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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-235889
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated June 15, 2020)
$50,000,000
Common Shares
We have entered into a sales agreement with SVB Leerink LLC, or SVB Leerink, relating to the common shares offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, we may offer and sell our common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time through SVB Leerink acting as our agent.
Our common shares are traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the Nasdaq, under the symbol "AXGT." On October 1, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq was $4.56 per common share.
Sales of our common shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be "at-the-market" offerings, as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the Nasdaq or any other trading market for our common shares. SVB Leerink is not required to sell any specific amount of securities, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between SVB Leerink and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The compensation to SVB Leerink for sales of common shares sold pursuant to the sales agreement will be an amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of any common shares sold under the sales agreement. See "Plan of Distribution" beginning on page S-22 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to SVB Leerink. In connection with the sale of the common shares on our behalf, SVB Leerink will be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of SVB Leerink will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to SVB Leerink with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
We are an "emerging growth company" as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, and, as such, are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.
Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus concerning factors you should consider before investing in our common shares.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Consent under the Exchange Control Act 1972 (and its related regulations) has been obtained from the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and transfer of our common shares to and between residents and non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes provided our common shares remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes the Nasdaq. In granting such consent, neither the Bermuda Monetary Authority nor the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda accepts any responsibility for our financial soundness or the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
SVB Leerink
Prospectus Supplement dated October 2, 2020
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document contains two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also supplements and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. If the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information set forth in this prospectus supplement. Under this prospectus supplement, we may offer our common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering.
We have not, and SVB Leerink has not, authorized anyone else to provide you with information that is in addition to or different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, along with the information contained in any permitted free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. Neither we nor SVB Leerink take any responsibility for, or can provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any information other than the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any permitted free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with this offering.
We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, our common shares only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the accompanying prospectus, and the information in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or of any sale of our common shares. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. It is important for you to read and consider all information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the additional information described under "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus, before investing in our common shares.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to "Axovant," the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information about us and this offering. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing. Before investing in our common shares, you should read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus carefully, including the section titled "Risk Factors" in this prospectus supplement and the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, and other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Our Company
We are a clinical-stage company focused on developing innovative gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. We currently have three clinical-stage programs: (i) the AXO-Lenti-PD program for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, which is comprised of the first generation ProSavin® in which 15 patients were previously dosed in a Phase 1/2 study, and the second generation AXO-Lenti-PD in which we have dosed two patients in Cohort 1 of the dose-escalation study and four patients in Cohort 2; (ii) the AXO-AAV-GM1 program for the treatment of GM1 gangliosidosis in which five patients have been dosed in the juvenile (Type II) low-dose cohort of stage 1, and we expect to continue to dose juvenile (Type II) patients in the higher dose cohort of the study and initiate the low-dose infantile (Type I) patients in calendar year 2020; and (iii) the AXO-AAV-GM2 program for the treatment of GM2 gangliosidosis (including Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases) in which two expanded access patients have been dosed and we expect to obtain investigational new drug application clearance in calendar year 2020.
We are dedicated to realizing the potential of gene therapies to offer transformative patient outcomes in areas of high unmet medical need and extending the reach of gene therapies to highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease. We have assembled a portfolio of gene therapies in partnership with leading scientific institutions and have built a team with extensive experience in the gene therapy space. Our team pursues new innovations in vector design and delivery to optimize our investigational gene therapy products for safety, potency, durability, and immunologic response. We will continue to build integrated internal development capabilities from product development through commercialization and focus on accelerating the pace of product development in the clinic. As part of our ongoing business strategy, we continue to explore potential opportunities to acquire or license new product candidates as well as opportunities for partnership or collaboration on our existing products in development. Our vision is to build the world's leading gene therapy company for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by progressing our current programs and identifying, developing and commercializing other novel gene therapy treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Our Product Pipeline
The following table summarizes the status of our gene therapy development programs. Our wholly owned subsidiary, Axovant Sciences GmbH, or ASG, holds global commercial rights to each of the following programs:
Gene Therapy Program
|
Clinical Indication | Clinical Development Stage |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXO-Lenti-PD | Parkinson's disease | Phase 2 | ||
AXO-AAV-GM1 |
GM1 gangliosidosis |
Phase 1/2 |
||
AXO-AAV-GM2 |
GM2 gangliosidosis (including Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases) |
Phase 1/2 |
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Axovant is a Vant within the Roivant Family of Companies
We are a member of the Roivant family of companies and have benefited from our ability to leverage the Roivant model and the greater Roivant platform. The period of time between our formation and operational maturation was shortened based on the support from centralized Roivant functions available since its creation. This includes operational functions as well as access to Roivant's proprietary technology and digital innovation platforms. Consistent with its model, Roivant has also provided us with access to an embedded team of scientific experts, physicians and technologists to help optimize clinical development and commercial strategies. In the future, we may have the ability to benefit from Roivant's economies of scale and scope.
Corporate Information
We are an exempted limited company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda on October 31, 2014 under the name Roivant Neurosciences Ltd. We changed our name to Axovant Sciences Ltd. in March 2015 and to Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd., or AXGT, in March 2019. We have seven wholly owned subsidiaries: Axovant Holdings Limited, or AHL, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AXGT, was incorporated in England and Wales in August 2016; Axovant Sciences, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AHL, was incorporated in Delaware in February 2015; ASG, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AHL, was organized in Switzerland in August 2016; Axovant Sciences America Inc., or ASA, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AHL, was incorporated in Delaware in July 2017; Axovant Treasury Holdings, Inc., or ATH, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AXGT, was incorporated in Delaware in March 2018; Axovant Treasury, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ATH, was incorporated in Delaware in March 2018; and Axovant Sciences Europe Limited, or ASEU, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AHL, was incorporated in Ireland in December 2018.
Our principal executive office is located at Suite 1, 3rd Floor, 11-12 St. James's Square, London, United Kingdom SW1Y 4LB, and our telephone number is +44 203 318 9708. Our registered office is located in Bermuda at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM11, Bermuda, and the telephone number of our registered office is +1 (441) 824-8100. We also have business operations in Basel, Switzerland and New York, New York. Our website is located at http://www.axovant.com. We do not incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus the information on, or accessible through, our website, and you should not consider it as part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
As previously announced, we are continuing our corporate transformation to align our corporate structure and governance with current and future business activity. As part of this transformation, we intend to reduce significantly the number of our subsidiaries and reorganize our corporate structure to reduce our exposure to the potential consequences of certain tax regimes. We also intend to change our jurisdiction of incorporation from Bermuda to Delaware by March 31, 2021, change our corporate name to Sio Gene Therapies Inc. and change our trading symbol to "SIOX." For more information regarding certain consequences of this corporate transformation, including tax consequences, refer to the sections titled "Risk Factor—Risks Relating to the Domestication and Reorganization," "Description of Capital Stock" and "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Domestication" included in our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-249279) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2020.
Axovant and the Axovant logo are our trademarks. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may also contain trademarks and trade names that are the property of their respective owners.
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Emerging Growth Company Status
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, and therefore we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including not being required to have our internal control over financial reporting audited by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, our periodic reports and our proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the closing of our initial public offering, which occurred in June 2015, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of our second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
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Common shares offered by us |
Common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000. | |
Common shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering |
Assuming all $50,000,000 of our common shares are sold in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $4.56 per common share, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq on October 1, 2020, we would have had 51,938,292 common shares outstanding as of June 30, 2020. |
|
|
The actual number of common shares issued will vary based on the actual public offering prices per common share in this offering, the actual number of shares sold in this offering and other terms of the offering determined at the time our common shares are sold pursuant to this prospectus supplement. |
|
Manner of offering |
"At-the-market" offering that may be made from time to time through our sales agent, SVB Leerink. See "Plan of Distribution" on page S-22 of this prospectus supplement. |
|
Use of proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to advance the development of our product candidates. The remaining proceeds, if any, will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, assets, technologies or intellectual property, although we have no present commitments or agreements to do so. See "Use of Proceeds" on page S-12 of this prospectus supplement. |
|
Risk factors |
Investing in our common shares involves significant risks. See "Risk Factors" on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement, and under similar headings in other documents incorporated by reference herein. |
|
Nasdaq Global Select Market Symbol |
"AXGT" |
The number of common shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 40,973,380 common shares outstanding as of June 30, 2020, and excludes:
- •
- 2,321,255 common shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of June 30, 2020, with a weighted average exercise price of
$12.73 per common share;
- •
- 832,969 common shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of June 30, 2020; and
- •
- 2,133,015 common shares reserved for future issuance under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, as well as any automatic increases in the number of common shares reserved for future issuance under this plan.
Subsequent to June 30, 2020:
- •
- we issued an additional 60,676 common shares upon the settlement of vested restricted stock units;
- •
- we granted 220,000 restricted stock units; and
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- •
- we issued and sold 6,215,673 common shares for approximately $19.7 million in net proceeds as of the date of this prospectus supplement pursuant to the sales agreement dated June 11, 2020 with SVB Leerink.
As of September 30, 2020, there were 47,249,729 common shares outstanding.
Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus supplement assumes no exercise of the options or outstanding pre-funded warrants and no vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units.
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as updated or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described in our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in its entirety, and all of the other information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. If any of these risks is realized, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be harmed. In that event, the trading price of our common shares could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not yet identified or that we think are immaterial may also harm our business, operating results and financial condition and could result in a complete loss of your investment.
Risks Related to This Offering
Our management will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and our shareholders will not have the opportunity as part of their investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. You may not agree with our decisions, and our use of the proceeds may not yield any return on your investment. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our failure to apply the net proceeds of this offering effectively could compromise our ability to pursue our growth strategy and we might not be able to yield a significant return, if any, on our investment of these net proceeds. You will not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use our net proceeds from this offering.
If you purchase our common shares in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of your common shares.
The common shares sold in this offering from time to time will be sold at various prices; however, we expect that the per common share offering prices in this offering will be substantially higher than the as adjusted net tangible book value per common share of our common shares. Therefore, if you purchase our common shares in this offering, you will pay a price per common share that substantially exceeds the book value of our tangible assets after subtracting our liabilities. Assuming that an aggregate of 10,964,912 common shares are sold at an assumed public offering price of $4.56 per common share, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq on October 1, 2020, for aggregate gross proceeds of $50,000,000, and after deducting estimated commissions and offering expenses payable by us, you would incur immediate dilution of $2.50 per common share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per common share as of June 30, 2020, and the assumed public offering price per common share. Further, the future exercise of any outstanding options to purchase our common shares or the issuance of common shares upon the vesting of any outstanding restricted stock units will cause you to experience additional dilution. See the section titled "Dilution" for more information.
