S-3
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2023

Registration Statement No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

23andMe Holding Co.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   87-1240344
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

349 Oyster Point Boulevard

South San Francisco,

California 94080

Tel: (650) 938-6300

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Kathy Hibbs

Chief Administrative Officer

23andMe Holding Co.

349 Oyster Point Boulevard

South San Francisco, California 94080

Tel: (650) 938-6300

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

Marlee S. Myers

Justin W. Chairman

Alexandra M. Good

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

One Oxford Centre, Thirty-Second Floor

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Tel: (412) 560-3300

From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement

(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public)

 

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

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

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

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

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

 

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

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

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

 

 

 


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement contains:

 

   

a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of the securities identified below from time to time in one or more offerings; and

 

   

a sales agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $150 million of our Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) that may be issued and sold from time to time under a sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC (the “Sales Agreement”).

The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered by us pursuant to the base prospectus other than the shares of our Class A Common Stock under the Sales Agreement will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. The specific terms of the shares of our Class A Common Stock to be issued and sold under the Sales Agreement are specified in the sales agreement prospectus that immediately follows the base prospectus. The $150 million of Class A Common Stock that may be offered, issued and sold under the Sales Agreement prospectus is included in the $500 million of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the Sales Agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC, any portion of the $150 million of Class A Common Stock included in the Sales Agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement, and if no shares of Class A Common Stock are sold under the Sales Agreement, the full $150 million of securities may be sold in other offerings by us pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, Dated February 6, 2023

Prospectus

 

LOGO

Up to $500,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

 

 

We may offer and sell from time to time our shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants and debt securities, as well as units that include any combination of the foregoing securities. We may sell any combination of these securities in one or more offerings with an aggregate offering price of up to $500 million.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific terms of the particular offering together with this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in any securities that we may offer. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our Class A Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ME.” On February 3, 2023, the closing price of our Class A Common Stock was $2.69.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves significant risks. We strongly recommend that you read carefully the risks we describe in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the risk factors that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Risk Factors” on page 8 of this prospectus.

We may sell the securities directly or to or through underwriters or dealers, and also to other purchasers or through agents. The names of any underwriters or agents that are included in a sale of securities to you, and any applicable commissions or discounts, will be stated in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

Neither the 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. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is     , 2023.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

MARKET DATA

     3  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     4  

RISK FACTORS

     8  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     8  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     11  

THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

     11  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     12  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     19  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     27  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     29  

FORMS OF SECURITIES

     30  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     32  

LEGAL MATTERS

     35  

EXPERTS

     35  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     35  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration statement, we may sell common stock, preferred stock, warrants and debt securities, as well as units that include any combination of the foregoing securities, in one or more offerings from time to time. The maximum aggregate amount of the securities that we may offer pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is limited to $500 million. 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 include 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. The 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 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. Before buying any of the securities being offered, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the additional information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by an additional prospectus or prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representation. 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. The information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, the prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or the time of any sale of a security.

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

This prospectus includes 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 are 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 under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.

 

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The Company was originally known as VG Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“VGAC” and, after the Domestication as described below, “23andMe Holding Co.”). On February 4, 2021, VGAC entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 4, 2021, as amended on February 13, 2021 and March 25, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among VGAC, Chrome Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned direct subsidiary of VGAC (the “Merger Sub”), and 23andMe, Inc., a Delaware corporation. On June 16, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, VGAC filed a notice of deregistration with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies, together with the necessary accompanying documents, and filed a certificate of incorporation and a certificate of corporate domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, under which VGAC was domesticated and continued as a Delaware corporation, changing its name to 23andMe Holding Co. (the “Domestication”). As a result of and upon the effective time of the Domestication, among other things, each of the then issued and outstanding Class A and Class B ordinary shares of VGAC automatically converted, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of our Class A Common Stock. On the Closing Date, VGAC consummated the merger transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, whereby the Merger Sub merged with and into 23andMe, Inc., the separate corporate existence of the Merger Sub ceasing and 23andMe, Inc. being the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of VGAC, now known as 23andMe Holding Co. (the “Merger” and, together with the Domestication, the “Business Combination”).

Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to 23andMe Holding Co. and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to “VG Acquisition Corp.” or “VGAC” refer to the Company prior to the consummation of the Domestication and the Merger. “23andMe, Inc.” refers to 23andMe, Inc. prior to the Business Combination.

 

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MARKET DATA

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include market and industry data and forecasts concerning our business and the markets for certain cancer treatments, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions, that we have derived from independent consultant reports, publicly available information, various industry, medical and general publications, other published industry sources, government data and our internal data and estimates. Independent consultant reports, industry publications and other published industry sources generally indicate that the information contained therein was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Our internal data and estimates are based upon information obtained from trade and business organizations and other contacts in the markets in which we operate and our management’s understanding of industry conditions.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights selected information contained or incorporated by reference elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including the information under the caption “Risk Factors” herein and the applicable prospectus supplement and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the other information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Overview of the Company

The Company is a mission-driven company dedicated to empowering customers to live healthier lives. The Company’s mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. The Company believes that its premier database of genetic and phenotypic information crowdsourced from its millions of customers that separately consent to participate in the Company’s research can revolutionize healthcare by enabling it to discover insights into the origins of diseases, to use those insights to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, and to speed the discovery and development of novel therapies. The Company is committed to rigorous scientific, ethical, and privacy standards and to being one of the most trusted sources for genetic and health information.

The Company pioneered direct-to-consumer genetic testing, giving consumers unique, personalized information about their genetic health risks, ancestry, and traits. The Company is the only consumer genetic testing company with multiple Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) authorizations for over-the-counter health and carrier status reports. The Company was the first company to obtain FDA authorization for a direct-to-consumer genetic test, and the Company is the only company to have FDA authorization, clearance, or an exemption from premarket notification for all carrier status, genetic health risk, cancer predisposition, and pharmacogenetics reports offered to customers. As of September 30, 2022, over 60 health reports were available to customers in the U.S.

The Company acquired Lemonaid Health, Inc. (“Lemonaid” or “Lemonaid Health”) in November 2021 in an important step to achieve the Company’s goal of making personalized healthcare a reality. Lemonaid offers patients affordable and direct online access to medical care, from consultation through treatment, for a number of common conditions, using evidence-based guidelines and up-to-date clinical protocols to deliver quality patient care. When medications are prescribed by the Company’s medical professionals, patients can use its convenient online pharmacy for fast and free delivery.

The Company operates in two reporting segments: Consumer & Research Services and Therapeutics.

Consumer & Research Services

The Company’s Consumer & Research Services business comprises the Personal Genome Service® (“PGS”), the telehealth business, and research services.

PGS

The PGS service provides customers with a broad suite of genetic reports, including information on customers’ genetic ancestral origins, personal genetic health risks, and chances of passing on certain rare carrier conditions to their children, as well as reports on how genetics can impact responses to medications. The

 

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Company believes that by providing customers with direct access to their genetic information, it can empower them to make better decisions by arming them with information about their risks of developing certain diseases or conditions and by highlighting opportunities for prevention and mitigation of disease.

In the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”), the Company offers two PGS services, and also offers a premium service called 23andMe+. Ancestry + Traits Service is the Company’s base service and provides customers information about their genetic ancestral origins and how genetics may influence over 30 traits, such as physical features, sense perceptions, reactions to external stimuli and other traits. The service also includes a tool that enables customers who choose to opt in to connect with genetic relatives that are also customers of the Company. The Health + Ancestry Service builds upon the Ancestry + Traits Service to also provide reports relating to a customer’s health predisposition (including certain cancers and other health risks such as late-onset Alzheimer’s disease), carrier status (including for cystic fibrosis and hereditary hearing loss), and wellness (including for deep sleep, lactose intolerance and genetic weight), and carrier status reports. Ancestry + Traits Service customers can upgrade to the Health + Ancestry Service for a fee. The Company provides customers with an engaging experience, including access to updates to their genetic health and ancestry reports and new product features, and the ability to connect with genetic relatives.

The Company’s 23andMe+ premium subscription service offers customers the Health + Ancestry Service plus pharmacogenetic reports, personalized genetic risk reports based on the Company’s research, and advanced ancestry and health features, including insights related to heart, reproductive health and sleep. The PGS services are available for purchase on the Company’s website, 23andMe.com, or mobile app and, in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, through Amazon. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues are derived from the Consumer & Research Services segment, with revenue from PGS representing approximately 75%, 81%, and 89% of the Company’s total revenues for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Customers have the option to participate in the Company’s research programs and, as of September 30, 2022, over 80% of the Company’s customers have chosen to do so. The Company analyzes consenting customers’ genotypic data together with phenotypic data they provide to the Company concerning their health, physical characteristics, family origins, lifestyle, and other habits. The Company analyzes this data using its proprietary machine learning and other analytic techniques in order to discover insights into whether and how particular genetic variants affect the likelihood of individuals developing specific diseases. These insights may highlight opportunities to develop a drug to treat or cure a specific disease, and also provide information that customers can use to enhance their medical care and treatment, including care accessed through the Lemonaid telehealth platform.

Telehealth

The acquisition of Lemonaid provided us with telehealth capabilities and enhances the Company’s ability to bring better healthcare and wellness offerings to patients. The telehealth platform provides patients with easy access to medical consultation and treatment. Within minutes, a patient can interact with one of the Company’s affiliated licensed physicians or nurse practitioners via telehealth. If a prescription is warranted, the patient can access the Company’s pharmacy services for fast and free delivery. The Company’s pharmacies offer non-controlled medications for prevention and treatment of acute and chronic conditions at affordable prices, and the Company’s pharmacists provide ongoing support to ensure proper care by counseling, educating, and following up with patients. The Company’s goal is to make personalized healthcare services affordable and accessible, focusing on both the prevention and treatment of disease. The Company makes telehealth services available in the U.S. and, under a third-party brand, in the U.K.

Affiliated Professional Medical Corporations. Because many states limit the ownership of medical practices to licensed professionals and prohibit corporate ownership of medical practices, the Company offers medical

 

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services through affiliated professional medical corporations (“PMCs”) that are owned by a licensed medical provider in the applicable jurisdiction. All of the doctors and nurse practitioners who provide medical services to patients are employees of the PMCs. Lemonaid, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, has a management services agreement (“MSA”) with each PMC pursuant to which Lemonaid provides business, administrative, and non-clinical services to the PMC in exchange for a fixed fee. These services include IT, billing, insurance, tax, accounting, and other administrative services, and do not include any clinical, diagnostic, or treatment decisions, which are made solely by licensed practitioners based on quality medical care guidelines and protocols. The MSAs are exclusive arrangements, and the PMCs were established specifically to provide medical services through the platform.

Affiliated Pharmacies. The Company’s patients may choose to fill prescriptions provided to them by its affiliated medical professionals by using its pharmacy services. The Company facilitates the delivery of pharmacy services by its affiliated mail order pharmacy, offering patients affordable, fast, and free delivery services throughout the U.S. Almost all of the Company’s pharmacy services are provided on a self-pay basis and are not covered by third-party payors. The Company also provides a small number of compounded medications that are fulfilled by a third-party service provider that is not affiliated with it. The Company manages its affiliated pharmacies under MSAs pursuant to which the Company provides all administrative services as well as licensed pharmacists, support staff, and infrastructure. The MSAs with the Company’s affiliated pharmacies are exclusive arrangements, and the affiliated pharmacies were established specifically to provide prescription medications when patients choose to use the Company’s platform to fill prescriptions written by its affiliated licensed medical professionals.

Research Services

Through its research services, the Company uses its vast database of genetic and phenotypic information provided by consenting customers to discover insights into the genetic origins of disease and to identify targets for drug development. These services are performed under agreements with universities, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies, including the Company’s multi-year collaboration agreement with an affiliate of GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”), which was signed in July 2018 (the “GSK Agreement”) to leverage genetic insights to validate, develop, and commercialize drugs. The GSK Agreement is expected to identify and prioritize genetically validated drug targets, enable rapid progression of clinical programs, and bring useful new drugs to market. The Company also provides clinical trial services to accelerate patient recruitment by using its database to identify patients most likely to be eligible for participation in a clinical trial of a new drug. The Company currently has research programs across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases.

Therapeutics

The Therapeutics business segment focuses on the use of genetic insights from the Company’s vast database of genetic and phenotypic information to develop novel therapies to improve patients’ lives. The Therapeutics segment consists of revenues from the out-licensing of intellectual property associated with identified drug targets and expenses related to therapeutic product candidates under clinical development. In addition to the Company’s collaboration with GSK, it has several proprietary programs, one of which is being pursued in collaboration with Almirall, S.A.

As of September 30, 2022, two of the Company’s programs had entered Phase 1 trials. One is from the Company’s proprietary programs, 23ME-00610, previously known as P006, which had started the Phase 1 in patients with advanced solid tumors. 23ME-00610 is a high-affinity humanized monoclonal antibody that is designed to interfere with the ability of CD200R1 to interact with CD200 found on cancer cells. The other one is immuno-oncology program, GSK6097608, led by GSK, an antibody that targets the CD96. CD96 sequesters a

 

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shared ligand (CD155) away from the costimulatory receptor (CD226), effectively attenuating T and NK cell anti-tumor immune responses. By blocking CD96, GSK6097608 may allow activation of CD226 and enhance anti-tumor immunity through T and NK cells. If a successful therapy were to be developed and commercialized by GSK using this target, the Company would be entitled to a royalty under the GSK Agreement. We elected to take a royalty option on our joint immuno-oncology antibody collaboration program with GSK targeting CD96 (GSK6097608, a.k.a. GSK’608). GSK will be solely responsible for GSK’608’s subsequent development in later-stage clinical trials, including full development costs moving forward.

Background

VGAC was a blank check company incorporated on February 19, 2020, as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On October 6, 2020, VGAC consummated an initial public offering of 48,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, and a private placement with VG Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“Sponsor”) of 7,733,333 Private Placement Warrants at an offering price of $1.50 per private placement warrant. Each unit sold in the initial public offering and private placement consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant. On October 14, 2020, the underwriters of the initial public offering notified VGAC of their intent to partially exercise their over-allotment option. As such, on October 16, 2020, VGAC sold an additional 2,855,000 units, at a price of $10.00 per unit, and sold an additional 380,666 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor, at $1.50 per private placement warrant. Following the closing of the initial public offering and overallotment sale, an amount equal to $508,550,000 of the net proceeds from the initial public offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in the trust account.

On June 16, 2021, VGAC consummated the Business Combination. The transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization with 23andMe, Inc. being the accounting acquirer and VGAC as the acquired company for accounting purposes. Accordingly, all historical financial information presented in the consolidated financial statements represents the accounts of 23andMe, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary.

In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, VGAC filed a notice of deregistration with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies, together with the necessary accompanying documents, and filed a Charter and a certificate of corporate domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, under which VGAC was domesticated and continued as a Delaware corporation, changing its name to “23andMe Holding Co.”

Class A Common Stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol “ME.”

Corporate Information

The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 349 Oyster Point Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, and the Company’s phone number is (650) 938-6300. The Company’s website address is www.23andMe.com. Information contained on the Company’s website or connected thereto does not constitute part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which it is a part. Our fiscal year end is March 31.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before you make a decision to invest in our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed above under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider the specific risks incorporated by reference in this prospectus from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any such securities. For more information, see “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.” If any of these risks actually occur, it may materially harm our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations. As a result, the market price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additionally, the risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may become material and adversely affect our business.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by, or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates,” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect the Company’s future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Company’s forward-looking statements:

 

   

The market for personal genetics products and services has experienced a recent overall decline. If this trend continues or worsens, it would adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

   

If our competitors receive further Food and Drug Administration marketing approval for in vitro diagnostic products, our business could be adversely affected.

