EX-99.1 2 d74409dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

September     , 2020

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

JEFFERIES LLC

PIPER SANDLER & CO.

As Representatives of

the several Underwriters listed in

Schedule 1 to the Underwriting

Agreement referred to below

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10179

c/o Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10022

c/o Piper Sandler & Co.

800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800

Minneapolis, MN 55402

 

  Re:    Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. — Public Offering   

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters named in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”) of shares of common stock of the Company (the “Securities”) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies LLC and Piper Sandler & Co., on behalf of the several Underwriters, the undersigned will not, and will not cause any direct or indirect affiliate to, during the period beginning on the date of this letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) and ending at the

close of business on the 180th day after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (such period, the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock, $0.0001 per share par value, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) (collectively with the Common Stock, “Lock-Up Securities”), (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition or transfer (whether by the undersigned or any other person) of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise. The undersigned further confirms that it has furnished J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. with the details of any transaction in respect of its shares in the capital of the Company that the undersigned is a party to as of the date hereof, which transaction would have been restricted by this Letter Agreement if it had been entered into by the undersigned during the Restricted Period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may:

(a) transfer or dispose of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities:

(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, or for bona fide estate planning purposes,

(ii) by will, other testamentary document or intestacy,

(iii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, or if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust (for purposes of this Letter Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, current or former marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin),

(iv) to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the undersigned and/or the immediate family of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests,

 

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(v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iv) above,

(vi) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by or under common control with the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the undersigned is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership), or (B) as part of a distribution to affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), members, partners, shareholders or other equity holders of the undersigned,

(vii) by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree, separation agreement or other court order,

(viii) to the Company from an employee or other service provider of the Company upon death, disability or termination of employment or service, in each case, of such employee or service provider,

(ix) in connection with a sale of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities acquired (A) in open market transactions after the closing date for the Public Offering or (B) from the Underwriters in the Public Offering,

(x) to the Company in connection with the vesting, settlement, or exercise of restricted stock units, options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of Common Stock (including, in each case, by way of “net” or “cashless” exercise), including for the payment of exercise price and tax and remittance payments due as a result of the vesting, settlement, or exercise of such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights, provided that any such shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement, and provided further that any such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights are held by the undersigned pursuant to an (A) agreement or (B) equity awards granted under an equity incentive plan, stock purchase plan or other equity award plan (each, an “Equity Plan”), each such agreement or Equity Plan which is described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, or

(xi) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction that is approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company (for purposes hereof, “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons, of shares of capital stock if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the

 

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surviving entity)); provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities shall remain subject to the provisions of this Letter Agreement;

provided that (A) in the case of any transfer, distribution or other disposition pursuant to clauses (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii), such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and each donee, devisee, transferee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter in the form of this Letter Agreement; (B) in the case of any transfer, distribution or other disposition pursuant to clauses (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi), no filing by any party (donor, donee, devisee, transferor, transferee, distributer or distributee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on Form 5, Schedule 13D, Schedule 13F, or Schedule 13G (or 13G/A) that is required to be filed during the Restricted Period, in which case such required filing shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the applicable circumstances that cause the applicable exception to this Letter Agreement to apply); (C) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (a)(vii), (viii) and (x), it shall be a condition to such transfer that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and if any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock in connection with such transfer or distribution shall be legally required during the Restricted Period, such filing, report or announcement shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer; and (D) in the case of any sale pursuant to clause (a)(ix), if any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement shall be made during the Restricted Period, such filing, report or announcement shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the applicable circumstances that cause such exception to this Letter Agreement to apply;

(b) exercise options, settle restricted stock units or other equity awards or exercise warrants, in each case that are outstanding as of the date granted pursuant to Equity Plans or agreements described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement; provided, that any Lock-up Securities received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement; and provided, further that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and if any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership shall be legally required during the Restricted Period, such filing, report or announcement shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the applicable circumstances that cause this exception to this Letter Agreement to apply;

(c) convert outstanding preferred stock, warrants to acquire preferred stock or convertible securities into shares of Common Stock or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock; provided that any such shares of Common Stock or warrants received upon such conversion shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement; and

(d) establish one or more trading plans pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer or disposition of shares of Lock-Up Securities; provided that (1) such plans do

 

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not provide for the transfer or disposition of Lock-Up Securities during the Restricted Period and (2) no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or made voluntarily in connection with such trading plan during the Restricted Period in contravention of this Lock-Up Agreement.

If the undersigned is not a natural person, the undersigned represents and warrants that no single natural person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned, except as otherwise disclosed to the Representatives.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any Company-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering.

In the event that, during the Restricted Period, the Representatives release or waive any prohibition set forth in this Letter Agreement on the transfer of shares of Common Stock held by any director, executive officer or Significant Holder (as defined below), the same percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned on the date of such release or waiver as the percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock held by such director, executive officer or such Significant Holder on the date of such release or waiver that are the subject of such waiver shall be immediately and fully released on the same terms from the applicable prohibition(s) set forth herein; provided, that in the case of directors and executive officers of the Company, such release shall be granted only due to circumstances constituting an emergency or hardship as determined by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. For the purposes of the foregoing, a “Significant Holder” shall mean any person or entity that (together with any investment funds affiliated with such person or entity) beneficially owns 1% or more of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply (1) if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not involving a disposition for value, (2) if the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of transfer (the “Follow-on Offering”), provided, that the undersigned shall be offered the opportunity to participate on a pro rata basis in such Follow-on Offering and on pricing terms that are no less favorable than the terms of the Follow-on Offering, (3) in the case of any secondary underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock (including a secondary underwritten public offering with a primary component), or (4) if the release or waiver is granted to any individual party by the Representatives in an amount, individually or in the aggregate, less than or equal to $2,500,000 in value of Common Stock. The Representatives shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify the Company of each such release (provided, that the failure to provide such notice shall not give rise to any claim or liability against the Representatives or the Underwriters). The undersigned further acknowledges that the Representatives are under no obligation to inquire into whether, or to ensure that, the Company notifies the undersigned of the delivery by the Representatives of any such notice, which is a matter between the undersigned and the Company.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies LLC and Piper Sandler & Co., on behalf of the several Underwriters, agree that,

 

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at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Lock-Up Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies LLC and Piper Sandler & Co., on behalf of the several Underwriters, will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. on behalf of the Underwriters hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such announcement. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration or that is to an immediate family member as defined in FINRA Rule 5130(i)(5) and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Securities and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Representative may be required or choose to provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures to the undersigned in connection with the Public Offering, the Representative and the other Underwriters are not making a recommendation to the undersigned to enter into this Letter Agreement, and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that the Representative or any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.

The undersigned understands that, if (i) the Company informs the Representatives in writing, prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, that it has determined not to proceed with the Public Offering, (ii) the Registration Statement is withdrawn, (iii) the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by February 15, 2021, or (iv) if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, this Letter Agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further force and effect and the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.

 

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This Letter Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

[Signature page follows]

 

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Very truly yours,

 

NOVO HOLDINGS A/S
By:  

 

Name:   Thomas Dyrberg, under specific power of attorney
Title:   Managing Partner

 

Address:   Tuborg Havnevej 19
  DK-2900 Hellerup
  Denmark

 

E-mail:  

 

[Signature Page to Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. Lock-Up Agreement]