F-3 1 tm2131851-1_f3.htm F-3 tm2131851-1_f3 - none - 10.0469255s
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2021
Registration No. 333-       
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)
The Netherlands
(State or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
Not applicable
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
Zernikedreef 9
2333 CK Leiden
The Netherlands
+31 88 166 7000
(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Smital Shah
245 Main Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
(415) 231-6431
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Mitchell S. Bloom, Esq.
Danielle M. Lauzon, Esq.
James Xu, Esq.
Goodwin Procter LLP
100 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 570-1000
Smital Shah, Chief Business and
Financial Officer
ProQR Therapeutics N.V.
Zernikedreef 9
2333 CK Leiden
The Netherlands
+31 88 166 7000
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale of the Securities to the Public:
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of securities
to be registered
Amount to be
registered(1)
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price per Unit(2)
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price(3)
Amount of
Registration Fee(3)
Ordinary Shares, nominal value €0.04 per share(4)
Warrants
Units
Total $ 300,000,000
N/A
$ 300,000,000 $ 27,810
(1)
An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may be sold from time to time at indeterminate prices, with any initial offering price not to exceed $300,000,000. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. Any separate consideration received for securities that are issuable upon exercise, conversion, or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units is included in, and subject to, the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities sold pursuant to this registration statement of $300,000,000.
(2)
The proposed maximum aggregate offering price of each class of securities will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of securities pursuant to the General Instruction II.C. of Form F-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
(3)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. In no event will the aggregate offering price of all securities sold by the registrant from time to time pursuant to this Registration Statement exceed $300,000,000.
(4)
Subject to the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities sold hereunder set forth above, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of ordinary shares as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices hereunder, and an indeterminate number of shares of ordinary shares as may from time to time be issued upon conversion of convertible securities and upon exercise of warrants and rights, which may be sold hereunder.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains two prospectuses:

a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale of up to $300,000,000 of the registrant’s ordinary shares, warrants and units; and

a sales agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale of up to $75,000,000 of shares of the registrant’s ordinary shares that may be issued and sold under the Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement, dated November 4, 2021 (the “Sales Agreement”), between the registrant and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. The sales agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus.
The ordinary shares that may be offered, issued and sold under the sales agreement prospectus is included in the $300,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the Sales Agreement, any portion of the $75,000,000 included in the sales agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus.
 

This information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 4, 2021
PROSPECTUS
[MISSING IMAGE: lg_proqr-4c.jpg]
$300,000,000
ORDINARY SHARES
WARRANTS
UNITS
We may offer and sell our ordinary shares, warrants and/or units from time to time. We may also offer securities of the types listed above that are convertible or exchangeable into one or more of the other securities so listed. When we decide to sell a particular class or series of securities, we will provide specific terms of the offered securities in a prospectus supplement. The securities offered by us pursuant to this prospectus will have an aggregate public offering price of up to $300,000,000.
The securities covered by this prospectus may be offered and sold from time to time in one or more offerings, which may be through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers. The names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, see “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 40 of this prospectus.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.
Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PRQR.” On November 1, 2021, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market was $8.13 per share.
ProQR Therapeutics N.V. is a public company with limited liability (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands. Our principal executive offices are located at Zernikedreef 9, 2333 CK Leiden, The Netherlands. Our telephone number at such address is +31 88 166 7000.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus as well as those contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or other securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is            , 2021.

 
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference herein, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act,” and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act.” For this purpose, any statements contained herein, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding: our clinical development plans or our future financial performance, our development programs, including timing, plans, results and therapeutic potential with respect to our product candidates, our business operations, including timing of commencing clinical trials and enrollment of patients therein, our RNA editing programs, the expected impact of the COVID-19 on our business operations, including our research and development plans and timelines and the supply chain for our clinical and development programs; and any other statements about management’s future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC.” If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, business development transactions, joint ventures or investments we may enter into or make in the future.
You should rely only on information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and understand that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in the foregoing documents by these cautionary statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance or achievement. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. Before deciding to purchase our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors included or incorporated herein by reference, in addition to the other information set forth in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference.
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the information incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document.
 
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus having an aggregate public offering price of $300,000,000 in one or more offerings. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for further information about us and our securities. Copies of the registration and its exhibits are on file with the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus concerning the documents we have filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive, and in each instance we refer you to a copy of the actual document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC.
When we sell securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with any additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference” before deciding to invest in any of the securities being offered. The information contained in this prospectus and any supplement to this prospectus, or incorporated by reference herein, is accurate only as of the respective dates thereof, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our ordinary shares. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
You should rely only on this prospectus, the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is in addition to or different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “we,” “ours,” “our,” and “us” refer to ProQR Therapeutics N.V., a company organized under the laws of the Netherlands, and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Trademarks
We use various trademarks and trade names, including without limitation our corporate name and logo, that we use in connection with the operation of our business. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated herein or therein by reference may also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of third parties, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus may appear without the ®, ™ or SM symbols, but the omission of such references is not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or that the applicable owner of these trademarks, service marks and trade names will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights.
Presentation of Financial Information
Our consolidated financial statements are presented in euros and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). In presenting and discussing our financial position, operating results and cash flows, management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation as alternatives to the equivalent IFRS measure and should be used in conjunction with the most directly comparable IFRS measure(s). All references in this prospectus to “U.S. dollars” or “$” are to the legal currency of the United States, and all references to “€” or “euro” are to the currency of the European Economic and Monetary Union. Our business to date has been conducted primarily in the European Union, and we maintain our books and records in euro. We present our financial statements in
 
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euro, which is the Company’s functional currency. Unless otherwise specified in this prospectus, translations from euros to U.S. dollars were made at a rate of $1.1578 to €1.00, the official exchange rate quoted by the European Central Bank at the close of business on November 1, 2021.
No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of the securities or possession or distribution of this prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.
 
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary provides a brief overview of the key aspects of ProQR Therapeutics N.V. and certain material terms of the securities that may be offered that are known as of the date of this prospectus. Before you decide to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and discussion of risks set forth under the heading “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2021, the subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F and Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K that we file with the SEC. For a more complete understanding of the terms of a particular issuance of offered securities, and before making your investment decision, you should carefully read:

this prospectus, which explains the general terms of the securities that we may offer;

the accompanying prospectus supplement for such issuance, which explains the specific terms of the securities being offered and which may update or change information in this prospectus; and

the documents referred to in “Where You Can Find Additional Information” for information about us, including our financial statements.
Overview
We are developing a broad pipeline of potentially life changing RNA therapies for inherited retinal diseases, a group of rare debilitating eye diseases, affecting over five million people in the world, for which there are currently no treatment options available. We believe our RNA platform based on intravitreal delivery may be suitable to repair defective RNA in the retina and stop progression or even reverse vision loss associated with the diseases. As we deepen our relationships with the community of people living with inherited retinal diseases, we believe we are well positioned to bring these medicines to patients independently, and are therefore preparing for commercialization, particularly in the Western world. Our current pipeline consists of programs in ophthalmology.
Beyond our clinical portfolio, we discovered and developed two novel proprietary RNA editing platform technologies, Axiomer® and TRIDENT®. Axiomer’s editing oligonucleotides, or EONs, are designed to recruit endogenous Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA, or ADAR, enzymes to make single nucleotide changes in the RNA in a highly specific and targeted manner at a desired location. We believe our Axiomer platform may be applicable to more than 20,000 disease-causing mutations. TRIDENT is our RNA pseudouridylation platform that enables the selective suppression of nonsense mutations that cause human genetic disease.
We continuously evaluate opportunities for beneficial collaborations or partnerships to efficiently develop our investigational therapies for patients. In addition, using our discovery engine that is designed to generate a broad pipeline of product candidates, we seek to enter into strategic partnerships for programs that we believe will benefit from such a partnership.
Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We report under the Exchange Act as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. As a foreign private issuer, we are not subject to the same requirements that are imposed upon U.S. domestic issuers by the SEC. Under the Exchange Act, we will be subject to reporting obligations that, in certain respects, are less detailed and less frequent than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. For example, although we intend to report our financial results on a quarterly basis, we will not be required to issue quarterly reports, proxy statements that comply with the requirements applicable to U.S. domestic reporting companies, or individual executive compensation information that is as detailed as that required of U.S. domestic reporting companies. We will also have four months after the end of each fiscal year to file our annual reports with the SEC and will not be required to file current reports as frequently or promptly as U.S. domestic reporting companies. We may also present financial statements pursuant to IFRS instead of pursuant to U.S. GAAP. Furthermore, although the members of our management and supervisory boards will be required to notify the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets of certain transactions they may undertake, including with respect to our ordinary shares, our officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from the requirements to report transactions in our equity securities and from the short-swing
 
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profit liability provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. These exemptions and leniencies will reduce the frequency and scope of information and protections available to you in comparison to those applicable to a U.S. domestic reporting companies.
Furthermore, as a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to follow the corporate governance practices of our home country in lieu of certain provisions of the Nasdaq. We therefore follow Dutch corporate governance practices in lieu of certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements to seek shareholder approval for a specified issuance of securities.
Company Information
Our company is registered with the Dutch Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce (handelsregister van de Kamer van Koophandel) under number 54600790. Our corporate seat is in Leiden, the Netherlands, and our registered office is at Zernikedreef 9, 2333 CK Leiden, the Netherlands, and our telephone number is +31 88 166 7000. Our website address is www.ProQR.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus. Our website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only.
ProQR was formed in February 2012 by Daniel de Boer, Gerard Platenburg, the late Henri Termeer and Dinko Valerio. Mr. de Boer is a passionate and driven entrepreneur and has assembled an experienced team of successful biotech executives as co-founders and early investors. ProQR’s team has extensive experience in discovery, development and commercialization of RNA therapeutics. We have received grants, loans and other funding from patient organizations and government institutions supporting our programs, including from Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Dutch government under the innovation credit program. Our headquarters are located in Leiden, the Netherlands.
Listing
Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PRQR.” If any other securities are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will so state.
 
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file reports and other information with the SEC, including Annual Reports on Form 20-F and Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, which you may review at www.sec.gov.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we have filed with the SEC. To see more detail, you should read the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with, or incorporated by reference into, our registration statement.
This registration statement, including the exhibits contained or incorporated by reference therein, can be read at the SEC website referred to above. Any statement made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the actual contract, agreement or other document. If we have filed or incorporated by reference any contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.
As required by the Securities Act, we have filed a registration statement relating to the securities offered by this prospectus with the SEC. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, which includes additional information.
 
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with the SEC, by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Any information that we file later with the SEC and that is deemed incorporated by reference will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. In all such cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or in any incorporated document. You should not assume that information in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is current as of any date other than the date of that document. This prospectus will be deemed to incorporate by reference the following documents, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that was furnished and deemed by the rules of the SEC not to have been filed:



the description of our ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36622), filed with the SEC on September 16, 2014, including any other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description (other than any portion of such filings that are furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed).
We will also incorporate by reference any future filings made with the SEC under the Exchange Act after (i) the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and (ii) the date of this prospectus and before the completion of the offering of the securities under the registration statement. In addition, we will incorporate by reference certain future materials furnished to the SEC on Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K after the date of the initial registration statement, but only to the extent specifically indicated in those submissions or in a future prospectus supplement. Each subsequently filed Annual Report should be deemed to supersede entirely each earlier filed Annual Report and Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K containing our quarterly earnings releases and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, such earlier reports should not be deemed to be part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement and you should not rely upon statements made in those earlier periodic reports.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing, telephoning or emailing us at the following address:
Zernikedreef 9
2333 CK Leiden
The Netherlands
Attention: Company Secretary
Tel.: +31 88 166 7000
IR@proqr.com
 
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2021, as updated or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described under similar headings in the other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus and incorporated by reference herein, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with an offering. Some of these factors relate principally to our business and the industry in which we operate. Other factors relate principally to your investment in our securities. The risks and uncertainties described therein and below are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business and operations. If any of the matters included in the following risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In such case, you may lose all or part of your investment. See the sections titled “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference” in this prospectus for additional information.
 
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise described in a prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, working capital, repayment of outstanding indebtedness, strategic acquisitions and other potential business development activities, ongoing research and development activities and capital expenditures. Pending any specific utilization, the proceeds from the sale of the offered securities may be invested in a manner designed to ensure levels of liquidity which correspond to our current and foreseeable cash needs. Such investments may include, but may not be limited to, short-term investments, including government bonds, or other interest-bearing investments.
We may raise additional funds from time to time through equity or debt financings not involving the issuance of securities described in this prospectus, including borrowings under credit facilities, to finance our business and operations and any acquisitions.
 
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DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid any dividends on our ordinary shares, and we currently do not plan to declare dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. Under Dutch law, we may only pay dividends if our shareholders’ equity exceeds the sum of the paid-up and called-up share capital plus the reserves required to be maintained by Dutch law or by our articles of association. In addition, the terms of our loan facility with our senior lenders Pontifax Medison Finance and Kreos Capital preclude us from paying dividends and future debt agreements may have similar negative covenants. Under our articles of association, a (cumulative) dividend is first paid out of the profit, if available for distribution, on any preferred shares (of which we had none as of the date of this prospectus supplement). Any amount remaining out of the profit is carried to reserve as the management board determines. After reservation by the management board of any profit, the remaining profit will be at the disposal of the general meeting of shareholders. The management board is permitted, subject to certain requirements and subject to approval of the supervisory board, to declare interim dividends without the approval of the general meeting of shareholders.
 
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CAPITALIZATION
We intend to include information about our capitalization and indebtedness in prospectus supplements.
 
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
Warrants
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements or free writing prospectus, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase securities in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with ordinary shares or units offered by any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future warrants we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any warrants we offer under a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may differ from the terms we describe below.
We may issue warrants to purchase our equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. A series of warrants may be issued under a separate warrant indenture between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of any applicable warrant indenture will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

the title of such warrants;

the aggregate number of such warrants;

the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;

the currency or currencies, in which the price of such warrants will be payable;

the securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;

the price at which and the currency or currencies, in which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;

the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security;

if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

if applicable, a discussion of any material United States Federal income tax considerations; and

any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.
Units
This section outlines some of the provisions of the units and the unit agreements. This information may not be complete in all respects and is qualified entirely by reference to the unit agreement with respect to the units of any particular series. The specific terms of any series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus
 
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supplement or free writing prospectus. If so described in a particular prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the specific terms of any series of units may differ from the general description of terms presented below.
We may issue units comprised of ordinary shares and warrants in any combination. We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. This section outlines certain provisions of the units that we may issue. If we issue units, they will be issued under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or other financial institution, as unit agent. The information described in this section may not be complete in all respects and is qualified entirely by reference to the unit agreement with respect to the units of any particular series. The specific terms of any series of units offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If so described in a particular supplement, the specific terms of any series of units may differ from the general description of terms presented below. We urge you to read any prospectus supplement related to any series of units we may offer, as well as the complete unit agreement and unit certificate that contain the terms of the units. If we issue units, forms of unit agreements and unit certificates relating to such units will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus.
We may issue units consisting of one or more ordinary shares, warrants or any combination of such securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:

the terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately;

a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and

a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange or the units.
 
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
This section describes the general terms of our ordinary shares that we may offer from time to time. For more detailed information, a holder of our ordinary shares should refer to our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws, copies of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
General
We were incorporated on February 21, 2012 as a private company with limited liability (‘besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid’) under Dutch law. In connection with our initial public offering in 2014, our shareholders resolved to amend our articles of association and to convert into a public company with limited liability by means of a Deed of Amendment and Conversion, pursuant to which, we converted to a public company with limited liability (‘naamloze vennootschap’) under the laws of the Netherlands. In connection with this conversion, our legal name changed from ProQR Therapeutics B.V. to ProQR Therapeutics N.V. On June 22, 2016 the articles of association were amended to (i) add certain places where general meeting of shareholders may be held and (ii) amend the term ‘annual report’ to ‘report of the Management Board’ to comply with the Implementation Act Annual Accounts Directive (‘Uitvoeringswet richtlijn jaarrekening’) (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees (‘Staatsblad’) 2015, 349), pursuant to which act this term has been amended accordingly. On February 27, 2018, the articles of association were amended to (i) to increase the authorized share capital, and (ii) to delete the requirement of a deed for the issuance of shares. On June 10, 2021, the articles of association were amended to (i) combine the existing compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee into one committee, to be named the compensation, nominating and corporate governance committee, and to establish a new research and development committee, and (ii) to increase the authorized share capital.
Our company is registered with the Dutch Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce (‘handelsregister van de Kamer van Koophandel en Fabrieken’) in Leiden, the Netherlands under number 54600790. Our corporate seat is in Leiden, the Netherlands, and our registered office is at Zernikedreef 9, 2333 CK Leiden, the Netherlands.
As of the date hereof, our authorized share capital is €13,600,000, divided into 170,000,000 ordinary shares and 170,000,000 preferred shares, each with a nominal value of €0.04. Under Dutch law, our authorized share capital is the maximum capital that we may issue without amending our articles of association.
Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PRQR.” We have listed our ordinary shares in registered form and our shares are not certificated. We have appointed American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC as our agent to maintain our shareholders register and to act as transfer agent, registrar and paying agent for the ordinary shares. Our ordinary shares are traded on the Nasdaq Global Market in book-entry form.
Articles of Association and Dutch Law
Set forth below is a summary of relevant information concerning the material provisions of our articles of association and applicable Dutch law. This summary does not constitute legal advice regarding those matters and should not be regarded as such.
Anti-Takeover Measure
To enable us to pursue our business strategy and the successful development of our product pipeline and to protect our interests and those of our stakeholders (including shareholders, employees and patient populations), our business strategy, our continuity and our independence against actual and potential threats, we have adopted an anti-takeover measure by granting a perpetual and repeatedly exercisable call option to a protection foundation, Stichting Continuity ProQR Therapeutics. The call option confers on the protection foundation the right to acquire under certain conditions such number of preferred shares as equals, at the time of exercise of the call option, the lesser of: (i) the total number of shares equal to our issued share capital at that time, minus the number of preferred shares already held by the protection foundation at that time
 