 

   

The telehealth market is immature and volatile, and if it does not develop, if it encounters negative publicity, or if the increased use of telehealth solutions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic does not continue after the pandemic, then the growth of our business and our results of operation will be harmed.

 

   

We rely on key sole suppliers to manufacture and perform services used by customers who purchase our PGS, which could adversely affect our ability to meet customer demand.

 

   

If we are not able to maintain and enhance our brand, our ability to expand our customer base may be impaired and our business and operating results may be harmed.

 

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If our efforts to attract new customers and patients and engage existing customers and patients with enhanced products and services are unsuccessful or if such efforts are more costly than we expect, our business may be harmed.

 

   

Any significant disruption in service on our website, mobile applications, or in our computer or logistics systems could harm our reputation and may result in a loss of customers.

 

   

If we are unable to deliver a rewarding experience on mobile devices, whether through our mobile website or our mobile application, we may be unable to attract and retain customers and patients.

 

   

We depend on a number of other companies to perform functions critical to our ability to operate our platform and generate revenue from patients.

 

   

If we are unable to attract and retain high quality healthcare providers for our patients, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

   

If the number of our customers consenting to participate in our research programs declines or fails to grow, our revenue may be adversely affected, and our database may become less effective.

 

   

Our focus on using our genetics-powered platform to discover targets with therapeutic potential may not result in the discovery of commercially viable drug targets for us or our collaborators.

 

   

Media reports on consumer data privacy and security concerns and the use of genetic information may decrease the overall consumer demand for personal genetic products and services, including ours.

 

   

If we fail to succeed in our drug development efforts, or to develop and commercialize additional products and services, our ability to expand our business and achieve our strategic objectives would be impaired.

 

   

Our Therapeutics business faces substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing, or commercializing drugs before or more successfully than we can.

 

   

We cannot give any assurance that any of our drugs will receive regulatory approval, which is necessary before they can be commercialized.

 

   

We may be subject to legal proceedings and litigation, which are costly to defend and could materially harm our business and results of operations.

 

   

Our business and future operating results may be adversely affected by catastrophic or other events outside of our control.

 

   

We depend on the continued services and performance of our highly qualified key personnel, and we may not be able to attract or retain qualified scientists and other specialized individuals in the future due to the competition for qualified personnel among life science and technology businesses.

 

   

We face risks related to epidemics and other outbreaks of communicable diseases, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.

 

   

If we were to enter new business areas, we would likely face competition from entities more familiar with those businesses, and our efforts may not succeed.

 

   

If we, GSK, and any future collaborators are unable to successfully complete clinical development, obtain regulatory approval for, or commercialize any drugs, or experience delays in doing so, our business may be materially harmed.

 

   

GSK and any other potential drug discovery collaborators will have significant discretion in determining when to make announcements, if any, about the status of our collaborations.

 

   

Our collaborators may not achieve projected discovery and development milestones and other anticipated key events in the expected timelines or at all, which could have an adverse impact on our business.

 

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Our products and services are subject to extensive regulation, and compliance with existing or future regulations could result in unanticipated expenses, or limit our ability to offer our products and services.

 

   

We will face legal, reputational, and financial damage if we fail to protect our customer and patient data from security breaches or cyberattacks.

 

   

If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, the value of our brand and other intangible assets may be diminished, and our business may be adversely affected.

 

   

We face additional risks as a result of the acquisition of Lemonaid Health (as defined below) and may be unable to integrate our businesses successfully and realize the anticipated synergies and related benefits, or do so within the anticipated timeframe.

These and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this prospectus are more fully described in the “Risk Factors” section. The risks described in the “Risk Factors” section are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all such risk factors on its 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. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The Company undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Additional cautionary statements or discussions of risks and uncertainties that could affect our results or the achievement of the expectations described in forward-looking statements may also be contained in any accompanying prospectus supplement.

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this prospectus occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and in our periodic filings with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement completely and with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, and performance, as well as other events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectuses we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently expect to use the net proceeds from the securities offered hereunder, if any, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents for general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements and operating expenses. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

We may sell common stock, preferred stock, warrants and debt securities, as well as units that include any combination of the foregoing securities, in one or more offerings from time to time under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of any offering. 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 or free writing prospectus, or both, that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities being offered.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary of the material terms of our securities is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities, and is qualified by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge to you read each of the Charter and the Bylaws in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities.

Authorized and Outstanding Stock

The Charter authorizes the issuance of 1,140,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 1,490,000,000 shares of common stock, of which (i) 1,140,000,000 shares are designated Class A Common Stock; (ii) 350,000,000 shares are designated Class B Common Stock; and (b) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).

As of January 27, 2023, there were outstanding 288,681,284 shares of Class A Common Stock, 168,502,918 shares of Class B Common Stock, and no shares of Preferred Stock.

23andMe Holding Co. Class A Common Stock

Voting rights. Each holder of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters voted upon by the Company’s stockholders, provided, however, that, except as otherwise required in the Charter, as provided by law or by the resolution(s) or any certificate of designation providing for the issue of any Preferred Stock, the holders of Class A Common Stock will not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Charter that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Charter (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of the Company’s preferred stock) or pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).

Dividend rights. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably, on a per share basis, dividends and other distributions in cash, capital stock, or property of the Company as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) out of any of the Company’s assets legally available therefor; provided, that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares), then the holders of Class A Common Stock will receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be) and the holders of Class B Common Stock will receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be), with the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, the same number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable.

Rights upon liquidation. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive all of the assets and funds of the Company available for distribution in the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of the Class A Common Stock held by them.

Other rights. No holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to preemptive or subscription rights contained in the Charter or in the Bylaws. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A Common Stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of the Class A Common Stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of Preferred Stock that the Company may issue in the future.

 

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23andMe Holding Co. Class B Common Stock

Voting rights. Each holder of Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters voted upon by the Company’s stockholders, provided, however, that, except as otherwise required in the Charter, as provided by law or by the resolution(s) or any certificate of designation providing for the issue of any Preferred Stock, the holders of Class B Common Stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the Charter that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Charter (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.

Dividend rights. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably, on a per share basis, dividends and other distributions in cash, stock, or property of the Company as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Board out of any of the Company’s assets legally available therefor; provided that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares), then the holders of Class A Common Stock will receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be) and the holders of Class B Common Stock will receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be), with the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, the same number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable.

Rights upon liquidation. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive all of the assets and funds of the Company available for distribution in the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of the Class B Common Stock held by them.

Transfers. Pursuant to the Charter, holders of Class B Common Stock are generally restricted from transferring such shares, other than to another Class B Common Stockholder or a Permitted Entity (each as defined in the Charter).

Mandatory Conversion. Each share of Class B Common Stock will be automatically converted into an equal number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock upon any Transfer (as defined in the Charter) of such shares of Class B Common Stock, except for a Transfer to a Permitted Entity (as defined in the Charter). Holders of Class B Common Stock may also elect to convert into an equal number of fully paid and nonassesable shares of Class A Common Stock at their option.

Other rights. No holder of shares of Class B Common Stock is entitled to preemptive or subscription rights contained in the Charter or in the Bylaws. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class B Common Stock. The rights, preferences, and privileges of holders of the Class B Common Stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of Preferred Stock that the Company may issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

The Board has the authority to issue shares of Preferred Stock from time to time on terms it may determine, to divide shares of Preferred Stock into one or more series, and to fix the designations, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of Preferred Stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference, sinking fund terms, and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The issuance of Preferred Stock could have the effect of decreasing the trading price of Class A Common Stock, restricting dividends on the capital stock of the Company, diluting the voting power of the Class A Common Stock, impairing the liquidation rights of the capital stock of the Company, or delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company.

 

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Election of Directors and Vacancies

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors of the Board shall be fixed solely and exclusively by resolution duly adopted from time to time by the Board. Under the Bylaws, at all meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors, a majority of the votes properly cast will be sufficient to elect such directors to the Board.

The Board is divided into three classes of directors designated as Class I, Class II, and Class III, respectively. Except as the DGCL may otherwise require and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, in the interim between annual meetings of stockholders or special meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors and/or the removal of one or more directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, newly created directorships, and any vacancies on the Board, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of directors, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. All directors will hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors will have been elected and qualified. A director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal of a director or a newly created directorship will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor will have been elected and qualified.

Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Preferred Stock, any director may be removed from office only with cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock of the Company entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class.

In addition to the powers and authorities before or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Company, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, the Charter, and to any Bylaws adopted and in effect from time to time; provided, however, that no bylaw so adopted will invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such bylaw had not been adopted.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any director elected pursuant to the right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances will serve for such term or terms and pursuant to such other provisions as specified in the relevant certificate of designations related to Preferred Stock.

Quorum

The holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise required by law or provided by the Charter or Bylaws; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or the Charter, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. If, however, such quorum will not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting will have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum will be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum will be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting will be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

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Anti-takeover Effects of the Charter and the Bylaws

The Charter and the Bylaws contain provisions that may delay, defer, or discourage another party from acquiring control of the Company. The Company expects that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with the Board, which the Company believes may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of the Company’s stockholders. However, they also give the Board the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.

Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock

Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of Nasdaq require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then-outstanding voting power or then-outstanding number of shares of Class A Common Stock. Additional shares that may be issued in the future may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital, or to facilitate acquisitions.

One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock may be to enable the Board to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or otherwise and thereby protect the continuity of management and possibly deprive stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Class A Common Stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

Dual-Class Stock

As described above in “—Common Stock—Class A Common Stock—Voting Rights” and “ —Common Stock—Class B Common Stock—Voting Rights,” the Charter provides for a dual-class common stock structure.

Special Meeting, Action by Written Consent, and Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals

Unless otherwise required by law, and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Company, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by a majority of the Board, the Chairman of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Unless otherwise required by law, written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place, and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than ten or more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for the meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders will be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

The Bylaws also provide that unless otherwise restricted by the Charter or the Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

In addition, the Bylaws require advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders, including the nomination of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider the proposals specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered a timely written notice in proper form to the Company’s secretary, of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting.

These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting any stockholder actions, even if they are favored by the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding voting securities.

 

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Amendment to Charter and Bylaws

The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on amendments to a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws is required to approve such amendment, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage.

The Charter provides that all provisions therein may be altered, amended, or repealed only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66.7%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Additionally, the Charter provides that the authorized number of shares of any class of stock may only be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then-outstanding) by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (66.7%) of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

The Bylaws may be amended, altered, or repealed (A) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board or (B) in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Company required by law or the Charter, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66.7%) of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

Section 203 of the DGCL provides that if a person acquires 15% or more of the voting stock of a Delaware corporation, such person becomes an “interested stockholder” and may not engage in certain “business combinations” with the corporation for a period of three years from the time such person acquired 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock, unless:

 

  (1)

the board of directors approves the acquisition of stock or the merger transaction before the time that the person becomes an interested stockholder;

 

  (2)

the interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at the time the merger transaction commences (excluding voting stock owned by directors who are also officers and certain employee stock plans); or

 

  (3)

the merger transaction is approved by the board of directors and at a meeting of stockholders, not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

A Delaware corporation may elect in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws not to be governed by this particular Delaware law.

Under the Charter, the Company opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL and therefore is not subject to Section 203. However, the Charter contains similar provisions providing that the Company may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the Company’s voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or

 

   

at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at

 

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least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock of the Company that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset, or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of the Company’s voting stock.

Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring the Company to negotiate in advance with the Board because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if the Board approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in the Board and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

The Charter provides that any persons whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth therein is the result of any action taken solely by the Company (provided, that such person shall be an “interested stockholder” if such thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Company, except as a result of further corporate actions not caused by such person) do not constitute “interested stockholders” for purposes of this provision.

Classified Board and Stockholder Action by Written Consent

The Charter provides that the Board is classified into three classes of directors, each of which holds office for a three-year term. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company at a time when there is a classified board as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors.

Under the Charter, the Company’s stockholders are required to take action at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders. This provision may have the effect of delaying or preventing hostile stockholder action designed to effect a change in control of the Company.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The Charter limits the liability of the directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, and the Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by such law. The Company has entered and expects to continue to enter into agreements to indemnify its directors, executive officers, and other employees as determined by the Board. Each indemnification agreement provides for indemnification and advancements by the Company of certain expenses and costs, if the basis of the indemnitee’s involvement was by reason of the fact that the indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or was serving at the Company’s request in an official capacity for another entity, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware.

Exclusive Jurisdiction of Certain Actions

The Charter requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, that derivative actions brought in the name of the Company, actions against current or former directors, officers, employees, and agents for breach of fiduciary duty, actions asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Charter or the Bylaws and actions asserting a claim against the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and any stockholder will be deemed to have consented to such provision. Although the Company

 

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believes this provision benefits the Company by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against the Company’s directors and officers.

The Bylaws designate the United States federal district courts as the exclusive forum for the resolution of actions asserting claims arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In addition, the Charter requires that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving any action asserting a claim arising under the Securities Act.

To the extent the exclusive forum provisions restrict the venue in which holders of the Company’s common stock may bring claims arising under the federal securities laws, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions. The exclusive forum provisions in the Bylaws and Charter do not relieve the Company of its duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the Company’s stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent for our Class A Common Stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

Listing of Common Stock

Our Class A Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ME.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following is a general description of the terms of debt securities we may issue from time to time unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Particular terms of any debt securities we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.

As required by Federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, any debt securities we issue will be governed by a document called an “indenture.” We have summarized the general features of the debt securities to be governed by the indenture. The summary is not complete. An indenture is a contract between us and a financial institution acting as trustee on behalf of the holders of the debt securities, and is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce holders’ rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on holders’ behalf, described in the second paragraph under “Description of Debt Securities — Events of Default.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties, such as sending interest and principal payments to holders.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of any debt securities we may issue or the indenture governing any such debt securities. Particular terms of any debt securities we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities, and we urge you to read the applicable executed indenture, which will be filed with the SEC at the time of any offering of debt securities, because it, and not this description, will define the rights of holders of such debt securities.

A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any series of debt securities we may issue, including some or all of the following:

 

   

the designation or title of the series of debt securities;

 

   

the total principal amount of the series of debt securities, the denominations in which the offered debt securities will be issued and whether the offering may be reopened for additional securities of that series and on what terms;

 

   

the percentage of the principal amount at which the series of debt securities will be offered;

 

   

the date or dates on which principal will be payable;

 

   

the rate or rates (which may be either fixed or variable) and/or the method of determining such rate or rates of interest, if any;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or the method of determining such date or dates, and the date or dates on which any interest will be payable;

 

   

the terms for redemption, extension or early repayment, if any;

 

   

the currencies in which the series of debt securities are issued and payable;

 

   

whether the amount of payments of principal, interest or premium, if any, on a series of debt securities will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method and how these amounts will be determined;

 

   

the place or places of payment, transfer, conversion and/or exchange of the debt securities;

 

   

the provision for any sinking fund;

 

   

any restrictive covenants;

 

   

events of default;

 

   

whether the series of debt securities are issuable in certificated form;

 

   

any provisions for legal defeasance or covenant defeasance;

 

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whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts (and the terms of this option);

 

   

any provisions for convertibility or exchangeability of the debt securities into or for any other securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;

 

   

any listing of the debt securities on any securities exchange;

 

   

whether the issuance of the debt securities may limit the incurrence of additional debt;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations, including those related to original issue discount, if applicable; and

 

   

any other material terms.

