the Project or obstruct or interfere with the rights of other tenants or occupants of the Building, or injure or annoy them or use or allow the Premises to be used for any improper, unlawful or objectionable purpose, nor shall Tenant cause, maintain or permit any nuisance in, on or about the Premises.  

5.3CC&Rs.  Tenant shall comply with all recorded covenants, conditions, and restrictions currently affecting the Project.  Additionally, Tenant acknowledges that the Project may be subject to any future covenants, conditions, and restrictions (the "CC&Rs") which Landlord, in Landlord's discretion, deems reasonably necessary or desirable, and Tenant agrees that this Lease shall be subject and subordinate to such CC&Rs.  Landlord shall have the right to require Tenant to execute and acknowledge, within fifteen (15) business days of a request by Landlord, a "Recognition of Covenants, Conditions, and Restriction," in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit F, agreeing to and acknowledging the CC&Rs.

ARTICLE 6

SERVICES AND UTILITIES

6.1Standard Tenant Services.  Landlord shall provide the following services on all days (unless otherwise stated below) during the Lease Term.

6.1.1Subject to reasonable changes implemented by Landlord and all governmental rules, regulations and guidelines applicable thereto, Landlord shall provide heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") when necessary for normal comfort for normal office use in the Premises from 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Saturday (collectively, the "Building Hours"), except for the date of observation of New Year's Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and, at Landlord's discretion, other locally or nationally recognized holidays (collectively, the "Holidays").

6.1.2Landlord shall provide adequate electrical wiring and facilities and power for normal general office use as determined by Landlord.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Lease, Tenant shall pay directly to the utility company pursuant to the

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utility company's separate meters (or to Landlord in the event Landlord provides submeters instead of the utility company's meters), the cost of all electricity, gas, water and sewer services provided to and/or consumed in the Premises (including normal and excess consumption and including the cost of electricity to operate the HVAC air handlers), which electricity, gas, water and sewer services shall be separately metered (as described above or otherwise equitably allocated and directly charged by Landlord to Tenant and other tenants of the Building).  Tenant shall pay such cost (including the cost of such meters or submeters) within ten (10) days after demand and as Additional Rent under this Lease (and not as part of the Operating Expenses).  Landlord shall designate the utility provider from time to time.

6.1.3As part of Operating Expenses, Landlord shall replace lamps, starters and ballasts for Building standard lighting fixtures within the Premises.  In addition, Tenant shall bear the cost of replacement of lamps, starters and ballasts for non-Building standard lighting fixtures within the Premises.

6.1.4Landlord shall provide city water from the regular Building outlets for drinking, lavatory and toilet purposes in the Building Common Areas.  

6.1.5Landlord shall provide janitorial services to the Premises, except the date of observation of the Holidays, in and about the Premises and window washing services in a manner consistent with other comparable buildings in the vicinity of the Project.

6.1.6Landlord shall provide nonexclusive, non-attended automatic passenger elevator service during the Building Hours, and shall have at least one elevator available at all other times.  Landlord shall provide nonexclusive freight elevator service subject to scheduling by Landlord.

Tenant shall cooperate fully with Landlord at all times and abide by all regulations and requirements that Landlord may reasonably prescribe for the proper functioning and protection of the HVAC, electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems.

6.2Overstandard Tenant Use.  Tenant shall not, without Landlord's prior written consent, use heat-generating machines, machines other than normal fractional horsepower office machines, or equipment or lighting other than Building standard lights in the Premises, which may affect the temperature otherwise maintained by the air conditioning system or increase the water normally furnished for the Premises by Landlord pursuant to the terms of Section 6.1 of this Lease.  If such consent is given, Landlord shall have the right to require installation of supplementary air conditioning units or other facilities in the Premises, including supplementary or additional metering devices, and the cost thereof, including the cost of installation, operation and maintenance, increased wear and tear on existing equipment and other similar charges, shall be paid by Tenant to Landlord upon billing by Landlord.  If Tenant uses water, electricity, heat or air conditioning in excess of that supplied by Landlord pursuant to Section 6.1 of this Lease, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, upon billing, the cost of such excess consumption, the cost of the installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment which is installed in order to supply such excess consumption, and the cost of the increased wear and tear on existing equipment caused by such excess consumption; and Landlord may install devices to separately meter any increased use and in such event Tenant shall pay the increased cost directly to Landlord, including the cost of such additional metering devices.  Tenant's use of electricity shall never exceed the capacity of the feeders to the Project or the risers or wiring installation, and subject to the terms of Section 29.32, below, Tenant shall not install or use or permit the installation or use of any computer or electronic data processing equipment in the Premises, without the prior written consent of Landlord.  If Tenant desires to use heat, ventilation or air conditioning during hours other than those for which Landlord is obligated to supply such utilities pursuant to the terms of Section 6.1 of this Lease, Tenant shall give Landlord such prior notice, if any, as Landlord shall from time to time establish as appropriate, of Tenant's desired use in order to supply such utilities, and Landlord shall supply such utilities to Tenant at such hourly cost to Tenant (which shall be treated as Additional Rent) as Landlord shall from time to time establish.

6.3Interruption of Use.  Tenant agrees that Landlord shall not be liable for damages, by abatement of Rent or otherwise, for failure to furnish or delay in furnishing any service (including telephone and telecommunication services), or for any diminution in the quality or quantity thereof, when such failure or delay or diminution is occasioned, in whole or in part, by breakage, repairs, replacements, or improvements, by any strike, lockout or other labor trouble, by

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inability to secure electricity, gas, water, or other fuel at the Building or Project after reasonable effort to do so, by any riot or other dangerous condition, emergency, accident or casualty whatsoever, by act or default of Tenant or other parties, or by any other cause beyond Landlord's reasonable control; and such failures or delays or diminution shall never be deemed to constitute an eviction or disturbance of Tenant's use and possession of the Premises or relieve Tenant from paying Rent or performing any of its obligations under this Lease.  Furthermore, Landlord shall not be liable under any circumstances for a loss of, or injury to, property or for injury to, or interference with, Tenant's business, including, without limitation, loss of profits, however occurring, through or in connection with or incidental to a failure to furnish any of the services or utilities as set forth in this Article 6.

ARTICLE 7

REPAIRS

Tenant shall, at Tenant's own expense, keep the Premises, including all improvements, fixtures, equipment, interior window coverings, and furnishings therein, and the floor or floors of the Building on which the Premises is located, in good order, repair and condition at all times during the Lease Term. In addition, Tenant shall, at Tenant's own expense, but under the supervision and subject to the prior approval of Landlord, and within any reasonable period of time specified by Landlord, promptly and adequately repair all damage to the Premises and replace or repair all damaged, broken, or worn fixtures and appurtenances, except for damage caused by ordinary wear and tear or beyond the reasonable control of Tenant; provided however, that, at Landlord's option, or if Tenant fails to make such repairs, Landlord may, after written notice to Tenant and Tenant's failure to repair within five (5) days thereafter, but need not, make such repairs and replacements, and Tenant shall pay Landlord the cost thereof, including a percentage of the cost thereof (to be uniformly established for the Building and/or the Project) sufficient to reimburse Landlord for all overhead, general conditions, fees and other costs or expenses arising from Landlord's involvement with such repairs and replacements forthwith upon being billed for same.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord shall be responsible for repairs to the exterior walls, foundation and roof of the Building, the structural portions of the floors of the Building, and the systems and equipment of the Building, except to the extent that such repairs are required due to the negligence or willful misconduct of Tenant; provided, however, that if such repairs are due to the negligence or willful misconduct of Tenant, Landlord shall nevertheless make such repairs at Tenant's expense, or, if covered by Landlord's insurance, Tenant shall only be obligated to pay any deductible in connection therewith.  Landlord may, but shall not be required to, enter the Premises at all reasonable times to make such repairs, alterations, improvements or additions to the Premises or to the Project or to any equipment located in the Project as Landlord shall desire or deem necessary or as Landlord may be required to do by governmental or quasi-governmental authority or court order or decree; provided, however, except for (i) emergencies, (ii) repairs, alterations, improvements or additions required by governmental or quasi-governmental authorities or court order or decree, or (iii) repairs which are the obligation of Tenant hereunder, any such entry into the Premises by Landlord shall be performed in a manner so as not to materially interfere with Tenant's use of, or access to, the Premises; provided that, with respect to items (ii) and (iii) above, Landlord shall use commercially reasonable efforts to not materially interfere with Tenant's use of, or access to, the Premises.  Tenant hereby waives any and all rights under and benefits of subsection 1 of Section 1932 and Sections 1941 and 1942 of the California Civil Code or under any similar law, statute, or ordinance now or hereafter in effect.

ARTICLE 8

ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS

8.1Landlord's Consent to Alterations.  Tenant may not make any improvements, alterations, additions or changes to the Premises or any mechanical, plumbing or HVAC facilities or systems pertaining to the Premises (collectively, the "Alterations") without first procuring the prior written consent of Landlord to such Alterations, which consent shall be requested by Tenant not less than fifteen (15) business days prior to the commencement thereof, and which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld by Landlord, provided it shall be deemed reasonable for Landlord to withhold its consent to any Alteration which adversely affects the structural portions or the systems or equipment of the Building or is visible from the exterior of the Building.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall be permitted to make Alterations following ten (10) business days' notice to Landlord, but without Landlord's prior consent, to the extent that such

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Alterations do not (i) adversely affect the systems and equipment of the Building, exterior appearance of the Building, or structural aspects of the Building, (ii) adversely affect the value of the Premises or Building, (iii) require a building or construction permit, or (iv) cost more than Ten Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($10,000.00) for a particular job of work (the "Cosmetic Alterations").  

8.2Manner of Construction.  Landlord may impose, as a condition of its consent to any and all Alterations or repairs of the Premises or about the Premises, such requirements as Landlord in its reasonable discretion may deem desirable, including, but not limited to, the requirement that Tenant utilize for such purposes only contractors reasonably approved by Landlord, and any removal and/or restoration obligations required to be performed pursuant to the TCCs of Section 8.5 of this Lease.  If Landlord shall give its consent, the consent shall be deemed conditioned upon Tenant acquiring a permit to do the work from appropriate governmental agencies, the furnishing of a copy of such permit to Landlord prior to the commencement of the work, and the compliance by Tenant with all conditions of said permit in a prompt and expeditious manner.  If such Alterations will involve the use of or disturb hazardous materials or substances existing in the Premises, Tenant shall notify Landlord prior to performing such Alterations and comply with Landlord's rules and regulations concerning such hazardous materials or substances.  Tenant shall construct such Alterations and perform such repairs in a good and workmanlike manner, in conformance with any and all applicable federal, state, county, local or municipal laws, ordinances, rules and regulations and pursuant to a valid building permit, issued by the city in which the Building is located (or other applicable governmental authority), all in conformance with Landlord's construction rules and regulations; provided, however, that prior to commencing to construct any Alteration, Tenant shall meet with Landlord to discuss Landlord's design parameters and code compliance issues.  In the event Tenant performs any Alterations in the Premises which require or give rise to governmentally required changes to the "Base Building," as that term is defined below, then Landlord shall, at Tenant's expense, make such changes to the Base Building.  Since all or a portion of the Project is or may become in the future certified under the LEED rating system (or other applicable certification standard) (all in Landlord's sole and absolute discretion), Tenant expressly acknowledges and agrees that without limitation as to other grounds for Landlord withholding its consent to any proposed Alteration, Landlord shall have the right to withhold its consent to any proposed Alteration in the event that such Alteration is not compatible with such certification or recertification of the Project under such LEED rating system (or other applicable certification standard).  The "Base Building" shall include the structural portions of the Building, and the public restrooms, elevators, exit stairwells and the systems and equipment located in the internal core of the Building on the floor or floors on which the Premises is located.  In performing the work of any such Alterations, Tenant shall have the work performed in such manner so as not to obstruct access to the Project or any portion thereof, by any other tenant of the Project, and so as not to obstruct the business of Landlord or other tenants in the Project.  Tenant shall retain any union trades to the extent designated by Landlord.  Further, Tenant shall not use (and upon notice from Landlord shall cease using) contractors, services, workmen, labor, materials or equipment that, in Landlord's reasonable judgment, would disturb labor harmony with the workforce or trades engaged in performing other work, labor or services in or about the Building or the Common Areas.  In addition to Tenant's obligations under Article 9 of this Lease, upon completion of any Alterations, Tenant agrees to cause a Notice of Completion to be recorded in the office of the Recorder of the County of San Diego in accordance with Section 8182 of the Civil Code of the State of California or any successor statute, and as a condition precedent to the enforceability and validity of Landlord's consent, Tenant shall deliver to the management office for the Project a reproducible copy of the "as built" and CAD drawings of the Alterations, to the extent applicable, as well as all permits, approvals and other documents issued by any governmental agency in connection with the Alterations.

8.3Payment for Improvements.  With respect to payments to be made to Tenant's contractors for any Alterations, Tenant shall (i) comply with Landlord's requirements for final lien releases and waivers in connection with Tenant's payment for work to contractors, and (ii) sign Landlord's standard contractor's rules and regulations.  In addition, in connection with all Alterations, Tenant shall pay Landlord an oversight fee equal to five percent (5%) of the cost of the work, and reimburse Landlord for Landlord's reasonable, actual, out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred in connection with Landlord's review of such work.

8.4Construction Insurance.  In addition to the requirements of Article 10 of this Lease, in the event that Tenant makes any Alterations, prior to the commencement of such Alterations, Tenant shall provide Landlord with evidence that Tenant carries "Builder's Risk"

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insurance in an amount reasonably approved by Landlord covering the construction of such Alterations, and such other insurance as Landlord may reasonably require, it being understood and agreed that all of such Alterations shall be insured by Tenant pursuant to Article 10 of this Lease immediately upon completion thereof.  In addition, Landlord may, in its reasonable discretion, require Tenant to obtain a lien and completion bond or some alternate form of security satisfactory to Landlord in an amount sufficient to ensure the lien-free completion of such Alterations and naming Landlord as a co-obligee.