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(if any) or (ii) the maximum number of preferred shares that may be issued under our authorized share capital under our articles of association from time to time. The protection foundation’s articles of association provide that it will act to promote and protect the best interests of us, our business and our stakeholders, including patient populations that may benefit from our products and pipeline, by opposing any influences that conflict with these interests and threaten to undermine our strategy, continuity, independence and/or identity. The board of the protection foundation is independent from us, our stakeholders and our subsidiaries.
Upon exercise of the call option, the preferred shares will be issued to the protection foundation for their nominal value, of which only 25% will be due upon issuance. The voting rights of our shares are based on nominal value and as we expect our shares to trade substantially in excess of nominal value, a foundation acquiring preferred shares issued at 25% of their nominal value can obtain significant voting power for a substantially reduced price and thus be used as a defensive measure. These preferred shares will have both a liquidation and dividend preference over our ordinary shares and will accrue cash dividends at a fixed rate with deficits in a preferred dividend being carried forward. The protection foundation may exercise the call option to acquire preferred shares in order to protect us from influences that do not serve our best interests and threaten to undermine our strategy, continuity, independence and/or identity. These influences may include a third-party acquiring a significant percentage of our ordinary shares, the announcement of a public offer for our ordinary shares, other concentration of control over our ordinary shares or any other form of pressure on us to alter our strategic policies.
Company’s Shareholders’ Register
All of our registered shares are registered in our shareholders’ register. Subject to Dutch law and our articles of association, we must keep our shareholders’ register accurate and up-to-date. Our shareholders’ register shall be kept by our management board. The subregister shall be kept by our agent on behalf of the management board. Our shareholders’ register includes the names and addresses and other relevant details of all holders of registered shares, and shows the date on which the shares were acquired, the date of the acknowledgement by, or notification of, us as well as the amount paid on each share. The shareholders’ register also includes the names and addresses and other relevant details of those with a right of usufruct (‘vruchtgebruik’) or a right of pledge (‘pandrecht’) in respect of any shares. Our registered ordinary shares are held through DTC and therefore DTC is recorded in the shareholders register as the holder of those ordinary shares.
Shareholders, usufructuaries and pledgees whose particulars must be recorded in our shareholders’ register are required to provide our management board with the necessary particulars in a timely fashion. Upon request, shareholders, usufructuaries and pledgees shall be provided with an extract of our shareholders’ register in respect of their right to one or more registered shares.
Issuance of Shares and Preemptive Rights
Under Dutch law, shares are issued and rights to subscribe for shares are granted pursuant to a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders. Our articles of association provide that our general meeting of shareholders may only adopt such resolution upon a proposal of our management board, which proposal must have been approved by our supervisory board. Our general meeting of shareholders may authorize our management board to issue new shares or grant rights to subscribe for shares. The authorization can be granted and extended, in each case for a period not exceeding five years. For as long as such authorization is effective, our general meeting of shareholders will not have the power to issue shares and rights to subscribe for shares. Pursuant to our articles of association, our management board may only exercise the power to issue shares with the approval of our supervisory board.
Under Dutch law, in the event of an issuance of ordinary shares or granting of rights to subscribe for ordinary shares, each shareholder will have a pro rata preemptive right in proportion to the aggregate nominal value of the ordinary shares held by such holder. A holder of ordinary shares does not have a preemptive right with respect to the issuance of, or granting of rights to subscribe for, (i) ordinary shares for consideration other than cash, or (ii) ordinary shares to our employees or employees of one of our group companies, or (iii) ordinary shares to persons exercising a previously granted right to subscribe for shares, or (iv) preferred shares.
 
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The preemptive rights in respect of newly issued ordinary shares may be restricted or excluded by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders. Our articles of association provide that our general meeting of shareholders may only adopt such resolution upon a proposal of our management board, which proposal must have been approved by our supervisory board. Our general meeting of shareholders may authorize our management board to restrict or exclude the preemptive rights in respect of newly issued ordinary shares. Such authorization for the management board can be granted and extended, in each case for a period not exceeding five years. For as long as such authorization is effective, our general meeting of shareholders will not have the power to limit or exclude preemptive rights and such authorization may not be revoked unless stipulated otherwise in the authorization. A resolution of the general meeting of shareholders to restrict or exclude the preemptive rights or to designate our management board as the authorized body to do so requires at least a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, if less than one half of our issued share capital is represented at the meeting.
Preferred shares do not carry preemptive rights in respect of newly issued ordinary shares or preferred shares, nor do holders of ordinary shares have preemptive rights in respect of newly issued preferred shares. The call option of the protection foundation to acquire newly issued preferred shares of the company, see “Description of Share Capital — Anti-Takeover Measure”, is an irrevocable and repeatedly exercisable right to subscribe for preferred shares.
On September 15, 2014, our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which our management board will be irrevocably authorized to, following approval of our supervisory board, limit or exclude the preemptive rights of holders of ordinary shares for a period of five years from the date of such resolution.
On May 16, 2018, our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which the aforesaid authorizations to issue shares and to limit and exclude preemptive rights was renewed. In this renewed authorization the Management Board was delegated, subject to approval of the Supervisory Board, the authority for a period of 5 years from the date of the resolution of the general meeting of shareholders to, in accordance with applicable laws and Nasdaq listing rules: (a) issue an amount of ordinary shares up to 100% of the Company’s authorized share capital for general purposes as reflected above and issuances under Company’s stock option plans with the proviso that the issuances under stock option plans is limited to 15% of the Company’s issued share capital (minus any treasury shares) at May 16, 2018; (b) grant rights to subscribe for ordinary shares as described under (a); and (c) limit or exclude the pre-emptive rights of holders of ordinary shares, which delegation shall include the authority to determine the price and further terms and conditions of any such share issuance or grants.
On June 23, 2020, our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which the aforesaid authorizations to issue shares and to limit and exclude preemptive rights was renewed. In this renewed authorization the Management Board was delegated, subject to approval of the Supervisory Board, the authority for a period of 5 years from the date of the resolution of the general meeting of shareholders to, in accordance with applicable laws and Nasdaq listing rules: (a) issue an amount of ordinary shares up to 100% of the Company’s authorized share capital for general purposes as reflected above and issuances under Company’s equity incentive or stock option plans with the proviso that the issuances under equity incentive or stock option plans are limited to 15% of the Company’s issued share capital from time-to-time (minus any treasury shares); (b) grant rights to subscribe for ordinary shares as described under (a); and (c) limit or exclude the pre-emptive rights of holders of ordinary shares, which delegation shall include the authority to determine the price and further terms and conditions of any such share issuance or grant.
On May 19, 2021, our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which our management board, subject to approval of the supervisory board, is authorized to, in accordance with applicable laws and Nasdaq listing rules and for a period of 5 years from the date of the resolution of the general meeting of shareholders: (a) issue ordinary shares up to 100% of the Company’s authorized share capital for general purposes and issuances under Company’s equity incentive or stock option plans with the proviso that the issuances under equity incentive or stock option plans is limited to 15% of the Company’s issued share capital from time-to-time (minus any treasury shares); (b) grant rights to subscribe for ordinary shares as described under (a); and (c) limit or exclude the pre-emptive rights of holders of ordinary shares, which delegation shall include the authority to determine the price and further terms and conditions of any such share issuance or grant.
 
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Repurchases of our Shares
Under Dutch law, we may not subscribe for newly issued shares in our own capital. We may acquire our shares, subject to applicable provisions and restrictions of Dutch law and our articles of association, to the extent that:

such shares are fully paid-up;

such shares are acquired for no consideration or such repurchase would not cause our shareholders’ equity to fall below an amount equal to the sum of the paid-up and called-up part of the issued share capital and the reserves we are required to maintain pursuant to Dutch law or our articles of association; and

after the acquisition of shares, we and our subsidiaries would not hold, or would not hold as pledgees, shares having an aggregate nominal value that exceeds 50% of our issued share capital.
Other than shares acquired for no consideration or by universal succession, we may acquire shares only if our general meeting of shareholders has authorized the management board to do so. An authorization by the general meeting of shareholders for the acquisition of shares can be granted for a maximum period of 18 months. Such authorization must specify the number of shares that may be acquired, the manner in which these shares may be acquired and the price range within which the shares may be acquired. No authorization of the general meeting of shareholders is required if ordinary shares are acquired by us on Nasdaq with the intention of transferring such ordinary shares to our employees or employees of a group company pursuant to an arrangement applicable to them. Our articles of association further provide that a resolution of our management board to acquire fully paid-up shares in our share capital requires the approval of our supervisory board.
On May 10, 2017, our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which our management board is authorized to acquire up to 10% of our issued share capital plus, in case of a material reorganization of the capital structure of the Company an additional 10% on Nasdaq or by other means for an 18 month period from the date of such resolution for a price per share not exceeding 110% of the market price of the ordinary shares on Nasdaq (with the market price deemed to be the average of the closing price on each of the five consecutive days of trading preceding the three trading days prior to the date of acquisition).
On June 23, 2020 our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which the aforementioned authorization to acquire shares was renewed. In this renewed authorization the Management Board was delegated the authority to perform acquisitions by the Company of (i) up to 10% of the issued share capital of the Company plus, (ii) in case of a material reorganization of the capital structure of the Company, an additional 10% of the issued share capital of the Company, by any means, including through derivative products, purchases on any stock exchange, through any private purchase or block trade, or otherwise, for a price that is between 0.01 US Dollar and an amount which is not higher than 110% of the average market price of such ordinary shares on Nasdaq (with the market price deemed to be the average of the closing price on each of the five consecutive days of trading preceding the three trading days prior to the date of acquisition), for a period of 18 months with effect from the annual general meeting of shareholders.
On May 19, 2021, our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which our management board will be authorized to acquire (i) up to 10% of the issued share capital of the Company plus, in case of a material reorganization of the capital structure of the Company, (ii) an additional 10% of the issued share capital of the Company, by any means, including through derivative products, purchases on any stock exchange, through any private purchase or block trade, or otherwise, for a price that is between 0.01 US Dollar and an amount which is not higher than 110% of the average market price of such ordinary shares on Nasdaq (with the market price deemed to be the average of the closing price on each of the five consecutive days of trading preceding the three trading days prior to the date of acquisition), for a period of eighteen (18) months with effect from the general meeting of shareholders. In this respect, the words “issued share capital” means the Company’s issued share capital from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, the issued share capital includes treasury shares.
 
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Capital Reductions; Cancellation
At a general meeting of shareholders, our shareholders may resolve to reduce our issued share capital by (i) cancelling shares or (ii) reducing the nominal value of the shares by virtue of an amendment to our articles of association. In either case, this reduction would be subject to applicable statutory provisions. A resolution to cancel shares may only relate (x) to shares held by the company itself or in respect of which the company holds the depository receipts, and (y) to all preferred shares. Our articles of association provide that our general meeting of shareholders may only adopt such resolution upon a proposal of our management board, which proposal must have been approved by our supervisory board. In order to be adopted by the general meeting of shareholders, a resolution to reduce the capital requires a simple majority of the votes cast at a general meeting of shareholders if at least half the issued capital is represented at the meeting or at least two-thirds of the votes cast at the general meeting of shareholders if less than half of the issued capital is represented at the general meeting of shareholders.
A reduction of the nominal value of shares without repayment and without release from the obligation to pay up the shares must be effectuated proportionally on shares of the same class (unless all shareholders concerned agree to a disproportionate reduction). A resolution that would result in a reduction of capital requires approval of the meeting of each group of holders of shares of the same class whose rights are prejudiced by the reduction. In addition, a reduction of capital involves a two month waiting period during which creditors have the right to object to a reduction of capital under specified circumstances.
In the event that all preferred shares are cancelled, distributions shall be made to the protection foundation as sole holder of such preferred shares.
Corporate Objectives
Under our articles of association, our corporate objectives are:

the development, bringing to market and exploitation of products and technologies in the field of biotechnology;

the research and development of (or the commission to research and develop) patents, know-how and intellectual and industrial property;

to make our products available to the patient populations that may benefit from such products and to maintain a suitable pipeline of products that may be beneficial for relevant patient populations;

to participate in, to finance, to hold any other interest in and to conduct the management or supervision of other entities, companies, partnerships and businesses;

to furnish guarantees, to provide security, to warrant performance in any other way and to assume liability, whether jointly and severally or otherwise, in respect of obligations of group companies or other parties; and

to do anything which, in the widest sense of the words, is connected with or may be conducive to the attainment of these objects.
Amendment of Articles of Association
Our general meeting of shareholders, at the proposal of our management board, with the prior approval of our supervisory board, may resolve to amend our articles of association. A resolution taken by the general meeting of shareholders to amend our articles of association requires a simple majority of the votes cast.
General Meetings of Shareholders
General meetings of shareholders can be held in Leiden, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Schiphol Airport (municipality Haarlemmermeer), The Hague, Oegstgeest, Leidschendam, Katwijk, Noordwijk or Wassenaar, the Netherlands. All shareholders and others entitled to attend general meetings of shareholders are authorized to attend the general meeting of shareholders, to address the meeting and, in so far as they have such right, to vote, either in person or by proxy.
 
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However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic several restrictions have been implied in the Netherlands. It is possible that we will deviate from our articles of association and/or the Dutch Civil Code and hold our general meetings virtually, as permitted under the emergency bill Temporary Measures in the Field of the Ministry of Justice and Security in connection with the Outbreak of COVID-19 (Tijdelijke Wet COVID-19 Justitie & Veiligheid), as extended or amended from time to time.
We must hold at least one general meeting of shareholders each year, to be held within six months after the end of our financial year. A general meeting of shareholders shall also be held within three months after our management board has considered it to be likely that the company’s equity has decreased to an amount equal to or lower than half of its paid up and called up capital. If the management board and supervisory board have failed to ensure that such general meetings of shareholders as referred to in the preceding sentences are held in a timely fashion, each shareholder and other person entitled to attend shareholders’ meetings may be authorized by the Dutch court to convene the general meeting of shareholders.
Our management board and our supervisory board may convene additional extraordinary general meetings of shareholders whenever they so decide. Pursuant to Dutch law, one or more shareholders and/or others entitled to attend general meetings of shareholders, alone or jointly representing at least ten percent of our issued share capital, may on their application be authorized by the Dutch court to convene a general meeting of shareholders. The Dutch court will disallow the application if it does not appear to it that the applicants have previously requested that the management board or supervisory board convenes a shareholders’ meeting and neither the management board nor the supervisory board has taken the necessary steps so that the shareholders’ meeting could be held within eight weeks after the request.
General meetings of shareholders are convened by a notice which includes an agenda stating the items to be discussed. For the annual general meeting of shareholders the agenda will include, among other things, the adoption of our annual accounts, the appropriation of our profits or losses and proposals relating to the composition and filling of any vacancies of the management board or supervisory board. In addition, the agenda for a general meeting of shareholders may include such items as have been included therein by our management board or our supervisory board. Pursuant to Dutch law, one or more shareholders and/or others entitled to attend general meetings of shareholders, alone or jointly representing at least 3% of the issued share capital, have the right to request the inclusion of additional items on the agenda of shareholders’ meetings. Such requests must be made in writing, substantiated, or by a proposal for a resolution and received by us no later than the 60th day before the day that the relevant general meeting of shareholders is to be held. No resolutions will be adopted on items other than those which have been included in the agenda.
We will give notice of each general meeting of shareholders by publication on our website and, to the extent required by applicable law, in a Dutch daily newspaper with national distribution, and in any other manner that we may be required to follow in order to comply with Dutch law and applicable stock exchange and SEC requirements. We will observe the statutory minimum convening notice period for a general meeting of shareholders.
Pursuant to our articles of association, our management board may determine a record date (‘registratiedatum’) of 28 calendar days prior to a general meeting of shareholders to establish which shareholders and others with meeting rights are entitled to attend and, if applicable, vote in the general meeting of shareholders. The record date, if any, and the manner in which shareholders can register and exercise their rights will be set out in the convocation notice of the general meeting of shareholders. Our articles of association provide that a shareholder must notify the company in writing of his identity and his intention to attend (or be represented at) the general meeting of shareholders, such notice to be received by us ultimately on the seventh day prior to the general meeting of shareholders. If this requirement is not complied with or if upon direction of the company to that effect no proper identification is provided by any person wishing to enter the general meeting of shareholders, the chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders may, in his or her sole discretion, refuse entry to the shareholder or his proxy holder.
Pursuant to our articles of association, our general meeting of shareholders is chaired by the chairman of our supervisory board. If the chairman of our supervisory board is absent and has not charged another person to chair the meeting in his place, the supervisory board members present at the meeting shall appoint one of themselves to be chairperson. If no supervisory board members are present at the general meeting of shareholders, the general meeting of shareholders will be chaired by our CEO or, if our CEO is absent,
 