The debt securities may be secured or unsecured obligations. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, principal, interest and premium, if any, will be paid by us in immediately available funds.

General

The indenture may provide that any debt securities proposed to be sold under this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities (“offered debt securities”) and any debt securities issuable upon conversion or exchange of other offered securities (“underlying debt securities”) may be issued under the indenture in one or more series.

For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, debt securities will include additional amounts if required by the terms of the debt securities.

Debt securities issued under an indenture, when a single trustee is acting for all debt securities issued under the indenture, are called the “indenture securities.” The indenture may also provide that there may be more than one trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or more different series of securities issued thereunder. See “Description of Debt Securities — Resignation of Trustee” below. At a time when two or more trustees are acting under an indenture, each with respect to only certain series, the term “indenture securities” means the one or more series of debt securities with respect to which each respective trustee is acting. In the event that there is more than one trustee under an indenture, the powers and trust obligations of each trustee described in this prospectus will extend only to the one or more series of indenture securities for which it is trustee. If two or more trustees are acting under an indenture, then the indenture securities for which each trustee is acting would be treated as if issued under separate indentures.

We refer you to the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities we may issue from time to time for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection, that will be applicable with respect to such debt securities.

We have the ability to issue indenture securities with terms different from those of indenture securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to reopen a previous issue of a series of indenture securities and issue additional indenture securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.

Conversion and Exchange

If any debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, the related prospectus supplement will explain the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange, including the conversion price

 

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or exchange ratio (or the calculation method), the conversion or exchange period (or how the period will be determined), if conversion or exchange will be mandatory or at the option of the holder or us, provisions for adjusting the conversion price or the exchange ratio and provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of the underlying debt securities. These terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other securities to be received by the holders of the debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of the other securities as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement.

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay interest to the person listed in the applicable trustee’s records as the owner of the debt security at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. That day, often approximately two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the “record date.” Because we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period. This prorated interest amount is called “accrued interest.”

Events of Default

Holders of debt securities of any series will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the debt securities of such series and is not cured, as described later in this subsection. The term “Event of Default” in respect of the debt securities of any series means any of the following:

 

   

we do not pay the principal of, or any premium on, a debt security of the series on its due date;

 

   

we do not pay interest on a debt security of the series within 30 days of its due date;

 

   

we do not deposit any sinking fund payment in respect of debt securities of the series on its due date and we do not cure this default within five days;

 

   

we remain in breach of a covenant in respect of debt securities of the series for 90 days after we receive a written notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of debt securities of the series;

 

   

we file for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; and

 

   

any other Event of Default occurs in respect of debt securities of the series described in the prospectus supplement.

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the same or any other indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal, premium or interest, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs

If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. A declaration of acceleration of maturity may be cancelled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series if the default is cured or waived and certain other conditions are satisfied.

 

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Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee typically is not required to take any action under an indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability (called an “indemnity”). If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances.

Before a holder is allowed to bypass the trustee and bring its own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce its rights or protect its interests relating to any debt securities, the following must occur:

 

   

the holder must give the trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured;

 

   

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default and must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action;

 

   

the trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity; and

 

   

the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities must not have given the trustee a direction inconsistent with the above notice during that 60-day period.

However, a holder is entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on its debt securities on or after the due date. Each year, we will furnish to each trustee a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.

Waiver of Default

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the relevant series of debt securities may waive a default for all such series of debt securities. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it had not occurred. No one can waive a payment default on a holder’s debt security, however, without the holder’s approval.

Merger or Consolidation

Under the terms of an indenture, we may be permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We may also be permitted to sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. However, typically we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

 

   

if we do not survive such transaction or we convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety, the acquiring company must be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust, or other corporate form, organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, and such company must agree to be legally responsible for our debt securities, and, if not already subject to the jurisdiction of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, the new company must submit to such jurisdiction for all purposes with respect to the debt securities and appoint an agent for service of process;

 

   

alternatively, we must be the surviving company;

 

   

immediately after the transaction no Event of Default will exist;

 

   

we must deliver certain certificates and documents to the trustee; and

 

   

we must satisfy any other requirements specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.

 

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Modification or Waiver

There are three types of changes we may make to an indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder.

Changes Requiring Approval

First, there are changes that we may not be able to make to debt securities without specific approval of all of the holders. The following is a list of the types of changes that may require specific approval:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of or rate of interest on a debt security;

 

   

reduce any amounts due on a debt security;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of a security following a default;

 

   

at any time after a change of control has occurred, reduce any premium payable upon a change of control;

 

   

change the place or currency of payment on a debt security (except as otherwise described in the prospectus or prospectus supplement);

 

   

impair the right of holders to sue for payment;

 

   

adversely affect any right to convert or exchange a debt security in accordance with its terms;

 

   

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indenture;

 

   

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to waive certain defaults;

 

   

modify any other aspect of the provisions of the indenture dealing with supplemental indentures, modification and waiver of past defaults, changes to the quorum or voting requirements or the waiver of certain covenants; and

 

   

change any obligation we have to pay additional amounts.

Changes Not Requiring Approval

The second type of change does not require any vote by the holders of the debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the outstanding debt securities in any material respect, including the addition of covenants and guarantees. We also do not need any approval to make any change that affects only debt securities to be issued under the indenture after the change takes effect.

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

Any other change to the indenture and the debt securities may require the following approval:

 

   

if the change affects only one series of debt securities, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of that series; and

 

   

if the change affects more than one series of debt securities issued under the same indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series affected by the change, with all affected series voting together as one class for this purpose.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series of debt securities issued under an indenture, voting together as one class for this purpose, may waive our compliance obligations with respect to some of our

 

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covenants in that indenture. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or of any of the matters covered by the bullet points included above under “Description of Debt Securities — Modification or Waiver — Changes Requiring Approval.”

Further Details Concerning Voting

When taking a vote on proposed changes to the indenture and the debt securities, we expect to use the following rules to decide how much principal to attribute to a debt security:

 

   

for original issue discount securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of these debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default;

 

   

for debt securities whose principal amount is not known (for example, because it is based on an index), we will use a special rule for that debt security described in the related prospectus supplement; and

 

   

for debt securities denominated in one or more foreign currencies, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent.

Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “Description of Debt Securities — Defeasance — Legal Defeasance.

We generally will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding indenture securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of one or more series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding indenture securities of those series on the record date and must be taken within 11 months following the record date.

Book-entry and other indirect holders will need to consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

Defeasance

The following provisions will be applicable to each series of debt securities unless we state in the applicable prospectus supplement that the provisions of covenant defeasance and legal defeasance will not be applicable to that series.

Covenant Defeasance

We can make the deposit described below and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture under which the particular series was issued. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, the holders would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay holders’ debt securities. If applicable, a holder also would be released from the subordination provisions described under “Description of Debt Securities — Indenture Provisions — Subordination” below. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:

 

   

If the debt securities of the particular series are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates;

 

   

We may be required to deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that, under current U.S. Federal income tax law, we may make the above deposit without causing the holders to be

 

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taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves at maturity; and

 

   

We must deliver to the trustee certain documentation stating that all conditions precedent to covenant defeasance have been complied with.

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, holders can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the trustee is prevented from making payment. In fact, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred (such as our bankruptcy) and the debt securities became immediately due and payable, there might be a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, holders may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

Legal Defeasance

As described below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the debt securities of a particular series (called “legal defeasance”), (1) if there is a change in U.S. Federal tax law that allows us to effect the release without causing the holders to be taxed any differently than if the release had not occurred, and (2) if we put in place the following other arrangements for holders to be repaid:

 

   

If the debt securities of the particular series are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates;

 

   

We may be required to deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that there has been a change in current U.S. Federal tax law or an Internal Revenue Service ruling that allows us to make the above deposit without causing the holders to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves at maturity;

 

   

Under current U.S. Federal tax law, the deposit and our legal release from the debt securities would be treated as though we paid each holder its share of the cash and notes or bonds at the time the cash and notes or bonds were deposited in trust in exchange for its debt securities and holders would recognize gain or loss on the debt securities at the time of the deposit; and

 

   

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to legal defeasance have been complied with.

If we ever did accomplish legal defeasance, as described above, holders would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the debt securities. Holders could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever became bankrupt or insolvent. If applicable, holders would also be released from the subordination provisions described later under “Description of Debt Securities — Indenture Provisions — Subordination.”

Resignation of Trustee

Each trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of indenture securities provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to such series. In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of indenture securities under the indenture, each of the trustees will be a trustee of a trust separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee.

Indenture Provisions — Subordination

Upon any distribution of our assets upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any indenture securities denominated as

 

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subordinated debt securities is to be subordinated to the extent provided in the indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (defined below), but our obligation to holders to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. In addition, no payment on account of principal (or premium, if any), interest or sinking fund, if any, may be made on such subordinated debt securities at any time unless full payment of all amounts due in respect of the principal (and premium, if any), interest and sinking fund, if any, on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment from us is received by the trustee in respect of subordinated debt securities or by the holders of any of such subordinated debt securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, the payment or distribution must be paid over to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or on their behalf for application to the payment of all the Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the holders of such subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness to the extent of payments made to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness out of the distributive share of such subordinated debt securities.

By reason of this subordination, in the event of a distribution of our assets upon our insolvency, certain of our senior creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of any subordinated debt securities. The related indenture will provide that these subordination provisions will not apply to money and securities held in trust under the defeasance provisions of the indenture.

“Senior Indebtedness” will be defined in an applicable indenture as the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on:

 

   

our indebtedness (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), whenever created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed (other than indenture securities issued under the indenture and denominated as subordinated debt securities), unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or under which the same is outstanding it is provided that this indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities; and

 

   

renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any of such indebtedness.

The prospectus supplement accompanying any series of indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities will set forth the approximate amount of our Senior Indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.

Trustee

We intend to name the indenture trustee for each series of indenture securities in the related prospectus supplement.

Certain Considerations Relating to Foreign Currencies

Debt securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the secondary market. These risks will vary depending upon the currency or currencies involved and will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock or debt securities. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the warrants and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

A copy of the forms of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate relating to any particular issue of warrants will be filed with the SEC each time we issue warrants, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the warrant agreement and the related warrant certificate, if applicable, see “Where You Can Find More Information.

Stock Warrants

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue shares of our common stock or shares of our preferred stock will describe the terms of the common share warrants and preferred share warrants, including the following:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the offering price for the warrants, if any;

 

   

the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

   

the designation and terms of the shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the terms for changes or adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants;

 

   

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

 

   

if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;

 

   

the number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise;

 

   

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commence and expire;

 

   

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

 

   

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;

 

   

anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

   

redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;

 

   

any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and

 

   

any other information we think is important about the warrants.

 

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Debt Warrants

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue debt securities will describe the terms of those warrants, including the following:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the offering price for the warrants, if any;

 

   

the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

   

the designation and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the terms for changes or adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants;

 

   

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

 

   

if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable;

 

   

the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the debt securities may be purchased upon exercise;

 

   

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

 

   

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

 

   

whether the warrants represented by the warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;

 

   

information relating to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;

 

   

anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

   

redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;

 

   

any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and

 

   

any other information we think is important about the warrants.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder of the warrant to purchase at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or the principal amount of debt securities being offered. Holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants are void. Holders may exercise warrants as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered.

Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase our shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities, the holder will not have any rights as a holder of our shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities, as the case may be, by virtue of ownership of warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue, in one or more series, units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, or warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock in any combination. 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 units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreement that contains the terms of the units. We will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that describe the terms of the series of units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of units.

Units may be issued under a unit agreement that we enter into with a unit agent. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent, if applicable, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of units being offered.

The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

 

   

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities composing the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

   

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities composing the units; and

 

   

whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

 

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FORMS OF SECURITIES

Each debt security, warrant and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Global Securities

We may issue the debt securities of a particular series, depositary shares, subscription right, units and warrants in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, subscription rights agreement, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, purchase unit agreement or warrant agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, subscription rights agreement, unit agreement or warrant agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a

 

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beneficial interest in a global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, unit agreement or warrant agreement, the depositary for the global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to warrants, purchase agreements or units, represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security. None of us, or any trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other agent of ours, or any agent of any trustee, warrant agent or unit agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a global security, upon receipt of any payment to holders of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for any of the securities represented by a global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global security that had been held by the depositary.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell securities by one or more of, or a combination of, the following methods:

 

   

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;

 

   

block trades in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

an over-the-counter distribution in accordance with the rules of Nasdaq;

 

   

through trading plans entered into by a Selling Holder pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans;

 

   

to or through underwriters or broker-dealers;

 

   

in “at the market” offerings, as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at negotiated prices, at prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, including sales made directly on a national securities exchange or sales made through a market maker other than on an exchange or other similar offerings through sales agents;

 

   

in privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

in options transactions;

 

   

through a combination of any of the above methods of sale; or

 

   

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

In addition, any securities that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

In the prospectus supplement relating to such offering, we will name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act and describe any commissions that we must pay to any such agent. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment basis. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

   

at a fixed price, or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

 

   

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

   

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

   

at negotiated prices.

Each prospectus supplement will describe the method of distribution of the securities and any applicable restrictions. The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities of a particular series will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including the following:

 

   

at a fixed price, or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

 

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the name of the agent or any underwriters;

 

   

the public offering or purchase price;

 

   

any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to the agent or underwriters;

 

   

all other items constituting underwriting compensation;

 

   

any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any exchanges on which the securities will be listed.

If any underwriters or agents are used in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will enter into an underwriting agreement, sales agreement or other agreement with them at the time of sale to them, and we will set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering the names of the underwriters or agents and the terms of the related agreement with them.

In connection with the offering of securities, we may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional securities with an additional underwriting commission, as may be set forth in any accompanying prospectus supplement. If we grant any such option, the terms of such option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such securities.

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities in respect of which the prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer, who may be deemed to be an “underwriter” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.

Agents, underwriters, dealers and other persons may be entitled under agreements which they may enter into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to such contracts shall not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom the contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that:

 

   

the purchase by an institution of the securities covered under that contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which that institution is subject; and

 

   

if the securities are also being sold to underwriters acting as principals for their own account, the underwriters shall have purchased such securities not sold for delayed delivery. The underwriters and other persons acting as our agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of delayed delivery contracts.

Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with their remarketing of offered securities.

 

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Certain agents, underwriters and dealers, and their associates and affiliates, may be customers of, have borrowing relationships with, engage in other transactions with, or perform services, including investment banking services, for us or one or more of our respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the second business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

The securities may be new issues of securities and may have no established trading market. The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any of the securities.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the proceeds from any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.