8.5Landlord's Property.  Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and agree that all Alterations, improvements, fixtures, equipment and/or appurtenances which may be installed or placed in or about the Premises (excluding Tenant's removable trade fixtures, furniture or non-affixed office equipment), from time to time, shall be at the sole cost of Tenant and shall be and become part of the Premises and the property of Landlord.  Furthermore, Landlord may, by written notice to Tenant prior to the end of the Lease Term, or given following any earlier termination of this Lease, require Tenant, at Tenant's expense, to remove any Alterations or improvements in the Premises, and to repair any damage to the Premises and Building caused by such removal and return the affected portion of the Premises to a building standard improved condition as determined by Landlord; provided, however, if, in connection with its notice to Landlord with respect to any such Alterations or Cosmetic Alterations, (i) Tenant requests Landlord's decision with regard to the removal of such Alterations or Cosmetic Alterations, and (ii) Landlord thereafter agrees in writing to waive the removal requirement with regard to such Alterations or Cosmetic Alterations, then Tenant shall not be required to so remove such Alterations or Cosmetic Alterations; provided further, however, that if Tenant requests such a determination from Landlord and Landlord, within ten (10) business days following Landlord's receipt of such request from Tenant with respect to Alterations or Cosmetic Alterations, fails to address the removal requirement with regard to such Alterations or Cosmetic Alterations, Landlord shall be deemed to have agreed to waive the removal requirement with regard to such Alterations or Cosmetic Alterations.  If Tenant fails to complete such removal and/or to repair any damage caused by the removal of any Alterations or improvements in the Premises, and/or to return the affected portion of the Premises to a building standard improved condition as determined by Landlord, then at Landlord's option, either (A) Tenant shall be deemed to be holding over in the Premises and Rent shall continue to accrue in accordance with the terms of Article 16, below, until such work shall be completed, and/or (B) Landlord may do so and may charge the cost thereof to Tenant.  Tenant hereby protects, defends, indemnifies and holds Landlord harmless from any liability, cost, obligation, expense or claim of lien in any manner relating to the installation, placement, removal or financing of any such Alterations, improvements, fixtures and/or equipment in, on or about the Premises, which obligations of Tenant shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease.

ARTICLE 9

COVENANT AGAINST LIENS

Tenant shall keep the Project and Premises free from any liens or encumbrances arising out of the work performed, materials furnished or obligations incurred by or on behalf of Tenant, and shall protect, defend, indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, judgments or costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs) arising out of same or in connection therewith.  Tenant shall give Landlord notice at least twenty (20) days prior to the commencement of any such work on the Premises (or such additional time as may be necessary under applicable laws) to afford Landlord the opportunity of posting and recording appropriate notices of non-responsibility.  Tenant shall remove any such lien or encumbrance by bond or otherwise within five (5) days after notice by Landlord, and if Tenant shall fail to do so, Landlord may pay the amount necessary to remove such lien or encumbrance, without being responsible for investigating the validity thereof.  The amount so paid shall be deemed Additional Rent under this Lease payable upon demand, without limitation as to other remedies available to Landlord under this Lease.  Nothing contained in this Lease shall authorize Tenant to do any act which shall subject Landlord's title to the Building or Premises to any liens or encumbrances whether claimed by operation of law or express or implied contract.  Any claim to a lien or encumbrance upon the Building or Premises arising in connection with any such work or respecting the Premises not performed by or at the request of Landlord shall be null and void, or at Landlord's option shall attach only against Tenant's interest in the Premises and shall in all respects be subordinate to Landlord's title to the Project, Building and Premises.

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ARTICLE 10

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

10.1Indemnification and Waiver.  Tenant hereby assumes all risk of damage to property or injury to persons in, upon or about the Premises from any cause whatsoever and agrees that Landlord, its partners, subpartners and their respective officers, agents, servants, employees, and independent contractors (collectively, "Landlord Parties") shall not be liable for, and are hereby released from any responsibility for, any damage either to person or property or resulting from the loss of use thereof, which damage is sustained by Tenant or by other persons claiming through Tenant.  Tenant shall indemnify, defend, protect, and hold harmless the Landlord Parties from and against any and all loss, cost, damage, expense and liability (including without limitation court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with or arising from: (a) any causes in, on or about the Premises; (b) the use or occupancy of the Premises by Tenant or any person claiming under Tenant; (c) any activity, work, or thing done, or permitted or suffered by Tenant in or about the Premises; (d) any acts, omission, or negligence of Tenant or any person claiming under Tenant, or the contractors, agents, employees, invitees, or visitors of Tenant or any such person, in, on or about the Project (collectively, "Tenant Parties"); (e) any breach, violation, or non-performance by Tenant or any person claiming under Tenant or the employees, agents, contractors, invitees, or visitors of Tenant or any such person of any term, covenant, or provision of this Lease or any law, ordinance, or governmental requirement of any kind; (f) any injury or damage to the person, property, or business of Tenant, its employees, agents, contractors, invitees, visitors, or any other person entering upon the Premises under the express or implied invitation of Tenant; or (g) the placement of any personal property or other items within the Premises.  Should Landlord be named as a defendant in any suit brought against Tenant in connection with or arising out of Tenant's occupancy of the Premises, Tenant shall pay to Landlord its costs and expenses incurred in such suit, including without limitation, its actual professional fees such as appraisers', accountants' and attorneys' fees.  Further, Tenant's agreement to indemnify Landlord pursuant to this Section 10.1 is not intended and shall not relieve any insurance carrier of its obligations under policies required to be carried by Tenant pursuant to the provisions of this Lease, to the extent such policies cover the matters subject to Tenant's indemnification obligations; nor shall they supersede any inconsistent agreement of the parties set forth in any other provision of this Lease.  The provisions of this Section 10.1 shall survive the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease with respect to any claims or liability arising in connection with any event occurring prior to such expiration or termination.

10.2Tenant's Compliance With Landlord's Fire and Casualty Insurance.  Tenant shall, at Tenant's expense, comply with Landlord's insurance company requirements pertaining to the use of the Premises.  If Tenant's conduct or use of the Premises causes any increase in the premium for such insurance policies then Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for any such increase.  Tenant, at Tenant's expense, shall comply with all rules, orders, regulations or requirements of the American Insurance Association (formerly the National Board of Fire Underwriters) and with any similar body.

10.3Tenant's Insurance.  Throughout the Lease Term, Tenant shall maintain the following coverages in the following amounts.  The required evidence of coverage must be delivered to Landlord on or before the date required under Section 10.4(I) sub-sections (x) and (y), or Section 10.4(II) below (as applicable).  Such policies shall be for a term of at least one (1) year, or the length of the remaining term of this Lease, whichever is less.

10.3.1Commercial General Liability Insurance, including Broad Form contractual liability covering the insured against claims of bodily injury, personal injury and property damage (including loss of use thereof) based upon or arising out of Tenant's operations, occupancy or maintenance of the Project and all areas appurtenant thereto.  Such insurance shall be written on an "occurrence" basis.  Landlord and any other party the Landlord so specifies that has a material financial interest in the Project, including Landlord's managing agent, ground lessor and/or lender, if any, shall be named as additional insureds as their interests may appear using Insurance Service Organization's form CG2011 or a comparable form approved by Landlord.  Tenant shall provide an endorsement or policy excerpt showing that Tenant's coverage is primary and any insurance carried by Landlord shall be excess and non-contributing.  The coverage shall also be extended to include damage caused by heat, smoke or fumes from a hostile fire.  The policy shall not contain any intra-insured exclusions as between insured persons or organizations.  This policy shall include coverage for all liabilities assumed under this Lease as an insured contract for

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the performance of all of Tenant's indemnity obligations under this Lease. The limits of said insurance shall not, however, limit the liability of Tenant nor relieve Tenant of any obligation hereunder.  Limits of liability insurance shall not be less than the following; provided, however, such limits may be achieved through the use of an Umbrella/Excess Policy:

 

10.3.2Property Insurance covering (i) all office furniture, personal property, business and trade fixtures, office equipment, free-standing cabinet work, movable partitions, merchandise and all other items of Tenant's business personal property on the Premises installed by, for, or at the expense of Tenant, (ii) any improvements which exist in the Premises as of the Lease Commencement Date (excluding the Base Building) (the "Original Improvements"), and (iii) all Alterations performed in the Premises.  Such insurance shall be written on a Special Form basis, for the full replacement cost value (subject to reasonable deductible amounts), without deduction for depreciation of the covered items and in amounts that meet any co-insurance clauses of the policies of insurance and shall include coverage for (a) all perils included in the CP 10 30 04 02 Coverage Special Form, (b) water damage from any cause whatsoever, including, but not limited to, sprinkler leakage, bursting, leaking or stoppage of any pipes, explosion, and backup or overflow from sewers or drains, and (c) terrorism (to the extent such terrorism insurance is available as a result of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (Pub.  L.  107-297, 116 Stat.  2322), the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Pub.  l.  109‑144), and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (Pub.  L.  110‑160, 121 Stat.  183), any successor statute or regulation, or is otherwise available at commercially reasonable rates).

10.3.2.1Increase in Project's Property Insurance.  Tenant shall pay for any increase in the premiums for the property insurance of the Project if said increase is caused by Tenant's acts, omissions, use or occupancy of the Premises.

10.3.2.2Property Damage.  Tenant shall use the proceeds from any such insurance for the replacement of personal property, trade fixtures, Original Improvements and Alterations.

10.3.2.3No Representation of Adequate Coverage.  Landlord makes no representation that the limits or forms of coverage of insurance specified herein are adequate to cover Tenant's property, business operations or obligations under this Lease.

10.3.2.4Property Insurance Subrogation.  Landlord and Tenant intend that their respective property loss risks shall be borne by insurance carriers to the extent above provided (and, in the case of Tenant, by an insurance carrier satisfying the requirements of Section 10.4(i) below), and Landlord and Tenant hereby agree to look solely to, and seek recovery only from, their respective insurance carriers in the event of a property loss to the extent that such coverage is agreed to be provided hereunder.  The parties each hereby waive all rights and claims against each other for such losses, and waive all rights of subrogation of their respective insurers.  Landlord and Tenant hereby represent and warrant that their respective "all risk" property insurance policies include a waiver of (i) subrogation by the insurers, and (ii) all rights based upon an assignment from its insured, against Landlord and/or any of the Landlord Parties or Tenant and/or any of the Tenant Parties (as the case may be) in connection with any property loss risk thereby insured against.  Tenant will cause all subtenants and licensees of the Premises claiming by, under, or through Tenant to execute and deliver to Landlord a waiver of claims similar to the waiver in this Section 10.3.2.4 and to obtain such waiver of subrogation rights endorsements.  If either party hereto fails to maintain the waivers set forth in items (i) and (ii) above, the party not maintaining the requisite waivers shall indemnify, defend, protect, and hold harmless the other party for, from and against any and all claims, losses, costs, damages, expenses and liabilities

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(including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of, resulting from, or relating to, such failure.  

10.3.3Business Income Interruption for six (6) months plus Extra Expense insurance in such amounts as will reimburse Tenant for actual direct or indirect loss of earnings attributable to the risks outlined in Section 10.3.2 above.

10.3.4Worker's Compensation or other similar insurance pursuant to all applicable state and local statutes and regulations, and Employer's Liability with minimum limits of not less than $1,000,000 each accident/employee/disease.

10.3.5Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance covering all Owned (if any), Hired, or Non-owned vehicles with limits not less than $1,000,000 combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage.

10.4Form of Policies.  The minimum limits of policies of insurance required of Tenant under this Lease shall in no event limit the liability of Tenant under this Lease.  Such insurance shall (i) be issued by an insurance company having an AM Best rating of not less than A‑X (or to the extent AM Best ratings are no longer available, then a similar rating from another comparable rating agency), or which is otherwise acceptable to Landlord and licensed to do business in the State of California, (ii) be in form and content reasonably acceptable to Landlord and complying with the requirements of Section 10.3 (including, Sections 10.3.1 through 10.3.5), (iii) Tenant shall not do or permit to be done anything which invalidates the required insurance policies, and (iv) provide that said insurance shall not be canceled or coverage changed unless thirty (30) days' prior written notice shall have been given to Landlord and any mortgagee of Landlord, the identity of whom has been provided to Tenant in writing.  Tenant shall deliver said policy or policies or certificates thereof and applicable endorsements which meet the requirements of this Article 10 to Landlord on or before (I) the earlier to occur of: (x) the Lease Commencement Date, and (y) the date Tenant and/or its employees, contractors and/or agents first enter the Premises for occupancy, construction of improvements, alterations, or any other move-in activities, and (II) five (5) business days after the renewal of such policies.  In the event Tenant shall fail to procure such insurance, or to deliver such policies or certificates and applicable endorsements, Landlord may, at its option, after written notice to Tenant and Tenant's failure to obtain such insurance within five (5) days thereafter, procure such policies for the account of Tenant and the sole benefit of Landlord, and the cost thereof shall be paid to Landlord after delivery to Tenant of bills therefor.

10.5Additional Insurance Obligations.  Tenant shall carry and maintain during the entire Lease Term, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, increased amounts of the insurance required to be carried by Tenant pursuant to this Article 10 and such other reasonable types of insurance coverage and in such reasonable amounts covering the Premises and Tenant's operations therein, as may be reasonably requested by Landlord.

10.6Third-Party Contractors.  Tenant shall obtain and deliver to Landlord, Third Party Contractor's certificates of insurance and applicable endorsements at least seven (7) business days prior to the commencement of work in or about the Premises by any vendor or any other third-party contractor (collectively, a "Third Party Contractor").  All such insurance shall (a) name Landlord as an additional insured under such party's liability policies as required by Section 10.3.1 above and this Section 10.6, (b) provide a waiver of subrogation in favor of Landlord under such Third Party Contractor's commercial general liability insurance, (c) be primary and any insurance carried by Landlord shall be excess and non-contributing, and (d) comply with Landlord's minimum insurance requirements.  

ARTICLE 11

DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION

11.1.1.1Repair of Damage to Premises by Landlord.  If the Base Building or any Common Areas serving or providing access to the Premises shall be damaged by a fire or any other casualty (collectively, a "Casualty"), Landlord shall promptly and diligently, subject to reasonable delays for insurance adjustment or other matters beyond Landlord's reasonable control, and subject to all other terms of this Article 11, restore the Base Building and such Common Areas.  Such restoration shall be to substantially the same condition of the Base Building and the Common Areas prior to the Casualty, except for modifications required by zoning

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and building codes and other laws or by the holder of a mortgage on the Building or Project or any other modifications to the Common Areas deemed desirable by Landlord, which are consistent with the character of the Project, provided that access to the Premises and any common restrooms serving the Premises shall not be materially impaired.  Tenant shall promptly notify Landlord upon the occurrence of any damage to the Premises resulting from a Casualty, and Tenant shall promptly inform its insurance carrier of any such damage.  Upon notice (the "Landlord Repair Notice") to Tenant from Landlord, Tenant shall assign to Landlord (or to any party designated by Landlord) all insurance proceeds payable to Tenant under Tenant's insurance required under Section 10.3 of this Lease, and Landlord shall repair any injury or damage to the Original Improvements installed in the Premises and shall return such Original Improvements to their original condition; provided that if the cost of such repair by Landlord exceeds the amount of insurance proceeds received by Landlord from Tenant's insurance carrier, as assigned by Tenant, the cost of such repairs shall be paid by Tenant to Landlord prior to Landlord's commencement of repair of the damage.  In the event that Landlord does not deliver the Landlord Repair Notice within sixty (60) days following the date the Casualty becomes known to Landlord, Tenant shall, at its sole cost and expense, repair any injury or damage to the Original Improvements installed in the Premises and shall return such Original Improvements to their original condition.  Whether or not Landlord delivers a Landlord Repair Notice, prior to the commencement of construction, Tenant shall submit to Landlord, for Landlord's review and approval, all plans, specifications and working drawings relating thereto, and Landlord shall select the contractors to perform such improvement work.  Landlord shall not be liable for any inconvenience or annoyance to Tenant or its visitors, or injury to Tenant's business resulting in any way from such damage or the repair thereof; provided however, that if such Casualty shall have damaged the Premises or Common Areas necessary to Tenant's occupancy, and the Premises is not occupied by Tenant as a result thereof, then during the time and to the extent the Premises is unfit for occupancy, the Rent shall be abated in proportion to the ratio that the amount of rentable square feet of the Premises which is unfit for occupancy for the purposes permitted under this Lease bears to the total rentable square feet of the Premises.  In the event that Landlord shall not deliver the Landlord Repair Notice, Tenant's right to rent abatement pursuant to the preceding sentence shall terminate as of the date which is reasonably determined by Landlord to be the date Tenant should have completed repairs to the Premises assuming Tenant used reasonable due diligence in connection therewith.

