0000950103-22-015344.txt : 20220906 0000950103-22-015344.hdr.sgml : 20220906 20220906164132 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950103-22-015344 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: F-3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 FILED AS OF DATE: 20220906 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20220906 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ADC Therapeutics SA CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001771910 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: V8 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-267295 FILM NUMBER: 221228742 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: BIOPOLE STREET 2: ROUTE DE LA CORNICHE 3B CITY: EPALINGES STATE: V8 ZIP: 1066 BUSINESS PHONE: 41 21 653 02 00 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: BIOPOLE STREET 2: ROUTE DE LA CORNICHE 3B CITY: EPALINGES STATE: V8 ZIP: 1066 F-3 1 dp179924_f3-2.htm FORM F-3

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 6, 2022.

Registration No. 333-   

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

ADC THERAPEUTICS SA

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Switzerland Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Biopôle

 Route de la Corniche 3B

1066 Epalinges

Switzerland

+41 21 653 02 00

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

ADC Therapeutics America, Inc.

430 Mountain Avenue, 4th Floor

Murray Hill, NJ 07974

(908) 546-5556

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

Deanna L. Kirkpatrick
Yasin Keshvargar
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-4000
  Dieter Gericke
Benjamin Leisinger
Daniel Häusermann
Homburger AG
Hardstrasse 201
CH-8005 Zurich, Switzerland
+41 43 222 10 00

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effectiveness of this registration statement.

If 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, 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, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. Emerging growth company 

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

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

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

 

 

 

 

 

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 these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

ADC THERAPEUTICS SA

 

1,260,863 Common Shares

 

Pursuant to this prospectus, the selling shareholders may offer common shares from time to time if and to the extent as they may determine as described in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” at prevailing market prices, at prices different than prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. If any common shares are sold, the selling shareholders will pay any brokerage commissions and/or similar charges incurred for the sale of such shares.

 

As required by the registration rights agreement to which we are a party, we are filing the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part to permit the resale of 733,568 common shares held by OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P. and Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P. and the resale of 527,295 common shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants issued to OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P., Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P., Oaktree LSL Holdings EURRC S.à r.l., Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation, Oaktree AZ Strategic Lending Fund, L.P., Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund, Oaktree Diversified Income Fund, Inc., and Oaktree Loan Acquisition Fund, L.P., to the extent that the holders of such warrants opt to exercise their warrants to purchase our common shares. We do not know whether, when or the extent to which the holders of the warrants will opt to exercise their warrants. This prospectus relates to the resale of up to an aggregate of 1,260,863 common shares by the selling shareholders identified in this prospectus.

 

We are not selling any common shares included in this prospectus and will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of any common shares sold by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “ADCT.”

 

Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. See the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 1 of this prospectus and in our Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Prospectus dated               , 2022.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 2
RISK FACTORS 4
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 4
USE OF PROCEEDS 4
DIVIDEND POLICY 5
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION 6
TAXATION 22
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS 27
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 28
EXPENSES OF THE OFFERING 30
LEGAL MATTERS 31
EXPERTS 31
ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS 31
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 32
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 33

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

Before buying any of the common shares that the selling shareholders are offering, you should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement with all of the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.” These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision. We have filed or incorporated by reference exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

 

To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus, provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a prospectus supplement or a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

The information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the sale of any common shares. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed materially since those dates.

 

We and the selling shareholders have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than as contained in this prospectus, any amendment or supplement to this prospectus, or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we may have referred you. We and the selling shareholders take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the common shares described in this prospectus or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such common shares in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.

 

For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor any selling shareholder have taken any action that would permit this offering or the possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for those purposes is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, this offering of common shares and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “ADC Therapeutics,” “ADCT,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” or similar terms refer to ADC Therapeutics SA and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Trademarks

 

We own various trademark registrations and applications, and unregistered trademarks, including ADC Therapeutics, ADCT, ZYNLONTA and our corporate logo. All other trade names, trademarks and service marks of other companies appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus may be referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto. We do not intend to use or display other companies’ trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

 

Presentation of Financial Information

 

Our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). None of the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The terms “dollar,” “USD” or “$” refer to U.S. dollars and the term “Swiss franc” and “CHF” refer to the legal currency of Switzerland, unless otherwise indicated. We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this prospectus. Accordingly, any numerical discrepancies in any table between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.

 

1 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary may not contain all the information that may be important to you, and we urge you to read this entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus carefully before deciding to invest in our common shares.