Raising additional funds by issuing securities may cause dilution to existing shareholders, and raising funds through lending and licensing arrangements may restrict our operations or require us to relinquish proprietary rights.
We expect that significant additional capital will be needed in the future to continue our planned operations. Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to
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finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, strategic alliances and license and development agreements in connection with any collaborations. We do not have any committed external source of funds. To the extent that we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our existing shareholders' ownership may experience substantial dilution, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a common shareholder. Additional debt financing or preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants further limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.
If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise develop and market ourselves.
Future sales of our common shares, or the perception that such sales may occur, could depress our share price, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a substantial number of our common shares in the public market, or the perception by investors that our shareholders intend to sell substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, could depress the market price of our common shares, even if our business is doing well. Such a decrease in our share price could in turn impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. In addition, we will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the common shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
All of the shares sold in this offering, as well as shares issued upon the exercise of options granted to persons other than our officers and directors, the exercise of outstanding pre-funded warrants and vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, are freely transferable without restrictions or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. As of June 30, 2020, 18,577,380 of our outstanding common shares, representing 45.3% of our common shares, were held by Roivant Sciences Ltd., or RSL. If RSL or any of our executive officers or directors were to sell our common shares, or if the market perceived that RSL or any of our executive officers or directors intend to sell our common shares, it could negatively affect our share price.
RSL will continue to beneficially own a significant percentage of our common shares and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to shareholder approval.
Following the closing of our underwritten public offering in February 2020, RSL ceased to beneficially own the majority of our outstanding common shares, and we were no longer deemed to be a controlled company under the Nasdaq listing rules. As a result, we intend to avail ourselves of the transition periods to comply with applicable corporate governance requirements under the Nasdaq listing rules, including the director independence requirements for our board of directors and its committees. As of June 30, 2020, RSL beneficially owned approximately 45.3% of the voting power of our outstanding common shares and has the ability to substantially influence us through this ownership position. For example, RSL is able to exert significant control over elections of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. RSL's interests may not always coincide with our corporate interests or the interests of other shareholders, and they may act in a manner with which you may not agree or that may not be in
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the best interests of our other shareholders. So long as RSL continues to own a significant amount of our equity, RSL will continue to be able to strongly influence our decisions.
Risks Related to the Novel Coronavirus
Our business, operations and clinical development plans and timelines could be adversely impacted by the effects of health epidemics, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, on the manufacturing, clinical trial and other business activities performed by us or by third parties with whom we conduct business, including our contract manufacturers, contract research organizations, or CROs, shippers and others.
Our business could be harmed by health epidemics wherever we have clinical trial sites or other business operations. In addition, health epidemics could cause significant disruption in the operations of third-party manufacturers, CROs and other third parties upon whom we rely. For example, in December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, causing a disease referred to as COVID-19, was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. Since then, COVID-19 has spread to multiple countries worldwide, including the United States. ASI is based in New York City, we have business operations in Basel, Switzerland, and certain of our contract manufacturers are located in the United Kingdom. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, and the U.S. government imposed restrictions on travel between the United States, Europe and certain other countries. Further, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency and invoked powers under the Stafford Act, the legislation that directs federal emergency disaster response, and under the Defense Production Act, the legislation that facilitates the production of goods and services necessary for national security and for other purposes. Similarly, the State of New York declared a state of emergency related to the spread of COVID-19, and the Governor of New York and other health officials in New York State and surrounding states have announced aggressive orders, health directives and recommendations to reduce the spread of the disease. Further, the Governor of New York issued an executive order directing that all non-essential businesses close their physical operations and implement work-from-home schedules, effective as of March 22, 2020. We have implemented work-from-home policies for all employees of ASI. The effects of the executive order and our work-from-home policies may negatively impact productivity, disrupt our business and delay our clinical programs and timelines, the magnitude of which will depend, in part, on the length and severity of the restrictions and other limitations on our ability to conduct our business in the ordinary course. These and similar, and perhaps more severe, disruptions in our operations could negatively impact our business, operating results and financial condition.
We are dependent on an international supply chain for products to be used in our clinical trials and, if approved by the regulatory authorities, for commercialization. Quarantines, shelter-in-place and similar government orders, or the expectation that such orders, shutdowns or other restrictions could occur, whether related to COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, could impact personnel at third-party manufacturing facilities or the availability or cost of materials, which could disrupt our supply chain. Any manufacturing supply interruption of our product candidates could harm our ability to conduct ongoing and future clinical trials of our product candidates. In addition, closures of transportation carriers and modal hubs could materially impact our clinical development and any future commercialization timelines.
If our relationships with our suppliers or other vendors are terminated or scaled back as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or other health epidemics, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative suppliers or vendors or do so on commercially reasonable terms or in a timely manner. Switching or adding additional suppliers or vendors involves substantial cost and requires management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new supplier or vendor commences work. As a result, delays occur, which could adversely impact our ability to meet our desired clinical development and any future commercialization timelines. Although we carefully manage our relationships with our suppliers and vendors, there can be no assurance that we will not encounter
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challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and prospects.
In addition, our clinical trials may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical trial progression, dosing, patient enrollment and related activities may be delayed due to prioritization of hospital resources toward the COVID-19 pandemic or concerns among patients about participating in clinical trials during a pandemic. Federal, state, and local guidelines for reopening in the United States and United Kingdom, where our clinical trials are being run, may negatively impact our ability to enroll additional patients in any of our clinical programs. Some patients may have difficulty following certain aspects of clinical trial protocols if quarantines impede patient movement or interrupt healthcare services. For example, patients in our clinical trials for AXO-AAV-GM1 and AXO-AAV-GM2 are infants, often with advanced disease, who may not be able to safely participate in clinical trials for these product candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, our clinical trial for AXO-Lenti-PD can involve elderly patients with advanced disease, certain of whom have been unable and may continue to be unable to participate in clinical assessments at our research sites in the United Kingdom. Similarly, our inability to successfully recruit and retain patients and principal investigators and site staff who, as healthcare providers, may have heightened exposure to COVID-19 or experience additional restrictions by their institutions or local, state or national governments, could adversely impact our clinical trial operations.
The spread of COVID-19, which has caused a broad impact globally, may materially affect us economically. While the potential economic impact brought by, and the duration of, COVID-19 may be difficult to assess or predict, a widespread pandemic could result in significant disruption of global financial markets, reducing our ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect our liquidity. In addition, a recession or market correction resulting from the spread of COVID-19 could harm our business and the value of our common shares.
The global pandemic of COVID-19 continues to evolve rapidly. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or a similar health epidemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. We do not yet know the full extent of potential delays or impacts on our business, our clinical trials, healthcare systems or the global economy as a whole. However, these effects could harm our operations, and we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements are often identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "will," "would" or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions or variations, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections titled "Business," "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings we make with the SEC, as well as any amendments thereto.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things:
- •
- the success and timing of our ongoing development and potential commercialization of our product candidates;
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- our relationships under our license agreements;
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- the success of our interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, and international regulatory authorities;
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- the anticipated start dates, durations and completion dates of our ongoing and future nonclinical studies and clinical trials, as well as
subsequent portions or cohorts of our ongoing clinical trials;
- •
- the anticipated designs of our future clinical trials;
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- anticipated future regulatory submissions and the timing of, and our ability to, obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product
candidates;
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- the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of any approved product candidate;
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- our ability to identify and in-license or acquire additional product candidates;
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- our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;
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- continued service of our executive officers and key scientific or management personnel;
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- our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property rights for our product candidates;
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- our anticipated future cash position;
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- our estimates regarding our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, capital requirements, prospects, growth and strategies;
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- the success of competing therapies that are or may become available;
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- our ability to maintain and operate our business in light of the COVID-19 pandemic;
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- our stated objective of becoming the leading gene therapy company for the treatment of neurological diseases; and
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- our expected use of proceeds from this offering.
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We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events, including the responses we expect from the FDA and other regulatory authorities and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, nonclinical studies and clinical trials and financial needs. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors known and unknown that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified herein, and those discussed in the section titled "Risk Factors" set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be updated in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. These risks are not exhaustive. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement. See the section titled "Where You Can Find More Information."
In addition, statements that "we believe" and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus supplement, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements as predictions of future events.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We may issue and sell common shares having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $50,000,000 from time to time in this offering. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and net proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that, in the future, we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the sales agreement with SVB Leerink as a source of financing.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to advance the development of our product candidates. The remaining proceeds, if any, will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including the payment of milestones under our license agreements as they become due. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, assets, technologies or intellectual property, although we have no present commitments or agreements to do so.
This expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including the progress of our development, the status of regulatory approval of our product candidates, as well as any collaborations that we may enter into with third parties, and any unforeseen cash needs.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the net proceeds of this offering. Pending the uses described above, we may choose to invest these net proceeds in short-term, interest bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the United States. The goal with respect to the investment of these net proceeds is capital preservation and liquidity so that such funds are readily available to fund our operations.
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DILUTION
If you invest in our common shares in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering prices per common share in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per common share immediately after this offering.
As of June 30, 2020, our net tangible book value was $58.6 million or $1.43 per common share. Net tangible book value per common share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets less total liabilities by the number of outstanding common shares.
After giving effect to the assumed sale and issuance of 10,964,912 common shares in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $4.56 per common share, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq on October 1, 2020, and after deducting estimated commissions and offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2020 would have been $106.8 million, or $2.06 per common share. This represents an immediate increase in the as adjusted net tangible book value of $0.63 per common share to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution of $2.50 per common share to investors purchasing in this offering at the assumed public offering price per common share.
The following table illustrates this per common share dilution. The as adjusted information is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual public offering prices per common share in this offering, the actual number of shares sold in this offering and other terms of the offering determined at the time our common shares are sold pursuant to this prospectus supplement. The as adjusted information assumes that all of our common shares in the aggregate amount of $50,000,000 are sold at the assumed public offering price of $4.56 per common share, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq on October 1, 2020. The common shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices.