11.2Landlord's Option to Repair.  Notwithstanding the terms of Section 11.1 of this Lease, Landlord may elect not to rebuild and/or restore the Premises, Building and/or Project, and instead terminate this Lease, by notifying Tenant in writing of such termination within sixty (60) days after the date of discovery of the damage, such notice to include a termination date giving Tenant sixty (60) days to vacate the Premises, but Landlord may so elect only if the Building or Project shall be damaged by Casualty, whether or not the Premises is affected, and one or more of the following conditions is present: (i) in Landlord's reasonable judgment, repairs cannot reasonably be completed within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of discovery of the damage (when such repairs are made without the payment of overtime or other premiums); (ii) the holder of any mortgage on the Building or Project or ground lessor with respect to the Building or Project shall require that the insurance proceeds or any portion thereof be used to retire the mortgage debt, or shall terminate the ground lease, as the case may be; (iii) the damage is not fully covered by Landlord's insurance policies; (iv) Landlord decides to rebuild the Building or Common Areas so that they will be substantially different structurally or architecturally; (v) the damage occurs during the last twelve (12) months of the Lease Term; or (vi) any owner of any other portion of the Project, other than Landlord, does not intend to repair the damage to such portion of the Project; provided, however, that if the Premises and/or access thereto are materially damaged by Casualty, and Landlord does not elect to terminate this Lease pursuant to Landlord's termination right as provided above, and either the repairs cannot, in the reasonable opinion of Landlord, be completed within one hundred eighty (180) days after being commenced or the damage occurs during the last twelve (12) months of the Lease Term, Tenant may elect, no earlier than sixty (60) days after the date of the damage and not later than ninety (90) days after the date of such damage, to terminate this Lease by written notice to Landlord effective as of the date specified in the notice, which date shall not be less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the date such notice is given by Tenant.  At any time, from time to time, after the date occurring sixty (60) days after the date of the damage, Tenant may request that Landlord inform Tenant of Landlord's reasonable opinion of the date of completion of the repairs and Landlord shall respond to such request within five (5) business days ("Landlord's Repair Estimate Notice").  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 11.2, Tenant shall have the right to terminate this Lease under this Section 11.2 only if each of the following conditions is satisfied:

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(a) the damage to the Project by Casualty was not caused by the gross negligence or intentional act of Tenant or its partners or subpartners and their respective officers, agents, servants, employees, and independent contractors; (b) Tenant is not then in default under this Lease; (c) as a result of the damage, Tenant cannot reasonably conduct business from the Premises; and, (d) as a result of the damage to the Project, Tenant does not occupy or use the Premises at all.  In the event this Lease is terminated in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, Tenant shall assign to Landlord (or to any party designated by Landlord) all insurance proceeds payable to Tenant under Tenant's insurance required under items (ii) and (iii) of Section 10.3.2 of this Lease.  

11.3Waiver of Statutory Provisions.  The provisions of this Lease, including this Article 11, 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, the Building or the Project, and any statute or regulation of the State of California, including, without limitation, Sections 1932(2) and 1933(4) of the California Civil Code, with respect to any rights or obligations concerning damage or destruction in the absence of an express agreement between the parties, and any other statute or regulation, now or hereafter in effect, shall have no application to this Lease or any damage or destruction to all or any part of the Premises, the Building or the Project.

ARTICLE 12

NONWAIVER

No provision of this Lease shall be deemed waived by either party hereto unless expressly waived in a writing signed thereby.  The waiver by either party hereto of any breach of any term, covenant or condition herein contained shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach of same or any other term, covenant or condition herein contained.  The subsequent acceptance of Rent hereunder by Landlord shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding breach by Tenant of any term, covenant or condition of this Lease, other than the failure of Tenant to pay the particular Rent so accepted, regardless of Landlord's knowledge of such preceding breach at the time of acceptance of such Rent.  No acceptance of a lesser amount than the Rent herein stipulated shall be deemed a waiver of Landlord's right to receive the full amount due, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any check or payment or any letter accompanying such check or payment be deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may accept such check or payment without prejudice to Landlord's right to recover the full amount due.  No receipt of monies by Landlord from Tenant after the termination of this Lease shall in any way alter the length of the Lease Term or of Tenant's right of possession hereunder, or after the giving of any notice shall reinstate, continue or extend the Lease Term or affect any notice given Tenant prior to the receipt of such monies, it being agreed that after the service of notice or the commencement of a suit, or after final judgment for possession of the Premises, Landlord may receive and collect any Rent due, and the payment of said Rent shall not waive or affect said notice, suit or judgment.

ARTICLE 13

CONDEMNATION

If the whole or any part of the Premises, Building or Project shall be taken by power of eminent domain or condemned by any competent authority for any public or quasi-public use or purpose, or if any adjacent property or street shall be so taken or condemned, or reconfigured or vacated by such authority in such manner as to require the use, reconstruction or remodeling of any part of the Premises, Building or Project, or if Landlord shall grant a deed or other instrument in lieu of such taking by eminent domain or condemnation, Landlord shall have the option to terminate this Lease effective as of the date possession is required to be surrendered to the authority.  Tenant shall not because of such taking assert any claim against Landlord or the authority for any compensation because of such taking and Landlord shall be entitled to the entire award or payment in connection therewith, except that Tenant shall have the right to file any separate claim available to Tenant for any taking of Tenant's personal property and fixtures belonging to Tenant and removable by Tenant upon expiration of the Lease Term pursuant to the terms of this Lease, and for moving expenses, so long as such claims do not diminish the award available to Landlord, its ground lessor with respect to the Building or Project or its mortgagee, and such claim is payable separately to Tenant.  All Rent shall be apportioned as of the date of such termination.  Tenant hereby waives any and all rights it might otherwise have pursuant to Section 1265.130 of The California Code of Civil Procedure.  

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ARTICLE 14

ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING

14.1Transfers.  Tenant shall not, without the prior written consent of Landlord, assign, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, or permit any lien to attach to, or otherwise transfer, this Lease or any interest hereunder, permit any assignment, or other transfer of this Lease or any interest hereunder by operation of law, sublet the Premises or any part thereof, or enter into any license or concession agreements or otherwise permit the occupancy or use of the Premises or any part thereof by any persons other than Tenant and its employees and contractors (all of the foregoing are hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively as "Transfers" and any person or entity to whom any Transfer is made or sought to be made is hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "Transferee").  If Tenant desires Landlord's consent to any Transfer, Tenant shall notify Landlord in writing, which notice (the "Transfer Notice") shall include (i) the proposed effective date of the Transfer, which shall not be less than fifteen (15) business days nor more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of delivery of the Transfer Notice, (ii) a description of the portion of the Premises to be transferred (the "Subject Space"), (iii) all of the terms of the proposed Transfer and the consideration therefor, including calculation of the "Transfer Premium", as that term is defined in Section 14.3 below, in connection with such Transfer, the name and address of the proposed Transferee, and a copy of all existing executed and/or proposed documentation pertaining to the proposed Transfer, including all existing operative documents to be executed to evidence such Transfer or the agreements incidental or related to such Transfer, provided that Landlord shall have the right to require Tenant to utilize Landlord's standard Transfer documents in connection with the documentation of such Transfer, (iv) current financial statements of the proposed Transferee certified by an officer, partner or owner thereof, business credit and personal references and history of the proposed Transferee and any other information required by Landlord which will enable Landlord to determine the financial responsibility, character, and reputation of the proposed Transferee, nature of such Transferee's business and proposed use of the Subject Space and (v) an executed estoppel certificate from Tenant in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.  Any Transfer made without Landlord's prior written consent shall, at Landlord's option, be null, void and of no effect, and shall, at Landlord's option, constitute a default by Tenant under this Lease.  Whether or not Landlord consents to any proposed Transfer, Tenant shall pay Landlord's review and processing fees, as well as any reasonable professional fees (including, without limitation, attorneys', accountants', architects', engineers' and consultants' fees) incurred by Landlord, within thirty (30) days after written request by Landlord.

14.2Landlord's Consent.  Landlord shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed Transfer of the Subject Space to the Transferee on the terms specified in the Transfer Notice.  Without limitation as to other reasonable grounds for withholding consent, the parties hereby agree that it shall be reasonable under this Lease and under any applicable law for Landlord to withhold consent to any proposed Transfer where one or more of the following apply:

14.2.1The Transferee is of a character or reputation or engaged in a business which is not consistent with the quality of the Building or the Project, or would be a significantly less prestigious occupant of the Building than Tenant;

14.2.2The Transferee intends to use the Subject Space for purposes which are not permitted under this Lease;

14.2.3The Transferee is either a governmental agency or instrumentality thereof;

14.2.4The Transferee is not a party of reasonable financial worth and/or financial stability in light of the responsibilities to be undertaken in connection with the Transfer on the date consent is requested;

14.2.5The proposed Transfer would cause a violation of another lease for space in the Project, or would give an occupant of the Project a right to cancel its lease;

14.2.6The terms of the proposed Transfer will allow the Transferee to exercise a right of renewal, right of expansion, right of first offer, or other similar right held by Tenant (or will allow the Transferee to occupy space leased by Tenant pursuant to any such right); or

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14.2.7Either the proposed Transferee, or any person or entity which directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the proposed Transferee, (i) occupies space in the Project at the time of the request for consent, or (ii) is negotiating with Landlord to lease space in the Project at such time, or (iii) has negotiated with Landlord during the six (6)-month period immediately preceding the Transfer Notice, but in each case, only to the extent Landlord has (or reasonably anticipates having) comparable space available in the Building to meet such proposed Transferee's needs; or

14.2.8The Transferee does not intend to occupy at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the entire Premises and conduct its business therefrom for a substantial portion of the term of the Transfer.

If Landlord consents to any Transfer pursuant to the terms of this Section 14.2 (and does not exercise any recapture rights Landlord may have under Section 14.4 of this Lease), Tenant may within six (6) months after Landlord's consent, but not later than the expiration of said six (6)-month period, enter into such Transfer of the Premises or portion thereof, upon substantially the same terms and conditions as are set forth in the Transfer Notice furnished by Tenant to Landlord pursuant to Section 14.1 of this Lease, provided that if there are any changes in the terms and conditions from those specified in the Transfer Notice (i) such that Landlord would initially have been entitled to refuse its consent to such Transfer under this Section 14.2, or (ii) which would cause the proposed Transfer to be more favorable to the Transferee than the terms set forth in Tenant's original Transfer Notice, Tenant shall again submit the Transfer to Landlord for its approval and other action under this Article 14 (including Landlord's right of recapture, if any, under Section 14.4 of this Lease).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Lease, if Tenant or any proposed Transferee claims that Landlord has unreasonably withheld or delayed its consent under this Section 14.2 or otherwise has breached or acted unreasonably under this Article 14, their sole remedies shall be a declaratory judgment and an injunction for the relief sought without any monetary damages, and Tenant hereby waives the provisions of Section 1995.310 of the California Civil Code, or any successor statute, and all other remedies, including, without limitation, any right at law or equity to terminate this Lease, on its own behalf and, to the extent permitted under all applicable laws, on behalf of the proposed Transferee.  Tenant shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Landlord from any and all liability, losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses, causes of action and proceedings involving any third party or parties (including without limitation Tenant's proposed subtenant or assignee) who claim they were damaged by Landlord's wrongful withholding or conditioning of Landlord's consent.

14.3Transfer Premium.  If Landlord consents to a Transfer, as a condition thereto which the parties hereby agree is reasonable, Tenant shall pay to Landlord fifty percent (50%) of any "Transfer Premium," as that term is defined in this Section 14.3, received by Tenant from such Transferee.  "Transfer Premium" shall mean all rent, additional rent or other consideration payable by such Transferee in connection with the Transfer in excess of the Rent and Additional Rent payable by Tenant under this Lease during the term of the Transfer on a per rentable square foot basis if less than all of the Premises is transferred, after deducting the reasonable expenses incurred by Tenant for (i) any changes, alterations and improvements to the Premises in connection with the Transfer, (ii) any free base rent or other economic concessions reasonably provided to the Transferee, and (iii) any brokerage commissions in connection with the Transfer.  "Transfer Premium" shall also include, but not be limited to, key money, bonus money or other cash consideration paid by Transferee to Tenant in connection with such Transfer, and any payment in excess of fair market value for services rendered by Tenant to Transferee or for assets, fixtures, inventory, equipment, or furniture transferred by Tenant to Transferee in connection with such Transfer.  

14.4Landlord's Option as to Subject Space.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 14, Landlord shall have the option, by giving written notice to Tenant within thirty (30) days after receipt of any Transfer Notice, to recapture the Subject Space.  Such recapture notice shall cancel and terminate this Lease with respect to the Subject Space as of the date stated in the Transfer Notice as the effective date of the proposed Transfer until the last day of the term of the Transfer as set forth in the Transfer Notice (or at Landlord's option, shall cause the Transfer to be made to Landlord or its agent, in which case the parties shall execute the Transfer documentation promptly thereafter).  In the event of a recapture by Landlord, if this Lease shall be canceled with respect to less than the entire Premises, the Rent reserved herein shall be prorated on the basis of the number of rentable square feet retained by Tenant in proportion to the number of rentable square feet contained in the Premises, and this Lease as so amended shall continue

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thereafter in full force and effect, and upon request of either party, the parties shall execute written confirmation of the same.  If Landlord declines, or fails to elect in a timely manner to recapture the Subject Space under this Section 14.4, then, provided Landlord has consented to the proposed Transfer, Tenant shall be entitled to proceed to Transfer the Subject Space to the proposed Transferee, subject to provisions of this Article 14.