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another management board member present at the meeting and, if none of them is present, the general meeting of shareholders shall appoint its own chairperson. The person who should chair the meeting may appoint another person in his or her stead.
The chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders may decide at his or her discretion to admit other persons to the meeting. The chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders shall appoint another person present at the shareholders’ meeting to act as secretary and to minute the proceedings at the meeting. The chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders may instruct a civil law notary to draw up a notarial report of the proceedings at the company’s expense, in which case no minutes need to be taken. The chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders is authorized to eject any person from the general meeting of shareholders if the chairperson considers that person to disrupt the orderly proceedings. The general meeting of shareholders shall be conducted in the English language.
Voting Rights and Quorum Requirements
In accordance with Dutch law and our articles of association, each issued ordinary share and preferred share confers the right on the holder thereof to cast one vote at the general meeting of shareholders. The voting rights attached to any shares held by us or our direct or indirect subsidiaries are suspended as long as they are held in treasury. Dutch law does not permit cumulative voting for the election of management board members or supervisory board members.
Voting rights may be exercised by shareholders or by a duly appointed proxy holder (the written proxy being acceptable to the chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders) of a shareholder, which proxy holder need not be a shareholder. Our articles of association do not limit the number of shares that may be voted by a single shareholder.
Under our articles of association, blank votes, abstentions and invalid votes shall not be counted as votes cast. Further, shares in respect of which a blank or invalid vote has been cast and shares in respect of which the person with meeting rights who is present or represented at the meeting has abstained from voting are counted when determining the part of the issued share capital that is present or represented at a general meeting of shareholders. The chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders shall determine the manner of voting and whether voting may take place by acclamation.
In accordance with Dutch law and generally accepted business practices, our articles of association do not provide quorum requirements generally applicable to general meetings of shareholders. To this extent, our practice varies from the requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(c), which requires an issuer to provide in its bylaws for a generally applicable quorum, and that such quorum may not be less than one-third of the outstanding voting shares.
Resolutions of the general meeting of shareholders are adopted by a simple majority of votes cast without quorum requirement, except where Dutch law or our articles of association provide for a special majority and/or quorum in relation to specified resolutions.
The chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders shall decide on the method of voting and may determine the voting procedure. The determination made by the chairperson of the general meeting of shareholders with regard to the results of a vote shall be decisive. However, where the accuracy of the chairperson’s determination is contested immediately after it has been made, a new vote shall take place if the majority of the general meeting of shareholders so requires or, where the original vote did not take place by response to a roll call or in writing, if any party with voting rights present at the meeting so requires.
Our management board will keep a record of the resolutions passed at each general meeting of shareholders. The record shall be available at our office for inspection by any person entitled to attend general meetings of shareholders and upon request a copy of or extract from the record will be provided to such person at no more than the cost price.
Our articles of association and Dutch law provide that resolutions of our management board concerning a material change in the identity or character of the company or our business are subject to the approval of the general meeting of shareholders. Such changes include in any event:

a transfer of all or materially all of our business to a third party;
 
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the entry into or termination of a long-lasting alliance of the company or of a subsidiary either with another entity or company, or as a fully liable partner of a limited partnership or partnership, if this alliance or termination is of significant importance for the company; and

the acquisition or disposition of an interest in the capital of a company by the company or by a subsidiary with a value of at least one third of the value of the assets, according to the balance sheet with explanatory notes or, if the company prepares a consolidated balance sheet, according to the consolidated balance sheet with explanatory notes in the company’s most recently adopted annual accounts.
Adoption of Annual Accounts and Discharge of Management and Supervisory Liability
Pursuant to Dutch law, we are required to publish our annual accounts within eight days after adoption and ultimately within 13 months after the end of our financial year.
Each year within five months after the end of our financial year, save where this period is extended for a maximum of six months by the general meeting of shareholders on account of special circumstances, our management board will prepare the annual accounts. The annual accounts must be accompanied by an auditor’s certificate, a report of the management board and certain other mandatory information and must be made available for inspection by our shareholders at our offices within the same period. Under Dutch law, the general meeting of shareholders may appoint and remove our independent auditors, as referred to in Section 2:393 Dutch Civil Code, who audit the annual accounts. If the general meeting of shareholders fails to appoint an independent auditor, the auditor will be appointed by the supervisory board or, if the supervisory board fails to do so, the management board. The annual accounts are adopted by our shareholders at the general meeting of shareholders and will be prepared in accordance with Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code.
The adoption of the annual accounts by our shareholders does not release our management board members and our supervisory board members from liability for acts reflected in those documents. Any such release from liability requires a separate shareholders’ resolution.
Our financial reporting will be subject to the supervision of the Dutch regulator AFM. The AFM will review the content of the financial reports and has the authority to approach us with requests for information if, on the basis of publicly available information, it has reasonable doubts as to the integrity of our financial reporting. For a more detailed description we refer to the description below under the heading “Dutch Financial Reporting Supervision Act.”
Dividends and other Distributions
We may only make distributions to our shareholders and other persons entitled to distributable profits, to the extent that our shareholders’ equity exceeds the sum of the paid-up and called-up share capital plus the reserves as required to be maintained by Dutch law or by our articles of association.
Under our articles of association, a (cumulative) dividend is first paid out of the profit, if available for distribution, on any preferred shares. Any amount remaining out of the profit is carried to reserve as the management board determines. After reservation by the management board of any profit, the remaining profit will be at the disposal of the general meeting of shareholders. The management board is permitted, subject to certain requirements and subject to approval of the supervisory board, to declare interim dividends without the approval of the general meeting of shareholders.
Distributions shall be payable in such currency as determined by our management board. We intend that distributions, if any, shall be payable on such date as determined by our management board. Our management board will set the date that will be applied in order to establish which shareholders (or usufructuaries or pledgees, as the case may be) are entitled to the distribution, such date not being earlier than the date on which the distribution was announced. Claims for payment of dividends and other distributions not made within five years from the date that such dividends or distributions became payable, will lapse and any such amounts will be considered to have been forfeited to us (‘verjaring’).
We do not anticipate paying any dividends for the foreseeable future.
 
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Liquidation and Dissolution
The general meeting of shareholders may, based on a proposal by our management board, which proposal has been approved by our supervisory board, resolve to dissolve the company by a resolution passed by a simple majority of the votes cast. In the event of the company being dissolved, the liquidation shall be effected by our management board under the supervision of the supervisory board, unless the general meeting of shareholders decides otherwise.
In the event of a dissolution and liquidation, the assets remaining after payment of all of the company’s debts (including any liquidation expenses) are to be distributed (i) firstly to the holders, if any, of preferred shares in the amount of the nominal value of the preferred shares (to the extent paid-up) plus unpaid accrued dividends and deficits (if any) in preferred dividends, and (ii) the balance remaining to the holders of ordinary shares in proportion to the aggregate nominal value of their ordinary shares. The liquidation and all distributions referred to in this paragraph will be made in accordance with the relevant provisions of Dutch law.
Limitations on Non-Residents and Exchange Controls
There are no limits under the laws of the Netherlands or in our articles of association on non-residents of the Netherlands holding or voting our ordinary shares. Under Dutch law, there are currently no exchange controls applicable to the transfer of dividends or other distributions with respect to, or of the proceeds from the sale of, shares in a Dutch company, to persons outside the Netherlands.
Netherlands Squeeze-Out Proceedings
Pursuant to Section 2:92a of the Dutch Civil Code, a shareholder who for its own account (or together with its group companies) holds at least 95% of our issued share capital may institute proceedings against our other shareholders jointly for the transfer of their shares to it. The proceedings are held before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal (‘Ondernemingskamer’) and can be instituted by means of a writ of summons served upon each of the minority shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure (‘Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering’). The Enterprise Chamber may grant the claim for squeeze-out in relation to all minority shareholders and will determine the price to be paid for the shares, if necessary after appointment of one or three experts who will offer an opinion to the Enterprise Chamber on the value of the shares of the minority shareholders. Once the order to transfer by the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal becomes final and irrevocable, the majority shareholder that instituted the squeeze-out proceedings shall give written notice of the date and place of payment and the price to the holders of the shares to be acquired whose addresses are known to the majority shareholder. Unless the addresses of all minority shareholders are known to the majority shareholder acquiring the shares, the majority shareholder is required to publish the same notice in a newspaper with a national circulation.
A shareholder that holds a majority of our issued share capital, but less than the 95% required to institute the squeeze-out proceedings described above, may seek to propose and implement one or more restructuring transactions with the objective to obtain at least 95% of our issued share capital and thus to be allowed to initiate squeeze-out proceedings. Those restructuring transactions could, amongst other things, include a legal merger or demerger involving our company, a contribution of cash and/or assets against issuance of shares involving our company, and the issue of new shares to the majority shareholder while excluding any pre-emption rights of minority shareholders in relation to such issuance or an asset sale transaction.
In Dutch public takeover practice, depending on the circumstances, an asset sale transaction is sometimes used as a way to squeeze out minority shareholders (e.g. after a successful public offer, or tender offer, through which the offeror acquires a supermajority, but less than all, of the shares). In such a scenario, the business of the target company would be sold to an offeror, a buyer or a special purpose vehicle, followed by the liquidation of the target company. The purchase price would be distributed to all shareholders in proportion to their respective shareholding as liquidation proceeds, thus separating the business from the company in which minority shareholders participated.
 
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Under our articles of association, any proposal to sell and transfer all of our assets and to dissolve and liquidate our company is subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in our general meeting of shareholders which must be preceded by a proposal by our management board, which must be approved by our supervisory board.
Dutch Corporate Governance Code
The DCGC is based on a “comply or explain” principle. Accordingly, companies are required to disclose in their annual report filed in the Netherlands whether or not they are complying with the various rules of the DCGC that are addressed to the management board and supervisory board and, if they do not apply those provisions, to give the reasons for such non-application. The DCGC contains both principles and best practice provisions for the management board, supervisory board, shareholders and general meetings of shareholders, financial reporting, auditors, disclosure, compliance and enforcement standards. The principles and best practice provisions apply to our management board and supervisory board, for example in relation to its role and composition, conflicts of interest, independence requirements for supervisory board members, supervisory board committees and compensation; shareholders and the general meeting of shareholders, for example, regarding anti-takeover protection and obligations of the company to provide information to our shareholders; and financial reporting, including external auditor and internal audit requirements.
We acknowledge the importance of good corporate governance. However, at this stage, we do not comply with all the provisions of the DCGC, to a large extent because such provisions conflict with or are inconsistent with the corporate governance rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and U.S. securities laws that apply to us, or because such provisions do not reflect best practices of global companies listed on the Nasdaq Global Market.
The discussion below summarizes the most important differences between our governance structure and the principles and best practices of the DCGC:

Best practice provision 4.1.3 (vii) provide that each substantial change in our corporate governance structure and in our compliance with the DCGC must be submitted to the general meeting of shareholders for discussion under a separate agenda item. As our ordinary shares will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market only, we intend to comply with the corporate governance rules that apply to companies that are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market and therefore will not comply with this provision.

Best practice provision 2.1.7 (i) stipulates that any one of the criteria referred to in best practice provision 2.1.8, sections i. to v. inclusive should be applicable to at most one supervisory board member. As our ordinary shares will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market only, we intend to comply with the corporate governance rules that apply to companies that are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, and will therefore only apply the Nasdaq criteria on independence of members of the supervisory board.

Best practice provision 3.3.2 prohibits the granting of shares or rights to shares to members of the supervisory board as remuneration. It is common practice for companies listed on the Nasdaq Global Market to grant shares to the members of the supervisory board as compensation, in order to align the interests of the members of the supervisory board with our interests and those of our shareholders, and we have granted and expect to grant options to acquire ordinary shares to our supervisory board members.

Pursuant to the best practice provision 3.1.2 (vi) and (vii) of the DCGC, options granted to our management board members should not be exercisable during the first three years after the date of grant; shares granted to our management board members should be retained by them for a period of at least five years. We do not intend to comply with all of the above requirements.

Best practice provision 4.3.3 provides that the general meeting of shareholders may pass a resolution to cancel the binding nature of a nomination for the appointment of a member of the management board or of the supervisory board or a resolution to dismiss such member by an absolute majority of the votes cast. It may be provided that such majority should represent a given proportion of the
 
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issued capital, but this proportion may not exceed one third. In addition, this best practice provision provides that if such proportion of the share capital is not represented at the meeting, but an absolute majority of the votes cast is in favor of a resolution to cancel the binding nature of the nomination, a new general meeting of shareholders will be convened where the resolution may be adopted by absolute majority, regardless of the proportion of the share capital represented at the meeting. Our articles of association will provide that these resolutions can only be adopted with at least a 2/3 majority which must represent more than 50% of our issued capital, and that no such second meeting will be convened, because we believe that the decision to overrule a nomination by the management board or the supervisory board for the appointment or dismissal of a member of our management board or of our supervisory board must be widely supported by our shareholders.

Best practice provision 4.2.3 stipulates that meetings with analysts, presentations to analysts, presentations to investors and institutional investors and press conferences must be announced in advance on the company’s website and by means of press releases. Provision must be made for all shareholders to follow these meetings and presentations in real time, for example by means of webcasting or telephone. After the meetings, the presentations must be posted on the company’s website. We believe that enabling shareholders to follow in real time all the meetings with analysts, presentations to analysts and presentations to investors would create an excessive burden on our resources. We intend to post analyst presentations on our website after meetings with analysts.

Pursuant to best practice provision 3.2.3, the remuneration of the management board in the event of dismissal may not exceed one year’s salary. The management services agreements with our management board members provide for a lump-sum equal to 24 months of the individual’s monthly gross fixed salary. Based on the risk profile of the company and to be able to attract highly skilled management, we assumed this period to be appropriate.
Market Abuse
The Market Abuse section described in our other filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the base prospectus included in our registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-207245), is no longer applicable following the EU Market Abuse Regulation, which became effective as of July 3, 2016. The EU Market Abuse Regulation has direct effect in the Netherlands and other EU member states. The EU Market Abuse Regulation replaces the provisions on market abuse, insider trading and notifications set out in the Dutch Financial Supervision Act. The EU Market Abuse Regulation does not apply to companies whose shares are not admitted to trading or are not listed on a regulated market in the EU/EEA, but only on Nasdaq. Accordingly, the provisions of the EU Market Abuse Regulation do not currently apply to us.
Dutch Financial Reporting Supervision Act
Under the Dutch Financial Reporting Supervision Act (Wet toezicht financiële verslaggeving) (the “FRSA”), the AFM supervises the application of financial reporting standards by, among others, companies whose corporate seats are in the Netherlands and whose securities are listed on a regulated market within the EU or in a non-EU country on a system similar to a regulated market. Since our company has its corporate seat in the Netherlands and our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, the FRSA will be applicable to us.
Pursuant to the FRSA, the AFM has an independent right to (i) request an explanation from us regarding our application of the applicable financial reporting standards and (ii) recommend to us that we make available further explanations. If we do not comply with such a request or recommendation, the AFM may request that the Enterprise Chamber order us to (i) make available further explanations as recommended by the AFM, (ii) provide an explanation of the way we have applied the applicable financial reporting standards to our financial reports or (iii) prepare our financial reports in accordance with the Enterprise Chamber’s instructions.
Differences in Corporate Law
We are incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands. The following discussion summarizes material differences between the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and the rights of holders of the common
 
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stock of a typical corporation incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware, which result from differences in governing documents and the laws of the Netherlands and Delaware.
This discussion does not purport to be a complete statement of the rights of holders of our ordinary shares under applicable Dutch law and our articles of association or the rights of holders of the common stock of a typical corporation under applicable Delaware law and a typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws.
Delaware
The Netherlands
Duties of Directors
The board of directors of a Delaware corporation bears the ultimate responsibility for managing the business and affairs of a corporation.
In discharging this function, directors of a Delaware corporation owe fiduciary duties of care and loyalty to the corporation and to its shareholders. The duty of care generally requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. In general, but subject to certain exceptions, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Delaware courts have also imposed a heightened standard of conduct upon directors of a Delaware corporation who take any action designed to defeat a threatened change in control of the corporation.
In addition, under Delaware law, when the board of directors of a Delaware corporation approves the sale or break-up of a corporation, the board of directors may, in certain circumstances, have a duty to obtain the highest value reasonably available to the shareholders.
The Delaware General Corporation Law generally provides for a one-year term for directors, but permits directorships to be divided into up to three classes with up to three-year terms, with the years for each class expiring in different years, if permitted by the certificate of incorporation, an initial bylaw or a bylaw adopted by the shareholders. A director elected to serve a term on a “classified” board of directors may not be removed by shareholders without cause. There is no limit to the number of terms a director may serve.
In the Netherlands, a listed company typically has a two-tier board structure, with a management board comprising the executive directors and a supervisory board comprising the non-executive directors (although a single-tier board system may also be used).
Under Dutch law, the management board is responsible for the day-to-day management and the strategy, policy and operations of a company. The supervisory board is responsible for supervising the conduct of, and providing advice to, the management board and for supervising the company’s general affairs and business. Each managing director and supervisory director has a duty to act in the corporate interest of the company and the business connected with it.
Unlike under Delaware law, under Dutch law the corporate interest extends to the interests of all corporate stakeholders, such as shareholders, creditors, employees, customers and suppliers. The duty to act in the corporate interest of the company and the business connected with it also applies in the event of a proposed sale or break-up of the company, whereby the specific circumstances generally dictate how such duty is to be applied. Any management board resolution concerning a material change in the identity or character of the company or its business requires shareholders’ approval. The management board may decide in its sole discretion, within the confines of Dutch law and the articles of association, to incur additional indebtedness subject to any contractual restrictions pursuant to our existing financing arrangements.
In contrast to Delaware law, under Dutch law a supervisory board member of a listed company is generally appointed for a maximum term of four years. There is no statutory limit to the number of terms a supervisory board member may serve, although the DCGC recommends that a supervisory board member is appointed for a period of four years and may then be reappointed once for another four-year period. The supervisory board member may then subsequently be reappointed
 
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again for a period of two years, which appointment may be extended by at most two years. In the event of a reappointment after an eight-year period, reasons should be given in the report of the supervisory board.
A supervisory board member may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the general meeting of shareholders. Pursuant to our articles of association, our general meeting of shareholders may only adopt a resolution to suspend or dismiss such supervisory board member by at least a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, if such majority represents more than half of the issued share capital of the company, unless the proposal was made by the supervisory board, in which case a simple majority of the votes cast is sufficient.
Board Vacancies
The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or by a sole remaining director unless (a) otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the corporation or (b) the certificate of incorporation directs that a particular class of stock is to elect such director, in which case a majority of the other directors elected by such class, or a sole remaining director elected by such class, will fill such vacancy.
Under Dutch law, management board members and supervisory board members of a company such as ours are appointed by the general meeting of shareholders, rather than appointed by the management board as is typical for a Delaware corporation.
Under our articles of association, management board members and supervisory board members are appointed by our general meeting of shareholders upon the binding nomination by our supervisory board. However, the general meeting of shareholders, may at all times overrule such binding nomination by a resolution adopted by at least a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, provided such majority represents more than half of our issued share capital, following which our supervisory board shall draw up a new binding nomination.
Conflict-of-Interest Transactions
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, transactions with directors must be approved by disinterested directors or by the shareholders, or otherwise proven to be fair to the company as of the time it is approved. Such transaction will be void or voidable, unless (1) the material facts of any interested directors’ interests are disclosed or are known to the board of directors and the transaction is approved by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors constitute less than a quorum; (2) the material facts of any interested directors’ interests are disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote thereon, and the Under Dutch law, a management board member and a supervisory board member with a direct or indirect personal interest that conflicts with the interests of the company or of the business connected with it must abstain from participating in the decision- making process (i.e., the deliberations and the decision-making) with respect to the relevant matter. A board member with such a conflict of interest must promptly notify the other directors of his or her conflict. If it becomes apparent that such member was indeed involved in the decision-making process, then such decision may be nullified.
 