Assumed public offering price per common share |
$ | 4.56 | |||||
Net tangible book value per common share as of June 30, 2020 |
$ | 1.43 | |||||
Increase in net tangible book value per common share attributable to investors participating in this offering |
0.63 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | |
As adjusted net tangible book value per common share after giving effect to this offering |
2.06 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | |
Dilution per common share to investors in this offering |
$ | 2.50 | |||||
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
The table and discussion above exclude:
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- 2,321,255 common shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of June 30, 2020, with a weighted average exercise price of
$12.73 per common share;
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- 832,969 common shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of June 30, 2020; and
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- 2,133,015 common shares reserved for future issuance under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, as well as any automatic increases in the number of common shares reserved for future issuance under this plan.
Subsequent to June 30, 2020:
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- we issued an additional 60,676 common shares upon the settlement of vested restricted stock units;
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- we granted 220,000 restricted stock units; and
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- we issued and sold 6,215,673 common shares for approximately $19.7 million in net proceeds as of the date of this prospectus supplement pursuant to the sales agreement dated June 11, 2020 with SVB Leerink.
As of September 30, 2020, there were 47,249,729 common shares outstanding.
To the extent options are exercised or common shares are issued upon the vesting of restricted stock units, there may be further dilution to new investors.
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MATERIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a discussion of the material Bermuda, UK and U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to an investment decision by a potential investor with respect to our common shares.
Bermuda Tax Considerations
At the present time, there is no Bermuda income or profits tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, capital transfer tax, estate duty or inheritance tax payable by us or by our shareholders in respect of our common shares. We have obtained an assurance from the Minister of Finance of Bermuda under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966 that, in the event that any legislation is enacted in Bermuda imposing any tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, such tax shall not, until March 31, 2035, be applicable to us or to any of our operations or to our shares, debentures or other obligations except insofar as such tax applies to persons ordinarily resident in Bermuda or is payable by us in respect of real property owned or leased by us in Bermuda.
United Kingdom Tax Considerations
The following is a general summary of certain UK tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposal of our common shares and does not address all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our common shares. It is based on current UK tax law and published HM Revenue & Customs, or HMRC, practice (which may not be binding on HMRC), as of the date of this prospectus supplement, both of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect. It is written on the basis that we do not (and will not) directly or indirectly derive 75% or more of our qualifying asset value from UK land.
This summary is intended to address only certain UK tax consequences for holders of our common shares who are tax resident in (and only in) the United Kingdom, and in the case of individuals, domiciled in (and only in) the United Kingdom (except where expressly stated otherwise) who are the absolute beneficial owners of common shares and any dividends paid on them and who hold common shares as investments (other than in an individual savings account or a self-invested personal pension). This summary does not address the UK tax consequences which may be relevant to certain classes of holders of common shares such as traders, brokers, dealers, banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, investment companies, collective investment schemes, tax-exempt organizations, trustees, persons connected with us or a member of our group, persons holding our common shares as part of hedging or conversion transactions and holders of our common shares who have (or are deemed to have) acquired our common shares by virtue of an office or employment.
The following is intended only as a general guide and is not intended to be, nor should it be considered to be, legal or tax advice to any particular prospective subscriber for, or purchaser of, our common shares. Accordingly, prospective subscribers for, or purchasers of, our common shares who are in any doubt as to their tax position regarding the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common shares or who are subject to tax in a jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should consult their own tax advisers.
The Issuing Company
It is the intention of the directors to conduct the affairs of the Company so that the central management and control of the Company is exercised in the UK. As a result, the Company is expected to be treated as resident in the United Kingdom for UK tax purposes. Accordingly we expect to be subject to UK taxation on our worldwide income and gains, except where an exemption applies.
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Taxation of Dividends
Withholding Tax
Dividends paid by us to holders of our common shares will not be subject to withholding or deduction for or on account of UK tax.
Income Tax
An individual holder of our common shares who is resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom may, depending on his or her particular circumstances, be subject to UK income tax on dividends received from us. An individual holder of our common shares who is not resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom should not be subject to UK income tax on dividends received from us unless he or she carries on (whether solely or in partnership) any trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency to which our common shares are attributable. There are certain exceptions for trading in the United Kingdom through independent agents, such as some brokers and investment managers.
All dividends received by a UK resident individual holder of our common shares from us or from other sources will form part of that holder's total income for income tax purposes and will constitute the top slice of that income. A nil rate of income tax will apply to the first £2,000 of taxable dividend income received from us or from other sources by the holder of our common shares in a tax year. Income within the nil rate band will be taken into account in determining whether income in excess of the nil rate band falls within the basic rate, higher rate or additional rate tax bands. Dividend income in excess of the £2,000 tax-free allowance will (subject to the availability of any income tax personal allowance) be taxed at 7.5% to the extent that the excess amount falls within the basic rate tax band, 32.5% to the extent that the excess amount falls within the higher rate tax band and 38.1% to the extent that the excess amount falls within the additional rate tax band.
Corporation Tax
Corporate holders of our common shares which are resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom should not be subject to UK corporation tax on any dividend received from us so long as the dividends qualify for exemption, which should be the case although certain conditions must be met (including anti-avoidance conditions). If the conditions for the exemption are not satisfied, or such holder of common shares elects for an otherwise exempt dividend to be taxable, UK corporation tax will be chargeable on the amount of any dividends (at the current rate of 19%).
Corporate holders of our common shares who are not resident in the United Kingdom will not generally be subject to UK corporation tax on dividends unless they are carrying on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in connection with which such shares are attributable.
Taxation of Capital Gains
UK Resident Holders of Our Common Shares
A disposal or deemed disposal of our common shares by an individual or corporate holder of such shares who is tax resident in the United Kingdom may, depending on that holder's circumstances and subject to any available exemptions or reliefs, give rise to a chargeable gain or allowable loss for the purposes of UK taxation of chargeable gains.
If an individual holder of our common shares who is subject to UK income tax at either the higher or the additional rate is liable to UK capital gains tax on the disposal of common shares, the current applicable rate will be 20%. For an individual UK holder who is subject to UK income tax at the basic rate and liable to UK capital gains tax on such disposal, the current applicable rate would be 10%, save
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to the extent that any capital gains exceed the unused basic rate tax band. In that case, the rate currently applicable to the excess would be 20%.
If a corporate holder becomes liable to UK corporation tax on the disposal of our common shares, the main rate of UK corporation tax (currently 19%) would apply. Indexation allowance is not available in respect of disposals of our common shares acquired on or after January 1, 2018 (and only covers the movement in the retail prices index up until December 31, 2017, in respect of common shares acquired prior to that date).
Non-UK Holders of Our Common Shares
Holders of our common shares who are not resident in the United Kingdom and, in the case of an individual holder of our common shares, not temporarily non-resident, should not be liable for UK capital gains tax or corporation tax on chargeable gains realized on a sale or other disposal of our common shares unless such shares are attributable to a trade, profession or vocation carried on in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency or, in the case of a corporate holder of our common shares, through a permanent establishment.
Generally, an individual holder of our common shares who has ceased to be resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes for a period of five years or less and who disposes of our common shares during that period may be liable on their return to the United Kingdom to UK capital gains taxation on any capital gain realized (subject to any available exemption or relief).
UK Stamp Duty and UK Stamp Duty Reserve Tax
The discussion below relates to the holders of our common shares wherever resident, however it should be noted that special rules may apply to certain persons such as market makers, brokers, dealers or intermediaries.
No UK stamp duty or UK stamp duty reserve tax, or SDRT, will be payable on the issue or transfer of, or agreement to transfer, the common shares, subject to the comments below.
UK stamp duty will in principle be payable on any instrument of transfer of common shares (where the amount or value of the consideration is more than £1,000) that is executed in the United Kingdom or that relates to any property situated, or to any matter or thing done or to be done, in the United Kingdom. No UK stamp duty should be payable on the transfer of the common shares, provided that any transfer documents are executed and retained outside the United Kingdom. Holders of common shares should be aware that, even where an instrument of transfer is in principle subject to UK stamp duty, UK stamp duty is not required to be paid unless it is necessary to rely on the instrument for legal purposes, for example to register a change of ownership by updating a share register held in the United Kingdom or in litigation in a UK court.
Provided that common shares are not registered in any register maintained in the United Kingdom by us or on our behalf and are not paired with any shares or securities issued by a UK incorporated company, any agreement to transfer common shares will not be subject to SDRT.
The common shares are not paired with any shares or securities issued by a UK incorporated company and we do not intend that any register of common shares will be maintained in the United Kingdom by us or on our behalf.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences for U.S. holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common shares. This summary is based upon provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which is referred to herein as the Code, applicable Treasury Regulations, administrative rulings and judicial
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decisions in effect as of the date hereof, any of which may subsequently be changed, possibly retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. This summary deals only with our common shares held as capital assets for tax purposes (i.e., our common shares held for investment). This summary is general in nature, does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxes (such as the alternative minimum tax) and does not address state, local, estate, gift or non-U.S. tax consequences. In addition, it does not deal with all tax consequences that may be relevant to holders in light of their personal circumstances or particular situations, such as:
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- holders who may be subject to special tax treatment, including dealers in securities or currencies, banks, financial institutions, regulated
investment companies, real estate investment trusts, retirement plans, tax exempt entities, and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States, insurance companies, governmental
organizations, or traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting for their securities;
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- persons holding common shares as a part of an integrated or conversion transaction or a straddle or persons deemed to sell common shares under
the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
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- U.S. holders whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar;
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- S corporations, partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other pass through entities,
or investors in such pass-through entities holding common shares;
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- holders that own, directly, indirectly or through attribution, 10% or more of the voting power or value of our equity; and
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- persons who are subject to Section 451(b) of the Code.
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership holds common shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Any such partnership and a partner in any such partnership should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to it (and, as applicable, its partners) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common shares.
We have not sought, nor will we seek, a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect to the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a different position concerning the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the common shares or that any such position would not be sustained.