14.5Effect of Transfer.  If Landlord consents to a Transfer, (i) the TCCs of this Lease shall in no way be deemed to have been waived or modified, (ii) such consent shall not be deemed consent to any further Transfer by either Tenant or a Transferee, (iii) Tenant shall deliver to Landlord, promptly after execution, an original executed copy of all documentation pertaining to the Transfer in form reasonably acceptable to Landlord, (iv) Tenant shall furnish upon Landlord's request a complete statement, certified by an independent certified public accountant, or Tenant's chief financial officer, setting forth in detail the computation of any Transfer Premium Tenant has derived and shall derive from such Transfer, and (v) no Transfer relating to this Lease or agreement entered into with respect thereto, whether with or without Landlord's consent, shall relieve Tenant or any guarantor of the Lease from any liability under this Lease, including, without limitation, in connection with the Subject Space.  Landlord or its authorized representatives shall have the right at all reasonable times to audit the books, records and papers of Tenant relating to any Transfer, and shall have the right to make copies thereof.  If the Transfer Premium respecting any Transfer shall be found understated, Tenant shall, within thirty (30) days after demand, pay the deficiency, and if understated by more than two percent (2%), Tenant shall pay Landlord's costs of such audit.

14.6Additional Transfers.  For purposes of this Lease, the term "Transfer" shall also include (i) if Tenant is a partnership, the withdrawal or change, voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law, of more than fifty percent (50%) or more of the partners, or transfer of more than fifty percent (50%) or more of partnership interests, within a twelve (12)-month period, or the dissolution of the partnership without immediate reconstitution thereof, and (ii) if Tenant is a closely held corporation (i.e., whose stock is not publicly held and not traded through an exchange or over the counter), (A) the dissolution, merger, consolidation or other reorganization of Tenant or (B) the sale or other transfer of an aggregate of more than fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting shares of Tenant (other than to immediate family members by reason of gift or death), within a twelve (12)-month period, or (C) the sale, mortgage, hypothecation or pledge of an aggregate of more than fifty percent (50%) or more of the value of the unencumbered assets of Tenant within a twelve (12)-month period.

14.7Occurrence of Default.  Any Transfer hereunder shall be subordinate and subject to the provisions of this Lease, and if this Lease shall be terminated during the term of any Transfer, Landlord shall have the right to: (i) treat such Transfer as cancelled and repossess the Subject Space by any lawful means, or (ii) require that such Transferee attorn to and recognize Landlord as its landlord under any such Transfer.  If Tenant shall be in default under this Lease, Landlord is hereby irrevocably authorized, as Tenant's agent and attorney-in-fact, to direct any Transferee to make all payments under or in connection with the Transfer directly to Landlord (which Landlord shall apply towards Tenant's obligations under this Lease) until such default is cured.  Such Transferee shall rely on any representation by Landlord that Tenant is in default hereunder, without any need for confirmation thereof by Tenant.  Upon any assignment, the assignee shall assume in writing all obligations and covenants of Tenant thereafter to be performed or observed under this Lease.  No collection or acceptance of rent by Landlord from any Transferee shall be deemed a waiver of any provision of this Article 14 or the approval of any Transferee or a release of Tenant from any obligation under this Lease, whether theretofore or thereafter accruing.  In no event shall Landlord's enforcement of any provision of this Lease against any Transferee be deemed a waiver of Landlord's right to enforce any term of this Lease against Tenant or any other person.  If Tenant's obligations hereunder have been guaranteed, Landlord's consent to any Transfer shall not be effective unless the guarantor also consents to such Transfer.

14.8Deemed Consent Transfers.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Lease, (A) an assignment or subletting of all or a portion of the Premises to an affiliate of Tenant (an entity which is controlled by, controls, or is under common control with, Tenant as of the date of this Lease), (B) a sale of corporate shares of capital stock in Tenant in connection with an initial public offering of Tenant's stock on a nationally-recognized stock exchange, (C) an assignment of the Lease to an entity which acquires all or substantially all of the stock or assets of Tenant, or (D) an assignment of the Lease to an entity which is the resulting entity of a merger or consolidation of Tenant during the Lease Term, shall not be deemed a Transfer requiring Landlord's consent under this Article 14 (any such assignee or sublessee described in items (A)

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through (D) of this Section 14.8 hereinafter referred to as a "Permitted Transferee"), provided that (i) Tenant notifies Landlord at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of any such assignment or sublease and promptly supplies Landlord with any documents or information reasonably requested by Landlord regarding such Transfer or Permitted Transferee as set forth above, (ii) Tenant is not in default, beyond the applicable notice and cure period, and such assignment or sublease is not a subterfuge by Tenant to avoid its obligations under this Lease, (iii) such Permitted Transferee shall be of a character and reputation consistent with the quality of the Building, (iv) such Permitted Transferee shall have a tangible net worth (not including goodwill as an asset) computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("Net Worth") at least equal to the greater of (1) the Net Worth of Original Tenant on the date of this Lease, and (2) the Net Worth of Tenant on the day immediately preceding the effective date of such assignment or sublease, (v) no assignment or sublease relating to this Lease, whether with or without Landlord's consent, shall relieve Tenant from any liability under this Lease, and (vi) the liability of such Permitted Transferee under either an assignment or sublease shall be joint and several with Tenant.  An assignee of Tenant's entire interest in this Lease who qualifies as a Permitted Transferee may also be referred to herein as a "Permitted Transferee Assignee." "Control," as used in this Section 14.8, shall mean the ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of, or possession of the right to vote, in the ordinary direction of its affairs, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interest in, any person or entity.

ARTICLE 15

SURRENDER OF PREMISES; OWNERSHIP AND
REMOVAL OF TRADE FIXTURES

15.1Surrender of Premises.  No act or thing done by Landlord or any agent or employee of Landlord during the Lease Term shall be deemed to constitute an acceptance by Landlord of a surrender of the Premises unless such intent is specifically acknowledged in writing by Landlord.  The delivery of keys to the Premises to Landlord or any agent or employee of Landlord shall not constitute a surrender of the Premises or effect a termination of this Lease, whether or not the keys are thereafter retained by Landlord, and notwithstanding such delivery Tenant shall be entitled to the return of such keys at any reasonable time upon request until this Lease shall have been properly terminated.  The voluntary or other surrender of this Lease by Tenant, whether accepted by Landlord or not, or a mutual termination hereof, shall not work a merger, and at the option of Landlord shall operate as an assignment to Landlord of all subleases or subtenancies affecting the Premises or terminate any or all such sublessees or subtenancies.

15.2Removal of Tenant Property by Tenant.  Upon the expiration of the Lease Term, or upon any earlier termination of this Lease, Tenant shall, subject to the provisions of this Article 15, quit and surrender possession of the Premises to Landlord in as good order and condition as when Tenant took possession and as thereafter improved by Landlord and/or Tenant, reasonable wear and tear and repairs which are specifically made the responsibility of Landlord hereunder excepted.  Upon such expiration or termination, in addition to Tenant's obligations under Section 29.32, below, Tenant shall, without expense to Landlord, remove or cause to be removed from the Premises all debris and rubbish, and such items of furniture, equipment, business and trade fixtures, free-standing cabinet work, server and telephone equipment, movable partitions and other articles of personal property owned by Tenant or installed or placed by Tenant at its expense in the Premises, and such similar articles of any other persons claiming under Tenant, as Landlord may, in its reasonable discretion, require to be removed, and Tenant shall repair at its own expense all damage to the Premises and Building resulting from such removal.

ARTICLE 16

HOLDING OVER

If Tenant holds over after the expiration of the Lease Term with the express written consent of Landlord, such tenancy shall be from month-to-month only, and shall not constitute a renewal hereof or an extension for any further term, and in such case Base Rent shall be payable at a monthly rate of (i) one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the Base Rent applicable during the last rental period of the Lease Term under this Lease for the first two (2) months immediately following the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease Term, and (ii) two hundred percent (200%) thereafter.  Such month-to-month tenancy shall be subject to every other applicable term, covenant

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and agreement contained herein.  If Tenant holds over after the expiration of the Lease Term without the express written consent of Landlord, such tenancy shall be a tenancy at sufferance, and shall not constitute a renewal hereof or an extension for any further term, and in such case daily damages in any action to recover possession of the Premises shall be calculated at a daily rate equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the Base Rent applicable during the last rental period of the Lease Term under this Lease (calculated on a per diem basis).  Nothing contained in this Article 16 shall be construed as consent by Landlord to any holding over by Tenant, and Landlord expressly reserves the right to require Tenant to vacate and deliver possession of the Premises to Landlord as provided in this Lease upon the expiration or other termination of this Lease.  The provisions of this Article 16 shall not be deemed to limit or constitute a waiver of any other rights or remedies of Landlord provided herein or at law.  If Tenant holds over without Landlord's express written consent, and tenders payment of rent for any period beyond the expiration of the Lease Term by way of check (whether directly to Landlord, its agents, or to a lock box) or wire transfer, Tenant acknowledges and agrees that the cashing of such check or acceptance of such wire shall be considered inadvertent and not be construed as creating a month-to-month tenancy, provided Landlord refunds such payment to Tenant promptly upon learning that such check has been cashed or wire transfer received.  Tenant acknowledges that any holding over without Landlord’s express written consent may compromise or otherwise affect Landlord's ability to enter into new leases with prospective tenants regarding the Premises.  Therefore, if Tenant fails to vacate and deliver the Premises upon the termination or expiration of this Lease, in addition to any other liabilities to Landlord accruing therefrom, Tenant shall protect, defend, indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and against all claims made by any succeeding tenant founded upon such failure to vacate and deliver, and any losses suffered by Landlord, including lost profits, resulting from such failure to vacate and deliver.  Tenant agrees that any proceedings necessary to recover possession of the Premises, whether before or after expiration of the Lease Term, shall be considered an action to enforce the terms of this Lease for purposes of the awarding of any attorney’s fees in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 17

ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATES

Within ten (10) days following a request in writing by Landlord, Tenant shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord an estoppel certificate, which, as submitted by Landlord, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit E, attached hereto (or such other form as may be required by any prospective mortgagee or purchaser of the Project, or any portion thereof), indicating therein any exceptions thereto that may exist at that time, and shall also contain any other information reasonably requested by Landlord or Landlord's mortgagee or prospective mortgagee.  Any such certificate may be relied upon by any prospective mortgagee or purchaser of all or any portion of the Project.  Tenant shall execute and deliver whatever other instruments may be reasonably required for such purposes.  At any time during the Lease Term, Landlord may require Tenant to provide Landlord with a current financial statement and financial statements of the two (2) years prior to the current financial statement year.  Such statements shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, if such is the normal practice of Tenant, shall be audited by an independent certified public accountant.  Failure of Tenant to timely execute, acknowledge and deliver such estoppel certificate or other instruments shall constitute an acceptance of the Premises and an acknowledgment by Tenant that statements included in the estoppel certificate are true and correct, without exception.

ARTICLE 18

SUBORDINATION

This Lease shall be subject and subordinate to all present and future ground or underlying leases of the Building or Project and to the lien of any mortgage, trust deed or other encumbrances now or hereafter in force against the Building or Project or any part thereof, if any, and to all renewals, extensions, modifications, consolidations and replacements thereof, and to all advances made or hereafter to be made upon the security of such mortgages or trust deeds, unless the holders of such mortgages, trust deeds or other encumbrances, or the lessors under such ground lease or underlying leases, require in writing that this Lease be superior thereto.  Tenant covenants and agrees in the event any proceedings are brought for the foreclosure of any such mortgage or deed in lieu thereof (or if any ground lease is terminated), to attorn, without any deductions or set-offs whatsoever, to the lienholder or purchaser or any successors thereto upon any such foreclosure

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sale or deed in lieu thereof (or to the ground lessor), if so requested to do so by such purchaser or lienholder or ground lessor, and to recognize such purchaser or lienholder or ground lessor as the lessor under this Lease, provided such lienholder or purchaser or ground lessor shall agree to accept this Lease and not disturb Tenant's occupancy, so long as Tenant timely pays the rent and observes and performs the TCCs of this Lease to be observed and performed by Tenant.  Landlord's interest herein may be assigned as security at any time to any lienholder.  Tenant shall, within five (5) days of request by Landlord, execute such further instruments or assurances as Landlord may reasonably deem necessary to evidence or confirm the subordination or superiority of this Lease to any such mortgages, trust deeds, ground leases or underlying leases.  Tenant waives the provisions of any current or future statute, rule or law which may give or purport to give Tenant any right or election to terminate or otherwise adversely affect this Lease and the obligations of the Tenant hereunder in the event of any foreclosure proceeding or sale.

ARTICLE 19

DEFAULTS; REMEDIES

19.1Events of Default.  The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute a default of this Lease by Tenant:

19.1.1Any failure by Tenant to pay any Rent or any other charge required to be paid under this Lease, or any part thereof, when due unless such failure is cured within ten (10) days after notice; or

19.1.2Except where a specific time period is otherwise set forth for Tenant's performance in this Lease, in which event the failure to perform by Tenant within such time period shall be a default by Tenant under this Section 19.1.2, any failure by Tenant to observe or perform any other provision, covenant or condition of this Lease to be observed or performed by Tenant where such failure continues for thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from Landlord to Tenant; provided that if the nature of such default is such that the same cannot reasonably be cured within a thirty (30) day period, Tenant shall not be deemed to be in default if it diligently commences such cure within such period and thereafter diligently proceeds to rectify and cure such default, but in no event exceeding a period of time in excess of sixty (60) days after written notice thereof from Landlord to Tenant; or

19.1.3To the extent permitted by law, (i) Tenant or any guarantor of this Lease being placed into receivership or conservatorship, or becoming subject to similar proceedings under Federal or State law, or (ii) a general assignment by Tenant or any guarantor of this Lease for the benefit of creditors, or (iii) the taking of any corporate action in furtherance of bankruptcy or dissolution whether or not there exists any proceeding under an insolvency or bankruptcy law, or (iv) the filing by or against Tenant or any guarantor of any proceeding under an insolvency or bankruptcy law, unless in the case of such a proceeding filed against Tenant or any guarantor the same is dismissed within sixty (60) days, or (v) the appointment of a trustee or receiver to take possession of all or substantially all of the assets of Tenant or any guarantor, unless possession is restored to Tenant or such guarantor within thirty (30) days, or (vi) any execution or other judicially authorized seizure of all or substantially all of Tenant's assets located upon the Premises or of Tenant's interest in this Lease, unless such seizure is discharged within thirty (30) days; or

19.1.4Abandonment or vacation of all or a substantial portion of the Premises by Tenant; or

19.1.5The failure by Tenant to observe or perform according to the provisions of Articles 5, 14, 17 or 18 of this Lease where such failure continues for more than two (2) business days after notice from Landlord; or

19.1.6Tenant's failure to occupy the Premises within ten (10) business days after the Lease Commencement Date.

The notice periods provided herein are in lieu of, and not in addition to, any notice periods provided by law.

19.2Remedies Upon Default.  Upon the occurrence of any event of default by Tenant, Landlord shall have, in addition to any other remedies available to Landlord at law or in equity (all

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of which remedies shall be distinct, separate and cumulative), 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.

19.2.1Terminate this Lease, 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 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 for damages therefor; and 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 Lease 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; 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 19.2 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 19.2.1(a) and (b), above, the "worth at the time of award" shall be computed by allowing interest at the Interest Rate.  As used in Section 19.2.1(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 one percent (1%).  