The anticipated date of delivery of offered securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each offer.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP. If the validity of any securities is also passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers, or agents of an offering of those securities, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of 23andMe Holding Co. and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2022 and 2021, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2022, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available Information

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Company and its Class A Common Stock, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and any schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and we are required to file reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements, and other information are available for inspection and copying at the SEC’s website referred to above. We also maintain a website at investors.23andme.com, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form  10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on May 27, 2022, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form  10-K/A, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2022 (our “Annual Report on Form 10-K”);

 

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our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2022 and for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on November 7, 2022;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on  April 13, 2022June 13, 2022August 19, 2022 (as amended on  August 30, 2022),  September  1, 2022, November  4, 2022, and December 9, 2022;

 

   

our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on July 15, 2022; and

 

   

the description of shares of Class  A Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on June 17, 2021, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All other reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering (other than those furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information deemed to have been “furnished” rather than “filed” in accordance with the SEC’s rules), shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

For the purposes of this prospectus, any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:

23andMe Holding Co.

349 Oyster Point Boulevard

South San Francisco, California 94080

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (650) 938-6300

 

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UP TO $500,000,000

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

 

 


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

 

Subject to completion, dated February 6, 2023

PROSPECTUS

Up to $150,000,000

 

LOGO

Class A Common Stock

 

 

We have entered into a sales agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Cowen and Company, LLC (“Cowen” or the “Agent”), relating to shares of our Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our Class A Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000,000 from time to time through or to Cowen acting as our agent or principal.

Our Class A Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ME”. On February 3, 2023, the last reported sale price of our Class A Common Stock was $2.69 per share.

Sales of our Class A Common Stock, if any, under this prospectus will 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 (the “Securities Act”). Cowen 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 Cowen and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

The compensation to Cowen for sales of Class A Common Stock sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be an amount equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any shares of Class A Common Stock sold under the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of the Class A Common Stock on our behalf, Cowen will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Cowen will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Cowen with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Our business and an investment in our common stock involve significant risks. These risks are described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus and in the documents 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 passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

    Cowen  

The date of this prospectus is                , 2023.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

MARKET DATA

     3  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     4  

RISK FACTORS

     10  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     12  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     15  

DILUTION

     16  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     18  

LEGAL MATTERS

     20  

EXPERTS

     20  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     20  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process.

Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000,000 under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering.

This prospectus describes the terms of this offering of common stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus that was filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date – for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus that was filed after the date of this prospectus – the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

We have not, and the Agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectus to which we have referred you. Neither we nor the Agent take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information others may give you. We are not, and the Agent is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision.

This prospectus includes 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 are 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 under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The Company was originally known as VG Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“VGAC” and, after the Domestication as described below, “23andMe Holding Co.”). On February 4, 2021, VGAC entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 4, 2021, as amended on February 13, 2021 and March 25, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among VGAC, Chrome Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned direct subsidiary of VGAC (the “Merger Sub”), and 23andMe, Inc., a Delaware corporation. On June 16, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, VGAC filed a notice of deregistration with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies, together with the necessary accompanying documents, and filed a certificate of incorporation and a certificate of corporate domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, under which VGAC was domesticated and continued as a Delaware corporation, changing its name to 23andMe Holding Co. (the “Domestication”). As a result of and upon the effective time of the Domestication, among other things, each of the then issued and outstanding Class A and Class B ordinary shares of VGAC automatically converted, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of our Class A Common Stock. On the Closing Date, VGAC consummated the merger transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, whereby the Merger Sub merged with and into 23andMe, Inc., the

 

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separate corporate existence of the Merger Sub ceasing and 23andMe, Inc. being the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of VGAC, now known as 23andMe Holding Co. (the “Merger” and, together with the Domestication, the “Business Combination”).

Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to 23andMe Holding Co. and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to “VG Acquisition Corp.” or “VGAC” refer to the Company prior to the consummation of the Domestication and the Merger. “23andMe, Inc.” refers to 23andMe, Inc. prior to the Business Combination.

 

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MARKET DATA

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include market and industry data and forecasts concerning our business and the markets for certain cancer treatments, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions, that we have derived from independent consultant reports, publicly available information, various industry, medical and general publications, other published industry sources, government data and our internal data and estimates. Independent consultant reports, industry publications and other published industry sources generally indicate that the information contained therein was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Our internal data and estimates are based upon information obtained from trade and business organizations and other contacts in the markets in which we operate and our management’s understanding of industry conditions.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights selected information contained or incorporated by reference elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including the information under the caption “Risk Factors” herein and the applicable prospectus supplement and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the other information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Overview of the Company

The Company is a mission-driven company dedicated to empowering customers to live healthier lives. The Company’s mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. The Company believes that its premier database of genetic and phenotypic information crowdsourced from its millions of customers that separately consent to participate in the Company’s research can revolutionize healthcare by enabling it to discover insights into the origins of diseases, to use those insights to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, and to speed the discovery and development of novel therapies. The Company is committed to rigorous scientific, ethical, and privacy standards and to being one of the most trusted sources for genetic and health information.

The Company pioneered direct-to-consumer genetic testing, giving consumers unique, personalized information about their genetic health risks, ancestry, and traits. The Company is the only consumer genetic testing company with multiple Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) authorizations for over-the-counter health and carrier status reports. The Company was the first company to obtain FDA authorization for a direct-to-consumer genetic test, and the Company is the only company to have FDA authorization, clearance, or an exemption from premarket notification for all carrier status, genetic health risk, cancer predisposition, and pharmacogenetics reports offered to customers. As of September 30, 2022, over 60 health reports were available to customers in the U.S.

The Company acquired Lemonaid Health, Inc. (“Lemonaid” or “Lemonaid Health”) in November 2021 in an important step to achieve the Company’s goal of making personalized healthcare a reality. Lemonaid offers patients affordable and direct online access to medical care, from consultation through treatment, for a number of common conditions, using evidence-based guidelines and up-to-date clinical protocols to deliver quality patient care. When medications are prescribed by the Company’s medical professionals, patients can use its convenient online pharmacy for fast and free delivery.

The Company operates in two reporting segments: Consumer & Research Services and Therapeutics.

Consumer & Research Services

The Company’s Consumer & Research Services business comprises the Personal Genome Service® (“PGS”), the telehealth business, and research services.

PGS

The PGS service provides customers with a broad suite of genetic reports, including information on customers’ genetic ancestral origins, personal genetic health risks, and chances of passing on certain rare carrier conditions to their children, as well as reports on how genetics can impact responses to medications. The Company believes that by providing customers with direct access to their genetic information, it can empower them to make better decisions by arming them with information about their risks of developing certain diseases or conditions and by highlighting opportunities for prevention and mitigation of disease.

 

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In the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”), the Company offers two PGS services, and also offers a premium service called 23andMe+. Ancestry + Traits Service is the Company’s base service and provides customers information about their genetic ancestral origins and how genetics may influence over 30 traits, such as physical features, sense perceptions, reactions to external stimuli and other traits. The service also includes a tool that enables customers who choose to opt in to connect with genetic relatives that are also customers of the Company. The Health + Ancestry Service builds upon the Ancestry + Traits Service to also provide reports relating to a customer’s health predisposition (including certain cancers and other health risks such as late-onset Alzheimer’s disease), carrier status (including for cystic fibrosis and hereditary hearing loss), and wellness (including for deep sleep, lactose intolerance and genetic weight), and carrier status reports. Ancestry + Traits Service customers can upgrade to the Health + Ancestry Service for a fee. The Company provides customers with an engaging experience, including access to updates to their genetic health and ancestry reports and new product features, and the ability to connect with genetic relatives.

The Company’s 23andMe+ premium subscription service offers customers the Health + Ancestry Service plus pharmacogenetic reports, personalized genetic risk reports based on the Company’s research, and advanced ancestry and health features, including insights related to heart, reproductive health and sleep. The PGS services are available for purchase on the Company’s website, 23andMe.com, or mobile app and, in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, through Amazon. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues are derived from the Consumer & Research Services segment, with revenue from PGS representing approximately 75%, 81%, and 89% of the Company’s total revenues for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Customers have the option to participate in the Company’s research programs and, as of September 30, 2022, over 80% of the Company’s customers have chosen to do so. The Company analyzes consenting customers’ genotypic data together with phenotypic data they provide to the Company concerning their health, physical characteristics, family origins, lifestyle, and other habits. The Company analyzes this data using its proprietary machine learning and other analytic techniques in order to discover insights into whether and how particular genetic variants affect the likelihood of individuals developing specific diseases. These insights may highlight opportunities to develop a drug to treat or cure a specific disease, and also provide information that customers can use to enhance their medical care and treatment, including care accessed through the Lemonaid telehealth platform.

Telehealth

The acquisition of Lemonaid provided us with telehealth capabilities and enhances the Company’s ability to bring better healthcare and wellness offerings to patients. The telehealth platform provides patients with easy access to medical consultation and treatment. Within minutes, a patient can interact with one of the Company’s affiliated licensed physicians or nurse practitioners via telehealth. If a prescription is warranted, the patient can access the Company’s pharmacy services for fast and free delivery. The Company’s pharmacies offer non-controlled medications for prevention and treatment of acute and chronic conditions at affordable prices, and the Company’s pharmacists provide ongoing support to ensure proper care by counseling, educating, and following up with patients. The Company’s goal is to make personalized healthcare services affordable and accessible, focusing on both the prevention and treatment of disease. The Company makes telehealth services available in the U.S. and, under a third-party brand, in the U.K.

Affiliated Professional Medical Corporations. Because many states limit the ownership of medical practices to licensed professionals and prohibit corporate ownership of medical practices, the Company offers medical services through affiliated professional medical corporations (“PMCs”) that are owned by a licensed medical provider in the applicable jurisdiction. All of the doctors and nurse practitioners who provide medical services to patients are employees of the PMCs. Lemonaid, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, has a management services agreement (“MSA”) with each PMC pursuant to which Lemonaid provides business, administrative, and non-clinical services to the PMC in exchange for a fixed fee. These services include IT, billing, insurance, tax, accounting, and other administrative services, and do not include any clinical, diagnostic, or treatment

 

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decisions, which are made solely by licensed practitioners based on quality medical care guidelines and protocols. The MSAs are exclusive arrangements, and the PMCs were established specifically to provide medical services through the platform.

Affiliated Pharmacies. The Company’s patients may choose to fill prescriptions provided to them by its affiliated medical professionals by using its pharmacy services. The Company facilitates the delivery of pharmacy services by its affiliated mail order pharmacy, offering patients affordable, fast, and free delivery services throughout the U.S. The Company also manages an affiliated retail pharmacy that is able to accept insurance from government and commercial providers where applicable. Almost all of the Company’s pharmacy services are provided on a self-pay basis and are not covered by third-party payors. The Company also provides a small number of compounded medications that are fulfilled by a third-party service provider that is not affiliated with it. The Company manages its affiliated pharmacies under MSAs pursuant to which the Company provides all administrative services as well as licensed pharmacists, support staff, and infrastructure. The MSAs with the Company’s affiliated pharmacies are exclusive arrangements, and the affiliated pharmacies were established specifically to provide prescription medications when patients choose to use the Company’s platform to fill prescriptions written by its affiliated licensed medical professionals.

Research Services

Through its research services, the Company uses its vast database of genetic and phenotypic information provided by consenting customers to discover insights into the genetic origins of disease and to identify targets for drug development. These services are performed under agreements with universities, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies, including the Company’s multi-year collaboration agreement with an affiliate of GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”), which was signed in July 2018 (the “GSK Agreement”) to leverage genetic insights to validate, develop, and commercialize drugs. The GSK Agreement is expected to identify and prioritize genetically validated drug targets, enable rapid progression of clinical programs, and bring useful new drugs to market. The Company also provides clinical trial services to accelerate patient recruitment by using its database to identify patients most likely to be eligible for participation in a clinical trial of a new drug. The Company currently has research programs across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases.

Therapeutics

The Therapeutics business segment focuses on the use of genetic insights from the Company’s vast database of genetic and phenotypic information to develop novel therapies to improve patients’ lives. The Therapeutics segment consists of revenues from the out-licensing of intellectual property associated with identified drug targets and expenses related to therapeutic product candidates under clinical development. In addition to the Company’s collaboration with GSK, it has several proprietary programs, one of which is being pursued in collaboration with Almirall, S.A.

As of September 30, 2022, two of the Company’s programs had entered Phase 1 trials. One is from the Company’s proprietary programs, 23ME-00610, previously known as P006, which had started the Phase 1 in patients with advanced solid tumors. 23ME-00610 is a high-affinity humanized monoclonal antibody that is designed to interfere with the ability of CD200R1 to interact with CD200 found on cancer cells. The other one is immuno-oncology program, GSK6097608, led by GSK, an antibody that targets the CD96. CD96 sequesters a shared ligand (CD155) away from the costimulatory receptor (CD226), effectively attenuating T and NK cell anti-tumor immune responses. By blocking CD96, GSK6097608 may allow activation of CD226 and enhance anti-tumor immunity through T and NK cells. If a successful therapy were to be developed and commercialized by GSK using this target, the Company would be entitled to a royalty under the GSK Agreement. We elected to take a royalty option on our joint immuno-oncology antibody collaboration program with GSK targeting CD96 (GSK6097608, a.k.a. GSK’608). GSK will be solely responsible for GSK’608’s subsequent development in later-stage clinical trials, including full development costs moving forward.

 

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Background

VGAC was a blank check company incorporated on February 19, 2020, as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On October 6, 2020, VGAC consummated an initial public offering of 48,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, and a private placement with VG Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“Sponsor”) of 7,733,333 Private Placement Warrants at an offering price of $1.50 per private placement warrant. Each unit sold in the initial public offering and private placement consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant. On October 14, 2020, the underwriters of the initial public offering notified VGAC of their intent to partially exercise their over-allotment option. As such, on October 16, 2020, VGAC sold an additional 2,855,000 units, at a price of $10.00 per unit, and sold an additional 380,666 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor, at $1.50 per private placement warrant. Following the closing of the initial public offering and overallotment sale, an amount equal to $508,550,000 of the net proceeds from the initial public offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in the trust account.

On June 16, 2021, VGAC consummated the Business Combination. The transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization with 23andMe, Inc. being the accounting acquirer and VGAC as the acquired company for accounting purposes. Accordingly, all historical financial information presented in the consolidated financial statements represents the accounts of 23andMe, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary.

In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, VGAC filed a notice of deregistration with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies, together with the necessary accompanying documents, and filed a Charter and a certificate of corporate domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, under which VGAC was domesticated and continued as a Delaware corporation, changing its name to “23andMe Holding Co.”

Class A Common Stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol “ME.”

Corporate Information

The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 349 Oyster Point Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, and the Company’s phone number is (650) 938-6300. The Company’s website address is www.23andMe.com. Information contained on the Company’s website or connected thereto does not constitute part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which it is a part. Our fiscal year end is March 31.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common Stock offered by us:

Shares of Class A Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150 million.

 

Common Stock to be outstanding after this offering:

Up to              shares of Class A Common Stock, assuming sales of              shares of Class A Common Stock in this offering at an offering price of $             per share. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on how many shares of our Class A Common Stock we choose to sell and the prices at which such sales occur.

 

Manner of offering:

“At the market offering” that may be made from time to time through or to Cowen, as sales agent and/or principal. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 18 of this prospectus.

 

Use of proceeds:

Our management will retain broad discretion regarding the allocation and use of the net proceeds from this offering. We currently expect to use the net proceeds from this offering together with our existing cash and cash equivalents for general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements and operating expenses.” See “Use of Proceeds” on page 15.