THIS SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, AND DISPOSITION OF THE COMMON SHARES ARISING UNDER U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX RULES OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR ANY OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, the term "U.S. holder" means a beneficial owner of common shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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- an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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- a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
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- an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
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- a trust, if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
Distributions on Common Shares
Subject to the discussion in "— Passive Foreign Investment Company," the gross amount of distributions (including any foreign taxes withheld therefrom), if any, made on our common shares generally will be included in a U.S. holder's income as foreign source ordinary dividend income (and generally will constitute passive category income for foreign tax credit purposes) to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We believe we are resident in the United Kingdom for UK corporate income tax purposes and that we qualify as a resident of the United Kingdom for purposes of the United States-United Kingdom Income Tax Convention entered into force on April 25, 2001, as amended and currently in force, which is referred to herein as the U.S.-UK Tax Treaty, although there can be no assurance in this regard. If the U.S.-UK Tax Treaty is applicable or our common shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, and we are not classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for the taxable year in which a dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year (as discussed below under "— Passive Foreign Investment Company"), dividend income will generally be "qualified dividend income" in the hands of individual U.S. holders, which is generally taxed at the lower applicable long term capital gains rates provided certain holding period and other requirements for treatment of such dividends as "qualified dividend income" are satisfied. Our common shares will generally be considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, as we intend our common shares will be. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to our common shares. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a U.S. holder's tax basis in the common shares and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such common shares. Because we do not maintain complete calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, U.S. holders should assume that any distribution by us with respect to common shares will constitute ordinary dividend income. Any dividends we pay or are deemed to pay will not be eligible for the dividend-received deductions allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations.
Certain U.S. holders generally may claim any foreign taxes withheld from distributions either as a deduction from gross income or as 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 an individual basis. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the foreign tax credit rules.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares
Subject to the discussion in "— Passive Foreign Investment Company," upon the sale or other taxable disposition of common shares, a U.S. holder generally will recognize U.S.-source capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (1) the amount of cash and the fair market value of all other property received upon such disposition (including the amount of any foreign taxes withheld therefrom) and (2) the U.S. holder's tax basis in the common shares. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if a U.S. holder's holding period in the common shares is more than one year at the time of the taxable disposition. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S.
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holders (including individuals) will generally be subject to reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax. A U.S. holder's ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
In general, a corporation organized outside the United States will be a PFIC in any taxable year in which either (1) at least 75% of its gross income is "passive income" or (2) on average at least 50% of the value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, royalties, rents, and gains from commodities transactions and from the sale or exchange of property that gives rise to passive income. Assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income may include cash, even if held as working capital or raised in a public offering, marketable securities and other assets that may produce passive income. In determining whether a non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC, a proportionate share of the income and assets of each corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, at least a 25% interest (by value) generally is taken into account.
Our status as a PFIC will depend on the nature and composition of our income and the nature, composition and value of our assets from time to time. The 50% passive asset test described above is generally based on the fair market value of each asset, with the value of goodwill and going concern value determined in large part by reference to the market value of our common shares, which may be volatile. We do not believe we were a PFIC in the taxable year ended March 31, 2020. Because the PFIC tests are based upon the value of our assets, including any goodwill and going concern value, and the nature and composition of our income and assets, which cannot be known at this time for the current and future years, we cannot predict whether we will or will not be classified as a PFIC for taxable years ending on or after March 31, 2021. Even if we determine that we are not a PFIC for a taxable year, there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with our conclusion and that the IRS would not successfully challenge our position. Our status as a PFIC is a fact intensive determination made on an annual basis after the end of each taxable year. Accordingly, no assurances can be made regarding our PFIC status in one or more subsequent years, and our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our PFIC status in the taxable year that ended March 31, 2020, and also expresses no opinion with respect to our predictions or past determinations regarding our PFIC status. We will determine whether we were a PFIC or not for each taxable year and make such determination available to U.S. holders.
If we are a PFIC in any taxable year during which a U.S. holder owns common shares, such U.S. holder could be liable for additional taxes and interest charges upon (1) a distribution paid during a taxable year that is greater than 125% of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the U.S. holder's holding period for the common shares, and (2) any gain recognized on a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition, including a pledge, of the common shares, whether or not we continue to be a PFIC. In these circumstances, the tax will be determined by allocating such distribution or gain ratably over the U.S. holder's holding period for the common shares. The amount allocated to the current taxable year (i.e., the year in which the distribution occurs or the gain is recognized) and any year prior to the first taxable year in which we are a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income earned in the current taxable year. The amount allocated to other taxable years will be taxed at the highest marginal rates in effect for individuals or corporations, as applicable, to ordinary income for each such taxable year, and an interest charge, generally applicable to underpayments of tax, will be added to the tax. If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. holder holds the common shares, we must generally continue to be treated as a PFIC by that holder for all succeeding years during which the U.S. holder holds the common shares, unless we cease to meet the requirements for PFIC status and the U.S. holder makes a "deemed sale" election with respect to the common shares. If such election is made, the U.S. holder will be deemed to have sold the common shares it holds at their fair market value on the last day of the last taxable year in which
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we qualified as a PFIC, and any gain from such deemed sale would be subject to the consequences described above. After the deemed sale election, the U.S. holder's common shares with respect to which the deemed sale election was made will not be treated as shares in a PFIC unless we subsequently again become a PFIC.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder holds the common shares and one of our non-United States subsidiaries is also a PFIC (i.e., a lower-tier PFIC), such U.S. holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC and would be subject to the rules described above on certain distributions by the lower-tier PFIC and a disposition of shares of the lower-tier PFIC even though such U.S. holder would not receive the proceeds of those distributions or dispositions. Each U.S. holder is advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
The tax consequences that would apply if we were a PFIC would be different from those described above if a timely and valid "mark-to-market" election is made by a U.S. holder for the common shares held by such U.S. holder. An electing U.S. holder generally would take into account as ordinary income each year, the excess of the fair market value of the common shares held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such common shares. The U.S. holder would also take into account, as an ordinary loss each year, the excess of the adjusted tax basis of such common shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the excess of amounts previously included in income over ordinary losses deducted in prior years as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. holder's tax basis in the common shares would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss recognized as a result of the mark-to-market election. Any gain from a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the common shares in any taxable year in which we are a PFIC would be treated as ordinary income and any loss from such sale, exchange or other taxable disposition would be treated first as ordinary loss (to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains previously included in income) and thereafter as capital loss. If, after having been a PFIC for a prior taxable year, we cease to be classified as a PFIC, the U.S. holder would not be required to take into account any latent gain or loss in the manner described above and any gain or loss recognized on the sale or exchange of the common shares would be classified as a capital gain or loss.
A mark-to-market election is available to a U.S. holder only for "marketable stock." Generally, stock will be considered marketable stock if it is "regularly traded" on a "qualified exchange" within the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations. A class of stock is regularly traded during any calendar year during which such class of stock is traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. The common shares will be marketable stock as long as they remain listed on a qualified exchange, such as The Nasdaq Global Select Market, and are regularly traded. A mark-to-market election will not apply to the common shares for any taxable year during which we are not a PFIC, but will remain in effect with respect to any subsequent taxable year in which we become a PFIC. Such election will not apply to any subsidiary that we own. Accordingly, a U.S. holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to any lower-tier PFICs notwithstanding the U.S. holder's mark-to-market election for the common shares.
The tax consequences that would apply if we were a PFIC would also be different from those described above if a U.S. holder were able to make a valid "qualified electing fund," or QEF, election. As we do not expect to provide U.S. holders with the information required in order to permit a QEF election, prospective investors should assume that a QEF election will not be available.
Each U.S. holder who is a shareholder of a PFIC must file an annual information report on IRS Form 8621 containing such information as the U.S. Treasury Department may require. The failure to file IRS Form 8621 could result in the imposition of penalties and the extension of the statute of limitations with respect to U.S. federal income tax.
The U.S. federal income tax rules relating to PFICs are very complex. Prospective U.S. investors are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the impact of these rules on the
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purchase, ownership and disposition of our common shares, the consequences to them of an investment in a PFIC, any elections available with respect to the common shares and the IRS information reporting obligations with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the common shares.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income
Certain U.S. holders who are individuals, estates or trusts are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their "net investment income," which generally includes dividends on the common shares and net gains from the disposition of the common shares. U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or trusts should consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to them.
U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
U.S. holders of common shares may be subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding on distributions on common shares or on the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of common shares paid within the United States. Payments of distributions on common shares, or the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of common shares to or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding, although information reporting may apply to those payments in certain circumstances. Backup withholding will generally not apply, however, to a U.S. holder who:
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- furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that the U.S. holder is not subject to backup withholding on IRS
Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (or substitute form); or
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- is otherwise exempt from backup withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from a payment to a U.S. holder under the backup withholding rules may be credited against the U.S. holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, and a U.S. holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing the appropriate claim for refund (typically a tax return) with the IRS in a timely manner.
Foreign Asset Reporting
Certain U.S. holders who are individuals are required to report information relating to an interest in the common shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for common 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 ownership and disposition of the common shares.
S-21
We have entered into a sales agreement with SVB Leerink under which we may issue and sell our common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time through SVB Leerink as our sales agent. Sales of our common shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying 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 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the Nasdaq or any other trading market for our common shares. If authorized by us in writing, SVB Leerink may purchase shares of our common shares as principal.
SVB Leerink will offer our common shares subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement on a daily basis or as otherwise agreed upon by us and SVB Leerink. We will designate the maximum amount of common shares to be sold through SVB Leerink on a daily basis or otherwise determine such maximum amount together with SVB Leerink. Subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement, SVB Leerink will use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all of the common shares requested to be sold by us. We may instruct SVB Leerink not to sell common shares if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. SVB Leerink or we may suspend the offering of our common shares being made through SVB Leerink under the sales agreement upon proper notice to the other party. SVB Leerink and we each have the right, by giving written notice as specified in the sales agreement, to terminate the sales agreement in each party's sole discretion at any time.
The aggregate compensation payable to SVB Leerink as sales agent equals 3% of the gross sales price of the shares sold through it pursuant to the sales agreement. We have also agreed to reimburse SVB Leerink up to $50,000 of SVB Leerink's actual outside legal expenses incurred by SVB Leerink in connection with this offering. We have also agreed to reimburse SVB Leerink for its FINRA counsel fees in an amount up to $10,000. We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding commissions payable to SVB Leerink under the sales agreement, will be approximately $300,000.