 

Overview

 

We are a commercial-stage biotechnology company improving the lives of cancer patients with our next-generation, targeted antibody drug conjugates (“ADCs”) for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. We develop our ADCs by applying our decades of experience in this field and using both next-generation pyrrolobenzodiazepine (“PBD”) technology to which we have proprietary rights for our targets as well as novel antibody constructs and payloads. By leveraging our R&D strengths, our disciplined approach to target selection and our preclinical and clinical development strategy, we have created a diverse and balanced portfolio and research pipeline. Our hematology franchise comprises one approved product (ZYNLONTA, formerly known as loncastuximab tesirine or Lonca) and two clinical-stage product candidates, camidanlumab tesirine (“Cami” and previously known as ADCT-301) and ADCT-602. Our solid tumor franchise comprises three clinical-stage product candidates, Cami, ADCT-601 (mipasetamab uzoptirine) and ADCT-901, and two preclinical product candidates, ADCT-701 and ADCT-212.

 

Recent Developments

 

On August 15, 2022, pursuant to an exchange agreement with Deerfield Partners, L.P., and Deerfield Private Design Fund IV, L.P. (collectively, “Deerfield”), Deerfield exchanged $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of our senior secured convertible notes for warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,412,840 common shares, an aggregate of 2,390,297 common shares and cash equal to $117.3 million. The warrants consist of warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,631,578 common shares at an exercise price of $24.70 per share and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,781,262 common shares at an exercise price of $28.07 per share. Each warrant is exercisable, on a cash or a cashless basis, at the option of the holder at any time prior to 4:00 p.m. (Zurich time) on May 19, 2025. The warrants contain customary anti-dilution adjustments and entitle holders to receive any dividends or other distributions paid on the underlying common shares prior to their expiration on an as-exercised basis. The accounting of the transactions described in this paragraph will (i) with respect to the Balance Sheet, reduce the Convertible loans, short-term and long-term and derivative balances to zero, reduce Cash and cash equivalents by $117.3 million, recognize a financial liability for the fair value of the warrants and increase to equity for the issuance of common shares and (ii) with respect to the Statement of Operations, record a loss on extinguishment of debt and record transaction costs.

 

On August 15, 2022, we drew down $120.0 million aggregate principal amount of secured term loans pursuant to a loan agreement and guaranty with certain affiliates and/or funds managed by each of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and Owl Rock Capital Advisors LLC, as lenders, and Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund I, L.P., as administrative agent and collateral agent. We may draw up to two additional tranches, each up to $27.5 million principal amount of term loans before February 15, 2024, subject to satisfaction of certain customary conditions including compliance with our other material agreements for the incurrence of such debt. The secured term loans are scheduled to mature on August 15, 2029 and accrue interest at an annual rate of SOFR plus 7.50% per annum or a base rate plus 6.50% per annum for the first five years of the term loans, and thereafter, at an annual rate of SOFR plus 9.25% or a base rate plus 8.25%, in each case subject to a 1.00% per annum SOFR floor. See our Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for additional details on the loan agreement. In connection with the loan agreement and guarantee, we issued to the lenders warrants to purchase an aggregate of 527,295 common shares. The warrants have an exercise price of $8.297 per share, which is equal to the volume weighted-average price of the common shares for the ten trading days prior to their issuance and the ten trading days on and after their issuance. Each warrant is exercisable, on a cash or a cashless basis, at the option of the holder at any time prior to 4:00 p.m. (Zurich time) on August 15, 2032. The warrants contain customary anti-dilution adjustments and will entitle holders to receive any dividends or other distributions paid on the underlying common shares prior to their expiration on an as-exercised basis. The accounting of the transactions described in this paragraph will be recorded as a combined financial instrument but will allocate the proceeds received between at least two separate components: a loan and warrants obligation. We anticipate that the warrants obligation will be initially recorded at fair value and subsequently remeasured at fair value through profit or loss at each reporting date. The loan’s initial fair value will be the residual amount of the consideration received, after separating out the fair value of the warrants obligation, and subsequently measured at its amortized cost. Expenses and fees payable will be allocated pro rata to the above two components as well as any other component identified upon the Company finalizing its accounting assessment.

 

On August 15, 2022, we entered into a share purchase agreement with Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P. and OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P., pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to the purchasers and the purchasers agreed to severally purchase from us an aggregate of 733,568 common shares at $8.52 per share, which is the volume weighted-average price of the common shares for the five trading days prior to the date of the share purchase agreement. The closing of this transaction occurred on September 6, 2022. The accounting of the transactions described in this paragraph will increase Share capital and Share premium for the issuance of common shares, net of transaction costs, and increase Cash and cash equivalents.