19.2.2Landlord shall have the remedy described in California Civil Code Section 1951.4 (lessor may continue lease in effect after lessee's breach and abandonment and recover rent as it becomes due, if lessee has the right to sublet or assign, subject only to reasonable limitations).  Accordingly, if Landlord does not elect to terminate this Lease on account of any default by Tenant, Landlord may, from time to time, without terminating this Lease, enforce all of its rights and remedies under this Lease, including the right to recover all rent as it becomes due.

19.2.3Landlord shall at all times have the rights and remedies (which shall be cumulative with each other and cumulative and in addition to those rights and remedies available under Sections 19.2.1 and 19.2.2, above, or any law or other provision of this Lease), without prior demand or notice except as required by applicable law, to seek any declaratory, injunctive or other equitable relief, and specifically enforce this Lease, or restrain or enjoin a violation or breach of any provision hereof.

19.3Subleases of Tenant.  Whether or not Landlord elects to terminate this Lease on account of any default by Tenant, as set forth in this Article 19, 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.  In the event of 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.

19.4Form of Payment After Default.  Following the occurrence of an event of default by Tenant, Landlord shall have the right to require that any or all subsequent amounts paid by Tenant to Landlord hereunder, whether to cure the default in question or otherwise, be paid in the form of cash, money order, cashier's or certified check drawn on an institution acceptable to

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Landlord, or by other means approved by Landlord, notwithstanding any prior practice of accepting payments in any different form.

19.5Efforts to Relet.  No re-entry or repossession, repairs, maintenance, changes, alterations and additions, reletting, appointment of a receiver to protect Landlord's interests hereunder, or any other action or omission by Landlord shall be construed as an election by Landlord to terminate this Lease or Tenant's right to possession, or to accept a surrender of the Premises, nor shall same operate to release Tenant in whole or in part from any of Tenant's obligations hereunder, unless express written notice of such intention is sent by Landlord to Tenant.  Tenant hereby irrevocably waives any right otherwise available under any law to redeem or reinstate this Lease.

19.6Landlord Default.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Lease, Landlord shall be in default in the performance of any obligation required to be performed by Landlord pursuant to this Lease if Landlord fails to perform such obligation within thirty (30) days after the receipt of notice from Tenant specifying in detail Landlord's failure to perform; provided, however, if the nature of Landlord's obligation is such that more than thirty (30) days are required for its performance, then Landlord shall not be in default under this Lease if it shall commence such performance within such thirty (30) day period and thereafter diligently pursues the same to completion.  Upon any such default by Landlord under this Lease, Tenant may, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Lease to the contrary, exercise any of its rights provided at law or in equity.  Any award from a court or arbitrator in favor of Tenant requiring payment by Landlord which is not paid by Landlord within the time period directed by such award, may be offset by Tenant from Rent next due and payable under this Lease; provided, however, Tenant may not deduct the amount of the award against more than fifty percent (50%) of Base Rent next due and owing (until such time as the entire amount of such judgment is deducted) to the extent following a foreclosure or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.

ARTICLE 20

COVENANT OF QUIET ENJOYMENT

Landlord covenants that Tenant, on paying the Rent, charges for services and other payments herein reserved and on keeping, observing and performing all the other TCCs, provisions and agreements herein contained on the part of Tenant to be kept, observed and performed, shall, during the Lease Term, peaceably and quietly have, hold and enjoy the Premises subject to the TCCs, provisions and agreements hereof without interference by any persons lawfully claiming by or through Landlord.  The foregoing covenant is in lieu of any other covenant express or implied.

ARTICLE 21

SECURITY DEPOSIT

Concurrent with Tenant's execution of this Lease, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord a security deposit (the "Security Deposit") in the amount set forth in Section 8 of the Summary, as security for the faithful performance by Tenant of all of its obligations under this Lease.  If Tenant defaults with respect to any provisions of this Lease, including, but not limited to, the provisions relating to the payment of Rent, the removal of property and the repair of resultant damage, Landlord may, without notice to Tenant, but shall not be required to apply all or any part of the Security Deposit for the payment of any Rent or any other sum in default and Tenant shall, upon demand therefor, restore the Security Deposit to its original amount.  Any unapplied portion of the Security Deposit shall be returned to Tenant, or, at Landlord's option, to the last assignee of Tenant's interest hereunder, within sixty (60) days following the expiration of the Lease Term.  Tenant shall not be entitled to any interest on the Security Deposit.  Tenant hereby irrevocably waives and relinquishes any and all rights, benefits, or protections, if any, Tenant now has, or in the future may have, under Section 1950.7 of the California Civil Code, any successor statute, and all other provisions of law, now or hereafter in effect, including, but not limited to, any provision of law which (i) establishes the time frame by which a landlord must refund a security deposit under a lease, or (ii) provides that a 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 a tenant, or to clean the subject premises.  Tenant acknowledges and agrees that (A) any statutory time frames for the return of a security deposit are superseded by the express period identified in

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this Article 21, above, and (B) rather than be so limited, Landlord may claim from the Security Deposit (i) any and all sums expressly identified in this Article 21, above, and (ii) any additional sums reasonably necessary to compensate Landlord for any and all losses or damages caused by Tenant's default of this Lease, including, but not limited to, all damages or rent due upon termination of this Lease pursuant to Section 1951.2 of the California Civil Code.

ARTICLE 22

SUBSTITUTION OF OTHER PREMISES

Landlord shall have the right (not more than one (1) time during the initial Lease Term) to move Tenant to other second (2^nd), third (3^rd) or fourth (4^th)-floor space on the East side of the Building comparable to the Premises, with no less than ten (10) of the fourteen (14) offices in such space located on the perimeter glass line (Landlord nevertheless using commercially reasonable, good faith efforts to maximize the number of such offices to the perimeter glass line), and all terms hereof shall apply to the new space with equal force; provided that if the substitute premises contains less square footage than the Premises, then all amounts, percentages and figures appearing or referred to in this Lease based upon square footage (including, without limitation, the amount of Rent) shall be modified in accordance with such reduced square footage.  In such event, Landlord shall give Tenant prior notice, shall provide Tenant, at Landlord's sole cost and expense, with improvements at least equal in quality to those in the Premises and shall move Tenant's effects to the new space at Landlord's sole cost and expense at such time and in such manner as to inconvenience Tenant as little as reasonably practicable.   In addition, Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Tenant in connection with such relocation which are reasonably approved in advance by Landlord up to an amount equal to Fifteen Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($15,000.00) in the aggregate (including, but not limited to, for the costs of reasonable moving expenses, supplies of replacement stationery and cable/IT-related installations), within thirty (30) days of Landlord's receipt of invoices marked paid, or other evidence of the amounts incurred and actually paid by Tenant, as reasonably requested by Landlord.  Simultaneously with such relocation of the Premises, the parties shall immediately execute an amendment to this Lease stating the relocation of the Premises.

ARTICLE 23

SIGNS

23.1Full Floors.  Subject to Landlord's prior written approval, in its sole discretion, and provided all signs are in keeping with the quality, design and style of the Building and Project, Tenant, if the Premises comprise an entire floor of the Building, at its sole cost and expense, may install identification signage anywhere in the Premises including in the elevator lobby of the Premises, provided that such signs must not be visible from the exterior of the Building.

23.2Multi-Tenant Floors.  If other tenants occupy space on the floor on which the Premises is located, Tenant's initial identifying signage (as opposed to any replacement identifying signage, which shall be at Tenant's sole cost) shall be provided by Landlord, at Landlord's cost, and such signage shall be comparable to that used by Landlord for other similar floors in the Building and shall comply with Landlord's Building standard signage program.

23.3Building Directory.  A building directory is located in the lobby of the Building.  Tenant shall have the right, at Landlord's sole cost and expense as to Tenant's initial name strip, to designate one (1) name strip on such directory, and any subsequent changes to Tenant's name strip shall be at Tenant's sole cost and expense following Tenant's receipt of Landlord's consent thereto (which consent may be withheld in Landlord's sole and absolute discretion).

23.4Prohibited Signage and Other Items.  Any signs, notices, logos, pictures, names or advertisements which are installed and that have not been separately approved by Landlord may be removed without notice by Landlord at the sole expense of Tenant.  Tenant may not install any signs on the exterior or roof of the Project or the Common Areas.  Any signs, window coverings, or blinds (even if the same are located behind the Landlord-approved window coverings for the Building), or other items visible from the exterior of the Premises or Building, shall be subject to the prior approval of Landlord, in its sole discretion.

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ARTICLE 24

COMPLIANCE WITH LAW

Landlord shall comply with all Applicable Laws relating to the Base Building, provided that compliance with such Applicable Laws is not the responsibility of Tenant under this Lease, and provided further that Landlord's failure to comply therewith would prohibit Tenant from obtaining or maintaining a certificate of occupancy for the Premises, or would unreasonably and materially affect the safety of Tenant's employees or create a significant health hazard for Tenant's employees.  Landlord shall be permitted to include in Operating Expenses any costs or expenses incurred by Landlord under this Article 24 to the extent not prohibited by the terms of Section 4.2.4 above.  For purposes of Section 1938 of the California Civil Code, Landlord hereby discloses to Tenant, and Tenant hereby acknowledges, that the Premises have not undergone inspection by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp).  As required by Section 1938(e) of the California Civil Code, Landlord hereby states as follows:  "A Certified Access Specialist (CASp) can inspect the subject premises and determine whether the subject premises comply with all of the applicable construction-related accessibility standards under state law.  Although state law does not require a CASp inspection of the subject premises, the commercial property owner or lessor may not prohibit the lessee or tenant from obtaining a CASp inspection of the subject premises for the occupancy or potential occupancy of the lessee or tenant, if requested by the lessee or tenant.  The parties shall mutually agree on the arrangements for the time and manner of the CASp inspection, the payment of the fee for the CASp inspection, and the cost of making any repairs necessary to correct violations of construction-related accessibility standards within the premises."  In furtherance of the foregoing, Landlord and Tenant hereby agree as follows:  (a) any CASp inspection requested by Tenant shall be conducted, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, by a CASp designated by Landlord, subject to Landlord's reasonable rules and requirements; (b) Tenant, at its sole cost and expense, shall be responsible for making any improvements or repairs within the Premises to correct violations of construction-related accessibility standards; and (c) if anything done by or for Tenant in its use or occupancy of the Premises shall require any improvements or repairs to the Building or Project (outside the Premises) to correct violations of construction-related accessibility standards, then Tenant shall reimburse Landlord upon demand, as Additional Rent, for the cost to Landlord of performing such improvements or repairs.

Tenant shall not do anything or suffer anything to be done in or about the Premises or the Project which will in any way conflict with any law, statute, ordinance or other governmental rule, regulation or requirement now in force or which may hereafter be enacted or promulgated, including, without limitation, any such governmental regulations related to disabled access (collectively, "Applicable Laws").  At its sole cost and expense, Tenant shall promptly comply with all Applicable Laws (including the making of any alterations to the Premises required by Applicable Laws) which relate to (i) Tenant's use of the Premises, (ii) the Alterations in the Premises, or (iii) the Base Building, but, as to the Base Building, only to the extent such obligations are triggered by Tenant's Alterations or use of the Premises for non-general office use.  Should any standard or regulation now or hereafter be imposed on Landlord or Tenant by a state, federal or local governmental body charged with the establishment, regulation and enforcement of occupational, health or safety standards for employers, employees, landlords or tenants, then Tenant agrees, at its sole cost and expense, to comply promptly with such standards or regulations.  The judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction or the admission of Tenant in any judicial action, regardless of whether Landlord is a party thereto, that Tenant has violated any of said governmental measures, shall be conclusive of that fact as between Landlord and Tenant.  

ARTICLE 25

LATE CHARGES

If any installment of Rent or any other sum due from Tenant shall not be received by Landlord or Landlord's designee when due, then Tenant shall pay to Landlord a late charge equal to five percent (5%) of the overdue amount plus any attorneys' fees incurred by Landlord by reason of Tenant's failure to pay Rent and/or other charges when due hereunder; provided, however, with regard to the first such failure in any twelve (12) month period, Landlord will waive such late charge to the extent Tenant cures such failure within five (5) business days following Tenant's receipt of written notice from Landlord that the same was not received when due.  The late charge shall be deemed Additional Rent and the right to require it shall be in addition to all of Landlord's other rights and remedies hereunder or at law and shall not be construed as liquidated damages or

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as limiting Landlord's remedies in any manner.  In addition to the late charge described above, any Rent or other amounts owing hereunder which are not paid within ten (10) days after the date they are due shall bear interest from the date when due until paid at the "Interest Rate." For purposes of this Lease, the "Interest Rate" shall be an annual rate equal to the lesser of (i) the annual "Bank Prime Loan" rate cited in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release Publication H.15(519), published weekly (or such other comparable index as Landlord and Tenant shall reasonably agree upon if such rate ceases to be published), plus four (4) percentage points, and (ii) the highest rate permitted by applicable law.

ARTICLE 26

LANDLORD'S RIGHT TO CURE DEFAULT; PAYMENTS BY TENANT

26.1Landlord's Cure.  All covenants and agreements to be kept or performed by Tenant under this Lease shall be performed by Tenant at Tenant's sole cost and expense and without any reduction of Rent, except to the extent, if any, otherwise expressly provided herein.  If Tenant shall fail to perform any obligation under this Lease, and such failure shall continue in excess of the time allowed under Section 19.1.2, above, unless a specific time period is otherwise stated in this Lease, Landlord may, but shall not be obligated to, make any such payment or perform any such act on Tenant's part without waiving its rights based upon any default of Tenant and without releasing Tenant from any obligations hereunder.

26.2Tenant's Reimbursement.  Except as may be specifically provided to the contrary in this Lease, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, upon delivery by Landlord to Tenant of statements therefor: (i) sums equal to expenditures reasonably made and obligations incurred by Landlord in connection with the remedying by Landlord of Tenant's defaults pursuant to the provisions of Section 26.1; (ii) sums equal to all losses, costs, liabilities, damages and expenses referred to in Article 10 of this Lease; and (iii) sums equal to all expenditures made and obligations incurred by Landlord in collecting or attempting to collect the Rent or in enforcing or attempting to enforce any rights of Landlord under this Lease or pursuant to law, including, without limitation, all legal fees and other amounts so expended.  Tenant's obligations under this Section 26.2 shall survive the expiration or sooner termination of the Lease Term.