The remaining sales proceeds, after deducting any expenses payable by us and any transaction fees imposed by any governmental, regulatory, or self-regulatory organization in connection with the sales, will equal our net proceeds for the sale of such common shares.
SVB Leerink will provide written confirmation to us following the close of trading on the Nasdaq on each day in which common shares are sold through it as sales agent under the sales agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of common shares sold through it as sales agent on that day, the volume weighted average price of the common shares sold, the percentage of the daily trading volume and the net proceeds to us.
Settlement for sales of common shares will occur, unless the parties agree otherwise, on the second business day that is also a trading day following the date on which any sales were made in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will report at least quarterly the number of common shares sold through SVB Leerink under the sales agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to SVB Leerink in connection with the sales of common shares.
In connection with the sales of our common shares on our behalf, SVB Leerink may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to SVB Leerink may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed in the sales agreement to provide indemnification and contribution to SVB Leerink against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. As sales agent, SVB Leerink will not engage in any transactions that stabilizes our common shares.
S-22
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq and trade under the symbol "AXGT." The transfer agent of our common shares is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
SVB Leerink and/or its affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking and other financial services for us for which services they have received and, may in the future receive, customary fees.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Bermuda
Securities may be offered or sold in Bermuda only in compliance with the provisions of the Investment Business Act of 2003 of Bermuda which regulates the sale of securities in Bermuda. Additionally, non-Bermudian persons (including companies) may not carry on or engage in any trade or business in Bermuda unless such persons are permitted to do so under applicable Bermuda legislation.
S-23
The validity of the common shares and certain other matters of Bermuda law will be passed upon for us by Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited, our special Bermuda counsel. Certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Cooley LLP, Palo Alto, California, and for SVB Leerink by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., Boston, Massachusetts.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020, as set forth in their report (which contains an explanatory paragraph describing conditions that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 2(B) to the consolidated financial statements), which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under the Securities Act. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of the registration statement but the registration statement includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The address of that site on the world wide web is http://www.sec.gov. The information on the SEC's web site is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and any references to this website or any other website are inactive textual references only.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus omit certain information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement for further information on us and our consolidated subsidiaries and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement from the SEC at the address listed above or from the SEC's website.
We also maintain a website at http://www.axovant.com, through which you can access our SEC filings. The information set forth on, or accessible through, our website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
S-24
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC permits us to "incorporate by reference" the information contained in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus from the date those documents are filed. We have filed with the SEC, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus:
- •
- our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2020;
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- our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2020;
- •
- our Current Reports on Form 8-K (except for information contained therein which is furnished rather than filed), filed with the SEC on
April 20, 2020,
April 24, 2020,
April 29, 2020 and
September 28, 2020; and
- •
- the description of our common shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on September 5, 2017, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of this prospectus supplement and the termination of the offering of securities to which this prospectus supplement relates. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.
You may request a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference but not delivered with this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and number: Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd., Attn: Investor Relations, 11 Times Square, 33rd Floor, New York, New York 10036, telephone: (212) 547-2523. We will not, however, send exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents.
We make available free of charge on our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. You may obtain a free copy of these reports on the Investor Relations section of our website, www.axovant.com.
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The permission of the Bermuda Monetary Authority is required, pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Control Act 1972 and related regulations, for all issuances and transfers of shares (which includes our common shares and pre-funded warrants) of Bermuda companies to or from a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes, other than in cases where the Bermuda Monetary Authority has granted a general permission. The Bermuda Monetary Authority, in its notice to the public dated June 1, 2005, has granted a general permission for the issue and subsequent transfer of any securities of a Bermuda company from and/or to a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes for so long as any "Equity Securities" of the company (which includes our common shares and pre-funded warrants) are listed on an "Appointed Stock Exchange" (which includes The Nasdaq Global Select Market). Additionally, we have obtained a specific permission from the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and subsequent transfer of our shares, options, warrants, depository receipts, rights, loan notes, debt instruments and other securities to a resident or non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes for so long as any of our shares are listed on an "Appointed Stock Exchange" (which includes The Nasdaq Global Select Market).
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
We are a Bermuda exempted company. As a result, the rights of holders of our common shares and pre-funded warrants are governed by Bermuda law and our memorandum of association and bye-laws. The rights of shareholders under Bermuda law may differ from the rights of shareholders of companies incorporated in other jurisdictions. It may be difficult for investors to enforce in the United States judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws. Our registered office address in Bermuda is Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM11, Bermuda.
We have been advised by our special Bermuda counsel that there is no treaty in force between the United States and Bermuda providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. As a result, whether a U.S. judgment would be enforceable in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers depends on whether the U.S. court that entered the judgment is recognized by a Bermuda court as having jurisdiction over us or our directors and officers, as determined by reference to Bermuda conflict of law rules. The courts of Bermuda would recognize as a valid judgment, a final and conclusive judgment in personam obtained in a U.S. court pursuant to which a sum of money is payable (other than a sum of money payable in respect of multiple damages, taxes or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty). The courts of Bermuda would give a judgment based on such a U.S. judgment as long as (1) the U.S. court had proper jurisdiction over the parties subject to the judgment; (2) the U.S. court did not contravene the rules of natural justice of Bermuda; (3) the U.S. judgment was not obtained by fraud; (4) the enforcement of the U.S. judgment would not be contrary to the public policy of Bermuda; (5) no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is submitted prior to the rendering of the judgment by the courts of Bermuda; (6) there is due compliance with the correct procedures under the laws of Bermuda; and (7) the U.S. judgment is not inconsistent with any judgment of the courts of Bermuda in respect of the same matter.
In addition, and irrespective of jurisdictional issues, the Bermuda courts will not enforce a U.S. federal securities law that is either penal or contrary to Bermuda public policy. We have been advised that an action brought pursuant to a public or penal law, the purpose of which is the enforcement of a sanction, power or right at the instance of the state in its sovereign capacity, is unlikely to be entertained by a Bermuda court. Certain remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including certain remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, would not be available under Bermuda law or enforceable in a Bermuda court, as they are likely to be contrary to Bermuda public policy. Further, it may not be possible to pursue direct claims in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers for alleged violations of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws are unlikely to have extraterritorial effect and do not have force of law in Bermuda. A Bermuda court may, however, impose civil liability on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged and proved in the Bermuda proceedings constitute or give rise to a cause of action under the applicable governing law, not being a foreign public, penal or revenue law.
S-26
$750,000,000
Common Shares
Preference Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
We may, from time to time, offer and sell up to $750,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in combination, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also offer common shares or preference shares upon conversion of debt securities, or common shares upon conversion of preference shares, or common shares, preference shares or debt securities upon exercise of warrants.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to an offering of our securities. We will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference, before buying any of the securities being offered.
Securities may be sold by us to or through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers or through agents designated from time to time. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to "Plan of Distribution" in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters and any applicable discounts or commissions and options to purchase additional securities will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol "AXGT." On June 10, 2020, the closing price of our common shares was $3.45 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" on page 6 of this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state 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.
We are an "emerging growth company" under the federal securities laws and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.
The date of this prospectus is June 15, 2020.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a "shelf" registration process under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration statement, we may sell from time to time in one or more offerings of common shares and preference shares, various series of debt securities and/or warrants to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in combination with other securities, in one or more offerings described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we sell any type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. We may also add, update or change in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, will include all material information relating to the applicable offering. You should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the additional information described under "Where You Can Find More Information," before buying any of the securities being offered.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
i
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under "Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference" and "Where You Can Find More Information."
Consent under the Exchange Control Act 1972 (and its related regulations) has been obtained from the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and transfer of our shares, warrants and other securities to and between residents and non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes provided our shares remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or Nasdaq. In granting such consent, neither the Bermuda Monetary Authority nor the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda accepts any responsibility for our financial soundness or the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in this prospectus, the terms "Axovant," "Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd.", the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd. and, where appropriate, its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
This prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
ii
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage company focused on developing innovative gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. We currently have three clinical-stage programs: (i) AXO-Lenti-PD program for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, which is comprised of the first generation ProSavin® in which 15 patients were previously dosed in a Phase 1/2 study, and the second generation AXO-Lenti-PD in which we have dosed two patients in Cohort 1 of the dose-escalation study and four patients in Cohort 2; (ii) the AXO-AAV-GM1 program for the treatment of GM1 gangliosidosis in which five patients have been dosed in the low-dose cohort of stage 1, and we expect to continue to dose patients in the higher dose cohort of the study in calendar year 2020; and (iii) the AXO-AAV-GM2 program for the treatment of GM2 gangliosidosis (including Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases) in which two expanded access patients have been dosed and we expect to obtain investigational new drug application clearance in calendar year 2020.
We are dedicated to realizing the potential of gene therapies to offer transformative patient outcomes in areas of high unmet medical need and extending the reach of gene therapies to highly prevalent neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease. We have assembled a portfolio of gene therapies in partnership with leading scientific institutions and have built a team with extensive experience in the gene therapy space. Our team pursues new innovations in vector design and delivery to optimize our investigational gene therapy products for safety, potency, durability, and immunologic response. We will continue to build integrated internal development capabilities from product development through commercialization and focus on accelerating the pace of product development in the clinic. As part of our ongoing business strategy, we continue to explore potential opportunities to acquire or license new product candidates as well as opportunities for partnership or collaboration on our existing products in development. Our vision is to build the world's leading gene therapy company for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by progressing our current programs and identifying, developing and commercializing other novel gene therapy treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Corporate Information
We are an exempted limited company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda on October 31, 2014 under the name Roivant Neurosciences Ltd. We changed our name to Axovant Sciences Ltd. in March 2015 and to Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd. in March 2019. We have seven wholly owned subsidiaries:
- •
- Axovant Holdings Limited, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd., was incorporated in England and Wales in August
2016;
- •
- Axovant Sciences, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Axovant Holdings Limited, was incorporated in Delaware in February 2015;
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- •
- Axovant Sciences GmbH, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Axovant Holdings Limited, was organized in Switzerland in August 2016;
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- Axovant Sciences America, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Axovant Holdings Limited, was incorporated in Delaware in July 2017;
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- Axovant Treasury Holdings, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd., was incorporated in Delaware in
March 2018;
- •
- Axovant Treasury, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Axovant Treasury Holdings, Inc., was incorporated in Delaware in
March 2018; and
- •
- Axovant Sciences Europe Limited, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Axovant Holdings Limited, was incorporated in Ireland in December 2018.