 

Risk factors:

Investing in our Class A Common Stock involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus, the “Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, and any subsequent Quarterly Reports filed on Form 10-Q, and any amendment or update thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference herein, and the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus for a discussion of certain factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our Class A Common Stock.

 

Nasdaq Global Select Market symbol:

“ME”

The number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be outstanding after this offering, as set forth above, is based on              shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of             , which amount excludes:

 

   

             shares of our Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of Class B Common Stock, of which there were              outstanding as of             ;

 

   

             shares of our Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of              at a weighted average exercise price of $             per share;

 

   

             shares of our Class A Common Stock underlying unvested restricted stock units outstanding as of              at a weighted average grant date fair value of $             per share;

 

   

             shares of our Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options and restricted stock units representing              shares of our Class A Common Stock, in each case, that were issued as inducement grants in accordance with Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules;

 

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             shares of our Class A Common Stock reserved, as of             , for future issuance under our 2021 Incentive Equity Plan; and

 

   

             shares of our Class A Common Stock reserved, as of             , for future issuance under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our Class A Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our Class A Common Stock, you should carefully consider the risks described below and discussed under the sections captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, as well as in any of our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, together with other information in this prospectus, the information and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and in any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. 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 Class A Common Stock to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. The risks below and incorporated by reference in this prospectus are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations. Please also read carefully the section below titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to this Offering

Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds from this offering, and may not use the proceeds effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion as to the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could use them in a manner that does not effectively maximize the potential of our clinical development programs and pipeline. Our management’s use of the net proceeds from this offering may not increase the market value of our Class A Common Stock. In fact, our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, delay the development of our product candidates, and cause the market value of our Class A Common Stock to decline.

You may experience immediate and substantial dilution.

The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share of our Class A Common Stock outstanding prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of              shares of our Class A Common Stock are sold at a price of $             per share pursuant to this prospectus, for aggregate gross proceeds of $150,000,000, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, you would experience immediate dilution of $             per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of             , after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price. The exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants or the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units will result in further dilution of your investment. See the section titled “Dilution” below for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering.

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.

In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our Class A Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our Class A Common Stock at prices that may not be the same as the prices per share in this offering. We may sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the prices per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares of our Class A Common Stock or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing shareholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our Class A Common Stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into our Class A Common Stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the prices per share paid by investors in this offering.

 

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It is not possible to predict the aggregate proceeds resulting from sales of our Class A Common Stock made under the Sales Agreement.

Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to the Agent at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of shares of our Class A Common Stock that are sold through the Agent after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our Class A Common Stock during the sales period, the limits we set with the Agent in any applicable placement notice, and the demand for our Class A Common Stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of our Class A Common Stock will fluctuate during the sales period, it is not currently possible to predict the aggregate proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.

The shares of our Class A Common Stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings”, and investors who buy shares of our Class A Common Stock at different times will likely pay different prices.

Investors who purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares of our Class A Common Stock sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our board of directors or a committee thereof, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares of our Class A Common Stock to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares of our Class A Common Stock they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

The price of our Class A Common Stock may be volatile and fluctuate substantially, which could result in substantial losses for purchasers of our Class A Common Stock in this offering.

Our stock price has been and is likely to be volatile. The stock market in general and the market for biopharmaceutical companies in particular have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your Class A Common Stock at or above the price at which it was acquired. The market price for our Class A Common Stock may be influenced by many factors, including:

 

   

the success of our drug development or clinical trials;

 

   

the success of competitive products or technologies;

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

the recruitment or departure of key personnel;

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

market conditions in the biotechnology sectors;

 

   

political and economic instability, including the impact of COVID-19, the possibility of an economic recession, international hostilities, acts of terrorism and governmental restrictions, inflation, trade relationships and military and political alliances; and

 

   

general economic, industry and market conditions.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by, or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates,” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect the Company’s future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Company’s forward-looking statements:

 

   

The market for personal genetics products and services has experienced a recent overall decline. If this trend continues or worsens, it would adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

   

If our competitors receive further Food and Drug Administration marketing approval for in vitro diagnostic products, our business could be adversely affected.

 

   

The telehealth market is immature and volatile, and if it does not develop, if it encounters negative publicity, or if the increased use of telehealth solutions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic does not continue after the pandemic, then the growth of our business and our results of operation will be harmed.

 

   

We rely on key sole suppliers to manufacture and perform services used by customers who purchase our PGS, which could adversely affect our ability to meet customer demand.

 

   

If we are not able to maintain and enhance our brand, our ability to expand our customer base may be impaired and our business and operating results may be harmed.

 

   

If our efforts to attract new customers and patients and engage existing customers and patients with enhanced products and services are unsuccessful or if such efforts are more costly than we expect, our business may be harmed.

 

   

Any significant disruption in service on our website, mobile applications, or in our computer or logistics systems could harm our reputation and may result in a loss of customers.

 

   

If we are unable to deliver a rewarding experience on mobile devices, whether through our mobile website or our mobile application, we may be unable to attract and retain customers and patients.

 

   

We depend on a number of other companies to perform functions critical to our ability to operate our platform and generate revenue from patients.

 

   

If we are unable to attract and retain high quality healthcare providers for our patients, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

   

If the number of our customers consenting to participate in our research programs declines or fails to grow, our revenue may be adversely affected, and our database may become less effective.

 

   

Our focus on using our genetics-powered platform to discover targets with therapeutic potential may not result in the discovery of commercially viable drug targets for us or our collaborators.

 

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Media reports on consumer data privacy and security concerns and the use of genetic information may decrease the overall consumer demand for personal genetic products and services, including ours.

 

   

If we fail to succeed in our drug development efforts, or to develop and commercialize additional products and services, our ability to expand our business and achieve our strategic objectives would be impaired.

 

   

Our Therapeutics business faces substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing, or commercializing drugs before or more successfully than we can.

 

   

We cannot give any assurance that any of our drugs will receive regulatory approval, which is necessary before they can be commercialized.

 

   

We may be subject to legal proceedings and litigation, which are costly to defend and could materially harm our business and results of operations.

 

   

Our business and future operating results may be adversely affected by catastrophic or other events outside of our control.

 

   

We depend on the continued services and performance of our highly qualified key personnel, and we may not be able to attract or retain qualified scientists and other specialized individuals in the future due to the competition for qualified personnel among life science and technology businesses.

 

   

We face risks related to epidemics and other outbreaks of communicable diseases, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.

 

   

If we were to enter new business areas, we would likely face competition from entities more familiar with those businesses, and our efforts may not succeed.

 

   

If we, GSK, and any future collaborators are unable to successfully complete clinical development, obtain regulatory approval for, or commercialize any drugs, or experience delays in doing so, our business may be materially harmed.

 

   

GSK and any other potential drug discovery collaborators will have significant discretion in determining when to make announcements, if any, about the status of our collaborations.

 

   

Our collaborators may not achieve projected discovery and development milestones and other anticipated key events in the expected timelines or at all, which could have an adverse impact on our business.

 

   

Our products and services are subject to extensive regulation, and compliance with existing or future regulations could result in unanticipated expenses, or limit our ability to offer our products and services.

 

   

We will face legal, reputational, and financial damage if we fail to protect our customer and patient data from security breaches or cyberattacks.

 

   

If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, the value of our brand and other intangible assets may be diminished, and our business may be adversely affected.

 

   

We face additional risks as a result of the acquisition of Lemonaid Health (as defined below) and may be unable to integrate our businesses successfully and realize the anticipated synergies and related benefits, or do so within the anticipated timeframe.

These and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this prospectus are more fully described in the “Risk Factors” section. The risks described in the “Risk Factors” section are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all such risk factors on its business or

 

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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. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The Company undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Additional cautionary statements or discussions of risks and uncertainties that could affect our results or the achievement of the expectations described in forward-looking statements may also be contained in any accompanying prospectus supplement.

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this prospectus occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and in our periodic filings with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement completely and with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, and performance, as well as other events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We may issue and sell shares of our Class A Common Stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $150 million from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time.

Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectuses we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently expect to use the net proceeds from the securities offered hereunder, if any, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents for general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements and operating expenses. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our Class A Common Stock, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the price per share you pay in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our Class A Common Stock immediately after this offering. Our net tangible book value of our Class A Common Stock as of                  was approximately $         million, or approximately $         per share of Class A Common Stock based upon          shares outstanding. Net tangible book value per share is equal to our total tangible assets, less our total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding as of                 .

After giving effect to the sale of our Class A Common Stock in the aggregate amount of $         million at an assumed offering price of $         per share, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us of approximately $        , our as adjusted net tangible book value as of                  would have been approximately $         million, or $         per share of Class A Common Stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $         per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value of $         per share to new investors in this offering. Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering is determined by subtracting as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the price per share paid by new investors. The following table illustrates this calculation on a per share basis. The as adjusted information is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual prices to the public, the actual number of shares sold and other terms of the offering determined at the times shares of our Class A Common Stock are sold pursuant to this prospectus. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices.

 

Assumed offering price per share

      $                

Net tangible book value per share as of                 

   $                   

Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to the offering

                      
  

 

 

    

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering

                      
     

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors participating in the offering

      $                
     

 

 

 

The number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be outstanding after this offering, as set forth above, is based on          shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of                 , which amount excludes:

 

   

         shares of our Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of Class B Common Stock, of which there were          outstanding as of                 ;

 

   

         shares of our Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of                  at a weighted average exercise price of $         per share;

 

   

         shares of our Class A Common Stock underlying unvested restricted stock units outstanding as of                  at a weighted average grant date fair value of $         per share;

 

   

         shares of our Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options and restricted stock units representing          shares of our Class A Common Stock, in each case, that were issued as inducement grants in accordance with Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules;

 

   

         shares of our Class A Common Stock reserved, as of                 , for future issuance under our 2021 Incentive Equity Plan; and

 

   

         shares of our Class A Common Stock reserved, as of                 , for future issuance under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

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To the extent shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units are exercised at prices per share that are less than the prices paid by investors in this offering, there will be further dilution to investors. In addition, to the extent that we issue additional equity securities in connection with future capital raising activities, our then-existing stockholders may experience dilution.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We have entered into a Sales Agreement with Cowen, under which we may issue and sell from time to time up to $150,000,000 of our Class A Common Stock through or to Cowen as our sales agent or principal. Sales of our Class A Common Stock, if any, 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.

Cowen will offer our Class A Common Stock subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement on a daily basis or as otherwise agreed upon by us and Cowen. We will designate the maximum amount of our Class A Common Stock to be sold through Cowen on a daily basis or otherwise determine such maximum amount together with Cowen. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, Cowen will use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all of the shares of Class A Common Stock requested to be sold by us. We may instruct Cowen not to sell our Class A Common Stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. Cowen or we may suspend the offering of our Class A Common Stock being made through Cowen under the Sales Agreement upon proper notice to the other party. Cowen 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 Cowen as sales agent equals 3.0% of the gross sales price of the shares sold through it pursuant to the Sales Agreement. We have also agreed to reimburse Cowen up to $75,000 of Cowen’s actual outside legal expenses incurred by Cowen in connection with this offering. We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding commissions payable to Cowen under the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $            .

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 Class A Common Stock.

Cowen will provide written confirmation to us following the close of trading on The Nasdaq Global Market on each day in which our Class A Common Stock is sold through it as sales agent under the Sales Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares of Class A Common Stock sold through it as sales agent on that day, the volume weighted average price of the shares sold, the percentage of the daily trading volume and the net proceeds to us.

We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of Class A Common Stock sold through Cowen under the Sales Agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to Cowen in connection with the sales of our Class A Common Stock.

Settlement for sales of our Class A Common Stock 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.

Under the Sales Agreement, we may also sell shares of our Class A Common Stock to Cowen as principal for its own account, at a price to be agreed upon at the time of sale.

In connection with the sales of our Class A Common Stock on our behalf, Cowen will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to Cowen will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed in the Sales Agreement to provide indemnification and contribution to Cowen against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. As sales agent, Cowen will not engage in any transactions that stabilizes our Class A Common Stock.

 

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Our Class A Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market and trades under the symbol “ME.” The transfer agent of our Class A Common Stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Cowen 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.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP. The Agent is being represented in connection with this offering by Duane Morris LLP.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of 23andMe Holding Co. and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2022 and 2021, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2022, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, and in accordance with the Exchange Act, file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These documents may be accessed through the SEC’s electronic data gathering, analysis and retrieval system, via electronic means, including the SEC’s home page on the Internet (www.sec.gov). Our corporate website address is www.23andme.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

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 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.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form  10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on May 27, 2022, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form  10-K/A, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2022 (our “Annual Report on Form 10-K”);

 

   

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2022 and for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on November 7, 2022;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on  April 13, 2022June 13, 2022August 19, 2022 (as amended on  August 30, 2022),  September  1, 2022, November  4, 2022, and December 9, 2022;

 

   

our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on July 15, 2022; and

 

   

the description of shares of Class A Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement on  Form 8-A filed on June 17, 2021, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All other reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering (other than those furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information deemed to have been “furnished” rather than “filed” in accordance with the SEC’s rules), shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

For the purposes of this prospectus, any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:

23andMe Holding Co.

349 Oyster Point Boulevard

South San Francisco, California 94080

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (650) 938-6300

 

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Up to $150,000,000

 

LOGO

Class A Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Cowen

 

 

, 2023

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered will be borne by us and are set forth in the following table. All amounts except the registration fee are estimated.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 55,100  

FINRA filing fee

Legal fees and expenses

   $

$

75,500

350,000

 

 

Accounting fees and expenses

     (1  ) 

Printing expenses

     (1  ) 

Transfer and registrar fee

     (1  ) 

Miscellaneous

     (1  ) 

Total

     (1  ) 

 

(1)

These fees will be dependent on the type of securities offered and the number of offerings and, therefore, cannot be estimated at this time. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated amount of expenses of any offerings of securities.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a corporation’s board of directors to grant, and authorizes a court to award, indemnity to officers, directors, and other corporate agents.

As permitted by Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, no director will be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Pursuant to Delaware law such protection would be not available for liability:

 

   

for any breach of a duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper benefit; or

 

   

for an act or omission for which the liability of a director is expressly provided by an applicable statute, including unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Our certificate of incorporation also provides that if Delaware law is amended after the approval by our stockholders of the certificate of incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

Our bylaws further provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our bylaws also authorize us to indemnify any of our employees or agents and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or agent for any liability arising out of his or her action in that capacity, whether or not Delaware law would otherwise permit indemnification.

In addition, our bylaws also provide that we are required to advance expenses to our directors and officers as incurred in connection with legal proceedings against them for which they may be indemnified and that the rights conferred in the bylaws are not exclusive.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers.