ARTICLE 27

ENTRY BY LANDLORD

Landlord reserves the right at all reasonable times (during Building Hours with respect to items (i) and (ii) below) and upon at least twenty-four (24) hours prior notice to Tenant (except in the case of an emergency) to enter the Premises to (i) inspect them; (ii) show the Premises to prospective purchasers, or to current or prospective mortgagees, ground or underlying lessors or insurers, or during the last twelve (12) months of the Lease Term, to prospective tenants; (iii) post notices of nonresponsibility; or (iv) alter, improve or repair the Premises or the Building, or for structural alterations, repairs or improvements to the Building or the Building's systems and equipment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 27, Landlord may enter the Premises at any time to (A) perform services required of Landlord, including janitorial service; (B) take possession due to any breach of this Lease in the manner provided herein; and (C) perform any covenants of Tenant which Tenant fails to perform.  Landlord may make any such entries without the abatement of Rent, except as otherwise provided in this Lease, and may take such reasonable steps as required to accomplish the stated purposes; provided, however, except for (x) emergencies, (y) repairs, alterations, improvements or additions required by governmental or quasi-governmental authorities or court order or decree, or (z) repairs which are the obligation of Tenant hereunder, any such entry shall be performed in a manner so as not to unreasonably interfere with Tenant's use of the Premises and shall be performed after normal business hours if reasonably practical.  With respect to items (y) and (z) above, Landlord shall use commercially reasonable efforts to not materially interfere with Tenant's use of, or access to, the Premises.  Tenant hereby waives any claims for damages or for any injuries or inconvenience to or interference with Tenant's business, lost profits, any loss of occupancy or quiet enjoyment of the Premises, and any other loss occasioned thereby.  For each of the above purposes, Landlord shall at all times have a key with which to unlock all the doors in the Premises, excluding Tenant's vaults, safes and special security areas designated in advance by Tenant.  In an emergency, Landlord shall have the right to use any means that Landlord may deem proper to open the doors in and to the Premises.  Any entry into the Premises by Landlord in the manner hereinbefore

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described shall not be deemed to be a forcible or unlawful entry into, or a detainer of, the Premises, or an actual or constructive eviction of Tenant from any portion of the Premises.  No provision of this Lease shall be construed as obligating Landlord to perform any repairs, alterations or decorations except as otherwise expressly agreed to be performed by Landlord herein.

ARTICLE 28

TENANT PARKING

Tenant shall be entitled to use, commencing on the Lease Commencement Date, the amount of unreserved parking passes set forth in Section 9 of the Summary, which parking passes shall pertain to the Project parking facilities, provided that Tenant shall be entitled to use, on a monthly basis, up to ten (10) of such unreserved parking passes for parking in the uncovered surface parking lot serving the front of the Building without charge.  Tenant's unreserved parking passes shall be without charge for the initial Lease Term and any extensions thereof(excepting only any parking taxes or other charges imposed by governmental authorities in connection with the use of such parking [as more particularly contemplated below]).  In addition to any fees that may be charged to Tenant in connection with its parking of automobiles in the Project parking facilities, Tenant shall be responsible for the full amount of any taxes imposed by any governmental authority in connection with the renting of such parking passes by Tenant or the use of the parking facility by Tenant.  Tenant's continued right to use the parking passes is conditioned upon Tenant abiding by all rules and regulations which are prescribed from time to time for the orderly operation and use of the parking facility where the parking passes are located, including any sticker or other identification system established by Landlord, Tenant's cooperation in seeing that Tenant's employees and visitors also comply with such rules and regulations and Tenant not being in default under this Lease.  Landlord specifically reserves the right to change the size, configuration, design, layout and all other aspects of the Project parking facility at any time and Tenant acknowledges and agrees that Landlord may, without incurring any liability to Tenant and without any abatement of Rent under this Lease, from time to time, close-off or restrict access to the Project parking facility for purposes of permitting or facilitating any such construction, alteration or improvements.  Landlord may, at any time, institute valet assisted parking, tandem parking stalls, "stack" parking, or other parking program within the Project parking facility, the cost of which shall be included in Operating Expenses.  Landlord may delegate its responsibilities hereunder to a parking operator in which case such parking operator shall have all the rights of control attributed hereby to the Landlord.  The parking passes rented by Tenant pursuant to this Article 28 are provided to Tenant solely for use by Tenant's own personnel and such passes may not be transferred, assigned, subleased or otherwise alienated by Tenant without Landlord's prior approval.  Tenant may validate visitor parking by such method or methods as the Landlord may establish, at the validation rate from time to time generally applicable to visitor parking.

ARTICLE 29

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

29.1Terms; Captions.  The words "Landlord" and "Tenant" as used herein shall include the plural as well as the singular.  The necessary grammatical changes required to make the provisions hereof apply either to corporations or partnerships or individuals, men or women, as the case may require, shall in all cases be assumed as though in each case fully expressed.  The captions of Articles and Sections are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to limit, construe, affect or alter the meaning of such Articles and Sections.

29.2Binding Effect.  Subject to all other provisions of this Lease, each of the covenants, conditions and provisions of this Lease shall extend to and shall, as the case may require, bind or inure to the benefit not only of Landlord and of Tenant, but also of their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors or assigns, provided this clause shall not permit any assignment by Tenant contrary to the provisions of Article 14 of this Lease.

29.3No Air Rights.  No rights to any view or to light or air over any property, whether belonging to Landlord or any other person, are granted to Tenant by this Lease.  If at any time any windows of the Premises are temporarily darkened or the light or view therefrom is obstructed by reason of any repairs, improvements, maintenance or cleaning in or about the Project, the same shall be without liability to Landlord and without any reduction or diminution of Tenant's obligations under this Lease.

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29.4Modification of Lease.  Should any current or prospective mortgagee or ground lessor for the Building or Project require a modification of this Lease, which modification will not cause an increased cost or expense to Tenant or in any other way materially and adversely change the rights and obligations of Tenant hereunder, then and in such event, Tenant agrees that this Lease may be so modified and agrees to execute whatever documents are reasonably required therefor and to deliver the same to Landlord within ten (10) days following a request therefor.  At the request of Landlord or any mortgagee or ground lessor, Tenant agrees to execute a short form of Lease and deliver the same to Landlord within ten (10) days following the request therefor.

29.5Transfer of Landlord's Interest.  Tenant acknowledges that Landlord has the right to transfer all or any portion of its interest in the Project or Building and in this Lease, and Tenant agrees that in the event of any such transfer, Landlord shall automatically be released from all liability under this Lease and Tenant agrees to look solely to such transferee for the performance of Landlord's obligations hereunder after the date of transfer and such transferee shall be deemed to have fully assumed and be liable for all obligations of this Lease to be performed by Landlord, including the return of any Security Deposit, and Tenant shall attorn to such transferee.  Tenant further acknowledges that Landlord may assign its interest in this Lease to a mortgage lender as additional security and agrees that such an assignment shall not release Landlord from its obligations hereunder and that Tenant shall continue to look to Landlord for the performance of its obligations hereunder.

29.6Prohibition Against Recording or Publication.  Neither this Lease, nor any memorandum, affidavit or other writing with respect thereto, shall be recorded or otherwise published by Tenant or by anyone acting through, under or on behalf of Tenant.

29.7Landlord's Title.  Landlord's title is and always shall be paramount to the title of Tenant.  Nothing herein contained shall empower Tenant to do any act which can, shall or may encumber the title of Landlord.

29.8Relationship of Parties.  Nothing contained in this Lease shall be deemed or construed by the parties hereto or by any third party to create the relationship of principal and agent, partnership, joint venturer or any association between Landlord and Tenant.

29.9Application of Payments.  Landlord shall have the right to apply payments received from Tenant pursuant to this Lease, regardless of Tenant's designation of such payments, to satisfy any obligations of Tenant hereunder, in such order and amounts as Landlord, in its sole discretion, may elect.

29.10Time of Essence.  Time is of the essence with respect to the performance of every provision of this Lease in which time of performance is a factor.

29.11Partial Invalidity.  If any term, provision or condition contained in this Lease shall, to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Lease, or the application of such term, provision or condition to persons or circumstances other than those with respect to which it is invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each and every other term, provision and condition of this Lease shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent possible permitted by law.

29.12No Warranty.  In executing and delivering this Lease, Tenant has not relied on any representations, including, but not limited to, any representation as to the amount of any item comprising Additional Rent or the amount of the Additional Rent in the aggregate or that Landlord is furnishing the same services to other tenants, at all, on the same level or on the same basis, or any warranty or any statement of Landlord which is not set forth herein or in one or more of the exhibits attached hereto.  Tenant agrees that neither Landlord nor any agent of Landlord has made any representation or warranty with respect to the physical condition of the Building, the Project, the land upon which the Building or the Project are located, or the Premises, or the expenses of operation of the Premises, the Building or the Project, or any other matter or thing affecting or related to the Premises, except as herein expressly set forth in the provisions of this Lease.

29.13Landlord Exculpation.  The liability of Landlord or the Landlord Parties to Tenant for any default by Landlord under this Lease or arising in connection herewith or with Landlord's operation, management, leasing, repair, renovation, alteration or any other matter relating to the Project or the Premises shall be limited solely and exclusively to an amount which is equal to the

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lesser of (a) the interest of Landlord in the Building or (b) the equity interest Landlord would have in the Building if the Building were encumbered by third-party debt in an amount equal to eighty percent (80%) of the value of the Building (as such value is determined by Landlord), provided that in no event shall such liability extend to any sales or insurance proceeds received by Landlord or the Landlord Parties in connection with the Project, Building or Premises.  Neither Landlord, nor any of the Landlord Parties shall have any personal liability therefor, and Tenant hereby expressly waives and releases such personal liability on behalf of itself and all persons claiming by, through or under Tenant.  The limitations of liability contained in this Section 29.13 shall inure to the benefit of Landlord's and the Landlord Parties' present and future partners, beneficiaries, officers, directors, trustees, shareholders, agents and employees, and their respective partners, heirs, successors and assigns.  Under no circumstances shall any present or future partner of Landlord (if Landlord is a partnership), or trustee or beneficiary (if Landlord or any partner of Landlord is a trust), have any liability for the performance of Landlord's obligations under this Lease.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, neither Landlord nor the Landlord Parties shall be liable under any circumstances for injury or damage to, or interference with, Tenant's business, including but not limited to, loss of profits, loss of rents or other revenues, loss of business opportunity, loss of goodwill or loss of use, in each case, however occurring.

29.14Entire Agreement.  It is understood and acknowledged that there are no oral agreements between the parties hereto affecting this Lease and this Lease constitutes the parties' entire agreement with respect to the leasing of the Premises and supersedes and cancels any and all previous negotiations, arrangements, brochures, agreements and understandings, if any, between the parties hereto (including, without limitation, any confidentiality agreement, letter of intent, request for proposal, or similar agreement previously entered into between Landlord and Tenant in anticipation of this Lease) or displayed by Landlord to Tenant with respect to the subject matter thereof, and none thereof shall be used to interpret or construe this Lease.  None of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of this Lease can be modified, deleted or added to except in writing signed by the parties hereto.

29.15Right to Lease.  Landlord reserves the absolute right to effect such other tenancies in the Project as Landlord in the exercise of its sole business judgment shall determine to best promote the interests of the Building or Project.  Tenant does not rely on the fact, nor does Landlord represent, that any specific tenant or type or number of tenants shall, during the Lease Term, occupy any space in the Building or Project.

29.16Force Majeure.  Any prevention, delay or stoppage due to strikes, lockouts, labor disputes, acts of God, acts of war, acts of terrorism, inability to obtain services, labor, or materials or reasonable substitutes therefor, governmental actions, civil commotions, fire or other casualty, and other causes beyond the reasonable control of the party obligated to perform, except with respect to the obligations imposed with regard to Rent and other charges to be paid by Tenant pursuant to this Lease and except as to Tenant's obligations under Articles 5 and 24 of this Lease (collectively, a "Force Majeure"), notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Lease, shall excuse the performance of such party for a period equal to any such prevention, delay or stoppage and, therefore, if this Lease specifies a time period for performance of an obligation of either party, that time period shall be extended by the period of any delay in such party's performance caused by a Force Majeure.

29.17Waiver of Redemption by Tenant.  Tenant hereby waives, for Tenant and for all those claiming under Tenant, any and all rights now or hereafter existing to redeem by order or judgment of any court or by any legal process or writ, Tenant's right of occupancy of the Premises after any termination of this Lease.

29.18Notices.  All notices, demands, statements or communications (collectively, "Notices") given or required to be given by either party to the other hereunder shall be in writing, shall be (A) delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier, or (B) delivered personally.  Any such Notice shall be delivered (i) to Tenant at the appropriate address set forth in Section 10 of the Summary, or to such other place as Tenant may from time to time designate in a Notice to Landlord; or (ii) to Landlord at the addresses set forth in Section 11 of the Summary, or to such other firm or to such other place as Landlord may from time to time designate in a Notice to Tenant.  Any Notice will be deemed given on the date of receipted delivery, of refusal to accept delivery, or when delivery is first attempted but cannot be made due to a change of address for which no Notice was given.  If Tenant is notified of the identity and address of Landlord's mortgagee or ground or underlying lessor, Tenant shall give to such mortgagee or ground or underlying lessor

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written notice of any default by Landlord under the terms of this Lease by registered or certified mail, and such mortgagee or ground or underlying lessor shall be given a reasonable opportunity to cure such default prior to Tenant's exercising any remedy available to Tenant.  The party delivering Notice shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide a courtesy copy of each such Notice to the receiving party via electronic mail.  

29.19Joint and Several.  If there is more than one Tenant, the obligations imposed upon Tenant under this Lease shall be joint and several.

29.20Authority.  If Tenant is a corporation, trust or partnership, each individual executing this Lease on behalf of Tenant hereby represents and warrants that Tenant is a duly formed and existing entity qualified to do business in California and that Tenant has full right and authority to execute and deliver this Lease and that each person signing on behalf of Tenant is authorized to do so.  In such event, Tenant shall, within ten (10) days after execution of this Lease, deliver to Landlord satisfactory evidence of such authority and, if a corporation, upon demand by Landlord, also deliver to Landlord satisfactory evidence of (i) good standing in Tenant's state of incorporation and (ii) qualification to do business in California.

29.21Attorneys' Fees.  In the event that either Landlord or Tenant should bring suit for the possession of the Premises, for the recovery of any sum due under this Lease, or because of the breach of any provision of this Lease or for any other relief against the other, then all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the prevailing party therein shall be paid by the other party, which obligation on the part of the other party shall be deemed to have accrued on the date of the commencement of such action and shall be enforceable whether or not the action is prosecuted to judgment.

29.22Governing Law; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.  This Lease shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California.  IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING HEREFROM, LANDLORD AND TENANT HEREBY CONSENT TO (I) THE JURISDICTION OF ANY COMPETENT COURT WITHIN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, (II) SERVICE OF PROCESS BY ANY MEANS AUTHORIZED BY CALIFORNIA LAW, AND (III) IN THE INTEREST OF SAVING TIME AND EXPENSE, TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY EITHER OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGAINST THE OTHER OR THEIR SUCCESSORS IN RESPECT OF ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LEASE, THE RELATIONSHIP OF LANDLORD AND TENANT, TENANT'S USE OR OCCUPANCY OF THE PREMISES, AND/OR ANY CLAIM FOR INJURY OR DAMAGE, OR ANY EMERGENCY OR STATUTORY REMEDY.  IN THE EVENT LANDLORD COMMENCES ANY SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS OR ACTION FOR NONPAYMENT OF BASE RENT OR ADDITIONAL RENT, TENANT SHALL NOT INTERPOSE ANY COUNTERCLAIM OF ANY NATURE OR DESCRIPTION (UNLESS SUCH COUNTERCLAIM SHALL BE MANDATORY) IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING OR ACTION, BUT SHALL BE RELEGATED TO AN INDEPENDENT ACTION AT LAW.