Our principal executive offices are located at Suite 1, 3rd Floor, 11-12 St. James's Square, London, United Kingdom SW1Y 4LB, and our telephone number is +44 203 997 8931. We also have business operations in Basel, Switzerland and New York, New York. Our common shares are currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbol "AXGT."
Our website address is www.axovant.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider such information to be part of this prospectus.
"Axovant," the Axovant logo and other trademarks or service marks of Axovant appearing in this prospectus are our property. This prospectus contains additional trade names, trademarks, and service marks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies' trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.
We may offer our common shares and preference shares, various series of debt securities and/or warrants to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in combination with other securities, from time to time under this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of any offering. We may also offer common shares, preference shares and/or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
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- designation or classification;
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- aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price;
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- maturity date, if applicable;
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- original issue discount, if any;
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- rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any;
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- redemption, conversion, exercise, exchange or sinking fund terms, if any;
- •
- ranking;
- •
- restrictive covenants, if any;
- •
- voting or other rights, if any;
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- •
- conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange
prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange; and
- •
- material or special Bermuda or U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any.
The applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference.
We may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We, and our agents or underwriters, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we do offer securities to or through agents or underwriters, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:
- •
- the names of those agents or underwriters;
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- applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them;
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- details regarding over-allotment or other options, if any; and
- •
- the net proceeds to us, if any.
Common Shares
We may issue common shares from time to time. Holders of common shares have no pre-emptive, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights. Holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares, subject to the limitations described below. Unless a different majority is required by law or by our amended and restated bye-laws, resolutions to be approved by holders of common shares require approval by a simple majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
Under our amended and restated bye-laws, shares shall not carry voting rights to the extent that our board of directors reasonably determines, based on the advice of counsel, that it is necessary to do so to avoid adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to us, any of our subsidiaries or any direct or indirect holder of our common shares or its affiliates, provided that our board of directors will use reasonable efforts to afford equal treatment to similarly situated shareholders to the extent possible under the circumstances.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in our assets, if any, remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference on any issued and outstanding preference shares.
In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the common shares under "Description of Share Capital—Common Shares." We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to any common shares being offered.
Preference Shares
We may issue preference shares from time to time, in one or more series. Under Bermuda law and our amended and restated bye-laws, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the shareholders (unless such shareholder action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or market on which our securities are then traded), to establish preference shares in one or more series and to determine the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of each series of the preference shares, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, preemptive rights, terms of redemption or repurchase, liquidation preferences,
3
sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common shares. Such rights, preferences, powers and limitations, as may be established, could have the effect of discouraging an attempt to obtain control of our company. Any convertible preference shares we may issue will be convertible into our common shares or exchangeable for our other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at the holder's option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.
If we sell any series of preference shares under this prospectus, we will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of such series of preference shares, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preference shares that we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preference shares. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of preference shares being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contains the terms of the applicable series of preference shares.
In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the preference shares under "Description of Share Capital—Preference Shares." We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of preference shares being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contains the terms of the applicable series of preference shares.
Debt Securities
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all of our senior indebtedness. Convertible or exchangeable debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares or our other securities. Conversion or exchange may be mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders' option) and would be at prescribed conversion or exchange prices.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture that we will enter into with a national banking association or other eligible party, as trustee. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the debt securities under "Description of Debt Securities." We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indenture and any supplemental indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
Warrants
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common shares, preference shares and/or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or in combination with common shares, preference shares and/or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement.
In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the warrants under the heading "Description of Warrants." We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and
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any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the particular series of warrants being offered, as well as the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, that contain the terms of the warrants. We have filed the forms of the warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates containing the terms of the warrants that we may offer as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, that contain the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of such warrants.
Warrants may be issued under a warrant agreement that we enter into with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.
Use of Proceeds
Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder, if any, to advance the development of our product candidates, as well as additional business development activities, to fund other research and development activities and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See "Use of Proceeds" in this prospectus.
Nasdaq Global Select Market Listing
Our common shares are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol "AXGT." The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on Nasdaq or any other securities market or other exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and discussed under "Risk Factors" contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering. The risks described in these documents are not the only ones we face, but those that we consider to be material. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also read carefully "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These statements relate to future events or to our future operating or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "design," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potentially," "predict," "project," "should," "will" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including risks described in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things:
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- the success and timing of our ongoing development and potential commercialization of our product candidates;
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- our relationships under our license agreements;
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- the success of our interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and international regulatory authorities;
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- the anticipated start dates, durations and completion dates of our ongoing and future nonclinical studies and clinical trials, as well as
subsequent portions or cohorts of our ongoing clinical trials;
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- the receipt of approvals or endorsements by data monitoring or other committees necessary for commencement or continuation of clinical trials;
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- the anticipated designs of our future clinical studies;
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- anticipated future regulatory submissions and the timing of, and our ability to, obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product
candidates;
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- the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of any approved product candidate;
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- our ability to identify and in-license or acquire additional product candidates;
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- our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;
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- continued service of our executive officers or other key scientific or management personnel;
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- our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property rights for our product candidates;
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- our anticipated future cash position;
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- our estimates regarding our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, capital requirements, prospects, growth and strategies;
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- our ability to maintain and operate our business in light of the COVID-19 pandemic;
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- the success of competing therapies that are or may become available;
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- our stated objective of building the world's leading gene therapy company for the treatment of neurological diseases; and
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- our expected use of proceeds from this offering.
These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this prospectus may include additional factors that could harm our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
In addition, statements that "we believe" and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and achievements may be different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
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Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder, if any, to advance the development of our product candidates, as well as additional business development activities, to fund other research and development activities and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
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The following description of our share capital and provisions of our memorandum of association and amended and restated bye-laws is a summary and is qualified entirely by reference to the applicable provisions of our memorandum of association, amended and restated bye-laws and the Bermuda Companies Act 1981, as amended, or the Companies Act. For information on how to obtain copies of our memorandum of association and amended and restated bye-laws, which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, see "Where You Can Find Additional Information."
General
We are an exempted limited company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda. We are registered with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda under registration number 49659. We were incorporated on October 31, 2014 under the name Roivant Neurosciences Ltd. We changed our name to Axovant Sciences Ltd. in March 2015 and to Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd. in March 2019. The objects of our business are unrestricted, and Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd. has the capacity of a natural person. We can therefore undertake activities without restriction on our capacity.
Since our incorporation, other than a subdivision of our authorized and issued share capital and our initial public offering of common shares in June 2015, there have been no material changes to our share capital, mergers, amalgamations or consolidations of us or any of our subsidiaries, no material changes in the mode of conducting our business, and no material changes in the types of products produced or services rendered. There have been no bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings with respect to us or our subsidiaries. There have been no public takeover offers by third parties for our shares nor any public takeover offers by us for the shares of another company that have occurred during the last or current financial years.
Share Capital
Our authorized share capital consists of 1,000,000,000 common shares, $0.00001 par value per common share. As of March 31, 2020, we had 39,526,299 common shares issued and outstanding, held by four shareholders of record, and no preference shares issued and outstanding. All of our issued and outstanding common shares are fully paid.
Pursuant to our amended and restated bye-laws, subject to the requirements of Nasdaq, and to any resolution of the shareholders to the contrary, our board of directors is authorized to issue any of our authorized but unissued shares. There are no limitations on the right of non-Bermudians or non-residents of Bermuda to hold or vote our shares provided our common shares remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes Nasdaq.
Common Shares
Holders of common shares have no pre-emptive, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights. Holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares, subject to the limitations described below. Unless a different majority is required by law or by our amended and restated bye-laws, resolutions to be approved by holders of common shares require approval by a simple majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
Under our amended and restated bye-laws, shares shall not carry voting rights to the extent that our board of directors reasonably determines, based on the advice of counsel, that it is necessary to do so to avoid adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to us, any of our subsidiaries or any direct or indirect holder of our common shares or its affiliates, provided that our board of directors will use
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reasonable efforts to afford equal treatment to similarly situated shareholders to the extent possible under the circumstances.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in our assets, if any, remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference on any issued and outstanding preference shares.
Preference Shares
Pursuant to Bermuda law and our amended and restated bye-laws, our board of directors may, by resolution, establish one or more series of preference shares having such number of shares, designations, dividend rates, relative voting rights, conversion or exchange rights, redemption rights, liquidation rights and other relative participation, optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions as may be fixed by the board of directors without any further shareholder approval. Preference shares could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preference shares may have the effect of decreasing the market price of the common shares and may adversely affect the voting power of holders of common shares and reduce the likelihood that common shareholders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.
Our board of directors will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of each series, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the preference shares of each series that we offer under this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preference shares we are offering before the issuance of that series of preference shares. This description will include:
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- the title and stated value;
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- the number of shares we are offering;
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- the liquidation preference per share;
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- the purchase price per share;
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- the dividend rate per share, dividend period and payment dates and method of calculation for dividends;
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- whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;
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- our right, if any, to defer payment of dividends and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
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- the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;
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- the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;
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- the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase
rights;
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- any listing of the preference shares on any securities exchange or market;
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- whether the preference shares will be convertible into our common shares or other securities of ours, including depositary shares and warrants, and, if applicable, the conversion period, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances it may be adjusted;
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- whether the preference shares will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange period, the exchange price, or how it
will be calculated, and under what circumstances it may be adjusted;
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- voting rights, if any, of the preference shares;
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- preemption rights, if any;
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- restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;
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- whether interests in the preference shares will be represented by depositary shares;
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- a discussion of any material or special Bermuda or U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preference shares;
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- the relative ranking and preferences of the preference shares as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our
affairs;
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- any limitations on issuances of any class or series of preference shares ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preference shares
being issued as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and
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- any other specific terms, rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications or restrictions of the preference shares.