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transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the shareholders; or (3) the transaction is fair to the company as of the time it is approved.
Our articles of association provide that if as a result of conflicts of interest no resolution of the management board can be adopted, the resolution will be adopted by our supervisory board. If as a result of a conflict of interest of supervisory board members no resolution of the supervisory board can be adopted, the resolution can nonetheless be adopted by our supervisory board as if there was no conflict of interest. In that case, each supervisory board member is entitled to participate in the discussion and decision making process and to cast a vote.
Management board members with a conflict of interest remain authorized to represent the company. However, the relevant management board members may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for any damage suffered by the company as a consequence of the transaction.
Agreements entered into with third parties contrary to the rules on decision-making in the case of a conflict of interest, may as a rule not be annulled. Only under special circumstances will a company be able to annul an agreement or claim damages, such as when a third party abuses a conflict of interest situation.
Proxy Voting by Directors
A director of a Delaware corporation may not issue a proxy representing the director’s voting rights as a director. An absent management board member may issue a proxy for a specific meeting of the management board but only in writing to another management board member. An absent supervisory board member may issue a proxy for a specific meeting of the supervisory board but only in writing to another supervisory board member.
Voting Rights
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, each shareholder is entitled to one vote per share of stock, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Either the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws may specify the number of shares or the amount of other securities that must be represented at a meeting in order to constitute a quorum, but in no event will a quorum consist of less than one-third of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting, except that, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a quorum will consist of no less than 1/3 of the shares of such class or series or classes or series. Under Dutch law, shares have one vote per share, provided such shares have the same nominal value. Our articles of association do not provide quorum requirements generally applicable to general meetings of shareholders. All resolutions of the general meeting of shareholders are adopted by a simple majority of votes cast without quorum requirement, except where Dutch law or our articles of association provide for a special majority and/or quorum in relation to specified resolutions. Each holder of ordinary shares may cast as many votes as it holds shares. The voting rights attached to any shares held by us or our direct or indirect subsidiaries are suspended as long as they are held in treasury. Dutch law does not permit cumulative voting for the election of management board members and supervisory board members.
 
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Shareholders as of the record date for the meeting are entitled to vote at the meeting, and the board of directors may fix a record date that is no more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of the meeting, and if no record date is set then the record date is the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. The determination of the shareholders of record entitled to notice or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting, but the board of directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. Pursuant to our articles of association, our management board may determine a record date (registratiedatum) of 28 calendar days prior to a general meeting of shareholders to establish which shareholders and others with meeting rights are entitled to attend and, if applicable, vote in the general meeting of shareholders. The record date, if any, and the manner in which shareholders can register and exercise their rights will be set out in the convocation notice of the general meeting of shareholders. There is no specific provision in Dutch law for adjournments.
Shareholder Proposals
Delaware law does not provide shareholders an express right to put any proposal before a meeting of shareholders, but it provides that a corporation’s bylaws may provide that if the corporation solicits proxies with respect to the election of directors, it may be required to include in its proxy solicitation materials one or more individuals nominated by a shareholder. In keeping with common law, Delaware corporations generally afford shareholders an opportunity to make proposals and nominations provided that they comply with the notice provisions in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. Additionally, if a Delaware corporation is subject to the SEC’s proxy rules, a shareholder who owns at least $2,000 in market value or 1% of the corporation’s securities entitled to vote for a continuous period of one year as of the date he submits a proposal, may propose a matter for a vote at an annual or special meeting in accordance with those rules.
Pursuant to Dutch law, one or more shareholders or others with meeting rights alone or jointly representing at least 10% of the issued share capital may on their application be authorized by the Dutch Court to convene a general meeting of shareholders if the management board and the supervisory board fail to do so in a timely manner.
The agenda for a general meeting of shareholders must contain such items as the management board, supervisory board or the person or persons convening the meeting decide. Pursuant to Dutch law, unlike under Delaware law, the agenda will also include such other items as one or more shareholders and/or others entitled to attend general meetings of shareholders, alone or jointly representing at least 3% of the issued share capital, may request of the management board in writing and substantiated or by a proposal for a resolution, received by the company no later than on the 60th day before the date of the meeting.
Action by Written Consent
Unless otherwise provided in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of a corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if one or more consents in writing, setting forth the action to be so taken, are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
Under Dutch law, shareholders’ resolutions may be adopted in writing without holding a meeting of shareholders, provided (a) the articles of association expressly so allow, (b) no bearer shares or depository receipts are issued, (c) there are no persons entitled to the same rights as holders of depository receipts issued with the company’s cooperation, (d) the management board and supervisory board members have been given the opportunity to give their advice on the resolution, and (e) the resolution is adopted unanimously by all shareholders that are entitled to vote.
The requirement of unanimity renders the adoption of shareholder resolutions without a meeting not feasible for publicly traded companies. Our articles
 
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of association only expressly allow resolutions of the holders of preferred shares to be adopted without holding a meeting.
Shareholder Suits
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the corporation to enforce the rights of the corporation. An individual also may commence a class action suit on behalf of himself and other similarly situated shareholders where the requirements for maintaining a class action under Delaware law have been met. A person may institute and maintain such a suit only if that person was a shareholder at the time of the transaction which is the subject of the suit. In addition, under Delaware case law, the plaintiff normally must be a shareholder not only at the time of the transaction that is the subject of the suit, but also throughout the duration of the derivative suit. Delaware law also requires that the derivative plaintiff make a demand on the directors of the corporation to assert the corporate claim before the suit may be prosecuted by the derivative plaintiff in court, unless such a demand would be futile. Unlike under Delaware law, in the event a third party is liable to a Dutch company, only the company itself can bring a civil action against that party. Individual shareholders do not have the right to bring an action on behalf of the company. An individual shareholder may, in its own name, have an individual right to take action against such third party in the event that the cause for the liability of that third party also constitutes a tortious act directly against that individual shareholder. The Dutch Civil Code provides for the possibility to initiate such actions collectively. A foundation or an association whose objective is to protect the rights of a group of persons having similar interests can institute a collective action. The collective action itself cannot result in an order for payment of monetary damages but may only result in a declaratory judgment (verklaring voor recht). In order to obtain compensation for damages, the foundation or association and the defendant may reach — often on the basis of such declaratory judgment — a settlement. A Dutch court may declare the settlement agreement binding upon all the injured parties with an opt-out choice for an individual injured party. An individual injured party may also itself — outside the collective action —  institute a civil claim for damages.
Repurchase of Shares
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may purchase or redeem its own shares unless the capital of the corporation is impaired or the purchase or redemption would cause an impairment of the capital of the corporation. A Delaware corporation may, however, purchase or redeem out of capital any of its preferred shares or, if no preferred shares are outstanding, any of its own shares if such shares will be retired upon acquisition and the capital of the corporation will be reduced in accordance with specified limitations.
Under Dutch law, a company such as ours may not subscribe for newly issued shares in its own capital. Such company may, however, repurchase its existing and outstanding shares or depository receipts if permitted under its articles of association.
We may acquire our shares, subject to applicable provisions and restrictions of Dutch law and our articles of association, to the extent that: (i) such shares are fully paid-up; (ii) such shares are acquired for no consideration or such repurchase would not cause our shareholders’ equity to fall below an amount equal to the sum of the paid-up and called-up part of the issued share capital and the reserves we are required to maintain pursuant to Dutch law or our articles of association; and (iii) after the acquisition of shares, we and our subsidiaries would not hold, or would not hold as pledgees, shares having an aggregate nominal value that exceeds 50% of our issued share capital.
 
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Delaware
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Other than shares acquired for no consideration or by universal succession, our management board may acquire shares only if our general meeting of shareholders has authorized the management board to do so. An authorization by the general meeting of shareholders for the acquisition of shares can be granted for a maximum period of 18 months. Such authorization must specify the number of shares that may be acquired, the manner in which these shares may be acquired and the price range within which the shares may be acquired.
No authorization of the general meeting of shareholders is required if listed ordinary shares are acquired by us with the intention of transferring such ordinary shares to our employees under an applicable employee stock purchase plan. Our articles of association further provide that a resolution of our management board to acquire fully paid-up shares in our share capital requires the approval of our supervisory board.
On May 19, 2021, our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which our management board will be authorized to acquire (i) up to 10% of the issued share capital of the Company plus, in case of a material reorganization of the capital structure of the Company, (ii) an additional 10% of the issued share capital of the Company, by any means, including through derivative products, purchases on any stock exchange, through any private purchase or block trade, or otherwise, for a price that is between 0.01 US Dollar and an amount which is not higher than 110% of the average market price of such ordinary shares on Nasdaq (with the market price deemed to be the average of the closing price on each of the five consecutive days of trading preceding the three trading days prior to the date of acquisition), for a period of eighteen (18) months with effect from the general meeting of shareholders. In this respect, the words “issued share capital” means the Company’s issued share capital from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, the issued share capital includes treasury shares.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
In addition to other aspects of Delaware law governing fiduciary duties of directors during a potential takeover, the Delaware General Corporation Law also contains a business combination statute that protects Delaware companies from hostile takeovers and from actions following the takeover by prohibiting some Under Dutch law, various protective measures are possible and permissible within the boundaries set by Dutch statutory law and Dutch case law. We have adopted several provisions that may have the effect of making a takeover of our company more difficult or less attractive, including:
 
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transactions once an acquirer has gained a significant holding in the corporation.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits “business combinations,” including mergers, sales and leases of assets, issuances of securities and similar transactions by a corporation or a subsidiary, with an interested shareholder that beneficially owns 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock (or which is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and owned 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years), within three years after the person becomes an interested shareholder, unless:

the transaction that will cause the person to become an interested shareholder is approved by the board of directors of the target prior to the transactions;

after the completion of the transaction in which the person becomes an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder holds at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation not including shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers of interested shareholders and shares owned by specified employee benefit plans; or

after the person becomes an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and holders of at least 66.67% of the outstanding voting stock, excluding shares held by the interested shareholder.
A Delaware corporation may elect not to be governed by Section 203 by a provision contained in the original certificate of incorporation of the corporation or an amendment to the original certificate of incorporation or to the bylaws of the company.

the authorization of a class of preferred shares that may be issued to a protection foundation to which we have granted a perpetual and repeatedly exercisable call option;

a provision that our management board members and our supervisory board members may only be appointed upon a binding nomination by our supervisory board, which can be set aside by a two-thirds majority of our shareholders representing more than half of our issued share capital;

a provision that our management board members and supervisory board members may only be removed by our general meeting of shareholders by at least a two-thirds majority of votes cast representing more than 50% of our issued share capital (unless the removal was proposed by the supervisory board); and

a requirement that certain matters, including an amendment of our articles of association, may only be brought to our shareholders for a vote upon a proposal by our management board that has been approved by our supervisory board.
As indicated above, we have adopted an anti-takeover measure by granting a perpetual and repeatedly exercisable call option to the protection foundation, which confers upon the protection foundation the right to acquire, under certain conditions, the number of preferred shares described above. The issuance of such preferred shares will occur upon the protection foundation’s exercise of the call option and will not require shareholder consent. Such a measure has the effect of making a takeover of us more difficult or less attractive and as a result, our shareholders may be unable to benefit from a change of control and realize any potential change of control premium which may materially and adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares.
In addition, our boards need to act in the interest of ProQR, our business and take into account the interests of all our stakeholders, including by promoting the sustainable success of our business and the creation of long term value for us and our business. The boards are responsible to determine our strategy and choosing our strategic direction. In doing so and depending on the circumstances they may decide to not entertain a proposed takeover or other strategic proposal, even if the proposal is supported by the majority of our shareholders and/or would create more shareholder value. The
 
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boards may also use their general authority under Dutch corporate law and the DCGC to not co-operate with a proposal, e.g. by not providing due diligence and or by not cooperating with shareholder proposals to adopt resolutions in a general shareholder meeting that may change our strategy for instance by invoking the maximum 180 days response time set out in the DCGC.
As of May 1, 2021, the Statutory Reflection Period for Listed Companies came into force. The purpose is to give the management board of a listed company more time for careful policymaking to weigh the interests of the company and its stakeholders in the event of an unsolicited takeover bid or other pressure being put on the management board to change the course of the company, for example from activist shareholders. The management board of a listed company may invoke a reflection period of up to 250 days in the event of: (i) a request by one or more shareholders for consideration of a proposal to appoint, suspend or dismiss one or more members of the management of supervisory board, or (ii) when a public bid has been announced or made for the shares without agreement having been reached on the bid with the target company. The decision by the management board to invoke the reflection period is subject to supervisory board approval. In addition, to invoke the reflection period, the request under (i) and the public bid under (ii) must in the view of the management board be substantially contrary to the interest of the company and its affiliated enterprise and the reflection period should be used for careful policy making.
Inspection of Books and Records
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, any shareholder may inspect for any proper purpose the corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its shareholders and its other books and records during the corporation’s usual hours of business.
Our shareholders’ register is available for inspection by the shareholders and usufructuaries and pledgees whose particulars must be registered therein.
Our management board and our supervisory board provide our shareholders, at the general meeting of shareholders, with all information that the general meeting of shareholders reasonably requests unless doing so would be contrary to an overriding interest of ours. Our management board or our supervisory board will in principle give a reason for electing not to provide such information on the basis of overriding interest.
Removal of Directors
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, any director or the entire board of directors may be Under our articles of association, the general meeting of shareholders is at all times entitled to
 
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Delaware
The Netherlands
removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, except (a) unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, in the case of a corporation whose board of directors is classified, shareholders may effect such removal only for cause, or (b) in the case of a corporation having cumulative voting, if less than the entire board of directors is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors, or, if there are classes of directors, at an election of the class of directors of which he is a part. suspend or remove a management board member or supervisory board member. The general meeting of shareholders may only adopt a resolution to suspend or remove such a member by at least a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, provided such majority represents more than half of the issued share capital of our company, unless the proposal was made by our supervisory board in which case a simple majority of the votes cast is sufficient.
Preemptive Rights
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, shareholders have no preemptive rights to subscribe to additional issues of stock or to any security convertible into such stock unless, and except to the extent that, such rights are expressly provided for in the certificate of incorporation.
Under our articles of association, the preemptive rights in respect of newly issued ordinary shares may be restricted or excluded by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders upon proposal of our management board, which proposal must have been approved by our supervisory board. Our general meeting of shareholders may authorize our management board to restrict or exclude the preemptive rights in respect of newly issued ordinary shares. Such authorization for the management board can be granted and extended, in each case for a period not exceeding five years. A resolution of the general meeting of shareholders to restrict or exclude the preemptive rights or to designate our management board as the authorized body to do so requires at least a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, if less than one half of our issued share capital is represented at the meeting.
On May 19, 2021, our general meeting of shareholders adopted a resolution pursuant to which our management board, subject to approval of the supervisory board, is authorized to, in accordance with applicable laws and Nasdaq listing rules and for a period of 5 years from the date of the resolution of the general meeting of shareholders: (a) issue ordinary shares up to 100% of the Company’s authorized share capital for general purposes and issuances under Company’s stock option plans with the proviso that the issuances under stock option plans is limited to 15% of the Company’s issued share capital from time-to-time (minus any treasury shares); (b) grant rights to subscribe for ordinary shares as described under (a); and (c) limit or exclude the pre-emptive rights of holders of ordinary shares, which delegation shall
 
33

 
Delaware
The Netherlands
include the authority to determine the price and further terms and conditions of any such share issuance or grant.
No preemptive rights apply in respect of preferred shares.
Dividends
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a Delaware corporation may, subject to any restrictions contained in its certificate of incorporation, pay dividends out of its surplus (the excess of net assets over capital), or in case there is no surplus, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared or the preceding fiscal year (provided that the amount of the capital of the corporation is not less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets). In determining the amount of surplus of a Delaware corporation, the assets of the corporation, including stock of subsidiaries owned by the corporation, must be valued at their fair market value as determined by the board of directors, without regard to their historical book value. Dividends may be paid in the form of ordinary shares, property or cash.
Dutch law provides that dividends may only be distributed after adoption of the annual accounts by the general meeting of shareholders from which it appears that such dividend distribution is allowed. Moreover, dividends may be distributed only to the extent the shareholders’ equity exceeds the sum of the paid-up and called-up share capital and the reserves that must be maintained under Dutch law or the articles of association. Interim dividends may be declared as provided in the articles of association and may be distributed to the extent that the shareholders’ equity exceeds the paid-up and called-up share capital and the reserves that must be maintained under Dutch law or the articles of association as apparent from an (interim) financial statement. Interim dividends should be regarded as advances on the final dividend to be declared with respect to the financial year in which the interim dividends have been declared. Should it be determined after adoption of the annual accounts with respect to the relevant financial year that the distribution was not permissible, the company may reclaim the paid interim dividends as unduly paid.
Under our articles of association, a (cumulative) dividend is first paid out of the profit, if available for distribution, on any preferred shares, of which none are outstanding. Any amount remaining out of the profit is carried to reserve as the management board determines. After reservation by the management board of any profit, the remaining profit will be at the disposal of the general meeting of shareholders.
Dividends shall be payable in such currency and on such date as determined by the management board. Claims for payment of dividends not made within five years from the date that such dividends became payable will lapse and any such amounts will be considered to have been forfeited to us.
 