29.23Submission of Lease.  Submission of this instrument for examination or signature by Tenant does not constitute a reservation of, option for or option to lease, and it is not effective as a lease or otherwise until execution and delivery by both Landlord and Tenant.

29.24Brokers.  Landlord and Tenant hereby warrant to each other that they have had no dealings with any real estate broker or agent in connection with the negotiation of this Lease, excepting only the real estate brokers or agents specified in Section 12 of the Summary (the "Brokers"), and that they know of no other real estate broker or agent who is entitled to a commission in connection with this Lease.  Landlord shall pay the Brokers pursuant to the terms of separate commission agreements.  Each party agrees to indemnify and defend the other party against and hold the other party harmless from any and all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, lawsuits, judgments, costs and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees) with respect to any leasing commission or equivalent compensation alleged to be owing on account of any dealings with any real estate broker or agent, other than the Brokers, occurring by, through, or under the indemnifying party.

29.25Independent Covenants.  This Lease shall be construed as though the covenants herein between Landlord and Tenant are independent and not dependent and Tenant hereby expressly waives the benefit of any statute to the contrary and agrees that if Landlord fails to

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perform its obligations set forth herein, Tenant shall not be entitled to make any repairs or perform any acts hereunder at Landlord's expense or to any setoff of the Rent or other amounts owing hereunder against Landlord.

29.26Project or Building Name and Signage.  Landlord shall have the right at any time to change the name of the Project or Building and to install, affix and maintain any and all signs on the exterior and on the interior of the Project or Building as Landlord may, in Landlord's sole discretion, desire.  Tenant shall not use the name of the Project or Building or use pictures or illustrations of the Project or Building in advertising or other publicity or for any purpose other than as the address of the business to be conducted by Tenant in the Premises, without the prior written consent of Landlord.

29.27Counterparts.  This Lease may be executed in counterparts with the same effect as if both parties hereto had executed the same document.  Both counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute a single lease.

29.28Confidentiality.  Tenant acknowledges that the content of this Lease and any related documents are confidential information.  Tenant shall keep such confidential information strictly confidential and shall not disclose such confidential information to any person or entity other than Tenant's financial, legal, and space planning consultants.

29.29Transportation Management.  Tenant shall fully comply with all present or future programs intended to manage parking, transportation or traffic in and around the Building, and in connection therewith, Tenant shall take responsible action for the transportation planning and management of all employees located at the Premises by working directly with Landlord, any governmental transportation management organization or any other transportation-related committees or entities.

29.30Building Renovations.  It is specifically understood and agreed that Landlord has made no representation or warranty to Tenant and has no obligation and has made no promises to alter, remodel, improve, renovate, repair or decorate the Premises, Building, or any part thereof and that no representations respecting the condition of the Premises or the Building have been made by Landlord to Tenant.  However, Tenant hereby acknowledges that Landlord is currently renovating or may during the Lease Term renovate, improve, alter, or modify (collectively, the "Renovations") the Project, the Building and/or the Premises including without limitation the parking structure, common areas, systems and equipment, roof, and structural portions of the same, which Renovations may include, without limitation, (i) installing sprinklers in the Building common areas and tenant spaces, (ii) modifying the common areas and tenant spaces to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including regulations relating to the physically disabled, seismic conditions, and building safety and security, and (iii) installing new floor covering, lighting, and wall coverings in the Building common areas, and in connection with any Renovations, Landlord may, among other things, erect scaffolding or other necessary structures in the Building, limit or eliminate access to portions of the Project, including portions of the common areas, or perform work in the Building, which work may create noise, dust or leave debris in the Building.  Tenant hereby agrees that such Renovations and Landlord's actions in connection with such Renovations shall in no way constitute a constructive eviction of Tenant nor entitle Tenant to any abatement of Rent.  Landlord shall have no responsibility or for any reason be liable to Tenant for any direct or indirect injury to or interference with Tenant's business arising from the Renovations, nor shall Tenant be entitled to any compensation or damages from Landlord for loss of the use of the whole or any part of the Premises or of Tenant's personal property or improvements resulting from the Renovations or Landlord's actions in connection with such Renovations, or for any inconvenience or annoyance occasioned by such Renovations or Landlord's actions.

29.31No Violation.  Tenant hereby warrants and represents that neither its execution of nor performance under this Lease shall cause Tenant to be in violation of any agreement, instrument, contract, law, rule or regulation by which Tenant is bound, and Tenant shall protect, defend, indemnify and hold Landlord harmless against any claims, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, arising from Tenant's breach of this warranty and representation.

29.32Communications and Computer Lines.  Tenant may install, maintain, replace, remove or use any communications or computer wires and cables (collectively, the "Lines") at the

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Project in or serving the Premises, provided that (i) Tenant shall obtain Landlord's prior written consent, use Landlord's designated contractor for provision of cabling and riser management services (or, if Landlord does not have a designated contractor, then an experienced and qualified contractor reasonably approved in writing by Landlord), and comply with all of the other provisions of Articles 7 and 8 of this Lease, (ii) an acceptable number of spare Lines and space for additional Lines shall be maintained for existing and future occupants of the Project, as determined in Landlord's reasonable opinion, (iii) the Lines therefor (including riser cables) shall be (x) appropriately insulated to prevent excessive electromagnetic fields or radiation, (y) surrounded by a protective conduit reasonably acceptable to Landlord, and (z) identified in accordance with the "Identification Requirements," as that term is set forth hereinbelow, (iv) any new Lines servicing the Premises shall comply with all applicable governmental laws and regulations, (v) as a condition to permitting the installation of new Lines, Tenant shall label the new Lines located in or serving the Premises, and (vi) Tenant shall pay all costs in connection therewith.  All new Lines shall be clearly marked with adhesive plastic labels (or plastic tags attached to such Lines with wire) to show Tenant's name, suite number, telephone number and the name of the person to contact in the case of an emergency (A) every four feet (4') outside the Premises (specifically including, but not limited to, the electrical room risers and other Common Areas), and (B) at the Lines' termination point(s) (collectively, the "Identification Requirements").  Upon the expiration of the Lease Term, or immediately following any earlier termination of this Lease, Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, remove all such new Lines installed by Tenant, and repair any damage caused by such removal.  In the event that Tenant fails to complete such removal and/or fails to repair any damage caused by the removal of any such new Lines, Landlord may do so and may charge the cost thereof to Tenant.  Landlord reserves the right to require that Tenant remove any such new Lines located in or serving the Premises which are installed by (or on behalf of Tenant) in violation of these provisions, or which are at any time (1) are in violation of any Applicable Laws, (2) are inconsistent with then-existing industry standards (such as the standards promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association (e.g., such organization's "2002 National Electrical Code")), or (3) otherwise represent a dangerous or potentially dangerous condition.

29.33Hazardous Substances.  

29.33.1Definitions.  For purposes of this Lease, the following definitions shall apply: "Hazardous Material(s)" shall mean any solid, liquid or gaseous substance or material that is described or characterized as a toxic or hazardous substance, waste, material, pollutant, contaminant or infectious waste, or any matter that in certain specified quantities would be injurious to the public health or welfare, or words of similar import, in any of the "Environmental Laws," as that term is defined below, or any other words which are intended to define, list or classify substances by reason of deleterious properties such as ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, toxicity or reproductive toxicity and includes, without limitation, asbestos, petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof, natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel, or any mixture thereof), petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde, radon gas, nuclear or radioactive matter, medical waste, soot, vapors, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals, microbial matters (such as molds, fungi or other bacterial matters), biological agents and chemicals which may cause adverse health effects, including but not limited to, cancers and /or toxicity.  "Environmental Laws" shall mean any and all federal, state, local or quasi-governmental laws (whether under common law, statute or otherwise), ordinances, decrees, codes, rulings, awards, rules, regulations or guidance or policy documents now or hereafter enacted or promulgated and as amended from time to time, in any way relating to (i) the protection of the environment, the health and safety of persons (including employees), property or the public welfare from actual or potential release, discharge, escape or emission (whether past or present) of any Hazardous Materials or (ii) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of any Hazardous Materials.

29.33.2Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Landlord covenants that during the Lease Term, Landlord shall comply with all Environmental Laws in accordance with, and as required by, the TCCs of Article 24 of this Lease.  Tenant represents and warrants that, except as herein set forth, it will not use, store or dispose of any Hazardous Materials in or on the Premises.  However, notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Landlord agrees that Tenant may use, store and properly dispose of commonly available household cleaners and chemicals to maintain the Premises and Tenant's routine office operations (such as printer toner and copier toner) (hereinafter the "Permitted Chemicals").  Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that any or all of the Permitted Chemicals described in this paragraph may constitute Hazardous Materials.  However, Tenant may

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use, store and dispose of same, provided that in doing so, Tenant fully complies with all Environmental Laws.  

29.33.3Tenant Hazardous Materials.  Tenant will (i) obtain and maintain in full force and effect all Environmental Permits (as defined below) that may be required from time to time under any Environmental Laws applicable to Tenant or the Premises, and (ii) be and remain in compliance with all terms and conditions of all such Environmental Permits and with all other Environmental Laws.  "Environmental Permits" means, collectively, any and all permits, consents, licenses, approvals and registrations of any nature at any time required pursuant to, or in order to comply with any Environmental Law.  On or before the Lease Commencement Date and on each annual anniversary of the Commencement Date thereafter, as well as at any other time following Tenant's receipt of a reasonable request from Landlord, Tenant agrees to deliver to Landlord a list of all Hazardous Materials anticipated to be used by Tenant in the Premises and the quantities thereof.  At any time following Tenant's receipt of a request from Landlord, Tenant shall promptly complete an "environmental questionnaire" using the form then-provided by Landlord.  Upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease, Tenant agrees to promptly remove from the Premises, the Building and the Project, at its sole cost and expense, any and all Hazardous Materials, including any equipment or systems containing Hazardous Materials, which are installed, brought upon, stored, used, generated or released upon, in, under or about the Premises, the Building, and/or the Project or any portion thereof by Tenant and/or any Tenant Parties (such obligation to survive the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease).  Nothing in this Lease shall impose any liability on Tenant for any Hazardous Materials in existence on the Premises, Building or Project prior to the Lease Commencement Date or brought onto the Premises, Building or Project after the Lease Commencement Date by any third parties not under Tenant's control.

29.33.4Landlord's Right of Environmental Audit.  Landlord may, upon reasonable notice to Tenant, be granted access to and enter the Premises no more than once annually to perform or cause to have performed an environmental inspection, site assessment or audit.  Such environmental inspector or auditor may be chosen by Landlord, in its sole discretion, and be performed at Landlord's sole expense.  To the extent that the report prepared upon such inspection, assessment or audit, indicates the presence of Hazardous Materials in violation of Environmental Laws, or provides recommendations or suggestions to prohibit the release, discharge, escape or emission of any Hazardous Materials at, upon, under or within the Premises, or to comply with any Environmental Laws, Tenant shall promptly, at Tenant's sole expense, comply with such recommendations or suggestions, including, but not limited to performing such additional investigative or subsurface investigations or remediation(s) as recommended by such inspector or auditor.  Notwithstanding the above, if at any time, Landlord has actual notice or reasonable cause to believe that Tenant has violated, or permitted any violations of any Environmental Law, then Landlord will be entitled to perform its environmental inspection, assessment or audit at any time, notwithstanding the above mentioned annual limitation, and Tenant must reimburse Landlord for the cost or fees incurred for such as Additional Rent.

29.33.5Indemnifications.  Landlord agrees to indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless the Tenant Parties from and against any liability, obligation, damage or costs, including without limitation, attorneys' fees and costs, resulting directly or indirectly from any use, presence, removal or disposal of any Hazardous Materials to the extent such liability, obligation, damage or costs was a result of actions caused or knowingly permitted by Landlord or a Landlord Party.  Tenant agrees to indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless the Landlord Parties from and against any liability, obligation, damage or costs, including without limitation, attorneys' fees and costs, resulting directly or indirectly from any use, presence, removal or disposal of any Hazardous Materials or breach of any provision of this section, to the extent such liability, obligation, damage or costs was a result of actions caused or permitted by Tenant or a Tenant Party.  

29.34Development of the Project.

29.34.1Subdivision.  Landlord reserves the right to further subdivide all or a portion of the Project.  Tenant agrees to execute and deliver, upon demand by Landlord and in the form requested by Landlord, any additional documents needed to conform this Lease to the circumstances resulting from such subdivision.

29.34.2The Other Improvements.  If portions of the Project or property adjacent to the Project (collectively, the "Other Improvements") are owned by an entity other than Landlord, Landlord, at its option, may enter into an agreement with the owner or owners of any or

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all of the Other Improvements to provide (i) for reciprocal rights of access and/or use of the Project and the Other Improvements, (ii) for the common management, operation, maintenance, improvement and/or repair of all or any portion of the Project and the Other Improvements, (iii) for the allocation of a portion of the Direct Expenses to the Other Improvements and the operating expenses and taxes for the Other Improvements to the Project, and (iv) for the use or improvement of the Other Improvements and/or the Project in connection with the improvement, construction, and/or excavation of the Other Improvements and/or the Project.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or construed to limit or otherwise affect Landlord's right to convey all or any portion of the Project or any other of Landlord's rights described in this Lease.

29.34.3Construction of Project and Other Improvements.  Tenant acknowledges that portions of the Project and/or the Other Improvements may be under construction following Tenant's occupancy of the Premises, and that such construction may result in levels of noise, dust, obstruction of access, etc.  which are in excess of that present in a fully constructed project.  Tenant hereby waives any and all rent offsets or claims of constructive eviction which may arise in connection with such construction.