 

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These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify each director and officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, for expenses such as, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and settlement amounts incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action by or in our right, arising out of the person’s services as our director or executive officer or as the director or executive officer of any subsidiary of ours or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request. We also have directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

The SEC has taken the position that personal liability of directors for violation of the federal securities laws cannot be limited and that indemnification by us for any such violation is unenforceable. The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers as required by these indemnification provisions.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

 

Description

  1.1***   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  1.2**   Sales Agreement, dated February 6, 2023, by and among 23andMe Holding Co. and Cowen and Company, LLC.
  2.1†*   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February  4, 2021, by and among VG Acquisition Corp., Chrome Merger Sub, Inc., and 23andMe, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39587), filed with the SEC on February 4, 2021).
  2.2*   First Amendment to the Merger Agreement, dated as of February  13, 2021, by and among VG Acquisition Corp., Chrome Merger Sub, Inc., and 23andMe, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4  (File No. 333-254772), filed with the SEC on May 13, 2021).
  2.3*   Second Amendment to the Merger Agreement, dated as of March  25, 2021, by and among VG Acquisition Corp., Chrome Merger Sub, Inc., and 23andMe, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A  (File No. 333-254772), filed with the SEC on May 13, 2021).
  3.1*   Certificate of Incorporation of 23andMe Holding Co. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on  Form 8-K/A (File No. 001-39587) filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021).
  3.2*   Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of 23andMe Holding Co. (incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39587) filed with the SEC on December 9, 2022).
  4.1*   Certificate of Corporate Domestication of VG Acquisition Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current Report on Form  8-K (File No. 001-39587) filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021).
  4.2***   Form of Specimen Certificate Representing Preferred Stock.
  4.3***   Form of Warrant.
  4.4***   Form of Warrant Agreement.
  4.5***   Form of Note.
  4.6***   Form of Unit Agreement.
  5.1**   Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
23.1**   Consent of KPMG, independent registered public accounting firm of 23andMe Holding Co.
23.2**   Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1**   Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of the Registration Statement).
25.1****   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Debt Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Debt Securities).
107**   Filing Fee Table

 

Schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request.

*

Previously filed.

**

Filed herewith.

***

To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities.

****

To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

  (2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post- effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i)

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (ii)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference

 

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  into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

  (5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

  (6)

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (7)

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  (8)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post- effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (9)

If and when applicable, to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)2 of the Trust Indenture Act.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any

 

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action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of South San Francisco, California, on this 6th day of February, 2023.

 

    23ANDME HOLDING CO.
Date: February 6, 2023     By:   /s/ Anne Wojcicki
      ANNE WOJCICKI
      Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Anne Wojcicki and Joseph Selsavage his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offerings covered by the registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name    Title   Date

/s/ Anne Wojcicki

Anne Wojcicki

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  February 6, 2023

/s/ Joseph Selsavage

Joseph Selsavage

  

Interim Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  February 6, 2023

/s/ Roelof Botha

Roelof Botha

   Director   February 6, 2023

/s/ Patrick Chung

Patrick Chung

   Director   February 6, 2023

/s/ Sandra R. Hernández, M.D.

Sandra R. Hernández, M.D.

   Director   February 6, 2023

/s/ Evan Lovell

Evan Lovell

   Director   February 6, 2023

/s/ Neal Mohan

Neal Mohan

   Director   February 6, 2023

 

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Name    Title   Date

 

/s/ Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D.

Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D.

  

 

Director

 

 

February 6, 2023

/s/ Richard Scheller, Ph.D.

Richard Scheller, Ph.D.

  

Director

  February 6, 2023

/s/ Peter Taylor

Peter Taylor

  

Director

  February 6, 2023

 

II-8

EX-1.2

Exhibit 1.2

23ANDME HOLDING CO.

$150,000,000

COMMON STOCK

SALES AGREEMENT

February 6, 2023

Cowen and Company, LLC

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

23andMe Holding Co. (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Cowen and Company, LLC (“Cowen”), as follows:

1. Issuance and Sale of Shares. The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through Cowen, acting as agent and/or principal, shares (the “Placement Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitation set forth in this Section 1 on the number of shares of Common Stock issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and Cowen shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of Common Stock through Cowen will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company and after such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement (as defined below) to issue the Common Stock.

The Company has filed or will file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Common Stock, to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). The Company has prepared a prospectus specifically relating to the Placement Shares (the “ATM Prospectus”) included as part of such registration statement, and shall, if necessary, prepare a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Placement Shares (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement. The Company shall furnish to Cowen, for use by Cowen, copies of the prospectus and ATM Prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as


supplemented by any Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Placement Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, as amended when it becomes effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B or 462(b) of the Securities Act, or any subsequent registration statement on Form S-3 filed pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act by the Company with respect to the Placement Shares, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The ATM Prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by any Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such ATM Prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, together with any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act regulations (“Rule 433”), relating to the Placement Shares that (i) is consented to by Cowen, hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus,” (ii) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i), in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g), is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).

2. Placements. Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell the Placement Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify Cowen by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) (a “Placement Notice”) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Placement Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of shares of Placement Shares to be issued, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Placement Shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined in Section 3) and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 2 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from Cowen set forth on Schedule 2, as such Schedule 2 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective upon receipt by Cowen unless and until (i) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, Cowen declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares have been sold, (iii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iv) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (v) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 11. The amount of any discount, commission or

 

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other compensation to be paid by the Company to Cowen in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 3. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor Cowen will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to Cowen and Cowen does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control.

3. Sale of Placement Shares by Cowen. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Company’s delivery of a Placement Notice, and unless the sale of the Placement Shares described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Cowen, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) to sell such Placement Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice. Cowen will provide written confirmation to the Company (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Placement Shares sold on such day, the volume-weighted average price of the Placement Shares sold, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company. In the event the Company engages Cowen for a sale of Placement Shares that would constitute a “block” within the meaning of Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under the Exchange Act (a “Block Sale”), the Company will provide Cowen, at Cowen’s request and upon reasonable advance notice to the Company, on or prior to the Settlement Date (as defined below), the opinions of counsel, accountant’s letter and officers’ certificates set forth in Section 8 hereof, each dated the Settlement Date, and such other documents and information as Cowen shall reasonably request. Cowen may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made through Nasdaq or on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock. Cowen shall not purchase Placement Shares for its own account as principal unless expressly authorized to do so by the Company in a Placement Notice. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that Cowen will be successful in selling Placement Shares, and (ii) Cowen will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by Cowen to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Section 3. For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which the Company’s Common Stock is purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not offer, sell or deliver, or request the offer or sale, of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement and, by notice to Cowen given by telephone (confirmed promptly by email), shall cancel any instructions for the offer or sale of any Placement Shares, and Cowen shall not be obligated to offer or sell any Placement Shares, (i) during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in

 

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possession of material non-public information or (ii) at any time from and including the date on which the Company shall issue a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (an “Earnings Announcement”) through and including the time that the Company files a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement.

4. Suspension of Sales.

(a) The Company or Cowen may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 2), suspend any sale of Placement Shares; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule 2 hereto, as such schedule may be amended from time to time.

(b) If either Cowen or the Company has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Common Stock, it shall promptly notify the other party, and Cowen may, at its sole discretion, suspend sales of the Placement Shares under this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Registration Statement is no longer effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall promptly notify Cowen, the Company shall not request the sale of any Placement Shares, and Cowen shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Placement Shares.

5. Settlement.

(a) Settlement of Placement Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the second (2nd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date” and the first such settlement date, the “First Delivery Date”). The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by Cowen at which such Placement Shares were sold, after deduction for (i) Cowen’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to Cowen hereunder pursuant to Section 7(g) (Expenses) hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.

 

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(b) Delivery of Placement Shares. On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement Shares being sold by crediting Cowen’s or its designee’s account (provided Cowen shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradeable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, Cowen will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver duly authorized Placement Shares on a Settlement Date (other than as a result of a failure by Cowen to provide instructions for delivery), the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 9(a) (Indemnification and Contribution) hereto, it will (i) hold Cowen harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable, documented expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company and (ii) pay to Cowen (without duplication) any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, Cowen that as of (i) the date of this Agreement, (ii) each Time of Sale (as defined below), (iii) each Settlement Date, and (iv) each Bring-Down Date (as defined below) (each date included in (i) through (iv), a “Representation Date”):

(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, contemplated or threatened by the Commission. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The sale of the Placement Shares hereunder meets the requirements of General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3.

(b) No Misstatement or Omission. The Prospectus when filed complied and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, at the time it became effective or its date, as applicable, complied and as of each Representation Date, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and, as of each Representation Date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, did not and, as of each Representation Date, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to Agent’s Information (as defined below). There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required. As used herein, “Time of Sale” means with respect to each offering of Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the time of Cowen’s initial entry into contracts with purchasers for the sale of such Placement Shares.

 

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(c) Offering Materials Furnished to Cowen. The Company has delivered to Cowen one complete copy of the Registration Statement and a copy of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without exhibits) and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as Cowen has reasonably requested. The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus was required to be filed with the Commission) delivered to Cowen for use in connection with the public offering of the Placement Shares contemplated herein have been and will be identical to the versions of such documents transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d) Ineligible Issuer. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company is an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. At any time when the Company is an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Placement Shares by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Placement Shares, in each case other than the Registration Statement.

(e) No Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents and warrants to Cowen that neither it nor any of its agents or representatives has used any written communications that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) relating to the Placement Shares, for so long as the Company remains an “ineligible issuer” under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

(f) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the completion of Cowen’s distribution of the Placement Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares other than the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.

(g) The Sales Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

(h) Authorization of the Common Stock. The Placement Shares, when issued and delivered, will be duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares by the Company is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law, under the organizational documents of the Company or under any agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or otherwise.

 

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(i) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

(j) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business: and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for regular quarterly dividends publicly announced by the Company or dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, by any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

(k) Independent Accountants. KPMG LLP, who has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission or incorporated by reference as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

(l) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting schedules included in or incorporated in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in or incorporated in the Registration Statement.

(m) XBRL. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in each Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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(n) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and therein. Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus. Except with respect to Lemonaid Health Limited as of the date hereof, each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or foreign partnership to transact business and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation and each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. Except as described in the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year and other than (i) those subsidiaries not required to be listed on Exhibit 21.1 by Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and (ii) those subsidiaries formed since the last day of the most recently ended fiscal year.

(o) Capital Stock Matters. The Common Stock conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in all material respects in the Registration Statement or Prospectus. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents in all material respects the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

(p) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s

 

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execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

(q) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to the extent related to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent.

(r) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits necessary to conduct their respective businesses, other than those the failure to possess or own would not result in a Material Adverse Change, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.

(s) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income, property and franchise tax returns and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(l) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income, property and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined.

 

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(t) Company Not an “Investment Company”. The Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Common Stock will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of Investment Company Act.

(u) Insurance. Except as otherwise described in the Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed prudent and customary for the business for which it is engaged including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

(v) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Shares.

(w) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.

(x) Exchange Act Compliance. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the Settlement Dates, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(y) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government officials or employees, political parties or campaigns, political party officials, or candidates for political office from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable anti-corruption laws, rules, or regulations of any other jurisdiction in which the Company or any subsidiary conducts business; or (iv) made any other unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any person.

 

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(z) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority, body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(aa) Compliance with OFAC.

 

  (A)

Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer or employee thereof, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate, representative, or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is: (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union (“EU”), His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor (ii) located, organized, or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of a U.S. government embargo (including, without limitation, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

  (B)

The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the Net Proceeds, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Net Proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of a U.S. government embargo; or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including Cowen)

 

  (C)

For the past five (5) years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any direct or indirect dealings or transactions with any Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions or any country or territory that, at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of a U.S. government embargo.

 

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(bb) Company’s Accounting System. The Company maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act (the “Exchange Act Rules”)) that, except to the extent described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (A) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (B) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(cc) Disclosure Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Rules) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management to allow timely decisions regarding disclosures. The Company has conducted evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(dd) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise described in the Prospectus, and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for

 

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investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys’ fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”), pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iii) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.

(ee) Intellectual Property. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess the valid right to use all (i) patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, Internet domain name registrations, copyrights, copyright registrations, licenses, trade secret rights (“Intellectual Property Rights”) and (ii) inventions, software, works of authorships, trademarks, service marks, trade names, databases, formulae, know how, Internet domain names and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary confidential information, systems, or procedures) (collectively, “Intellectual Property Assets”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted, and as proposed to be conducted and described in the Prospectus. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any opinion from their legal counsel concluding that any activities of their respective businesses infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate, valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person, and have not received written notice of any challenge, which is to their knowledge still pending, by any other person to the rights of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets owned or used by the Company or its subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its subsidiaries’ respective businesses as now conducted do not give rise to any infringement of, any misappropriation of, or other violation of, any valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person. All licenses for the use of the Intellectual Property Rights described in the Prospectus are valid, binding upon, and enforceable by or against the parties thereto in accordance to its terms. The Company has complied in all material respects with, and is not in breach nor has received any asserted or threatened claim of breach of any Intellectual Property license, and the Company has no knowledge of any breach or anticipated breach by any other person to any Intellectual Property license. Except as described in the Prospectus, no claim has been made against the Company alleging the infringement by the Company of any patent, trademark, service mark, trade name, copyright, trade secret, license in or other intellectual property right or franchise right of any person. The Company has taken all reasonable steps to protect, maintain and safeguard its Intellectual Property Rights, including the execution of appropriate nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other person in respect of, the Company’s right to own, use, or hold for use any of the Intellectual Property Rights as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the business as currently conducted.

 

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(ff) Regulatory Consents and Permits. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have such permits, licenses, clearances and other approvals and other authorizations necessary to conduct the business of the Company as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) or similar state, federal, or foreign agencies, except for any of the foregoing that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Change (the “Regulatory Permits”); the Company is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of the Regulatory Permits, and all of the Regulatory Permits are valid and in full force and effect, in each case in all material respects, except where any invalidity, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; the Company has not received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation, termination, modification or impairment of rights of any of the Regulatory Permits that, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(gg) Regulatory Filings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has failed to file with the applicable regulatory authorities (including, without limitation, the FDA, or any foreign, federal, state, provincial or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) any required filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission, except for such failures that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, since January 1, 2019, all such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions were in compliance with applicable laws when filed or were subsequently corrected, and no deficiencies have been asserted by any applicable regulatory authority with respect to any such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions, except for any deficiencies that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. The Company has operated and currently is, in all material respects, in compliance with the United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, all applicable rules and regulations of the FDA and other federal, state, local and foreign governmental bodies exercising comparable authority. The Company has no knowledge of any studies, tests or trials not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus the results of which reasonably call into question in any material respect the results of the studies, tests and trials described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(hh) Regulatory Matters. The Company has not, since January 1, 2019, received any written correspondence or notice from any court or arbitrator or federal, state, local, or foreign governmental or regulatory authority, alleging or asserting noncompliance with the Health Care Laws (as defined below), which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company is and has been in material compliance, since January 1, 2019, with all applicable health care laws, including without limitation, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. §301 et seq.), the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b)), the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq.), the criminal False Claims Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(a)), the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a), the exclusions law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7), Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act), Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social

 

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Security Act), the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Section 263a), and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws, and comparable state laws, and all other local, state, federal, national, supranational, and foreign laws relating to the practice or delivery of pharmacy and other health care or related services, or billing or reimbursement therefor, including without limitation, such laws regarding facility and professional licensure, fraud and abuse, kickbacks, self-referrals, feesplitting, false claims, and the regulation of the Company (collectively, “Health Care Laws”). Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors, employees, or agents is currently excluded from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs or any other state or federal health care program. To the Company’s knowledge, each healthcare professional that has provided any material clinical services to or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries was at the time of providing the clinical services duly licensed or authorized, as applicable, to practice his or her profession, as applicable, and each healthcare professional that currently provides material clinical services is duly licensed or authorized, as applicable, to practice his or her profession. To the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred, and no fact, circumstance or condition exists, that has or reasonably may be expected to result in the denial, loss, suspension, revocation, rescission, probation or any other disciplinary action of or to any such professional license or authorization, except where such action would not be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. To the Company’s knowledge, no such healthcare professional: (i) has been sanctioned or disciplined by any licensing board or any other governmental agency or body, (ii) has had a final judgment or settlement without judgment entered against him or her in connection with a malpractice claim, (iii) has been found liable or responsible for any civil offense reasonably related to qualifications or competence relating to his or her professional practice, and/or (iv) has been terminated for cause related to a malpractice claim or adverse event which, in the case of any of the foregoing, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

(ii) Clinical Studies. To the Company’s knowledge, the studies, tests and preclinical and clinical investigations conducted by or on behalf of the Company and described in the Prospectus were and, if still pending, are, in all material respects, being conducted in accordance with all Applicable Laws (as defined below), including, without limitation, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and implementing regulations including, to the extent applicable and required, good laboratory practice (“GLP”) regulations (21 C.F.R. Part 58) and good clinical practice (21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 312 and 812); the descriptions of the results of such studies, tests and trials contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are accurate in all material respects and fairly present the data derived from such studies, tests and trials; except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any studies, tests or trials the results of which the Company believes reasonably call into question, in any material respect, the study, test, or trial results described or referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus when viewed in the context in which such results are described and the clinical state of development; and except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have received any written notices or correspondence from any governmental authority requiring the termination, suspension or material modification of any studies, tests or preclinical or clinical investigations conducted by or on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

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(jj) Listing. The Company is subject to and in compliance in all material respects with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is listed on Nasdaq, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or reasonably likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the Exchange, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. All of the Placement Shares that have been or may be sold under this Agreement have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance; the Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that, upon and at all times after Nasdaq shall have approved the Placement Shares for listing, it will be in compliance with all applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in Nasdaq’s listing rules that are then in effect.