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Delaware
The Netherlands
Appraisal Rights and Shareholder Vote on Certain Reorganizations
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon generally is necessary to approve a merger or consolidation or the sale of substantially all of the assets of a corporation. The Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision requiring for any corporate action the vote of a larger portion of the stock or of any class or series of stock than would otherwise be required.
The Delaware General Corporation Law provides for stockholder appraisal rights, or the right to demand payment in cash of the judicially determined fair value of the stockholder’s shares, in connection with certain mergers and consolidations.
Under Dutch law, resolutions of the management board concerning a material change in the identity or character of the company or its business are subject to the approval of the general meeting of shareholders. Such changes include in any event:

a transfer of all or materially all of our business to a third party;

the entry into or termination of a long-lasting alliance of the company or of a subsidiary either with another entity or company, or as a fully liable partner of a limited partnership or partnership, if this alliance or termination is of significant importance for the company; and

the acquisition or disposition of an interest in the capital of a company by the company or by a subsidiary with a value of at least one third of the value of the assets, according to the balance sheet with explanatory notes or, if the company prepares a consolidated balance sheet, according to the consolidated balance sheet with explanatory notes in the company’s most recently adopted annual accounts.
The concept of appraisal rights does not exist under Dutch law. However, pursuant to Dutch law, a shareholder who for its own account (or together with its group companies) holds at least 95% of the company’s issued capital may institute proceedings against the company’s other shareholders jointly for the transfer of their shares to that shareholder. The proceedings are held before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal (Ondernemingskamer), which may grant the claim for squeeze-out in relation to all minority shareholders and will determine the price to be paid for the shares, if necessary after appointment of one or three experts who will offer an opinion to the Enterprise Chamber on the value of the shares to be transferred.
Furthermore, Dutch law provides that, to the extent the acquiring company in a cross-border merger is organized under the laws of another EU member state, a shareholder of a Dutch disappearing company who has voted against the cross-border merger may file a claim with the Dutch company for compensation. The compensation is to be determined by one or more independent experts.
 
35

 
Delaware
The Netherlands
Compensation of Directors
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the shareholders do not generally have the right to approve the compensation policy for the board of directors or the senior management of the corporation, although certain aspects of the compensation policy may be subject to shareholder vote due to the provisions of federal securities and tax law.
In contrast to Delaware law, under Dutch law and our articles of association, the general meeting of shareholders must upon the proposal of our supervisory board adopt the compensation policy for the management board, which includes the outlines of the compensation of any members who serve on our management board. The supervisory board determines the compensation of the management board members in accordance with the compensation policy. A proposal by the supervisory board with respect to compensation schemes in the form of shares or rights to shares is submitted for approval by the supervisory board to the general meeting of shareholders. Such proposal must set out at least the maximum number of shares or rights to shares to be granted to the management board and the criteria for granting such shares.
The general meeting of shareholders may determine the compensation of supervisory board members. The supervisory directors will be reimbursed for their expenses.
Registration Rights
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with a convertible debt financing in July 2020, we entered into a registration rights agreement with certain investors party thereto, pursuant to which we agreed to file and keep effective one or more registration statements with the SEC for the purpose of registering for resale the shares issuable upon conversion of certain term loans and/or exercise of certain warrants. In August 2020, we entered into a joinder and first amendment to the loan agreement and joinder to registration rights agreement to expand our loan facility and accommodate the participation of an additional lender, pursuant to which such additional lender became party to the registration rights agreement.
Share Purchase Agreement
In connection with a private placement in September 2021, we entered into a share purchase agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”), pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to Lilly 3,989,976 shares of our ordinary shares (the “Lilly Shares”). The issuance of the Lilly Shares occurred concurrently with the entry into a collaboration agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the share purchase agreement, Lilly may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, dispose of any of the Lilly Shares for a period commencing on September 3, 2021 until the earlier of (i) March 3, 2022 and (ii) the date that the collaboration agreement is terminated. Under the terms of the share purchase agreement, Lilly may participate in some public offerings and private placements of the Company, subject to share ownership requirements and other limitations. Additionally, we also granted Lilly certain customary registration rights with respect to the Lilly Shares, including registering such shares for resale on or prior to the expiration of the lockup agreement described above.
 
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FORM, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER
We will issue securities only in registered form; no securities will be issued in bearer form. We will issue each security in book-entry form only, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Securities in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the securities represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a global security will do so through participants in the depositary’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. Only the depositary will be entitled to transfer or exchange a security in global form, since it will be the sole holder of the security. These book-entry securities are described below under “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement.”
If any securities are issued in non-global form or cease to be book-entry securities (in the circumstances described in the next section), the following will apply to them:

The securities will be issued in fully registered form in denominations stated in the prospectus supplement. You may exchange securities for securities of the same series in smaller denominations or combined into fewer securities of the same series of larger denominations, as long as the total amount is not changed.

You may exchange, transfer, present for payment or exercise securities at the office of the relevant indenture trustee or agent indicated in the prospectus supplement. You may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated securities at that office. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or we may perform them ourselves.

You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange your securities, but you may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with your proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may also require an indemnity before replacing any securities.

If we have the right to redeem, accelerate or settle any securities before their maturity or expiration, and we exercise that right as to less than all those securities, we may block the transfer or exchange of those securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of exercise and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or exchange any security selected for early settlement, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unsettled portion of any security being partially settled.

If fewer than all of the securities represented by a certificate that are payable or exercisable in part are presented for payment or exercise, a new certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of securities.
 
37

 
BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
Most offered securities will be book-entry (global) securities. Upon issuance, all book-entry securities will be represented by one or more fully registered global securities, without coupons. Each global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTC, a securities depositary, and will be registered in the name of Cede & Co. or another nominee of DTC. DTC, Cede & Co., or such nominee, will thus be the only registered holder of these securities. Except as set forth below, the registered global securities may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to Cede & Co., another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.
Purchasers of securities may only hold interests in the global securities through DTC if they are participants in the DTC system. Individual certificates in respect of the securities will not be issued in exchange for the registered global securities, except in very limited circumstances. Purchasers may also hold interests through a securities intermediary — banks, brokerage houses and other institutions that maintain securities accounts for customers — that has an account with DTC or its nominee. DTC will maintain accounts showing the security holdings of its participants, and these participants will in turn maintain accounts showing the security holdings of their customers. Some of these customers may themselves be securities intermediaries holding securities for their customers. Thus, each beneficial owner of a book-entry security will hold that security indirectly through a hierarchy of intermediaries, with DTC at the top and the beneficial owner’s own securities intermediary at the bottom.
The securities of each beneficial owner of a book-entry security will be evidenced solely by entries on the books of the beneficial owner’s securities intermediary. The actual purchaser of the securities will generally not be entitled to have the securities represented by the global securities registered in its name and will not be considered the owner under the declaration. In most cases, a beneficial owner will also not be able to obtain a paper certificate evidencing the holder’s ownership of securities. The book-entry system for holding securities eliminates the need for physical movement of certificates and is the system through which most publicly traded common stock is held in the United States. However, the laws of some jurisdictions require some purchasers of securities to take physical delivery of their securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer book-entry securities.
Title to book-entry interests in the securities will pass by book-entry registration of the transfer within the records of DTC in accordance with its procedures.
If DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a clearing system in connection with the registered global securities or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor clearing system is not appointed by us within 90 days after receiving that notice from DTC or upon becoming aware that DTC is no longer so registered, we will issue or cause to be issued individual certificates in registered form on registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, book-entry interests in the securities represented by registered global securities upon delivery of those registered global securities for cancellation. We may also permit beneficial owners of book-entry securities represented by a global security to exchange their beneficial interests for definitive (paper) securities if, in our sole discretion, we decide to allow some or all book-entry securities to be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form.
Unless we indicate otherwise, any global security that is exchangeable will be exchangeable in whole for definitive securities in registered form, with the same terms and of an equal aggregate principal amount. Definitive securities will be registered in the name or names of the person or persons specified by DTC in a written instruction to the registrar of the securities. DTC may base its written instruction upon directions that it receives from its participants.
In this prospectus, for book-entry securities, references to actions taken by security holders will mean actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its participants, and references to payments and notices of redemption to security holders will mean payments and notices of redemption to DTC as the registered holder of the securities for distribution to participants in accordance with DTC’s procedures.
Initial settlement for the securities offered on a global basis through DTC will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC’s participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System.
 
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Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the securities among participants thereof, it is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform the foregoing procedures and these procedures may be changed or discontinued at any time.
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered under section 17A of the Exchange Act. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
We will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interest in the book-entry securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
 
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities in and outside the United States (a) through underwriters or dealers, (b) directly to purchasers, including our affiliates, (c) through agents or (d) through a combination of any of these methods. The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will include the following information:

the terms of the offering;

the names of any underwriters or agents;

the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

the purchase price of the securities;

the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;

any delayed delivery arrangements;

any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

any initial public offering price;

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

any commissions paid to agents.
The sale of the securities may be effected in transactions (a) on any national or international securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (b) in the over-the-counter market, (c) in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or in the over-the-counter market or (d) through the writing of options.
The distribution of offered securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the market prices, or at negotiated prices.
Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale of any of these securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. We may grant underwriters an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotment, if any, or otherwise in connection with the distribution. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on Nasdaq (or any exchange or quotation system on which our securities are listed) may engage in passive market making transactions in our ordinary shares, warrants or units, as applicable, on Nasdaq in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the
 
40

 
business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.
Some or all of the securities that we offer though this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell these securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.
If dealers are used in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents
We may sell the securities directly, and not through underwriters or agents. We may also sell the securities through agents designated from time to time. In the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus (or a post-effective amendment).
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe any commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
Subscription Offerings
Direct sales to investors or our shareholders may be accomplished through subscription offerings or through subscription rights distributed to shareholders. In connection with subscription offerings or the distribution of subscription rights to shareholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may sell any unsubscribed securities to third parties directly or through underwriters or agents. In addition, whether or not all of the underlying securities are subscribed for, we may concurrently offer additional securities to third parties directly or through underwriters or agents. If securities are to be sold through
 
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subscription rights, the subscription rights will be distributed as a dividend to the shareholders for which they will pay no separate consideration.
General Information
We may have agreements with the agents, dealers and underwriters to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
 
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LEGAL MATTERS
Legal matters with respect to U.S. federal and New York law in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Certain legal matters with respect to Dutch law in connection with the validity of the ordinary shares being offered by this prospectus and other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Allen & Overy LLP, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been audited by Deloitte Accountants B.V., an independent registered public accounting firm as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are included in reliance upon the report of such firm, given upon their authority as experts in auditing and accounting.
CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
On May 25, 2020, our audit committee recommended the termination of the engagement of Deloitte Accountants B.V. (“Deloitte”) as the Company’s independent public accountant, and to engage KPMG Accountants N.V. (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent public accountant for the year ending December 31, 2021. The annual general meeting of shareholders approved this recommendation on June 23, 2020. Please refer to the relevant disclosure reported under the heading “Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant” of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2021, and to the accompanying Exhibit 16.1 of such Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 333-36622).
 
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SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands. Substantially all of our business is conducted, and substantially all of our assets are located, in the Netherlands. Most of our directors and the experts named in this prospectus are residents of, and most of their assets are located in, jurisdictions outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for you to serve process on us or these persons within the United States or to enforce against us or these persons in courts in the United States, judgments of these courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws. In addition, it is not clear whether a Dutch court would impose civil liability on us, members of our management board, supervisory board or any of the experts named in this prospectus in an original action based solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Netherlands. We have appointed Smital Shah as our agent for service of process in the United States with respect to any action brought against us in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under the securities laws of the United States or any State of the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York under the securities laws of the State of New York.
As there is no treaty on the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters between the United States and the Netherlands, courts in the Netherlands will not automatically recognize and enforce a final judgment rendered by a U.S. court. In order to obtain a judgment enforceable in the Netherlands, claimants must obtain from a Dutch court leave to enforce the judgment rendered by a U.S. court. Under current practice, however, a Dutch court may be expected to render a judgment in accordance with the judgment rendered by the U.S. court, without a review on the merits of the underlying claim, if it finds that:

the jurisdiction of the U.S. court has been based on grounds that are internationally acceptable;

the final judgment has not been rendered in violation of the elementary principles of fair trial in the Netherlands;

the final judgment does not contravene public policy of the Netherlands; and

the final judgment is not incompatible with (a) a prior judgment of a Netherlands court rendered in a dispute between the same parties, or (b) a prior judgment of a foreign court rendered in a dispute between the same parties, concerning the same subject matter and based on the same cause of action, provided that such prior judgment is capable of being recognized in the Netherlands.
In the event directors or other third parties are liable towards a Dutch company, only the company itself can bring a civil action against those parties. The individual shareholders do not have the right to bring an action on behalf of the company. Only in the event that the cause for the liability of a third party to the company also constitutes a tortious act directly against a shareholder does that shareholder have an individual right of action against such third party in its own name. The Dutch Civil Code does provide for the possibility to initiate such actions collectively. A foundation or an association whose objective is to protect the rights of a group of persons having similar interests can institute a collective action. The collective action itself cannot result in an order for payment of monetary damages but may only result in a declaratory judgment (verklaring voor recht). To obtain compensation for damages, individual claimants can base their claim on the declaratory judgment obtained by the foundation or association but they still need to individually sue the defendant for damages. Alternatively, in order to obtain compensation for damages, the foundation or association and the defendant may reach — often on the basis of such declaratory judgment — a settlement. A Dutch court may declare the settlement agreement binding upon all the injured parties with an opt-out choice for an individual injured party. An individual injured party may also itself institute a civil claim for damages.
 
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EXPENSES
The following table sets forth the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, if any) expected to be incurred by us in connection with a possible offering of $300 million of the securities registered under this registration statement. All amounts other than the SEC registration fee and filing fee are estimates.
SEC registration fee
$ 27,810
Nasdaq fees
*
Printing and engraving expenses
*
Legal fees and expenses
*
Accountants’ fees and expenses
*
Trustee’s fees and expenses
*
Miscellaneous costs
*
Total
$ *
*
To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
 
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[MISSING IMAGE: lg_proqr-4c.jpg]
$300,000,000
ORDINARY SHARES
WARRANTS
UNITS
PROSPECTUS
           , 2021

This information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED November 4, 2021
PROSPECTUS
[MISSING IMAGE: lg_proqr-4c.jpg]
Up to $75,000,000

Ordinary Shares
We have entered into a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement (the “sales agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor Fitzgerald” or the “Agent”), relating to the sale of our ordinary shares, nominal value €0.04 per share, offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, under this prospectus we may offer and sell our ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 from time to time through the Agent.
Sales of our ordinary shares, if any, under this prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including sales made directly on or through the Nasdaq Global Market, the existing trading market for our ordinary shares, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law. Subject to the terms of the sales agreement, the Agent is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of our ordinary shares but will act as sales agent on a best efforts basis and use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between the Agent and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The Agent will be entitled to compensation under the terms of the sales agreement at a fixed commission rate equal to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold. In connection with the sale of our ordinary shares on our behalf, the Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Agent with respect to certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 25 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to the Agent.
Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PRQR.” On November 1, 2021, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market was $8.13 per share.
Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference herein.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or the accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Cantor
The date of this prospectus is            , 2021.

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROSPECTUS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus relates to the offering of our ordinary shares. Before buying any of the ordinary shares that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus or prospectus supplement that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering when making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents we have referred you to under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision. We have filed or incorporated by reference exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.
This prospectus describes the specific terms of this offering and also adds to, updates and, where applicable, modifies or supersedes information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any free writing prospectus or prospectus supplement that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and the Agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We and the Agent take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you.
We are not, and the Agent is not, making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy our ordinary shares in any jurisdiction where an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus are advised to inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our ordinary shares and the distribution of this prospectus.
You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus or prospectus supplement that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents, as applicable, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus and any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of our ordinary shares. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus or prospectus supplement that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision.
Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “we,” “ours,” “our,” “us” and similar designations refer to ProQR Therapeutics N.V., a company organized under the laws of the Netherlands, and, where appropriate, our consolidated subsidiaries. We use various trademarks and trade names, including without limitation our corporate name and logo, that we use in connection with the operation of our business. This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and the information incorporated herein or therein by reference may also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of third parties, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus may appear without the ®, ™ or SM symbols, but the omission of such references is not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or that the applicable owner of these trademarks, service marks and trade names will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights.
 
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Our consolidated financial statements are presented in euros and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). In presenting and discussing our financial position, operating results and cash flows, management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation as alternatives to the equivalent IFRS measure and should be used in conjunction with the most directly comparable IFRS measure(s).
All references in this prospectus to “U.S. dollars” or “$” are to the legal currency of the United States, and all references to “€” or “euro” are to the currency of the European Economic and Monetary Union. Our business to date has been conducted primarily in the European Union, and we maintain our books and records in euro. We present our financial statements in euro, which is the Company’s functional currency. Unless otherwise specified in this prospectus, translations from euros to U.S. dollars were made at a rate of $1.1578 to €1.00, the official exchange rate quoted by the European Central Bank at the close of business on November 1, 2021.
No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of the securities or possession or distribution of this prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.
 
