S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2020 

Registration No. 333-            

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ArTara Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	20-4580525
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1 Little West 12^th Street

New York, New York 10014

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. Inducement Plan

(Full title of the plans)

Jesse Shefferman

President and Chief Executive Officer

ArTara Therapeutics, Inc.

1 Little West 12^th Street

New York, New York 10014

(Name and address of agent for service)

(646) 844-0337

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Jesse Shefferman ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. 1 Little West 12^th Street New York, New York 10014 (646) 844-0337 Ryan S. Sansom, Esq. Karen E. Deschaine, Esq. Cooley LLP 4401 Eastgate Mall San Diego, California 92121 (858) 550-6000

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 the Securities Act.   ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered (1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Share (2)		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (2)		Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock (par value $0.001 per share)	600,000 shares	$	22.01	$	13,206,000	$	1,714.14

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the registrant’s Common Stock that become issuable under the ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction.

(2) This estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h)(1) of the Securities Act solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.  The price per share and aggregate offering price are based upon the average of the high and low prices of the registrant’s Common Stock on March 26, 2020, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION.

Not required to be filed with this Registration Statement.

ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

Not required to be filed with this Registration Statement.

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PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

The registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed by the registrant with the SEC (other than portions of Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits related to such items or other portions of documents filed with the SEC which were furnished, but not filed, pursuant to applicable rules promulgated by the SEC):

● the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 19, 2020;

● the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 10, 2020 (as amended on Form 8-K/A on March 19, 2020), March 23, 2020 and March 30, 2020; and

● the description of the Company’s Common Stock contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36694) filed with the SEC on October 16, 2014 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all reports and other documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits furnished on such form that relate to such items, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such person as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred. The Company’s sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) provides for indemnification of its directors and officers, to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL. In addition, the Company maintains a policy providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

Section 102 of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability:

● for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;

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

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● for acts related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or

● for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The Company’s second amended and restated bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation include the right to advancement of expenses; provided, however, that if required by the DGCL, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

Exhibit Number	Description
4.1	Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 27, 2014).
4.2	Certificate of Amendment to the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 10, 2020).
4.2	Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, dated August 1, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 3, 2017).
4.4	Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 10, 2020).
4.5	Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 3, 2017).
4.6	Fifth Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2017 by and among the Registrant and the stockholders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 23, 2017).
4.7	Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2017, by and among the Registrant and the investors party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 3, 2017).
4.8	Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2019, by and among the Registrant and the institutional investors named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 24, 2019).
4.9	Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 10, 2020).
5.1	Opinion of Cooley LLP.
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.3	Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1	Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
99.1	Inducement Plan of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020).
99.2	Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. Inducement Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020).
99.3	Forms of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. Inducement Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020).

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ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

(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 (a)(i) and (a)(ii) 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 SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

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

(c) 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.

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

3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York on March 30, 2020.

ArTara Therapeutics, Inc.
By:	/s/ Jesse Shefferman
	Jesse Shefferman
	President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Persons By These Presents, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jesse Shefferman as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

Name	Title	Date
/s/ Jesse Shefferman	President and Chief Executive Officer and Director	March 30, 2020
Jesse Shefferman	(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Blaine Davis	Chief Financial Officer	March 30, 2020
Blaine Davis	(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Luke Beshar	Chairman of the Board of Directors	March 30, 2020
Luke Beshar
/s/ Scott Braunstein, M.D.	Director	March 30, 2020
Scott Braunstein, M.D.
/s/ Roger Garceau, M.D.	Director	March 30, 2020
Roger Garceau, M.D.
/s/ Richard Levy, M.D.	Director	March 30, 2020
Richard Levy, M.D.
/s/ Gregory P. Sargen	Director	March 30, 2020
Gregory P. Sargen
/s/ Michael Solomon, Ph.D.	Director	March 30, 2020
Michael Solomon, Ph.D.

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EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

Karen E. Deschaine

+1 858 550 6088

kdeschaine@cooley.com  

March 30, 2020

ArTara Therapeutics, Inc.

1 Little West 12^th Street

New York, NY 10014

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have represented ArTara Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, covering the offering of up to 600,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), pursuant to the Company’s Inducement Plan (the “Plan”).

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement and the related prospectus, (b) the Company’s Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Certificate of Designation for the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, the Certificate of Designation for the Series 1 Convertible Non-Voting Preferred Stock, and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as currently in effect, (c) the Plan and (d) originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such other records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof, the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials, and the due authorization, execution and delivery by all persons other than by the Company of all documents where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently verified such matters.

Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the Plan, the Registration Statement and related prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable (except as to shares issued pursuant to certain deferred payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such deferred payments are made in full).

Cooley LLP   4401 Eastgate Mall   San Diego, CA   92121
t: (858) 550-6000  f: (858) 550-6420  cooley.com

ArTara Therapeutics, Inc.

March 30, 2020

Page Two

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

Sincerely,

Cooley LLP

By:	/s/ Karen E. Deschaine
	Karen E. Deschaine

Cooley LLP   4401 Eastgate Mall   San Diego, CA   92121
t: (858) 550-6000  f: (858) 550-6420  cooley.com

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Proteon Therapeutics, Inc.) on Form S-8 of our report dated March 19, 2020, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of ArTara Subsidiary, Inc. (formerly ArTara Therapeutics, Inc.) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 appearing in Form 8-K/A of ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Proteon Therapeutics, Inc.).

/s/ Marcum llp

Marcum llp

New York, NY

March 30, 2020

EX-23.2

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. Inducement Plan of our report dated March 19, 2020 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. included in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) of ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

March 30, 2020