(kk) Brokers. Except for Cowen, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(ll) No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness. Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of the members of any of them.

(mm) No Reliance. The Company has not relied upon Cowen or legal counsel for Cowen for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares.

(nn) FINRA Exemption. The Company qualifies as an “experienced issue” (within the meaning of FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(j)(6)) for purposes of the exemption from filing under FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(h)(1)(C).

(oo) Compliance with Laws. The Company has not, since January 1, 2019, been advised in writing, and has no reason to believe, that it and each of its subsidiaries are not conducting business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, except where failure to be so in compliance would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries: (A) is, and at all times since January 1, 2019 has been, in compliance with all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing, labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, storage, import, export or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by the Company or its subsidiaries (“Applicable Laws”), except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (B) has not, since January 1, 2019, received any FDA Form 483, notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other written correspondence or notice from the FDA or any other governmental authority alleging or asserting noncompliance in any material respect with any Applicable Laws, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (C) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, has not, since January 1, 2019, received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding,

 

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hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any governmental authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in material violation of any Applicable Laws and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority or third party is considering any such material claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; and (D) except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Regulatory Permits and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct in all material respects on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission).

(pp) No Safety Notices. (a) Since January 1, 2019, there have been no recalls, field notifications, field corrections, market withdrawals or replacements, warnings, “dear doctor” letters, investigator notices, safety alerts or other notice of action relating to an alleged lack of safety, efficacy, or regulatory compliance of the Company’s products (“Safety Notices”), and (b) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no facts that would be reasonably likely to result in (x) a Safety Notice with respect to the Company’s products or services, or (y) a termination or suspension of marketing or testing of any of the Company’s products or services, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(qq) Privacy Laws. The Company and each of its subsidiaries are, and since January 1, 2019 have been, in material compliance with all applicable data privacy and security laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “HITECH Act”) (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.); and the Company and each its subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to comply with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, “Privacy Laws”). To ensure material compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling and analysis of Personal Data (as defined below) (the “Policies”). The Company provides accurate notice of its Policies to its customers, employees, third party vendors and representatives. The Policies provide accurate and sufficient notice of the Company’s then-current privacy practices relating to its subject matter and such Policies do not contain any material omissions of the Company’s then-current privacy practices. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, email address, photograph, social security number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) Protected Health Information as defined by HIPAA; (iv) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; and (v) any other piece of information that reasonably allows the specific identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. None of such disclosures made or contained in any of the Policies have been inaccurate, misleading, deceptive or in violation of any Privacy Laws or Policies in any material respect. To the Company’s knowledge, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any other agreement referred to in this Agreement will not result in a breach of any Privacy Laws or Policies. Neither

 

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the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, (i) has, since January 1, 2019, received written notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposed any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.

(rr) IT Systems. (i)(x)There has been no security breach or attack or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (“IT Systems and Data”), and (y) the Company and its subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any security breach, attack or compromise to their IT Systems and Data, (ii) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have complied, and are presently in compliance with, all applicable laws, statutes or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and all industry guidelines, standards, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification and (iii) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practice.

(ss) Export and Import Laws. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries, and, to the Company’s knowledge, each of their affiliates and any director, officer, agent or employee of, or other person associated with or acting on behalf of, the Company has acted at all times in compliance with applicable Export and Import Laws (as defined below) and there are no claims, complaints, charges, investigations or proceedings pending or expected or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any Governmental Authority under any Export or Import Laws. The term “Export and Import Laws” means the Arms Export Control Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended, the Export Administration Regulations, and all other laws and regulations of the United States government regulating the provision of services to non-U.S. parties or the export and import of articles or information from and to the United States of America, and all similar laws and regulations of any foreign government regulating the provision of services to parties not of the foreign country or the export and import of articles and information from and to the foreign country to parties not of the foreign country.

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to Cowen or to counsel for Cowen pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to Cowen as to the matters set forth therein.

The Company acknowledges that Cowen and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 7 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to Cowen, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

 

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7. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with Cowen that:

(a) Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by Cowen under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify Cowen promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon Cowen’s reasonable request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in Cowen’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by Cowen (provided, however, that the failure of Cowen to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect Cowen’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement) and provided, further, that the only remedy Cowen shall have with respect to the failure to make such filing (other than Cowen’s rights under Section 9 hereof), will be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed; (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Placement Shares or a security convertible into the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to Cowen within a reasonable period of time before the filing and Cowen has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of Cowen to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect Cowen’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy Cowen shall have with respect to the failure to make such filing (other than Cowen’s rights under Section 9 hereof) will be to cease making sales under this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to Cowen at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, and (v) prior to the termination of this Agreement, the Company will notify Cowen if at any time the Registration Statement shall no longer be effective as a result of the passage of time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or otherwise. Prior to the initial sale of any Placement Shares, the Company shall file a final Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) relating to the Placement Shares.

(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise Cowen, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued.

 

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(c) Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. During any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by Cowen under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Placement Shares, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify Cowen to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

(d) Listing of Placement Shares. During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by Cowen under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Placement Shares (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on Nasdaq and to qualify the Placement Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as Cowen reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in securities or file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.

(e) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to Cowen and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as Cowen may from time to time reasonably request and, at Cowen’s request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to Cowen to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.

(f) Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a twelve (12)-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act.

 

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(g) Expenses. The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereunder, will pay the following expenses all incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, expenses relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and each amendment and supplement thereto, of each Prospectus and of each amendment and supplement thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Placement Shares, (iii) the qualification of the Placement Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(d) of this Agreement, including filing fees (provided, however, that any fees or disbursements of counsel for Cowen in connection therewith shall be paid by Cowen except as set forth in (vii) below), (iv) the printing and delivery to Cowen of copies of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and of this Agreement, (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing or qualification of the Placement Shares for trading on Nasdaq, (vi) the filing fees and expenses, if any, of the Commission, (vii) the filing fees and associated legal expenses of Cowen’s outside counsel for filings with the FINRA Corporate Financing Department, if any, such legal expense reimbursement not to exceed $10,000, and, (viii) the reasonable fees and disbursements of Cowen’s counsel in an amount not to exceed $75,000.

(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”

(i) Notice of Other Sales. During the pendency of any Placement Notice given hereunder, and for 5 trading days following the termination of any Placement Notice given hereunder, the Company shall provide Cowen notice as promptly as reasonably possible before it offers to sell, contracts to sell, sells, grants any option to sell or otherwise disposes of any shares of Common Stock (other than Placement Shares offered pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock; provided, that such notice shall not be required in connection with the (i) issuance, grant or sale of Common Stock, options to purchase shares of Common Stock or Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or other equity awards pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Prospectus, (ii) the issuance of securities in connection with an acquisition, merger or sale or purchase of assets, (iii) the issuance or sale of Common Stock pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan that the Company may adopt from time to time provided the implementation of such is disclosed to Cowen in advance or (iv) any shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange, conversion or redemption of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the Company’s ability to file a registration statement under the Securities Act or require the Company to give prior notice thereof to Cowen.

(j) Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice, advise Cowen promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided to Cowen pursuant to this Agreement.

(k) Due Diligence Cooperation. The Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by Cowen or its agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as Cowen may reasonably request.

 

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(l) Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares. The Company agrees that on such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (each and every filing under Rule 424(b), a “Filing Date”), and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market. The Company shall disclose in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K, the number of the Placement Shares sold through Cowen under this Agreement, and the gross proceeds and Net Proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Placement Shares and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter or, in the case of an Annual Report on Form 10-K, during the fiscal year covered by such Annual Report and the fourth quarter of such fiscal year.

(m) Bring-Down Dates; Certificate. On or prior to the First Delivery Date and each time (i) the Company files the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or amends or supplements the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares (other than a prospectus supplement filed in accordance with Section 7(l) of this Agreement) by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of document(s) by reference to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares; (ii) the Company files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act (a “Form 10-K Bring-Down Date”); (iii) the Company files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or (iv) the Company files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than an earnings release) under the Exchange Act (each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a Bring-Down Date); the Company shall furnish Cowen (but in the case of clause (iv) above, only if Cowen reasonably determines that the information contain in such Form 8-K is material) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m) within three (3) Trading Days of any Bring-Down Date if requested by Cowen. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(m) shall be waived for any Bring-Down Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Bring-Down Date) and the next occurring Bring-Down Date; provided, however, that such waiver shall not apply for any Bring-Down Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Bring-Down Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide Cowen with a certificate under this Section 7(m), then before the Company delivers the Placement Notice or Cowen sells any Placement Shares, the Company shall provide Cowen with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m), dated the date of the Placement Notice.

(n) Legal Opinion. On or prior to the First Delivery Date and within three (3) Trading Days of each Bring-Down Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to Cowen a written intellectual property opinion and negative assurance letter of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (“Company Counsel”),

 

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dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, respectively, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any such letter if the Company does not intend to deliver a Placement Notice in such calendar quarter until such time as the Company delivers its next Placement Notice; provided, further, that the Company’s obligation to have Company Counsel furnish a negative assurance letter is conditioned upon counsel to Cowen furnishing a negative assurance letter dated as of the same such date; provided, further, that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent Bring-Down Dates, counsel may furnish Cowen with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that Cowen may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(n) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Bring-Down Date). On or prior to the First Delivery Date and within three (3) Trading Days of each Form 10-K Bring-Down Date, beginning with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, the Company shall cause to be furnished to Cowen a written intellectual property opinion of the Company’s internal counsel (“Company IP Counsel”), or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to Cowen, in form and substance satisfactory to Cowen and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented.

(o) Comfort Letter. On or prior to the First Delivery Date and within three (3) Trading Days of each Bring-Down Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause its independent accountants to furnish Cowen letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, in form and substance satisfactory to Cowen, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to Cowen in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

(p) Market Activities. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Common Stock to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Shares other than Cowen; provided, however, that the Company may bid for and purchase shares of its Common Stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act.

(q) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable and customary for the business for which it is engaged.

 

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(r) Compliance with Laws. The Company and each of its subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, all material environmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and the Company and each of its subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations and with applicable environmental laws, except where the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(s) Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor its subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act, assuming no change in the Commission’s current interpretation as to entities that are not considered an investment company.

(t) Securities Act and Exchange Act. The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Placement Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.

(u) No Offer to Sell. Other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, neither Cowen nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than Cowen in its capacity as such) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Common Stock hereunder.

(v) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and its subsidiaries will use their best efforts to comply with all effective applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(w) Affirmation. Each Placement Notice delivered by the Company to Cowen shall be deemed to be (i) an affirmation that the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and contained in any certificate delivered to Cowen pursuant hereto are true and correct at the time of delivery of such Placement Notice, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date, and (ii) an undertaking that such representations, warranties and agreements will be true and correct on any applicable Time of Sale and Settlement Date, as though made at and as of each such time, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date (it being understood that such representations, warranties and agreements shall relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of such Placement Notice acceptance).

(x) Renewal. If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, the aggregate gross sales price of Placement Shares sold by the Company is less than the Maximum Amount and this Agreement has not expired or been terminated, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new shelf registration statement relating to the Placement Shares, in a form satisfactory to Cowen, and, if not automatically effective, will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Placement Shares. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new shelf registration statement.

 

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8. Conditions to Cowen’s Obligations. The obligations of Cowen hereunder with respect to a Placement Notice will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein, to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, to the completion by Cowen of a due diligence review satisfactory to Cowen in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by Cowen in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall be effective and shall be available for (i) all sales of Placement Shares issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices and (ii) the sale of all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued pursuant to any Placement Notice.

(b) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related Prospectus or such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c) No Misstatement or Material Omission. Cowen shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in Cowen’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in Cowen’s opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(d) Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change, on a consolidated basis, in the authorized capital stock of the Company or any Material Adverse Change or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

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(e) Company Counsel Legal Opinion. Cowen shall have received the opinions of Company Counsel and Company IP Counsel required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinions are required pursuant to Section 7(n).

(f) Cowen Counsel Legal Opinion. Cowen shall have received from Duane Morris LLP, counsel for Cowen, such opinion or opinions, on or before the date on which the delivery of the Company Counsel legal opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(n), with respect to such matters as Cowen may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(g) Comfort Letter. Cowen shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) on or before the date on which such delivery of such Comfort Letter is required pursuant to Section 7(o).

(h) Representation Certificate. Cowen shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(m).

(i) Secretary’s Certificate. On or prior to the First Delivery Date, Cowen shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by its corporate secretary, in form and substance satisfactory to Cowen and its counsel.

(j) No Suspension. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended on Nasdaq.

(k) Other Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m), the Company shall have furnished to Cowen such appropriate further information, certificates and documents as Cowen may have reasonably requested. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents shall have been in compliance with the provisions hereof. The Company will furnish Cowen with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as Cowen shall have reasonably requested.

(l) Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

(m) Approval for Listing. The Placement Shares shall either have been (i) approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on Nasdaq at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.

(n) No Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit Cowen to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a).

 

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9. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Cowen, the directors, officers, partners, employees and agents of Cowen and each person, if any, who (i) controls Cowen within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with Cowen from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including, but not limited to, any and all reasonable investigative, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any and all amounts paid in settlement (in accordance with Section 9(c)) of, any action, suit or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or otherwise, or any claim asserted), as and when incurred, to which Cowen, or any such person, may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based, directly or indirectly, on (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any free writing prospectus or in any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company or based on written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Common Stock under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, or (y) the omission or alleged omission to state in any such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement and is caused directly or indirectly by an untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with solely Agent’s Information. “Agent’s Information” means, solely, the following information in the Prospectus: the ninth paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.