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference herein, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act,” and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act.” For this purpose, any statements contained herein, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding: our clinical development plans or our future financial performance, our development programs, including timing, plans, results and therapeutic potential with respect to our product candidates, our business operations, including timing of commencing clinical trials and enrollment of patients therein, our RNA editing programs, the expected impact of the COVID-19 on our business operations, including our research and development plans and timelines and the supply chain for our clinical and development programs; and any other statements about management’s future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, business development transactions, joint ventures or investments we may enter into or make in the future.
You should rely only on information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and understand that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in the foregoing documents by these cautionary statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance or achievement. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. Before deciding to purchase our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors included or incorporated herein by reference, in addition to the other information set forth in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference.
 
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights certain information about us, this offering and selected information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This summary does not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our ordinary shares. You should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, particularly the risks and discussion of risks in the “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus and the “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” section and our consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2021, as well as the information included in any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. This summary contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ significantly from the results stated in or suggested by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” sections.
Overview
We are developing a broad pipeline of potentially life changing RNA therapies for inherited retinal diseases, a group of rare debilitating eye diseases, affecting over five million people in the world, for which there are currently no treatment options available. We believe our RNA platform based on intravitreal delivery may be suitable to repair defective RNA in the retina and stop progression or even reverse vision loss associated with the diseases. As we deepen our relationships with the community of people living with inherited retinal diseases, we believe we are well positioned to bring these medicines to patients independently, and are therefore preparing for commercialization, particularly in the Western world. Our current pipeline consists of programs in ophthalmology.
Beyond our clinical portfolio, we discovered and developed two novel proprietary RNA editing platform technologies, Axiomer® and TRIDENT®. Axiomer’s editing oligonucleotides, or EONs, are designed to recruit endogenous Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA, or ADAR, enzymes to make single nucleotide changes in the RNA in a highly specific and targeted manner at a desired location. We believe our Axiomer platform may be applicable to more than 20,000 disease-causing mutations. TRIDENT is our RNA pseudouridylation platform that enables the selective suppression of nonsense mutations that cause human genetic disease.
We continuously evaluate opportunities for beneficial collaborations or partnerships to efficiently develop our investigational therapies for patients. In addition, using our discovery engine that is designed to generate a broad pipeline of product candidates, we seek to enter into strategic partnerships for programs that we believe will benefit from such a partnership.
Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We report under the Exchange Act as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. As a foreign private issuer, we are not subject to the same requirements that are imposed upon U.S. domestic issuers by the SEC. Under the Exchange Act, we will be subject to reporting obligations that, in certain respects, are less detailed and less frequent than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. For example, although we intend to report our financial results on a quarterly basis, we will not be required to issue quarterly reports, proxy statements that comply with the requirements applicable to U.S. domestic reporting companies, or individual executive compensation information that is as detailed as that required of U.S. domestic reporting companies. We will also have four months after the end of each fiscal year to file our annual reports with the SEC and will not be required to file current reports as frequently or promptly as U.S. domestic reporting companies. We may also present financial statements pursuant to IFRS instead of pursuant to U.S. GAAP. Furthermore, although the members of our management and supervisory boards will be required to notify the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets of certain transactions they may undertake, including with respect to our ordinary shares, our officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from the requirements to report transactions in our equity securities and from the short-swing profit liability provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. These exemptions and leniencies will reduce the frequency and scope of information and protections available to you in comparison to those applicable to a U.S. domestic reporting companies.
 
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Furthermore, as a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to follow the corporate governance practices of our home country in lieu of certain provisions of the Nasdaq. We therefore follow Dutch corporate governance practices in lieu of certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements to seek shareholder approval for a specified issuance of securities.
Company Information
Our company is registered with the Dutch Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce (handelsregister van de Kamer van Koophandel) under number 54600790. Our corporate seat is in Leiden, the Netherlands, and our registered office is at Zernikedreef 9, 2333 CK Leiden, the Netherlands, and our telephone number is +31 88 166 7000. Our website address is www.ProQR.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or part of any prospectus supplement. Our website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only. Our ordinary shares are traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PRQR.”
ProQR was formed in February 2012 by Daniel de Boer, Gerard Platenburg, the late Henri Termeer and Dinko Valerio. Mr. de Boer is a passionate and driven entrepreneur and has assembled an experienced team of successful biotech executives as co-founders and early investors. ProQR’s team has extensive experience in discovery, development and commercialization of RNA therapeutics. To date, we had raised €392 million in gross proceeds from our public offerings of shares and private placements of equity securities, as well as €14 million in convertible debt. In addition, we have received grants, loans and other funding from patient organizations and government institutions supporting our programs, including from Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Dutch government under the innovation credit program. Our headquarters are located in Leiden, the Netherlands.
 
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THE OFFERING
Ordinary shares offered by us
Ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000.
Ordinary shares to be outstanding after this offering
Up to 80,379,663 ordinary shares (as more fully described in the notes following this table), assuming sales of 9,225,092 ordinary shares in this offering at an offering price of $8.13 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on November 1, 2021. The actual number of ordinary shares issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering.
Plan of Distribution
“At the market offerings” that may be made from time to time through our Agent. See “Plan of Distribution.”
Use of Proceeds
Our management will retain broad discretion regarding the allocation and use of the net proceeds. We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, if any, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, for general corporate purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, working capital, strategic acquisitions and other potential business development activities, ongoing research and development activities and capital expenditures. See “Use of Proceeds.”
Risk Factors
Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. Please read the information contained in and incorporated by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and under similar headings in the other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with the other information included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to invest in our ordinary shares.
Nasdaq Global Market symbol
PRQR
The number of ordinary shares expected to be outstanding after this offering and, unless otherwise indicated, the information in this prospectus are based on 71,154,571 ordinary shares outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and assumes the sale and issuance of 9,225,092 of ordinary shares at $8.13 per share, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on November 1, 2021, and excludes:

up to 302,676 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase ordinary shares at an exercise price of $7.88 per share;

the conversion from time to time of outstanding loans under our debt facilities with Pontifax Medison Financing and Kreos Capital into our ordinary shares at a conversion price of $7.88 per ordinary share. As of September 30, 2021, we had drawn down amounts under these facilities totaling approximately €14 million;

2,556,566 ordinary shares that we issued to a Dutch foundation named Stichting Bewaarneming Aandelen ProQR for the administration of option exercises or vesting and settlement of restricted stock units under our equity incentive plans. Such shares are held by the aforementioned foundation until they are transferred to a grantee upon the exercise of options or vesting and settlement of restricted stock units. As of September 30, 2021, (i) 7,588,054 options have been granted by us with a weighted average exercise price of €5.94 per share and (ii) 458,237 restricted stock units have been granted by us with a weighted average grant date fair value of €4.34 per share; and

1,152,244 treasury shares held by us, which had been reserved to transfer ordinary shares to grantees upon exercise of awards under our equity incentive plans as of September 30, 2021.
 
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our ordinary shares, you should carefully consider the risks described below and in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus in their entirety, as updated or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described under similar headings in the other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with the other information in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering. Some of these factors relate principally to our business and the industry in which we operate. Other factors relate principally to your investment in our securities. The risks and uncertainties described therein and below are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business and operations. If any of the matters included in the following risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In such case, you may lose all or part of your investment. Certain statements in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. Please also see the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of our Ordinary Shares
We cannot predict what the market price of our ordinary shares will be. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to sell our ordinary shares at or above the price at which they purchased them.
An active trading market for our shares may not be sustained. The market value of our ordinary shares may decrease from time to time. As a result of these and other factors, investors may be unable to resell our shares at or above the price at which they purchased them. The lack of an active market may impair investors’ ability to sell our shares at the time they wish to sell them or at a price that they consider reasonable. The lack of an active market may also reduce the fair market value of our shares. Further, an inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling our ordinary shares and may impair our ability to enter into strategic partnerships or acquire companies or products by using our ordinary shares as consideration. The market price of our shares may be volatile and investors could lose all or part of their investment.
The trading price of our ordinary shares is likely to be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. For example, the price of our ordinary shares, which reached its high record of $27.60 per share at the close of the trading on March 16, 2015, decreased as low as $2.75 per share at the close of the trading on December 12, 2017. In addition to the factors discussed in this “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, these factors include:

the presentation of data at industry conferences by us and/or our competitors;

the responses to any of our IND applications with the FDA and any of our CTA applications with the EMA;

any current or future preclinical studies or clinical trials of our product candidates, including any delays in enrollment rates or timing of these trials and any correspondence from the applicable regulatory authorities;

regulatory actions with respect to our product candidates or our competitors’ products or product candidates;

the recruitment or departure of key personnel;

announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, collaborations or capital commitments;

our ability to establish and maintain collaborations for our product candidates, and to realize the intended benefits from those collaborations;

results of clinical trials conducted by us, our partners or our competitors;
 
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the success of competitive products or technologies;

actual or anticipated changes in our growth rate relative to our competitors;

regulatory or legal developments in the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions;

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

the level of expenses related to any of our product candidates or preclinical or clinical development programs;

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

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

fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;

share price and volume fluctuations attributable to inconsistent trading volume levels of our shares;

announcement or expectation of additional financing efforts;

sales of our ordinary shares by us, our insiders or our other shareholders;

changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems;

market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors; and

general economic, industry and market conditions.
In addition, the stock market in general, and shares of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have sometimes been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our ordinary shares, regardless of our actual operating performance. The realization of any of the above risks or any of a broad range of other risks, including those described in these “Risk Factors,” and in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 could have a dramatic and material adverse impact on the market price of our ordinary shares.
If securities or industry analysts publish inaccurate or unfavorable research or cease to publish research about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ordinary shares depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. In the event securities or industry analysts who cover us downgrade our ordinary shares, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our share price would likely decline. In addition, if one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our ordinary shares could decrease, which might cause our share price and trading volume to decline.
Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from this offering, and may not use the proceeds effectively.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our ordinary shares. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, delay the development of our product candidates, and cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline.
Members of our management board and supervisory board and our principal shareholders and their affiliates have significant control over our company, which will limit other stakeholders’ ability to influence corporate matters and could delay or prevent a change in corporate control.
The holdings of the members of our management board and supervisory board and our principal shareholders and their affiliates, represent significant ownership, in the aggregate, of our outstanding
 
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ordinary shares. As a result, these shareholders, if they act together, will be able to influence our management and affairs and control the outcome of matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election of members of our management board and supervisory board and any sale, merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. These shareholders may have interests, with respect to their ordinary shares, that are different from other investors and the concentration of voting power among these shareholders may have an adverse effect on the price of our ordinary shares. In addition, this concentration of ownership might adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares by:

delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our Company;

impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving our Company; or

discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our Company.
If you purchase the ordinary shares sold in this offering, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution in your investment. You will experience further dilution if we issue additional equity securities in the future.
The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share of our ordinary shares outstanding prior to this offering. Based on a public offering price of $8.13 per share you will experience immediate dilution of $5.38 (€4.64) per share, representing the difference between the public offering price and our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2021 after giving effect to this offering. The exercise of outstanding share options or vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units may result in further dilution of your investment. See the section entitled “Dilution” below for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering.
In addition, we have a significant number of additional securities outstanding, including share options, restricted stock units, warrants to purchase ordinary shares and convertible loans. To the extent ordinary shares are issued in the future, investors purchasing our ordinary shares in this offering may experience further dilution.
Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing shareholders. Further, any future financing arrangements, as well as existing debt financing, may restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or product candidates.
We may seek additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings, strategic partnerships and alliances and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, existing ownership interests may be diluted and the terms of such financings may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders. For instance, the debt financing we entered into in the third quarter of 2020 was coupled with equity conversion options and warrants to purchase shares, which could result in dilution of our existing shareholders’ ownership. As of the date of this prospectus, we have drawn down €14 million in indebtedness under this facility, which can be converted at a conversion rate of $7.88.
In addition, such indebtedness also results in increased fixed payment obligations and certain restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business and may result in liens being placed on our assets and intellectual property. If we were to default on such indebtedness, we could lose such assets and intellectual property. Also, if we raise additional funds through strategic partnerships and alliances and licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our product candidates, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.
Sales of a substantial number of our ordinary shares by our existing shareholders in the public market could cause our share price to fall.
If our existing shareholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market, the trading price of our ordinary shares could decline. In addition, a substantial
 
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number of ordinary shares subject to outstanding options, issuable upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, or reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans are or will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules. If these additional ordinary shares are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our ordinary shares could decline. As of September 30, 2021, we had outstanding 71,154,571 shares of our ordinary shares, options to purchase 7,588,054 shares of our ordinary shares (of which 4,233,929 were exercisable as of that date) and 458,237 shares of our ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units. The sale or the availability for sale of a large number of shares of our ordinary shares in the public market could cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline.
The ordinary shares offered in this offering will be sold in “at the market offerings.” Investors who purchase our ordinary shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase our ordinary shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices and numbers of ordinary shares sold, and subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement, there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their ordinary shares and dilution as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
The actual number of ordinary shares we will issue under the sales agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver placement notices to the Agent at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of ordinary shares that are sold by the Agent after we deliver a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our ordinary shares during the sales period and limits we set in the placement notice. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our ordinary shares during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of ordinary shares that will be ultimately issued or the resulting gross proceeds.
 
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2021:

on an actual basis; and

on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the sale of 9,225,092 ordinary shares by us in this offering, at the offering price of $8.13 per ordinary share, which was the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on November 1, 2021, for aggregate gross proceeds of $75,000,000, after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
As of September 30, 2021
(Unaudited)
Actual
As Adjusted
(€ in thousands, except share and per share data)
Cash and cash equivalents
156,141 218,976
Total debt:
Lease liability
15,109 15,109
Borrowings
17,513 17,513
Total debt
32,622 32,622
Shareholders’ equity:
Ordinary share capital
2,995 3,364
Share premium
397,946 460,217
Equity settled employee benefit reserve
27,048 27,048
Option Premium on convertible loan
280 280
Translation reserve
272 272
Accumulated deficit
(299,935) (299,935)
Minority interest
(585) (585)
Total shareholders’ equity
128,021 190,661
Total capitalization
160,643 223,283
The table above excludes:

up to 302,676 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase ordinary shares at an exercise price of $7.88 per share;

the conversion from time to time of outstanding loans under our debt facilities with Pontifax Medison Financing and Kreos Capital into our ordinary shares at a conversion price of $7.88 per ordinary share. As of September 30, 2021, we had drawn down amounts under these facilities totaling approximately €14 million;

2,556,566 ordinary shares that we issued to a Dutch foundation named Stichting Bewaarneming Aandelen ProQR for the administration of option exercises or vesting and settlement of restricted stock units under our equity incentive plans. Such shares are held by the aforementioned foundation until they are transferred to a grantee upon the exercise of options or vesting and settlement of restricted stock units. As of September 30, 2021, (i) 7,588,054 options have been granted by us with a weighted average exercise price of €5.94 per share and (ii) 458,237 restricted stock units have been granted by us with a weighted average grant date fair value of €4.34 per share; and

1,152,244 treasury shares held by us, which had been reserved to transfer ordinary shares to grantees upon exercise of awards under our equity incentive plans as of September 30, 2021.
 
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We may offer and sell our ordinary shares having aggregate gross sales proceeds of up to $75,000,000 from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, sales agent fees and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We estimate that the net proceeds we will receive from this offering, if we sell all the ordinary shares that we are offering, may be up to $72,525,000 million, after deducting the sales agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, if any, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, to advance clinical development of our product candidates, including sepofarsen, QR-421a, QR-1123 and QR-504a, to progress our other pipeline candidates, to fund additional preclinical and discovery programs, including Axiomer and TRIDENT RNA editing platform technologies, and for general corporate and working capital purposes. From time to time, we may evaluate the possibility of acquiring businesses, products, equipment tools and technologies, and we may use a portion of the proceeds as consideration for such acquisitions. Until we use net proceeds for these purposes, we may invest them in interest-bearing securities.
These expected uses of the net proceeds from this offering represent our intentions based upon our present plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. For example, we may use a portion of the net proceeds for the acquisition of businesses or technologies to continue to build our pipeline, our research and development capabilities and our intellectual property position. We cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering or the amounts that we will actually spend on the uses set forth above. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including the progress of our research and development efforts, the status of and results from clinical trials, as well as any collaborations that we may enter into with third parties for our product candidates and any unforeseen cash needs. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering.
Pending the use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including term deposits, short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments and U.S. government securities.
 
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DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid any dividends on our ordinary shares, and we currently do not plan to declare dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. Under Dutch law, we may only pay dividends if our shareholders’ equity exceeds the sum of the paid-up and called-up share capital plus the reserves required to be maintained by Dutch law or by our articles of association. In addition, the terms of our loan facility with our senior lenders Pontifax Medison Finance and Kreos Capital preclude us from paying dividends and future debt agreements may have similar negative covenants. Under our articles of association, a (cumulative) dividend is first paid out of the profit, if available for distribution, on any preferred shares (of which we had none as of the date of this prospectus). Any amount remaining out of the profit is carried to reserve as the management board determines. After reservation by the management board of any profit, the remaining profit will be at the disposal of the general meeting of shareholders. The management board is permitted, subject to certain requirements and subject to approval of the supervisory board, to declare interim dividends without the approval of the general meeting of shareholders.
 