29.35Water Sensors.  Landlord may, at Landlord's sole cost and expense, install web-enabled wireless water leak sensor devices designed to alert the Tenant on a twenty-four (24) hour seven (7) day per week basis if a water leak is occurring in the Premises (which water sensor device(s) located in the Premises shall be referred to herein as "Water Sensors").  The Water Sensors may be installed in any areas in the Premises where water is utilized (such as sinks, pipes, faucets, water heaters, coffee machines, ice machines, water dispensers and water fountains), and in locations that may be designated from time to time by Landlord (the "Sensor Areas").  In connection with any Alterations affecting or relating to any Sensor Areas, Landlord may require Water Sensors to be installed or updated in Landlord's sole and absolute discretion.  With respect to the installation of any such Water Sensors, Tenant shall obtain Landlord's prior written consent, use an experienced and qualified contractor reasonably designated by Landlord, and comply with all of the other provisions of Article 8 of this Lease.  Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, pursuant to Article 7 of this Lease keep any Water Sensors located in the Premises (whether installed by Tenant or someone else) in good working order, repair and condition at all times during the Lease Term and comply with all of the other provisions of Article 7 of this Lease.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, Landlord has neither an obligation to monitor, repair or otherwise maintain the Water Sensors, nor an obligation to respond to any alerts it may receive from the Water Sensors or which may be generated from the Water Sensors.  Upon the expiration of the Lease Term, or immediately following any earlier termination of this Lease, Tenant shall leave the Water Sensors in place together with all necessary user information such that the same may be used by a future occupant of the Premises (e.g., the Water Sensors shall be unblocked and ready for use by a third-party).  

29.36LEED Certification.  Landlord may, in Landlord's sole and absolute discretion, elect to apply to obtain or maintain a LEED certification for the Project (or portion thereof), or other applicable certification in connection with Landlord's sustainability practices for the Project (as such sustainability practices are to be determined by Landlord, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time).  In the event that Landlord elects to pursue such an aforementioned certification, Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, promptly cooperate with the Landlord's efforts in connection therewith and provide Landlord with any documentation it may need in order to obtain or maintain the aforementioned certification (which cooperation may include, but shall not be limited to, Tenant complying with certain standards pertaining to the purchase of materials used in connection with any Alterations or improvements undertaken by the Tenant in the Project, the sharing of documentation pertaining to any Alterations or improvements undertaken by Tenant in the Project with Landlord, and the sharing of Tenant's billing information pertaining to trash removal and recycling related to Tenant's operations in the Project).

29.37Green Cleaning/Recycling.  To the extent a "green cleaning program" and/or a recycling program is implemented by Landlord in the Building and/or Project (each in Landlord's sole and absolute discretion), Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, comply with the provisions of each of the foregoing programs (e.g., Tenant shall separate waste appropriately so that it can be efficiently processed by Landlord's particular recycling contractors).  To the extent Tenant fails to comply with any of Landlord's recycling programs contemplated by the foregoing, Tenant shall be required to pay any contamination charges related to such non-compliance.  

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29.38Open-Ceiling Plan.  In the event that the Premises has an "open ceiling plan", then Landlord and third parties leasing or otherwise using/managing or servicing space on the floor immediately above the Premises shall have the right to install, maintain, repair and replace mechanical, electrical and plumbing fixtures, devices, piping, ductwork and all other improvements through the floor above the Premises (which may penetrate through the ceiling of the Premises and be visible within the Premises during the course of construction and upon completion thereof) (as applicable, the "Penetrating Work"), as Landlord may determine in Landlord's sole and absolute discretion and with no approval rights being afforded to Tenant with respect thereto.  Moreover, there shall be no obligation by Landlord or any such third party to enclose or otherwise screen any of such Penetrating Work from view within the Premises, whether during the course of construction or upon completion thereof.  Since Tenant is anticipated to be occupying the Premises at the time the Penetrating Work is being performed, Landlord agrees that it shall (and shall cause third parties to) use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the Penetrating Work in a manner so as to attempt to minimize interference with Tenant's use of the Premises; provided, however, such Penetrating Work may be performed during normal business hours, without any obligation to pay overtime or other premiums.  Tenant hereby acknowledges that, notwithstanding Tenant’s occupancy of the Premises during the performance of any such Penetrating Work, Tenant hereby agrees that the performance of such Penetrating Work shall in no way constitute a constructive eviction of Tenant nor entitle Tenant to any abatement of rent.  Neither Landlord nor any of the Landlord Parties or any third parties performing the Penetrating Work shall be responsible for any direct or indirect injury to or interference with Tenant’s business arising from the performance of such Penetrating Work, nor shall Tenant be entitled to any compensation or damages from Landlord or any of the Landlord Parties or any third parties performing the Penetrating Work for loss of the use of the whole or any part of the Premises or of Tenant’s personal property or improvements resulting from the performance of the Penetrating Work, or for any inconvenience or annoyance occasioned by the Penetrating Work.  In addition, Tenant hereby agrees to promptly and diligently cooperate with Landlord and any of the third parties performing the Penetrating Work in order to facilitate the applicable party's performance of the particular Penetrating Work in an efficient and timely manner.

29.39Prohibited Persons; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Money Laundering.  Neither Tenant nor any of its affiliates, nor any of their respective members, partners or other equity holders, and none of their respective officers, directors or managers is, nor prior to or during the Lease Term, will they become a person or entity with whom U.S. persons or entities are restricted from doing business under (a) the Patriot Act (as defined below), (b) any other requirements contained in the rules and regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury ("OFAC") (including any "blocked" person or entity listed in the Annex to Executive Order Nos. 12947, 13099 and 13224 and any modifications thereto or thereof or any other person or entity named on OFAC's Specially Designated Blocked Persons List) or (c) any other U.S. statute, Executive Order (including the September 24, 2001, Executive Order Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism) or other governmental action (collectively, "Prohibited Persons").  Prior to and during the Lease Term, Tenant, and to Tenant's knowledge, its employees and any person acting on its behalf have at all times fully complied with, and are currently in full compliance with, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws.  Tenant is not entering into this Lease, directly or indirectly, in violation of any laws relating to drug trafficking, money laundering or predicate crimes to money laundering. As used herein, "Patriot Act" shall mean the USA Patriot Act of 2001, 107 Public Law 56 (October 26, 2001) and all other statutes, orders, rules and regulations of the U.S. government and its various executive departments, agencies and offices interpreting and implementing the Patriot Act.

29.40Signatures.  The parties hereto consent and agree that this Lease may be signed and/or transmitted by facsimile, e-mail of a .pdf document or using electronic signature technology (e.g., via DocuSign or similar electronic signature technology), and that such signed electronic record shall be valid and as effective to bind the party so signing as a paper copy bearing such party’s handwritten signature. The parties further consent and agree that (1) to the extent a party signs this Lease using electronic signature technology, by clicking “SIGN”, such party is signing this Lease electronically, and (2) the electronic signatures appearing on this Lease shall be treated, for purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility, the same as handwritten signatures.

[Signatures follow on next page]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have caused this Lease to be executed the day and date first above written.

 

 

46

 

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EXHIBIT A

DEL MAR CORPORATE CENTRE II

OUTLINE OF PREMISES

 

 

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EXHIBIT B

DEL MAR CORPORATE CENTRE II

INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT C

DEL MAR CORPORATE CENTRE II

NOTICE OF LEASE TERM DATES

 

To:_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

Dear ________________:

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Lease, this letter is to confirm and agree upon the following:

If the provisions of this letter correctly set forth our understanding, please so acknowledge by signing at the place provided below on the enclosed copy of this letter and returning the same to Landlord.

The parties hereto consent and agree that this letter may be signed and/or transmitted by facsimile, e-mail of a .pdf document or using electronic signature technology (e.g., via DocuSign or similar electronic signature technology), and that such signed electronic record shall be valid and as effective to bind the party so signing as a paper copy bearing such party’s handwritten signature. The parties further consent and agree that (1) to the extent a party signs this letter using electronic signature technology, by clicking “SIGN”, such party is signing this letter electronically,

 

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and (2) the electronic signatures appearing on this letter shall be treated, for purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility, the same as handwritten signatures.

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT D

DEL MAR CORPORATE CENTRE II

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Tenant shall faithfully observe and comply with the following Rules and Regulations.  Landlord shall not be responsible to Tenant for the nonperformance of any of said Rules and Regulations by or otherwise with respect to the acts or omissions of any other tenants or occupants of the Project.  In the event of any conflict between the Rules and Regulations and the other provisions of this Lease, the latter shall control.

 

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Landlord reserves the right at any time to change or rescind any one or more of these Rules and Regulations, or to make such other and further reasonable Rules and Regulations as in Landlord's judgment may from time to time be necessary for the management, safety, care and cleanliness of the Premises, Building, the Common Areas and the Project, and for the preservation of good order therein, as well as for the convenience of other occupants and tenants therein.  Landlord may waive any one or more of these Rules and Regulations for the benefit of any particular tenants, but no such waiver by Landlord shall be construed as a waiver of such Rules and Regulations in favor of any other tenant, nor prevent Landlord from thereafter enforcing any such Rules or Regulations against any or all tenants of the Project.  Tenant shall be deemed to have read these Rules and Regulations and to have agreed to abide by them as a condition of its occupancy of the Premises.

 

 

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EXHIBIT E

DEL MAR CORPORATE CENTRE II

FORM OF TENANT'S ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE

The undersigned as Tenant under that certain Office Lease (the "Lease") made and entered into as of ___________, 20 by and between _______________ as Landlord, and the undersigned as Tenant, for Premises on the ______________ floor(s) of the office building located at ______________, _______________, California ____________, certifies as follows:

 

 

 

 

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The undersigned acknowledges that this Estoppel Certificate may be delivered to Landlord or to a prospective mortgagee or prospective purchaser, and acknowledges that said prospective mortgagee or prospective purchaser will be relying upon the statements contained herein in making the loan or acquiring the property of which the Premises is a part and that receipt by it of this certificate is a condition of making such loan or acquiring such property.

Executed at ______________ on the ____ day of ___________, 20_ .

 

 

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EXHIBIT F

DEL MAR CORPORATE CENTRE II

RECORDING REQUESTED BY

AND WHEN RECORDED RETURN TO:

ALLEN MATKINS LECK GAMBLE

MALLORY & NATSIS LLP

1901 Avenue of the Stars, 18th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90067

Attention: Anton N.  Natsis, Esq.

 

RECOGNITION OF COVENANTS,

CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS

This Recognition of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (this "Agreement") is entered into as of the __ day of ________, 20___, by and between __________________ ("Landlord"), and ________________ ("Tenant"), with reference to the following facts:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of (a) the foregoing recitals and the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, and (b) for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows,

1.Tenant's Recognition of Declaration.  Notwithstanding that the Lease has been executed prior to the recordation of the Declaration, Tenant agrees to recognize and by bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Declaration.

2.Miscellaneous.

2.1This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, estates, personal representatives, successors, and assigns.

2.2This Agreement is made in, and shall be governed, enforced and construed under the laws of, the State of California.

2.3This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreements of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede and replace all prior understandings and agreements, whether verbal or in writing.  The parties confirm and acknowledge that there are no other promises, covenants, understandings, agreements, representations, or warranties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement except as expressly set forth herein.

2.4This Agreement is not to be modified, terminated, or amended in any respect, except pursuant to any instrument in writing duly executed by both of the parties hereto.

 

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2.5In the event that either party hereto shall bring any legal action or other proceeding with respect to the breach, interpretation, or enforcement of this Agreement, or with respect to any dispute relating to any transaction covered by this Agreement, the losing party in such action or proceeding shall reimburse the prevailing party therein for all reasonable costs of litigation, including reasonable attorneys' fees, in such amount as may be determined by the court or other tribunal having jurisdiction, including matters on appeal.

2.6All captions and heading herein are for convenience and ease of reference only, and shall not be used or referred to in any way in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement.

2.7If any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any party or to any circumstance, shall be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdictions to be void or unenforceable for any reason, the same shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, the application of such provision under circumstances different from those adjudged by the court, or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement as a whole.

2.8Time is of the essence of this Agreement.

2.9The Parties agree to execute any further documents, and take any further actions, as may be reasonable and appropriate in order to carry out the purpose and intent of this Agreement.

2.10As used herein, the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, and the singular and plural numbers, shall each be deemed to include the others whenever and whatever the context so indicates.

 

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SIGNATURE PAGE OF RECOGNITION OF

COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

"Landlord":

_________________________,

a ________________________

 

"Tenant":

 

 

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OFFICE LEASE

KILROY REALTY

DEL MAR CORPORATE CENTRE II

 

 

 

 

KILROY REALTY, L.P.,

a Delaware limited partnership,

as Landlord,

and

VIKING THERAPEUTICS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation,

as Tenant.

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

 

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INDEX

Page(s)

Accountant15

Additional Rent8

Alterations18

Applicable Laws35

Audit Period15

Award7

Bank Prime Loan36

Base Building19

Base Rent8

Base Rent Abatement8

Base Rent Abatement Period8

Base Year9

Brokers40

Building4

Building Common Areas,4

Building Hours16

Casualty23

CC&Rs16

Common Areas4

Comparable Area6

Comparable Buildings6

Comparable Deals6

Comparable Term6

Control,29

Cosmetic Alterations19

Direct Expenses9

Environmental Laws42

Environmental Permits43

Estimate14

Estimate Statement14

Estimated Excess14

Excess13

Exercise Notice6

Expense Year9

Force Majeure39

Hazardous Material(s)42

Holidays16

HVAC16

Identification Requirements42

Interest Rate36

Landlord1

Landlord Parties21

Landlord Repair Notice24

Landlord Response Date6

Landlord Response Notice6

Landlord's Option Rent Calculation6

Landlord's Repair Estimate Notice24

Lease1

Lease Commencement Date5

Lease Expiration Date5

Lease Month5

Lease Term5

Lease Year5

LEED10

Lines41

Market Rent5

Net Worth29

Neutral Arbitrator7

 

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Page(s)

Notices39

OFAC45

Operating Expenses9

Option Rent5

Option Term5

Option Term Improvement Allowance6

Original Improvements22

Original Tenant5

Other Improvements43

Outside Agreement Date7

Patriot Act45

Penetrating Work45

Permitted Chemicals42

Permitted Transferee29

Permitted Transferee Assignee.29

Permitted Use2

Premises4

Prohibited Persons45

Project4

Project Common Areas,4

Proposition 1312

Renovations41

Rent.8

Rules and Regulations16

Security Deposit33

Sensor Areas44

Statement14

Subject Space26

Summary1

Tax Expenses12

TCCs4

Tenant1

Tenant Parties21

Tenant's Option Rent Calculation6

Tenant's Share13

Third Party Contractor23

Transfer28

Transfer Notice26

Transfer Premium27

Transferee26

Transfers26

Water Sensors44

 

 

Exhibit 12.1

Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Statement Regarding the Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and the six months ended June 30, 2018. As the ratios of earnings to fixed charges indicate less than one-to-one coverage for each of the periods presented, we have provided the coverage deficiency amounts for these periods. Earnings consist of (i) loss from continuing operations before income taxes, and (ii) fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt issue costs and an estimate of the interest portion of rent expense.

(1) Represents the estimated portion of operating lease rental expense that is considered by us to be representative of interest (one-third of rental expense).

(2) We did not record earnings for the periods indicated in the table above. Accordingly, our earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges for such periods and we are unable to disclose a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for such periods.

 

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Brian Lian, Ph.D., certify that:

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Michael Morneau, certify that:

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended June 30, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to their knowledge that:

 

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

This certification accompanies the Report, is not deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act (whether made before or after the date of the Report), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.