(b) Cowen Indemnification. Cowen agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company that signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 9(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agent’s Information.

(c) Procedure. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 9 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 9, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 9 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 9 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement,

 

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the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred after the indemnifying party receives a written invoice relating to fees, disbursements and other charges in reasonable detail. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 9 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding.

(d) Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 9 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company or Cowen, the Company and Cowen will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than Cowen, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and Cowen may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and Cowen on the other. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and Cowen on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total Net Proceeds

 

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from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by Cowen from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and Cowen, on the other, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or Cowen, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and Cowen agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 9(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 9(d) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 9(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 9(c) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(d), Cowen shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 9(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of Cowen, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 9(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 9(d) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 9(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.

10. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 9 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of Cowen, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of their respective officers, directors or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

 

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11. Termination.

(a) Cowen shall have the right by giving notice as hereinafter specified at any time to terminate this Agreement if (i) any Material Adverse Change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change has occurred that, in the reasonable judgment of Cowen, may materially impair the ability of Cowen to sell the Placement Shares hereunder, (ii) the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder, or (iii) any other condition of Cowen’s obligations hereunder is not fulfilled, or (iv), any suspension or limitation of trading in the Placement Shares or in securities generally on Nasdaq shall have occurred. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g) (Expenses), Section 9 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 10 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 16 (Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction) and Section 17 (Waiver of Jury Trial) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If Cowen elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 11(a), Cowen shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 12 (Notices).

(b) The Company shall have the right, by giving five (5) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(c) Cowen shall have the right, by giving five (5) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(d) Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 11, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares through Cowen on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; provided that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(e) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 11(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 shall remain in full force and effect. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not have any liability to Cowen for any discount, commission or other compensation with respect to any Placement Shares not otherwise sold by Cowen under this Agreement, except with respect to reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 7(g).

 

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(f) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by Cowen or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

12. Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, and if sent to Cowen, shall be delivered to Cowen at Cowen and Company, LLC, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, fax no. 646-562-1130, Attention: General Counsel, email: Bradley.friedman@cowen.com with a copy to Duane Morris LLP, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, Attention: James T. Seery, email: jtseery@duanemorris.com; or if sent to the Company, shall be delivered to 23andMe Holding Co., 349 Oyster Point Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080, attention: Kathy Hibbs, email: khibbs@23andme.com, with a copy to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, One Oxford Centre, Thirty-Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, attention: Marlee S. Myers, email: marlee.myers@morganlewis.com. Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day (as defined below), or, if such day is not a Business Day on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid) or (iv) when delivered by electronic communication (“Electronic Notice”), at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives verification of receipt by the receiving party, other than via auto reply. For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which Nasdaq and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

13. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and Cowen and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 9 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that Cowen may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate of Cowen without obtaining the Company’s consent.

14. Adjustments for Share Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any share split, share dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Common Stock.

15. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability. This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and Cowen. In the event that any one or more of the provisions

 

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contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.

16. Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

17. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and Cowen each hereby irrevocably waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

18. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) Cowen has been retained solely to act as an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares contemplated hereby and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and Cowen has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether Cowen has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;

(b) the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c) the Company has been advised that Cowen and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that Cowen has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d) the Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against Cowen, for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that Cowen shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, partners, employees or creditors of the Company.

 

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19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile or electronic transmission.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and Cowen, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and Cowen.

 

Very truly yours,
COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael Murphy

  Name: Michael Murphy
  Title: Managing Director
ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written:
23ANDME HOLDING CO.
By:  

/s/ Joseph Selsavage

Name: Joseph Selsavage
Title: Interim Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Accounting Officer

 

34


SCHEDULE 1

FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE

 

From:    [    ]
Cc:    [    ]
To:    [    ]
Subject:    Cowen At the Market Offering—Placement Notice

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Sales Agreement between 23andMe Holding Co. (the “Company”), and Cowen and Company, LLC (“Cowen”) dated February 6, 2023 (the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that Cowen sell up to [ ] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value [____] per share, at a minimum market price of $_______ per share. Sales should begin on the date of this Notice and shall continue until [DATE] [all shares are sold].


SCHEDULE 2

Notice Parties

Company

 

Kathy Hibbs    Chief Administrative Officer
Joseph Selsavage    Interim Chief Financial and Accounting Officer
Jacquie Cooke    General Counsel and Privacy Officer

Cowen

 

Michael J. Murphy    Managing Director
William Follis    Managing Director


SCHEDULE 3

Compensation

Cowen shall be paid compensation equal to 3.0 % of the gross proceeds from the sales of Placement Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.


Exhibit 7(m)

OFFICER CERTIFICATE

The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected _______________________, of 23andMe Holding Co. (“Company”), a Delaware corporation, does hereby certify in such capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 7(m) of the Sales Agreement dated February 6, 2023 (the “Sales Agreement”) between the Company and Cowen and Company, LLC, that to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned.

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in Section 6 of the Sales Agreement (A) to the extent such representations and warranties are subject to qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Change, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date, and (B) to the extent such representations and warranties are not subject to any qualifications or exceptions, are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof as if made on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date; and

(ii) The Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied pursuant to the Sales Agreement at or prior to the date hereof.

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Date:  

 

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

February 6, 2023

23andMe Holding Co.

349 Oyster Point Boulevard

South San Francisco, CA 94080

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to 23andMe Holding Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company has provided us with two prospectuses that form a part of the Registration Statement: (i) a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), which provides that it may be supplemented in the future by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”), and (ii) a sales agreement prospectus (the “ATM Prospectus”), covering the offering, issuance and sale of up to $150,000,000 of shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) that may be issued and sold under the Sales Agreement, dated February 6, 2023, between the Company and Cowen and Company, LLC (such agreement, the “Sales Agreement”) and such shares, the “Placement Shares”).

The Registration Statement, including the Base Prospectus as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements and the ATM Prospectus, will provide for the registration of the offering and sale by the Company of up to $500,000,000 of an indeterminate amount of (i) shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Base Prospectus (as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements) or the ATM Prospectus; (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”) issuable pursuant to the Base Prospectus (as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements); (iii) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities (as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements) (the “Warrants”); (iv) one or more series of debt securities of the Company, which may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock (the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued pursuant to the indenture to be dated on or about the date of the first issuance of Debt Securities thereunder, by and between a trustee to be selected by the Company (the “Trustee”) and qualified to act as such under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”) and the Company (the “Indenture”) issuable pursuant to the Base Prospectus (as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements); (v) units (“Units”) comprised of shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, warrants and other securities of the Company in any combination issuable pursuant to the Base Prospectus (as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements); and (vi) the Placement Shares.

The Debt Securities, the Preferred Stock, the Common Stock, the Warrants, the Units and the Placement Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “Registered Securities.” The Registered Securities are being registered for offering and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement.


23andMe Holding Co.

February 6, 2023

Page 2

 

We have reviewed the corporate proceedings taken by the Company with respect to the registration of the Registered Securities. We have examined and relied upon originals or copies of such records, instruments, certificates, memoranda, and other documents as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion and have assumed, without independent inquiry, the accuracy of those documents. In that examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to the originals of all documents reviewed by us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of all original documents reviewed by us in original or copy form, and the legal competence of each individual executing such documents.

Our opinion is subject to the following assumptions, exceptions and qualifications:

(i) We have assumed that the issuance, sale, amount, and terms of each of the Registered Securities to be offered from time to time by the Company will be duly authorized and established by proper action of the Board of Directors of the Company, and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended from time to time, the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time, and applicable Delaware law, and that, at the time of each such issuance and sale of such Registered Securities, the Company will continue to be validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the requisite corporate power and authority to issue and sell all such Registered Securities.

(ii) We have assumed that any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement, including the ATM Prospectus, from time to time will not exceed the maximum authorized number of shares of Common Stock under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as the same may have been amended, minus that number of shares of Common Stock that may have been issued and are outstanding, or are reserved for issuance for other purposes, at such time.

(iii) We have assumed that any shares of Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement, from time to time will not exceed the maximum authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as the same may have been amended, minus that number of shares of Preferred Stock that may have been issued and are outstanding, or are reserved for issuance for other purposes, at such time and that an appropriate certificate of designation relating to each such series of Preferred Stock will have been duly authorized and established by proper action of the Board of Directors of the Company and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required under Delaware law, and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended from time to time, the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time, and applicable Delaware law, and that such certificate of designation will have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

(iv) We have assumed that any Warrants issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement, from time to time, will be issued under one or more valid, binding, and enforceable warrant agreements (each a “Warrant Agreement”); and that any Warrants offered under the Registration Statement and the related Warrant Agreement, as applicable, will be executed, with such forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference therein.


23andMe Holding Co.

February 6, 2023

Page 3

 

(v) We have assumed that any Debt Securities issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement, from time to time, will be issued under and in conformity with a valid, binding and enforceable Indenture, which shall be delivered by the Trustee, and the Trustee will have all requisite power and authority to effect the transactions contemplated by such Indenture, and the Trustee or an authenticating agent for the trustee will duly authenticate the Debt Securities pursuant to the applicable Indenture, and the applicable Indenture will be the valid and binding obligation of the Trustee and will be enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms. With respect to any applicable Indenture, we are expressing no opinion herein as to (i) the application of or compliance with any foreign, federal or state law or regulation or (ii) the power, authority or competence of any party, other than the Company.

(vi) We have assumed that any Units will be issued by the Company pursuant the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement, from time to time, will be issued under one or more valid, binding, and enforceable unit agreements to be entered into between the Company and a financial institution as unit agent (the “Unit Agreement”); and that any Units offered under the Registration Statement and the related Unit Agreement, as applicable, will be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference therein. With respect to any applicable Unit Agreement, we are expressing no opinion herein as to (i) the application of or compliance with any foreign, federal or state law or regulation or (ii) the power, authority or competence of any party, other than the Company.

(vii) The enforcement of any obligations of the Company may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, marshaling or other laws and rules of law affecting the enforcement generally of creditors’ rights and remedies, including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance and fraudulent transfer laws.

(viii) Our opinions are subject to the effects of general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), including but not limited to, principles limiting the availability of specific performance or injunctive relief, and concepts of materiality and reasonableness, and the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing.

(ix) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any particular provision of any of the Registered Securities relating to:

(a) waivers of rights to object to jurisdiction or venue, or consents to jurisdiction or venue;

(b) waivers of rights to (or methods of) service of process, or rights to trial by jury, or other rights or benefits bestowed by operation of law;

(c) waiver of any applicable defenses, setoffs, recoupments, or counterclaims;

(d) the granting of any power of attorney or of any proxy to any person;

(e) exculpation or exoneration clauses, clauses relating to rights of indemnity or contribution, and clauses relating to releases or waivers of unmatured claims or rights;


23andMe Holding Co.

February 6, 2023

Page 4

 

(f) waivers or variations of legal provisions or rights which are not capable of waiver or variation under application law; and

(g) the imposition or collection of interest on overdue interest or providing for a penalty rate of interest or late charges on overdue or defaulted obligations, or the payment of any premium, liquidated damages, or other amount which may be held by any court to be a “penalty” or a “forfeiture.”

We express no opinion as to the effect of events occurring, circumstances arising or changes of law becoming effective or occurring, after the date hereof on the matters addressed in this opinion letter, and we assume no responsibility to inform you of additional or changed facts, or changes in law, of which we may become aware.

Subject to the limitations set forth below, we have made such examination of law as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of expressing the opinions set forth in this letter. Such opinions are limited solely to the Delaware General Corporation Law as applied by courts located in Delaware (other than tax, usury, antitrust, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer laws, blue sky and securities laws, as to which we express no opinion). We express no opinion whatsoever as to the compliance or noncompliance by any person with antifraud or information delivery provisions of any state or federal laws, rules and regulations, and no inference regarding such compliance or noncompliance may be drawn from any opinion herein.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Placement Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Sales Agreement and as contemplated in the Registration Statement and in the ATM Prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2. The shares of Common Stock registered under the Registration Statement for offer and sale by the Company, when duly authorized and issued against the full payment specified therefor, which must have a value not less than the par value thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3. The shares of Preferred Stock registered under the Registration Statement, when duly authorized and issued against the full payment specified therefor, which must have a value not less than the par value thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

4. The Warrants registered under the Registration Statement, when duly authorized, executed and delivered against the payment specified therefor, and pursuant to a Warrant Agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the holder of the Warrants, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.

5. The Debt Securities registered under the Registration Statement, when duly authorized, executed and delivered against the payment specified therefor pursuant to the Indenture that has been qualified under the TIA and any underwriting agreement or purchase agreement duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the initial purchasers of the Debt Securities, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.


23andMe Holding Co.

February 6, 2023

Page 5

 

6. The Units registered under the Registration Statement, when duly authorized, executed and delivered against the payment specified therefor, and pursuant to a Unit Agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the holder of the Units, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.

This opinion letter is given as of the date hereof, and we express no opinion as to the effect of subsequent events or changes in law occurring or becoming effective after the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update this opinion letter or otherwise advise you with respect to any facts or circumstances or changes in law that may hereafter occur or come to our attention.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Base Prospectus and the ATM Prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In rendering this opinion and giving this consent, we do not admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the use of our report dated May 27, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of 23andMe Holding Co. and subsidiaries, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Santa Clara, California

February 6, 2023

EX-FILING FEES

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form S-3

(Form Type)

23andMe Holding Co.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

                         
     Security
Type(1)
  Security
Class
Title
  Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
  Amount
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit
  Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price
  Fee
Rate
  Amount of
Registration
Fee
  Carry
Forward
Form
Type
  Carry
Forward
File
Number
  Carry
Forward
Initial
effective
date
  Filing Fee
Previously
Paid In
Connection
with
Unsold
Securities
to
be
Carried
Forward
 
Newly Registered Securities
                         
Fees to Be Paid   Debt   Debt Securities   457(o)   (2)(3)   (2)   (2)              
                         
    Equity   Class A
Common Stock,
$0.0001 par
value per
share
  457(o)   (2)(3)   (2)   (2)              
                         
    Equity   Preferred Stock,
$0.0001 par
value per
share
  457(o)   (2)(3)   (2)   (2)              
                         
    Other   Warrants   457(o)   (2)(3)   (2)   (2)              
                         
    Other   Units   457(o)   (2)(3)   (2)   (2)              
                         
    Unallocated
(Universal)
Shelf
    457(o)   (2)(3)   (2)    $500,000,000     $110.20
per
1,000,000
   $ 55,100           
                         
Fees Previously Paid                          
 
Carry Forward Securities
                         
Carry Forward Securities   Unallocated
(Universal)
Shelf
      415(a)(6)     $     $         $
                   
    Total Offering Amounts      $500,000,000   $   $ 55,100          
                   
    Total Fees Previously Paid      $0              
                   
    Total Fee Offsets      0              
                   
    Net Fee Due        $ 55,100       $ 55,100                

 

(1)

Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder.

(2)

Such information is not required to be included pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

(3)

We are registering hereunder such indeterminate number of each identified class of securities up to a proposed aggregate offering price of $500,000,000, which may be offered by us from time to time in unspecified numbers and at indeterminate prices, and as may be issued upon conversion, exercise, redemption, repurchase or exchange of any securities registered hereunder, including any applicable anti-dilution provisions. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $500,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the securities being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.