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DILUTION
If you invest in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering. We calculate net tangible book value per share by dividing the net tangible book value, which is tangible assets less total liabilities, by the number of our outstanding ordinary shares. Dilution represents the difference between the portion of the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our ordinary shares immediately after giving effect to this offering. Our net tangible book value as of September 30, 2021, was $148.9 million (€128.6 million), or $2.09 (€1.81) per share.
After giving effect to the sale of our ordinary shares pursuant to this prospectus in the aggregate amount of $75,000,000 at an assumed offering price of $8.13 per share, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on November 1, 2021, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our net tangible book value as of September 30, 2021 would have been $221.6 million (€191.4 million), or $2.75 (€2.38) per ordinary share. This represents an immediate increase in the net tangible book value of $0.66 (€0.57) per share to our existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $5.38 (€4.64) per share to new investors. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
Assumed offering price per share
$ 8.13 7.02
Net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2021
2.09 1.81
Increase per share attributable to new investors
0.66 0.57
As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2021, after giving effect to this offering
2.75 2.38
Dilution per share to new investors purchasing shares in this offering
5.38 4.64
The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 9,225,092 of our ordinary shares are sold pursuant to this prospectus at a price of $8.13 per share, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on November 1, 2021, for aggregate gross proceeds of $75,000,000. The shares are being sold from time to time at various prices pursuant to the sales agreement with the Agent. An increase of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $8.13 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our ordinary shares in the aggregate amount of $75,000,000 is sold at that price, would increase our adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $2.79 (€2.41) per share and would increase the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $6.34 (€5.48) per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $8.13 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our ordinary shares in the aggregate amount of $75,000,000 is sold at that price, would decrease our adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $2.71 (€2.34) per share and would decrease the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $4.42 (€3.82) per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only.
The above discussion and table are based on 71,154,571 ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2021, and excludes:

up to 302,676 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase ordinary shares at an exercise price of $7.88 per share;

the conversion from time to time of outstanding loans under our debt facilities with Pontifax Medison Financing and Kreos Capital into our ordinary shares at a conversion price of $7.88 per ordinary share. As of September 30, 2021, we had drawn down amounts under these facilities totaling approximately €14 million;

2,556,566 ordinary shares that we issued to a Dutch foundation named Stichting Bewaarneming Aandelen ProQR for the administration of option exercises or vesting and settlement of restricted stock units under our equity incentive plans. Such shares are held by the aforementioned foundation
 
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until they are transferred to a grantee upon the exercise of options or vesting and settlement of restricted stock units. As of September 30, 2021, (i) 7,588,054 options have been granted by us with a weighted average exercise price of €5.94 per share and (ii) 458,237 restricted stock units have been granted by us with a weighted average grant date fair value of €4.34 per share; and

1,152,244 treasury shares held by us, which had been reserved to transfer ordinary shares to grantees upon exercise of awards under our equity incentive plans as of September 30, 2021.
To the extent that any of these options or warrants are exercised, any restricted stock units vest and are settled, any new equity awards are issued under our equity incentive plans, or we otherwise issue additional shares of ordinary shares in the future (including shares issued in connection with strategic and other transactions), investors purchasing shares in this offering could experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our shareholders.
 
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TAXATION
Taxation in the Netherlands
General
The following is a general summary of certain material Dutch tax consequences of the holding and disposal of the ordinary shares. This summary does not purport to describe all possible tax considerations or consequences that may be relevant to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special treatment under applicable law (such as trusts or other similar arrangements), and in view of its general nature, it should be treated with corresponding caution. Holders should consult with their tax advisors with regard to the tax consequences of investing in the ordinary shares in their particular circumstances. The discussion below is included for general information purposes only.
Please note that this summary does not describe the tax considerations for:
(i)
holders of ordinary shares if such holders, and in the case of individuals, his/her partner or certain of their relatives by blood or marriage in the direct line (including foster children), have a substantial interest or deemed substantial interest in us under the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001 (in Dutch: ‘Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001’). Generally speaking, a holder of securities in a company is considered to hold a substantial interest in such company, if such holder alone or, in the case of individuals, together with his/her partner (statutorily defined term), directly or indirectly, holds (i) an interest of 5% or more of the total issued and outstanding capital of that company or of 5% or more of the issued and outstanding capital of a certain class of shares of that company; or (ii) rights to acquire, directly or indirectly, such interest; or (iii) certain profit sharing rights in that company that relate to 5% or more of the company’s annual profits and/or to 5% or more of the company’s liquidation proceeds. A deemed substantial interest may arise if a substantial interest (or part thereof) in a company has been disposed of, or is deemed to have been disposed of, on a non-recognition basis;
(ii)
holders of ordinary shares in us that qualify or qualified as a participation for purposes of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 (in Dutch: ‘Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969’). Generally, a taxpayer’s shareholding of 5% or more in a company’s nominal paid-up share capital qualifies as a participation. A holder may also have a participation if such holder does not have a 5% shareholding but a related entity (statutorily defined term) has a participation or if the company in which the shares are held is a related entity (statutorily defined term);
(iii)
holders of ordinary shares who are individuals for whom the ordinary shares or any benefit derived from the ordinary shares are compensation or deemed to be compensation for employment activities, including deemed employment activities performed by such holders or certain individuals related to such holders (as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001) or statutory directors (‘bestuurders’) or supervisory directors (‘commissarissen’) of a company resident in the Netherlands; and
(iv)
pension funds, investment institutions (in Dutch: ‘fiscale beleggingsinstellingen’), exempt investment institutions (in Dutch: ‘vrijgestelde beleggingsinstellingen’) and other entities that are, in whole or in part, not subject to or exempt from corporate income tax in the Netherlands, as well as entities that are exempt from corporate income tax in their country of residence, such country of residence being another state of the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or any other state with which the Netherlands have agreed to exchange information in line with international standards.
Except as otherwise indicated, this summary only addresses national tax legislation and published regulations in the Netherlands, whereby the Netherlands means the part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located in Europe, as in effect on the date hereof and as interpreted in published case law until this date, without prejudice to any amendment introduced at a later date and implemented with or without retroactive effect.
 
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Dividend Withholding Tax
General
Dividends distributed by us generally are subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax at a rate of 15%. The expression “dividends distributed” includes, among other things:

distributions in cash or in kind, deemed and constructive distributions and repayments of paid-in capital not recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes;

liquidation proceeds, proceeds of redemption of ordinary shares, or proceeds of the repurchase of ordinary shares by us or one of our subsidiaries to the extent such proceeds exceed the average paid-in capital of those shares as recognized for purposes of Dutch dividend withholding tax;

an amount equal to the par value of ordinary shares issued or an increase of the par value of ordinary shares, to the extent that it does not appear that a contribution, recognized for purposes of Dutch dividend withholding tax, has been made or will be made; and

partial repayment of the paid-in capital, recognized for purposes of Dutch dividend withholding tax, if and to the extent that we have net profits (in Dutch: ‘zuivere winst’), unless the holders of ordinary shares have resolved in advance at a general meeting to make such repayment and the par value of the ordinary shares concerned has been reduced by an equal amount by way of an amendment of our articles of association.
If a holder of ordinary shares is resident in a country other than the Netherlands and if a double taxation convention is in effect between the Netherlands and such other country, such holder of ordinary shares may, depending on the terms of that double taxation convention, be eligible for a full or partial exemption from, or refund of, Dutch dividend withholding tax.
Individuals and corporate legal entities who are resident or deemed to be resident in the Netherlands for Dutch tax purposes (‘Dutch Resident Individuals’ and ‘Dutch Resident Entities’ as the case may be), can generally credit the Dutch dividend withholding tax against their personal income tax or corporate income tax liability. The same generally applies to holders of ordinary shares that are neither resident nor deemed to be resident of the Netherlands if the ordinary shares are attributable to a Dutch permanent establishment of such non-resident holder.
In general, we will be required to remit all amounts withheld as Dutch dividend withholding tax to the Dutch tax authorities. However, under certain circumstances, we are allowed to reduce the amount to be remitted to the Dutch tax authorities by the lesser of:

3% of the portion of the distribution paid by us that is subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax; and

3% of the dividends and profit distributions, before deduction of foreign withholding taxes, received by us from qualifying foreign subsidiaries in the current calendar year (up to the date of the distribution by us) and the two preceding calendar years, as far as such dividends and profit distributions have not yet been taken into account for purposes of establishing the above mentioned reduction. For purposes of the preceding sentence, qualifying foreign subsidiaries are entities established in Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Estatius or Saba or in a state which has concluded a double tax treaty with the Netherlands.
Although this reduction reduces the amount of Dutch dividend withholding tax that we are required to remit to the Dutch tax authorities, it does not reduce the amount of tax that we are required to withhold on dividends distributed.
Pursuant to legislation to counteract “dividend stripping”, a reduction, exemption, credit or refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax is denied if the recipient of the dividend is not the beneficial owner as described in the Dutch Dividend Withholding Tax Act 1965 (in Dutch: ‘Wet op de dividendbelasting 1965’). This legislation generally targets situations in which a shareholder retains its economic interest in shares but reduces the withholding tax costs on dividends by a transaction with another party. It is not required for these rules to apply that the recipient of the dividends is aware that a dividend stripping transaction took
 
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place. The Dutch State Secretary of Finance takes the position that the definition of beneficial ownership introduced by this legislation will also be applied in the context of a double taxation convention.
Taxes on Income and Capital Gains
Dutch Resident Individuals
If a holder of ordinary shares is a Dutch Resident Individual, any benefit derived or deemed to be derived from the ordinary shares is taxable at the progressive income tax rates (with a maximum of 49.50%) (2021), if:
(a)
the ordinary shares are attributable to an enterprise from which the Dutch Resident Individual derives a share of the profit, whether as an entrepreneur (in Dutch: ‘ondernemer’) or as a person who has a co-entitlement to the net worth (in Dutch: ‘medegerechtigd tot het vermogen’) of such enterprise, without being an entrepreneur or a shareholder, as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001; or
(b)
the holder of the ordinary shares is considered to perform activities with respect to the ordinary shares that go beyond ordinary asset management (in Dutch: ‘normaal, actief vermogensbeheer’) or derives benefits from the ordinary shares that are taxable as benefits from other activities (in Dutch ‘resultaat uit overige werkzaamheden’).
If the above-mentioned conditions (a) and (b) do not apply to the individual holder of ordinary shares, the ordinary shares are recognized as investment assets and included as such in such holder’s net investment asset base (in Dutch: ‘rendementsgrondslag’). Irrespective of the actual income and capital gains realized, the annual taxable benefit of all the assets and allowable liabilities of a Dutch Resident Individual holder of ordinary shares who is taxed under this regime is set at a deemed return based on the fair market value of the assets reduced by the allowable liabilities on January 1 of each year. The deemed return percentages to be applied to the yield basis increases progressively depending on the amount of the yield basis. The deemed return on savings and investments is taxed at a rate of 31% (2021).
Dutch Resident Entities
Any benefit derived or deemed to be derived from the ordinary shares held by Dutch Resident Entities, including any capital gains realized on the disposal thereof, will generally be subject to Dutch corporate income tax at a rate of 25% (a corporate income tax rate of 15% applies with respect to taxable profits up to € 245,000) (2021).
Non-Residents of the Netherlands
A holder of ordinary shares that is not resident or deemed to be resident in the Netherlands will not be subject to Netherlands taxes on income or on capital gains in respect of any payment under the ordinary shares or any gain realized on the disposal or deemed disposal of the ordinary shares, provided that:
(a)
if such holder is an individual, such holder does not qualify for the application of the rules of the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001 as they apply to residents of the Netherlands;
(b)
such holder does not have an interest in an enterprise or a deemed enterprise (statutorily defined term) which, in whole or in part, is either effectively managed in the Netherlands or is carried out through a permanent establishment, a deemed permanent establishment or a permanent representative in the Netherlands and to which enterprise or part of an enterprise the ordinary shares are attributable or deemed attributable or has a deemed enterprise for activities performed as statutory director (‘bestuurder’) or supervisory director (‘commissaris’) of a company resident of the Netherlands; and
(c)
in the event such holder is an individual, such holder does not carry out any activities in the Netherlands with respect to the ordinary shares that go beyond ordinary asset management and does not derive benefits from the ordinary shares that are taxable as benefits from other activities in the Netherlands.
 
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If the above-mentioned condition (b) applies and the holder is a corporation, such holder will generally be subject to regular Dutch corporate income tax at a rate of 25% (a corporate income tax rate of 15% applies with respect to taxable profits up to €245,000) (2021).
Gift and Inheritance Taxes
Residents of the Netherlands
Gift and inheritance taxes will arise in the Netherlands with respect to a transfer of the ordinary shares by way of a gift by, or on the death of, a holder of ordinary shares who is resident or deemed to be resident in the Netherlands at the time of the gift or his/her death.
Non-residents of the Netherlands
No Dutch gift or inheritance taxes will arise on the transfer of the ordinary shares by way of gift by, or on the death of, a holder of ordinary shares who is neither resident nor deemed to be resident in the Netherlands, unless:
(a)
in the case of a gift of ordinary shares by an individual who at the date of the gift was neither resident nor deemed to be resident in the Netherlands, such individual dies within 180 days after the date of the gift, while being resident or deemed to be resident in the Netherlands; or
(b)
the transfer is otherwise construed as a gift or inheritance made by, or on behalf of, a person who, at the time of the gift or death, is or is deemed to be resident in the Netherlands.
For purposes of Dutch gift and inheritance taxes, amongst others, a person that holds the Dutch nationality will be deemed to be resident in the Netherlands if such person has been resident in the Netherlands at any time during the ten years preceding the date of the gift or his/her death. Additionally, for purposes of Dutch gift tax, amongst others, a person not holding the Dutch nationality will be deemed to be resident in the Netherlands if such person has been resident in the Netherlands at any time during the twelve months preceding the date of the gift. Applicable tax treaties may override deemed residency.
Value Added Tax and Other Taxes and Duties
No Dutch VAT and no Dutch registration tax, stamp duty or any other similar documentary tax or duty will be payable by a holder of ordinary shares on any payment in consideration for the holding or disposal of the ordinary shares.
Residence
A shareholder will not become resident or deemed resident in the Netherlands for tax purposes by reason only of holding the ordinary shares.
Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares by a U.S. holder (as defined below). This summary addresses only the U.S. federal income tax considerations for U.S. holders that are initial purchasers of our ordinary shares pursuant to the offering and that will hold our ordinary shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This summary does not address all U.S. federal income tax matters that may be relevant to a particular U.S. holder. This summary does not address tax considerations applicable to a holder of ordinary shares that may be subject to special tax rules including, without limitation, the following:

banks, financial institutions or insurance companies;

brokers, dealers or traders in securities, currencies, commodities, or notional principal contracts;

tax-exempt entities or organizations, including an “individual retirement account” or “Roth IRA” as defined in Section 408 or 408A of the Code (as defined below), respectively;
 
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real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, or grantor trusts;

persons that hold the ordinary shares as part of a “hedging,” “integrated”, or “conversion” transaction or as a position in a “straddle” for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

partnerships (including entities or arrangements classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or other pass-through entities (including S corporations), or persons that will hold our shares through such an entity;

certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

persons that received our shares as compensation for the performance of services;

persons that acquire ordinary shares as a result of holding or owning our preferred shares;

holders that own directly, indirectly, or through attribution 10% or more of the voting power or value of our shares; and

holders that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar.
Further, this summary does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift, or alternative minimum tax considerations, or any U.S. state, local, or non-U.S. tax considerations (other than the Dutch tax considerations discussed above) of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares.
This description is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, existing, proposed, and temporary U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, in each case as in effect on the date hereof. All the foregoing is subject to change, which change could apply retroactively, and to differing interpretations, all of which could affect the tax considerations described below. There can be no assurances that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, will not take a contrary position concerning the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares or that such a position would not be sustained. Holders should consult their own tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax consequences of owning and disposing of our ordinary shares in their particular circumstances.
For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of ordinary shares that is (or is treated as), for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

a citizen or resident of the United States;

a corporation, or other entity that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of such trust, or if the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person.
If a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds ordinary shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to an investment in our ordinary shares will depend in part upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Such a partner or partnership should consult its tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations of owning and disposing of our ordinary shares in its particular circumstances.
As indicated below, this discussion is subject to U.S. federal income tax rules applicable to a “passive foreign investment company,” or a PFIC.
Persons considering an investment in our ordinary shares should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular tax consequences applicable to them relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, including the applicability of U.S. federal, state and local tax laws and non-U.S. tax laws.
 
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Distributions
Subject to the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” below, the gross amount of any distribution (including any amounts withheld in respect of Dutch withholding tax) actually or constructively received by a U.S. holder with respect to an ordinary share will be taxable to the U.S. holder as a dividend to the extent the distribution is made out of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be non-taxable to the U.S. holder to the extent of, and will be applied against and reduce, the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in each such ordinary share. Distributions in excess of earnings and profits and such adjusted tax basis will generally be taxable to the U.S. holder as either long-term or short-term capital gain, depending upon whether the U.S. holder has held our ordinary shares for more than one year as of the time such distribution is received. However, since we do not calculate our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, it is expected that all distributions will be reported as dividends, even if a distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital gain under the rules described above.
Non-corporate U.S. holders may qualify for the preferential rates of taxation with respect to dividends on ordinary shares applicable to long-term capital gains (i.e., gains from the sale of capital assets held for more than one year) applicable to qualified dividend income (as discussed below). The Company, which is incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, believes that it qualifies as a resident of the Netherlands for purposes of, and is eligible for the benefits of, the Convention between the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, signed on December 18, 1992, as amended and currently in force, or the U.S.-Netherlands Tax Treaty, although there can be no assurance in this regard. Further, the IRS has determined that the U.S.-Netherlands Tax Treaty is satisfactory for purposes of the qualified dividend rules and that it includes an exchange-of-information program. Therefore, subject to the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” below, if the U.S.-Netherlands Tax Treaty is applicable, such dividends will generally be “qualified dividend income” in the hands of individual U.S. holders, provided that certain conditions are met, including the holding period requirement as well as the absence of certain risk reduction transactions. The dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to corporate U.S. holders.
A U.S. holder generally may claim the amount of Dutch income withholding tax withheld as either a deduction from gross income or a credit against U.S. federal income tax liability. However, the foreign tax credit is subject to numerous complex limitations that must be determined and applied on a case-by-case basis. Each U.S. holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the foreign tax credit rules.
In general, the amount of a distribution paid to a U.S. holder in a foreign currency will be the dollar value of the foreign currency calculated by reference to the spot exchange rate on the day the U.S. holder receives the distribution, regardless of whether the foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars at that time. Any foreign currency gain or loss a U.S. holder realizes on a subsequent conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars will be U.S. source ordinary income or loss. If dividends received in a foreign currency are converted into U.S. dollars on the day they are received, a U.S. holder should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend.
Sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares
A U.S. holder will generally recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of an ordinary share in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized from such sale or exchange and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in that ordinary share. Subject to the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations” below, this gain or loss will generally be a capital gain or loss and will generally be treated as from sources within the United States. The adjusted tax basis in an ordinary share generally will equal the cost of such ordinary share. Capital gain from the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of ordinary shares by a non-corporate U.S. holder is generally eligible for a preferential rate of taxation applicable to capital gains, if the non-corporate U.S. holder’s holding period determined at the time of such sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition for such ordinary share exceeds one year (i.e., such gain is long-term taxable gain). The deductibility of capital losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes is subject to limitations under the Code.
 