Dividend Rights
Under Bermuda law, a company may not declare or pay dividends if there are reasonable grounds for believing that (1) the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due; or (2) that the realizable value of its assets would thereby be less than its liabilities. Under our amended and restated bye-laws, each common share is entitled to dividends if, as and when dividends are declared by our board of directors, subject to any preferred dividend right of the holders of any preference shares. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Variation of Rights
If at any time we have more than one class of shares, the rights attaching to any class, unless otherwise provided for by the terms of issue of the relevant class, may be varied either: (1) with the consent in writing of the holders of 75% of the issued shares of that class; or (2) with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting of the relevant class of shareholders at which a quorum consisting of at least two persons holding or representing one-third of the issued shares of the relevant class is present. Our amended and restated bye-laws specify that the creation or issue of shares ranking equally with existing shares will not, unless expressly provided by the terms of issue of existing shares, vary the rights attached to existing shares. In addition, the creation or issue of preference shares ranking prior to common shares will not be deemed to vary the rights attached to common shares or, subject to the terms of any other class or series of preference shares, to vary the rights attached to any other class or series of preference shares.
Transfer of Shares
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion and without assigning any reason, refuse to register the transfer of a share on the basis that it is not fully paid. Our board of directors may also refuse to recognize an instrument of transfer of a share unless it is accompanied by the relevant share certificate and such other evidence of the transferor's right to make the transfer as our board of directors shall reasonably require or unless all applicable consents, authorizations and permissions of any governmental agency or body in Bermuda have been obtained or if it appears to our board of
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directors that certain tax, regulatory or legal consequences for us, any subsidiary of ours, holders of our common shares or their affiliates would result from the transfer. Subject to these restrictions, a holder of common shares may transfer the title to all or any of his common shares by completing a form of transfer in the form set out in our amended and restated bye-laws (or as near thereto as circumstances admit) or in such other common form as our board of directors may accept. The instrument of transfer must be signed by the transferor and transferee, although in the case of a fully paid share our board of directors may accept the instrument signed only by the transferor. Shares that are listed or admitted to trading on an appointed stock exchange (including Nasdaq) may be transferred in accordance with the rules and regulations of such exchange.
Meetings of Shareholders
Under Bermuda law, a company is required to convene at least one general meeting of shareholders each calendar year, which we refer to as the annual general meeting. However, the shareholders may by resolution waive this requirement, either for a specific year or period of time, or indefinitely. When the requirement has been so waived, any shareholder may, on notice to the company, terminate the waiver, in which case an annual general meeting must be called. We have chosen not to waive the convening of an annual general meeting.
Bermuda law provides that a special general meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors of a company and must be called upon the request of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying the right to vote at general meetings. Bermuda law also requires that shareholders be given at least five days' advance notice of a general meeting, but the accidental omission to give notice to any person does not invalidate the proceedings at a meeting. Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that our principal executive officer or the chairperson or any two directors or any director and the secretary or board of directors may convene an annual general meeting and our principal executive officer or the chairperson or any two directors or any director and the secretary or our board of directors may convene a special general meeting. Under our amended and restated bye-laws, at least 14 days' notice of an annual general meeting or ten days' notice of a special general meeting must be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting. This notice requirement is subject to the ability to hold such meetings on shorter notice if such notice is agreed: (1) in the case of an annual general meeting by all of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting; or (2) in the case of a special general meeting by a majority in number of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the meeting holding not less than 95% in nominal value of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting. Subject to the rules of Nasdaq, the quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders is two or more persons present in person at the start of the meeting and representing in person or by proxy in excess of 50% of all issued and outstanding common shares.
Access to Books and Records and Dissemination of Information
Members of the general public have a right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda. These documents include a company's amended and restated memorandum of association, including its objects and powers, and certain alterations to the amended and restated memorandum of association. The shareholders have the additional right to inspect the bye-laws of the company, minutes of general meetings and the company's audited financial statements, which must be presented in the annual general meeting. The register of members of a company is also open to inspection by shareholders and by members of the general public without charge. The register of members is required to be open for inspection for not less than two hours in any business day (subject to the ability of a company to close the register of members for not more than thirty days in a year). A company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act establish a branch register outside of Bermuda. A company is required to keep at its registered office a register of directors and officers
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that is open for inspection for not less than two hours in any business day by members of the public without charge. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records.
Election and Removal of Directors
Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that our board of directors shall consist of a single class of directors of such number of directors, being not less than two, as the board of directors may determine. Our board of directors currently consists of eight directors. Each director will serve a one-year term expiring at our next annual meeting of shareholders, subject to his or her office being vacated sooner pursuant to our amended and restated bye-laws.
A shareholder holding 5% or more of the voting power of the common shares in issue for at least two years may propose for election as a director someone who is not an existing director or is not proposed by our board of directors. Where a director is to be elected at an annual general meeting, notice of any such proposal for election must be given not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the anniversary of the last annual general meeting prior to the giving of the notice or, in the event the annual general meeting is called for a date that is not less than 30 days before or after such anniversary the notice must be given not later than ten days following the earlier of the date on which notice of the annual general meeting was posted to shareholders or the date on which public disclosure of the date of the annual general meeting was made. Where a director is to be elected at a special general meeting, that notice of any shareholder proposal for election must be given not later than seven days following the earlier of the date on which notice of the special general meeting was posted to shareholders or the date on which public disclosure of the date of the special general meeting was made.
A director may be removed, only with cause, by the shareholders, provided notice of the shareholders meeting convened to remove the director is given to the director. The notice must contain a statement of the intention to remove the director and a summary of the facts justifying the removal and must be served on the director not less than 14 days before the meeting. The director is entitled to attend the meeting and be heard on the motion for his removal. The term of a director may also be ended by an annual general meeting or special general meeting called for the purpose of ending the term of that director and replacing that director and the director's office is deemed vacated if the director is not re-elected.
Proceedings of Board of Directors
Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by our board of directors. Bermuda law permits individual and corporate directors and there is no requirement in our amended and restated bye-laws or Bermuda law that directors hold any of our shares. There is also no requirement in our amended and restated bye-laws or Bermuda law that our directors must retire at a certain age.
The compensation of our directors will be determined by the board of directors, and there is no requirement that a specified number or percentage of "independent" directors must approve any such determination. Our directors may also be paid all travel, hotel and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses properly incurred by them in connection with our business or their duties as directors.
A director who discloses a direct or indirect interest in any contract or arrangement with us as required by Bermuda law will not be entitled to vote in respect of any such contract or arrangement in which he or she is interested unless the chairperson of the relevant meeting of the Board of Directors determines that such director is not disqualified from voting.
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 98 of the Companies Act provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise be imposed on them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such director, officer or auditor may be guilty in relation to the company. Section 98 further provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability incurred by them in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is awarded in their favor or in which they are acquitted or granted relief by the Supreme Court of Bermuda pursuant to Section 281 of the Companies Act.
Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors in respect of their actions and omissions, except in respect of their fraud or dishonesty, and that we shall advance funds to our officers and directors for expenses incurred in their defense upon receipt of an undertaking to repay the funds if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved. Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that the shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in right of the company, against any of the company's directors or officers for any act or failure to act in the performance of such director's or officer's duties, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. Section 98A of the Companies Act permits us to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any officer or director in respect of any loss or liability attaching to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, whether or not we may otherwise indemnify such officer or director. We have purchased and maintain a directors' and officers' liability policy for such purpose.
Amendment of Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws
Bermuda law provides that the memorandum of association of a company may be amended by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders. Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that no bye-law shall be rescinded, altered or amended, and no new bye-law shall be made, unless it shall have been approved by a resolution of our board of directors and by a resolution of our shareholders.
Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of not less than 20% in par value of a company's issued share capital or any class thereof have the right to apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association adopted by shareholders at any general meeting, other than an amendment that alters or reduces a company's share capital as provided in the Companies Act. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Supreme Court of Bermuda. An application for an annulment of an amendment of the memorandum of association must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering the company's memorandum of association is passed and may be made on behalf of persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose. No application may be made by shareholders voting in favor of the amendment.
Amalgamations and Mergers
The amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation (other than certain affiliated companies) requires the amalgamation or merger agreement to be approved by the company's board of directors and by its shareholders. Unless the company's bye-laws provide otherwise, the approval of 75% of the shareholders voting at such meeting is required to approve the amalgamation or merger agreement, and the quorum for such meeting must be two or more persons holding or representing more than one-third of the issued shares of the company. Our amended and
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restated bye-laws provide that the approval of a simple majority of shareholders voting at a meeting to approve the amalgamation or merger agreement shall be sufficient (except for an amalgamation or merger that is a business combination), and the quorum for such meeting shall be two or more persons present at the start of the meeting and holding or representing more than 50% of the issued voting shares.
Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation, a shareholder of the Bermuda company who did not vote in favor of the amalgamation or merger and who is not satisfied that fair value has been offered for such shareholder's shares may, within one month of notice of the shareholders meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appraise the fair value of those shares.
Business Combinations
Although the Companies Act does not contain specific provisions regarding "business combinations" between companies organized under the laws of Bermuda and "interested shareholders," we have included these provisions in our amended and restated bye-laws. Specifically, our amended and restated bye-laws contain provisions which prohibit us from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless, in addition to any other approval that may be required by applicable law:
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- prior to the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved
either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder;
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- upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at
least 85% of our issued and voting shares outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or
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- after the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of at least 662/3% of our issued and outstanding voting shares that are not owned by the interested shareholder.
For purposes of these provisions, a "business combination" includes recapitalizations, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, exchanges, asset sales, leases, certain issues or transfers of shares or other securities and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder. An "interested shareholder" is any person or entity that beneficially owns 15% or more of our issued and outstanding voting shares and any person or entity affiliated with or controlling or controlled by that person or entity.
Shareholder Suits
Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda courts, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of the company or illegal, or would result in the violation of the company's memorandum of association or bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by a Bermuda court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or, for instance, where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the company's shareholders than that which actually approved it.
When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner that is oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply to the Supreme
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Court of Bermuda, which may make such order as it sees fit, including an order regulating the conduct of the company's affairs in the future or ordering the purchase of the shares of any shareholders by other shareholders or by the company.
Our amended and restated bye-laws contain a provision by virtue of which our shareholders waive any claim or right of action that they have, both individually and on our behalf, against any director or officer in relation to any action or failure to take action by such director or officer, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. We have been advised by the SEC that in the opinion of the SEC, the operation of this provision as a waiver of the right to sue for violations of federal securities laws would likely be unenforceable in U.S. courts.