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Any such gain or loss that a U.S. holder recognizes generally will be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.
For a cash basis taxpayer, units of foreign currency paid or received are translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the settlement date of the purchase or sale. In that case, no foreign currency exchange gain or loss will result from currency fluctuations between the trade date and the settlement date of such a purchase or sale. An accrual basis taxpayer, however, may elect the same treatment required of cash basis taxpayers with respect to purchases and sales of our ordinary shares that are traded on an established securities market, provided the election is applied consistently from year to year. Such election may not be changed without the consent of the IRS. For an accrual basis taxpayer that does not make such an election, units of foreign currency paid or received are translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the trade date of the purchase or sale. Such an accrual basis taxpayer may recognize exchange gain or loss based on currency fluctuations between the trade date and the settlement date. Any foreign currency gain or loss a U.S. holder realizes will be U.S. source ordinary income or loss.
Net Investment Income Tax
Certain U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or trusts are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which may include all or a portion of their dividend income and net gains from the disposition of ordinary shares. Each U.S. holder that is an individual, estate or trust is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Net Investment Income Tax to its income and gains in respect of its investment in our ordinary shares.
Passive foreign investment company considerations
If we are classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, in any taxable year, a U.S. holder would be subject to special rules generally intended to reduce or eliminate any benefits from the deferral of U.S. federal income tax that a U.S. holder could derive from investing in a non-U.S. company that does not distribute all its earnings on a current basis. We will inform our shareholders in our Annual Report on Form 20-F if we determine that we are a PFIC.
A corporation organized outside the United States generally will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year in which, after applying certain look-through rules with respect to the income and assets of its subsidiaries, either: (i) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income” or (ii) at least 50% of the average quarterly value of its total gross assets (for which purpose, assuming we are treated as a publicly traded company pursuant to Section 1297(e)(3) of the Code, the total value of our assets may be determined in part by reference to the market value of our ordinary shares, which is subject to change) is attributable to assets that produce “passive income” or are held for the production of “passive income.”
Passive income for this purpose generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents, gains from commodities and securities transactions, the excess of gains over losses from the disposition of assets which produce passive income, and amounts derived by reason of the temporary investment of cash, including the funds raised in offerings of our ordinary shares. For purposes of the PFIC tests, gross income and gross assets of a corporation include its proportionate share of the gross income and gross assets of any other corporation of which it owns directly or indirectly at least 25% by value of the stock. If a non-U.S. corporation owns less than 25% by value of the stock of another corporation, the stock of such other corporation in the hands of the non-U.S. corporation is treated as a passive asset for purposes of the PFIC tests.
If we are classified as a PFIC in any year with respect to which a U.S. holder owns our ordinary shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. holder in all succeeding years during which the U.S. holder owns our ordinary shares, regardless of whether we continue to meet the tests described above, unless the U.S. holder makes a purging election, which allows a shareholder to purge the continuing PFIC taint by either making a deemed sale election or, under certain conditions, a deemed dividend election. In addition, if we are classified as a PFIC, then a U.S. holder of our shares will be deemed to own, proportionately, shares we own of lower-tier corporations. If any such lower-tier corporation is a PFIC, then a U.S. holder will be treated as an (indirect) shareholder of that lower-tier PFIC.
 
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Based on the average value of our gross assets and the composition of our income, we believe that we were not a PFIC during the 2020 taxable year. Our status for any taxable year will depend on our assets and activities in each year, and because this is a factual determination made annually after the end of each taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a PFIC for the current taxable year or any future taxable year. The market value of our assets may be determined in large part by reference to the market price of our ordinary shares, which is likely to fluctuate. In addition, based on the foregoing, we do not anticipate that we will be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year based upon the expected value of our assets, including any goodwill, and the expected composition of our income and assets. However, as previously mentioned, we cannot provide any assurances regarding our PFIC status for the current, prior or future taxable years. For example, it is possible we may be a PFIC for the current or any future taxable year based on the market price of our ordinary shares and/or our minority equity interest in Wings Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held company for which the fair market value is highly speculative.
If we are a PFIC, and you are a U.S. holder, then a special tax regime will apply unless you make a mark-to-market election (described below). We do not currently intend to provide the information necessary for U.S. holders to make qualified electing fund elections if we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year. That special tax regime will apply to any “excess distribution” by us to you (generally, your portion of distributions in any year which are greater than 125% of the average annual distribution received by you in the shorter of the three preceding years or your holding period for our ordinary shares). That special regime will also apply to any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the ordinary shares. Under this special regime, any excess distribution and realized gain will be treated as ordinary income and will be subject to tax as if (a) the excess distribution or gain had been realized ratably over your holding period, (b) the amount deemed realized in each year had been subject to tax in each year of that holding period at the highest marginal rate for such year applicable to you (other than income allocated to the current period or any taxable period before we became a PFIC, which would be subject to tax at the U.S. holder’s regular ordinary income rate for the current year and would not be subject to the interest charge discussed below), and (c) the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax had been imposed on the taxes deemed to have been payable in those years. In addition, dividend distributions made to you will not qualify for the lower rates of taxation applicable to long-term capital gains discussed above under “Distributions.”
A U.S. holder may elect mark-to-market treatment, which may alleviate some of the adverse consequences of PFIC status. If a U.S. holder makes the mark-to-market election, the U.S. holder generally will recognize as ordinary income any excess of the fair market value of the ordinary shares at the end of each taxable year over their adjusted tax basis, and will recognize an ordinary loss in respect of any excess of the adjusted tax basis of the ordinary shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included as a result of the mark-to-market election and not offset by prior mark-to market losses. If a U.S. holder makes the election, the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect these income or loss amounts. Any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income, and any loss will be treated as an ordinary loss (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included as a result of the mark-to-market election). The mark-to-market election is available only if we are a PFIC and our ordinary shares are “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange.” Our ordinary shares will be treated as “regularly traded” in any calendar year in which more than a de minimis quantity of the ordinary shares are traded on a qualified exchange on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (subject to the rule that trades that have as one of their principle purposes the meeting of the trading requirement are disregarded). The NASDAQ Global Market is a qualified exchange for this purpose and, consequently, if the ordinary shares are regularly traded on that market, the mark-to-market election will be available to a U.S. holder. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors to determine whether the mark-to-market election would be available and, if so, what the consequences of making that election would be in their particular circumstances.
If we are a PFIC, the general tax treatment for U.S. holders described in this section would apply to indirect distributions and gains deemed to be realized by U.S. holders who are indirect shareholders of lower-tier PFICs, as discussed above.
If a U.S. holder owns ordinary shares during any taxable year in which we are a PFIC, the U.S. holder generally will be required to file an IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign
 
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Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund) with respect to us (and with respect to any lower-tier PFICs in which we hold an interest) with the U.S. holder’s federal income tax return for that year. If we were a PFIC for a given taxable year, then you should consult your tax advisor concerning your annual filing requirements.
The U.S. federal income tax rules relating to PFICs are complex. U.S. investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, the consequences to them of an investment in a PFIC, any elections available with respect to our ordinary shares, and the IRS information reporting obligations with respect to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary share.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
U.S. holders generally will be subject to information reporting requirements with respect to dividends on ordinary shares and on the proceeds from the sale, exchange, or disposition of ordinary shares that are paid within the United States or through U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless the U.S. holder is an “exempt recipient.” In addition, U.S. holders may be subject to backup withholding on such payments, unless the U.S. holder provides a taxpayer identification number and a duly executed IRS Form W-9 or otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, and the amount of any backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Asset Reporting
Certain U.S. holders who are individuals are required to report information relating to an interest in our ordinary shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for shares held in accounts maintained by U.S. financial institutions) by filing IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) with their federal income tax return. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding their information reporting obligations, if any, with respect to their acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares.
THE DISCUSSION SET OUT ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER’S PARTICULAR SITUATION. IT DOES NOT COVER ALL TAX MATTERS THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO A HOLDER. EACH HOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES INCLUDING TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE TAX EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL AND OTHER TAX LAWS.
 
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We have entered into a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement (the “sales agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor Fitzgerald” or the “Agent”), under which we may offer and sell our ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 from time to time through the Agent. Sales of our ordinary shares, if any, under this prospectus will be made at market prices by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including sales made directly on or through the Nasdaq Global Market, or any other trading market for our ordinary shares. The Agent will not engage in any transactions that stabilize the price of our ordinary shares. A copy of the sales agreement that we entered into with the Agent is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Upon delivery of a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement, the Agent may offer our ordinary shares on a daily basis or as otherwise agreed upon by us and the Agent. We will designate the maximum amount of ordinary shares to be sold through the Agent on a daily basis or otherwise as we and the Agent agree, and the minimum price per share at which such ordinary shares may be sold. We may instruct the Agent not to sell any ordinary shares if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. We or the Agent may suspend or terminate the offering of ordinary shares at any time and from time to time by notifying the other party and subject to other conditions.
If shares of our ordinary shares are sold by the Agent in an at the market offering, the Agent will provide written confirmation to us no later than the opening of trading on the Nasdaq Global Market immediately following the trading day on which shares of our ordinary shares are sold under the sales agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares of our ordinary shares sold on the preceding day, the gross sales price, the net proceeds to us and the compensation payable by us to the Agent in connection with the sales.
We will pay the Agent commissions, in cash, for its services in acting as sales agent in the sale of our ordinary shares. The Agent will be entitled to a commission rate equal to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold under the sales agreement. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse a portion of the Agent’s expenses, including legal fees, in connection with this offering up to a maximum of $50,000. We estimate that the total expenses payable by us in connection with the establishment of the program to offer ordinary shares described in this prospectus, excluding commissions and expense reimbursement payable to the Agent under the terms of the sales agreement, will be approximately $225,000. The remaining sale proceeds, after deducting any other transaction fees, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such shares.
Settlement for sales of our ordinary shares under the sales agreement will occur on the second trading day following the date on which any sales are made (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading), or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and the Agent in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our ordinary shares as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and the Agent may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Subject to the terms of the sales agreement, the Agent is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of our ordinary shares but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between the Agent and us. In connection with the sale of our ordinary shares on our behalf, the Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to the Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Agent against certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act.
The offering of our ordinary shares pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the sale of all of our ordinary shares subject to the sales agreement, or (2) termination of the sales
 
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agreement as permitted therein. We and the Agent may each terminate the sales agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.
The Agent is a full service financial institution engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The Agent and its affiliates have in the past performed commercial banking, investment banking and advisory services for us from time to time for which they have received no more than customary fees and reimbursement of expenses and may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of its various business activities, the Agent and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (which may include bank loans and/or credit default swaps) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and instruments. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The Agent and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments. To the extent required by Regulation M, the Agent will not engage in any market making activities involving our ordinary shares while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus.
This prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by the Agent and the Agent may distribute this prospectus electronically.
 
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LEGAL MATTERS
Legal matters with respect to U.S. federal and New York law in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Certain legal matters with respect to Dutch law in connection with the validity of the ordinary shares being offered by this prospectus and other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Allen & Overy LLP, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Cooley LLP, New York, New York, is counsel to the Agent in connection with this offering with respect to U.S. federal law and New York law. Stibbe N.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is counsel to the Agent with respect to Dutch law.
EXPERTS
The financial statements, incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte Accountants B.V., an independent registered public accounting firm as stated in their reports. Such financial statements are included in reliance upon the report of such firm, given upon their authority as experts in auditing and accounting.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
We have filed a registration statement on Form F-3 with the SEC in connection with this offering. The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with the SEC, by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Any information that we file later with the SEC and that is deemed incorporated by reference will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. In all such cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or in any incorporated document. You should not assume that information in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is current as of any date other than the date of that document. This prospectus will be deemed to incorporate by reference the following documents, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that was furnished and deemed by the rules of the SEC not to have been filed:



the description of our ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36622), filed with the SEC on September 16, 2014, including any other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description (other than any portion of such filings that are furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed).
We will also incorporate by reference any future filings made with the SEC under the Exchange Act after (i) the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and (ii) the date of this prospectus and before the completion of the offering of the securities under the registration statement. In addition, we will incorporate by reference certain future materials furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K after the date of the initial registration statement, but only to the extent specifically indicated in those submissions or in a future prospectus supplement. Each subsequently filed Annual Report should be deemed to supersede entirely each earlier filed Annual Report and Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K containing our quarterly earnings releases and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, such earlier reports should not be deemed to be part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement and you should not rely upon statements made in those earlier periodic reports.
 
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You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing, telephoning or emailing us at the following address:
Zernikedreef 9
2333 CK Leiden
The Netherlands
Attention: Company Secretary
Tel.: +31 88 166 7000
IR@proqr.com
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we have filed with the SEC. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. To see more detail, you should read the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with, or incorporated by reference into, our registration statement.
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. You may obtain documents that we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov. The address of the SEC’s Internet site is www.sec.gov. We also make these documents available on our website at www.ProQR.com. Our website and the information contained or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
This registration statement, including the exhibits contained or incorporated by reference therein, can be read at the SEC website referred to above. Any statement made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the actual contract, agreement or other document. If we have filed or incorporated by reference any contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.
 
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[MISSING IMAGE: lg_proqr-4c.jpg]
Up to $75,000,000
Ordinary Shares
PROSPECTUS
Cantor
           , 2021

 
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 8.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Although Dutch law does not expressly provide for the indemnification of directors, the concept of indemnification of directors of a company for liabilities arising from their actions as members of the management board and supervisory board is, in principle, accepted in the Netherlands. Our articles of association provide that we will indemnify our management board members, supervisory board members, former management board members and former supervisory board members against (i) any financial losses or damages incurred by such indemnified person and (ii) any expense reasonably paid or incurred by such indemnified person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed suit, claim, action or legal proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, in which he becomes involved, to the extent this relates to his position with the company, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. No indemnification shall be given to an indemnified person (a) if a Dutch court has established, without possibility for appeal, that the acts or omissions of such indemnified person that led to the financial losses, damages, suit, claim, action or legal proceedings result from either an improper performance of his duties as an officer of the company or an unlawful or illegal act and (b) to the extent that his financial losses, damages and expenses are covered by an insurance and the insurer has settled these financial losses, damages and expenses (or has indicated that it would do so). Our supervisory board may stipulate additional terms, conditions and restrictions in relation to such indemnification.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
ITEM 9.
EXHIBITS
The exhibit index set forth immediately prior to the signature page is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 10.
UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)   to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)   to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii)   to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)   to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information set forth in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
 
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Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)   that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
(3)   to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
(4)   to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-X if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement;
(5)   that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i)   if the registrant is relying on Rule 430B (Section 230.430B of this chapter):
(A)   each prospectus filed by each registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B)   each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in this registration statement or a prospectus that is part of this registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into this registration statement or a prospectus that is part of this registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in this registration statement or a prospectus that was part of this registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(6)   that, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
 
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(i)   any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)   any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
(iii)   the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about an undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant; and
(iv)   any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
1.1
Form of underwriting agreement (to be filed as an exhibit to a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference).
1.2
Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement, dated November 4, 2021, by and between ProQR Therapeutics N.V. and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
3.1
Amended Articles of Association of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Registrant’s Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K (File No. 001-36622) filed on July 8, 2021)
4.1
Form of warrant agreement (to be filed as an exhibit to a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference).
4.2
Form of warrant (to be filed as an exhibit to a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference).
4.3
Form of unit certificate (to be filed as an exhibit to a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference).
5.1
5.2
5.3
23.1 
23.2 
23.3 
23.4 
24.1 
 
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Leiden, the Netherlands, on November 4, 2021.
PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
By:
/s/ DANIEL DE BOER
Name:
Daniel de Boer
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Daniel de Boer and Smital Shah his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or supplements to this Registration Statement, whether pre-effective or post-effective and any and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate to be done with respect to this Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements hereto or any and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 4, 2021.
SIGNATURES
TITLE
DATE
/s/ DANIEL DE BOER
Daniel de Boer
Chief Executive Officer and Director, Management Board
(Principal Executive Officer)
November 4, 2021
/s/ SMITAL SHAH
Smital Shah
Chief Business and Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
November 4, 2021
/s/ DINKO VALERIO
Dinko Valerio
Chairman, Supervisory Board
November 4, 2021
/s/ ANTOINE BENJAMIN PAPIERNIK
Antoine Benjamin Papiernik
Director, Supervisory Board
November 4, 2021
/s/ JAMES SHANNON
James Shannon
Director, Supervisory Board
November 4, 2021
/s/ ALISON LAWTON
Alison Lawton
Director, Supervisory Board
November 4, 2021
/s/ BART FILIUS
Bart Filius
Director, Supervisory Board
November 4, 2021
 
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AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Registration Statement on November 4, 2021.
Smital Shah
Authorized Representative in the United States
By:
/s/ SMITAL SHAH
Name:   Smital Shah
November 4, 2021
 
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