Capitalization of Profits and Reserves
Pursuant to our amended and restated bye-laws, our board of directors may (1) capitalize any part of the amount of our share premium or other reserve accounts or any amount credited to our profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up unissued shares to be allotted as fully paid bonus shares pro rata (except in connection with the conversion of shares) to the shareholders; or (2) capitalize any sum standing to the credit of a reserve account or sums otherwise available for dividend or distribution by paying up in full, partly paid or nil paid shares of those shareholders who would have been entitled to such sums if they were distributed by way of dividend or distribution.
Untraced Shareholders
Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that our board of directors may forfeit any dividend or other monies payable in respect of any shares that remain unclaimed for six years from the date when such monies became due for payment. In addition, we are entitled to cease sending dividend warrants and checks by post or otherwise to a shareholder if such instruments have been returned undelivered to, or left uncashed by, such shareholder on at least two consecutive occasions or, following one such occasion, reasonable enquires have failed to establish the shareholder's new address. This entitlement ceases if the shareholder claims a dividend or cashes a dividend check or a warrant.
Certain Provisions of Bermuda Law
We have been designated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as a non-resident for Bermuda exchange control purposes. This designation allows us to engage in transactions in currencies other than the Bermudan dollar, and there are no restrictions on our ability to transfer funds (other than funds denominated in Bermudan dollars) in and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to U.S. residents who are holders of our common shares.
The Bermuda Monetary Authority has given its consent for the issue and free transferability of any of our shares, warrants and other securities to and between residents and non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes, provided our shares remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes Nasdaq. Approvals or permissions given by the Bermuda Monetary Authority do not constitute a guarantee by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as to our performance or our creditworthiness. Accordingly, in giving such consent or permissions, neither the Bermuda Monetary Authority nor the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda shall be liable for the financial soundness, performance or default of our business or for the correctness of any opinions or statements expressed in this prospectus. Certain issues and transfers of common shares involving persons deemed resident in Bermuda for exchange control purposes require the specific consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority. We have sought and have obtained a specific permission from the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and transfer of our common shares up to the amount of our authorized capital from time to time, and options, warrants, depository receipts, rights, loan notes, debt instruments and our other securities to
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persons resident and non-resident for exchange control purposes with the need for prior approval of such issue or transfer.
In accordance with Bermuda law, share certificates are only issued in the names of companies, partnerships or individuals. In the case of a shareholder acting in a special capacity (for example as a trustee), certificates may, at the request of the shareholder, record the capacity in which the shareholder is acting. Notwithstanding such recording of any special capacity, we are not bound to investigate or see to the execution of any such trust.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
A register of holders of the common shares will be maintained by Conyers Corporate Services (Bermuda) Limited in Bermuda, and a branch register will be maintained in the United States by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, which also serves as transfer agent. The transfer agent's address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.
The transfer agent for any series of preference shares that we may offer under this prospectus will be named and described in the prospectus supplement for that series.
Listing
Our common shares are listed on Nasdaq under the trading symbol "AXGT."
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as "discount securities," which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with "original issue discount," or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
- •
- the title of the series of debt securities;
- •
- any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued;
- •
- the maturity date or dates;
- •
- the form of the debt securities of the series;
- •
- the applicability of any guarantees;
- •
- whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
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- •
- whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any
subordination;
- •
- if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price
other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal
amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;
- •
- the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue,
the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
- •
- our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
- •
- if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option,
redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;
- •
- the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous
fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder's option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;
- •
- the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof;
- •
- any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our
obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series;
- •
- whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and
conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities;
- •
- if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which
such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at
our option or the holders' option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange;
- •
- if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
- •
- additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation,
merger or sale covenant;
- •
- additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to
declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable;
- •
- additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;
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- •
- additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture;
- •
- additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt
securities issued under the indenture;
- •
- the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;
- •
- whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders' option and the terms and conditions upon which
the election may be made;
- •
- the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of
the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a "United States person" for federal tax purposes;
- •
- any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and
- •
- any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of common shares or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than a subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.
Events of Default under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
- •
- if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such
default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall
not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
- •
- if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
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- •
- if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant
specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating
that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and
- •
- if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
- •
- the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and
- •
- subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.
A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
- •
- the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;
- •
- the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request,
- •
- such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee
in compliance with the request; and
- •
- the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer.
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These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
- •
- to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series;
- •
- to comply with the provisions described above under "Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale;"
- •
- to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;
- •
- to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of
the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or
provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture;
- •
- to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue,
authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture;
- •
- to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect;
- •
- to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above under
"Description of Debt Securities—General" to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to
add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;
- •
- to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or
- •
- to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
- •
- extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series;
- •
- reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities; or
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- •
- reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver.
Discharge
Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
- •
- provide for payment;
- •
- register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;
- •
- replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;
- •
- pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series;
- •
- maintain paying agencies;
- •
- hold monies for payment in trust;
- •
- recover excess money held by the trustee;
- •
- compensate and indemnify the trustee; and
- •
- appoint any successor trustee.
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a
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change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
- •
- issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business
15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or
- •
- register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement and 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 common shares, preference shares or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or in combination with common shares, preference shares or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description of warrants will apply to the warrants offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of warrants may specify different or additional terms.
We have filed forms of the warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates containing the terms of the warrants that may be offered as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, that contain the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of such warrants. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the warrants are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectus, and the complete form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, and any supplemental agreements, that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants being offered, including:
- •
- the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;
- •
- the currency for which the warrants may be purchased;
- •
- if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such
security or each principal amount of such security;
- •
- in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the
price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;
- •
- in the case of warrants to purchase common shares or preference shares, the number of common shares or preference shares, as the case may be,
purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which, and the currency in which, these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;
- •
- the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants;
- •
- the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;
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- •
- any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;
- •
- the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;
- •
- the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified;
- •
- a discussion of any material or special Bermuda or U.S. federal income tax considerations of holding or exercising the warrants;
- •
- the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and
- •
- any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:
- •
- in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the
debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or
- •
- in the case of warrants to purchase common shares or preference shares, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrants may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, warrants may be exercised at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Upon receipt of payment and the warrant or warrant certificate, as applicable, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office, including ours, indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants (or the warrants represented by such warrant certificate) are exercised, a new warrant or a new warrant certificate, as applicable, will be issued for the remaining warrants.
Governing Law
Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and any warrant agreements will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent, if any, will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
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We may issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee, depositary or warrant agent maintain for this purpose as the "holders" of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as "indirect holders" of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary's book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in a book-entry security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary's book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security or issue securities in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in "street name." Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any such trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.
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Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee and of any third parties employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.
Special Considerations For Indirect Holders
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
- •
- the performance of third-party service providers;
- •
- how it handles securities payments and notices;
- •
- whether it imposes fees or charges;
- •
- how it would handle a request for the holders' consent, if ever required;
- •
- whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the
future;
- •
- how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect
their interests; and
- •
- if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary's rules and procedures will affect these matters.
Global Securities
A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTC will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under "—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated" in this prospectus. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held
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by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
Special Considerations For Global Securities
The rights of an indirect holder relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor's financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
- •
- an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest
in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;
- •
- an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or
her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above;
- •
- an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law
to own their securities in non-book-entry form;
- •
- an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities
must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;
- •
- the depositary's policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an
investor's interest in a global security;
- •
- we and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary's actions or for its records of ownership interests in a
global security, nor do we or any applicable trustee supervise the depositary in any way;
- •
- the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its
book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and
- •
- financial institutions that participate in the depositary's book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities.
There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.
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Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
- •
- if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do
not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days;
- •
- if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or
- •
- if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived.
The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
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We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, direct sales to the public, "at the market" offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through one or more underwriters or dealers (acting as principal or agent), through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities 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 such prevailing market prices; or
- •
- at negotiated prices.
We will describe the terms of the offering of the securities and the specific plan of distribution in a prospectus supplement or supplements to this prospectus, any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you, an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or other filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference. Such description may include, to the extent applicable:
- •
- the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, agents or other purchasers;
- •
- the purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor, and the proceeds, if any, we will receive from the sale;
- •
- any options to purchase additional shares or other options under which underwriters, dealers, agents or other purchasers may purchase
additional securities from us;
- •
- any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents' or underwriters' compensation;
- •
- any public offering price;
- •
- any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
- •
- any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any option to purchase additional shares or other option. If a dealer is used in the sale of securities, we, or an underwriter, will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement the name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters, dealers or agents with whom
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we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, dealer or agent, the nature of any such relationship.
We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
We may provide agents, dealers and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or dealers or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents, dealers and underwriters or their affiliates may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
All securities we may offer, other than common shares, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
Any underwriter may be granted an option to purchase additional shares, and engage in stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. An underwriter's option to purchase additional shares 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 price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the option to purchase additional shares or 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 stabilizing or 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 or dealers or agents that are qualified market makers on Nasdaq may engage in passive market making transactions in the common shares on Nasdaq in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the common shares. 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. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters in connection with the offering and the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will be passed upon by Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited, our special Bermuda counsel. Cooley LLP will pass upon legal matters for us regarding the validity of the debt securities and warrants under New York law.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020, as set forth in their report (which contains an explanatory paragraph describing conditions that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 2(B) to the consolidated financial statements), which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of the registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and does not contain all the information set forth or incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the reference may not be complete and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement or the exhibits to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a copy of such contract, agreement or other document. Because we are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act can also be accessed free of charge on the Investor section of our website. These filings will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Our website address is http://www.axovant.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference herein, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information from other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (Commission File No. 001-37418):
- •
- our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2020;
- •
- our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
April 20, 2020,
April 24, 2020 and
April 29, 2020; and
- •
- the description of our common shares set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on September 5, 2017, including any amendments thereto or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description.
All filings filed by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part effective upon filing shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus and will become a part of this prospectus from the date that such documents are filed with the SEC. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided in this prospectus. Any statements in any such future filings will automatically be deemed to modify and supersede any information in any document we previously filed with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference to the extent that statements in the later filed document modify or replace such earlier statements.
You can request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number: Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd., Attn: Investor Relations, 11 Times Square, 33rd Floor, New York, New York 10036, telephone: (833) 296-8268.
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$50,000,000
Common Shares
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
SVB Leerink
October 2, 2020