 

Company and Corporate Information

 

 

 

2 

 

 

 

 

 

We are a Swiss stock corporation (société anonyme) organized under the laws of Switzerland. We were incorporated as a Swiss limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée) on June 6, 2011 and converted into a Swiss stock corporation (société anonyme) under the laws of Switzerland on October 13, 2015. We have three subsidiaries: ADC Therapeutics (UK) Limited, ADC Therapeutics America, Inc. and ADC Therapeutics (NL) BV. Our principal executive office is located at Biopôle, Route de la Corniche 3B, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland and our telephone number is +41 21 653 02 00. Our website is www.adctherapeutics.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.

 

Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer

 

We are considered a “foreign private issuer.” Accordingly, we report under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. This means that, as long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:

 

·the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;

 

·the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and

 

·the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events.

 

We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We would cease to be a foreign private issuer at such time as more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (i) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States.

 

In this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, we have taken advantage of certain of the reduced reporting requirements as a result of being a foreign private issuer. Accordingly, the information contained in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold equity securities.

 

THE OFFERING

 

Common shares offered for resale by the selling shareholders   Up to 1,260,863 shares.
     
Use of proceeds   We will not receive any of the proceeds from the potential sale of common shares by the selling shareholders from time to time pursuant to this prospectus.
     
Risk factors   Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. See the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 1 of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider before deciding to invest in our common shares.
     
NYSE symbol   “ADCT”

 

 

 

3 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements including the notes thereto, before deciding to invest in our common shares. If any of the events or developments described below or in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus were to occur, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could suffer materially, the trading price of our common shares could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. If any of these risks occur, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

You may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your investment.

 

If you purchase our common shares pursuant to an offering using this prospectus, you will experience immediate dilution in an amount equal to the difference between the purchase price per share and our then-net tangible book value per common share.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business and commercial strategy, potential market opportunities, products and product candidates, research pipeline, ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials, regulatory submissions and approvals, projected revenues and expenses and the timing of revenues and expenses, timing and likelihood of success, as well as plans and objectives of management for future operations are forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will” and “potential,” among others.

 

Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information available to our management at the time such statements are made. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified under the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they were made. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.

 

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of such statements, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common shares by the selling shareholders from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. If any common shares are sold, the selling shareholders will pay any brokerage commissions and/or similar charges incurred for the sale of such shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of common shares covered by this prospectus, including all registration and filing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and accountants.

 

4 

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our share capital. We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings, if any, to fund the development and expansion of our business and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, agreements governing our indebtedness, including the loan agreement and guaranty, dated August 15, 2022 (the “Loan Agreement”), among us, ADC Therapeutics (UK) Limited, ADC Therapeutics America, Inc., the lenders party thereto and Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund I, L.P., as administrative agent and collateral agent, limit our ability to pay dividends. Any future determination related to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, business prospects and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

Under Swiss law, any dividend must be approved by our shareholders. In addition, our auditors must confirm that the dividend proposal of our board of directors to the shareholders conforms to Swiss statutory law and our articles of association. A Swiss corporation may pay dividends only if it has sufficient distributable profits from the previous business year (bénéfice de l’exercice) or brought forward from previous business years (report des bénéfices) or if it has distributable reserves (réserves à libre disposition), each as evidenced by its audited stand-alone statutory balance sheet prepared pursuant to Swiss law and after allocations to reserves required by Swiss law and its articles of association have been deducted. Distributable reserves are generally booked either as free reserves (réserves libres) or as reserves from capital contributions (apports de capital). Distributions out of share capital, which is the aggregate par value of a corporation’s issued shares, may be made only by way of a share capital reduction. See “Description of Share Capital and Articles of Association.”

 

5 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

The Company

 

We are a Swiss stock corporation (société anonyme) organized under the laws of Switzerland. We were incorporated as a Swiss limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée) on June 6, 2011 with our registered office and domicile in Epalinges, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. We converted to a Swiss stock corporation under the laws of Switzerland on October 13, 2015. Our domicile is in Epalinges, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Our registered office and head office is currently located at Biopôle, Route de la Corniche 3B, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.

 

Share Capital

 

As of June 30, 2022, our share capital as registered with the commercial register of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland (the “Commercial Register”) amounted to 78,270,000 common shares, 76,911,712 of which were outstanding, each with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share.

 

Changes in Our Share Capital During the Last Three Fiscal Years

 

In this section, share amounts are presented as of the date of the relevant transaction. Since January 1, 2019, our share capital has changed as follows:

 

·On January 30, 2019, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on February 6, 2019, was increased by issuing 6 Class A common shares;

 

·On June 4, 2019, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on June 7, 2019, was increased by issuing 216 Class E preferred shares;

 

·On June 7, 2019, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on June 14, 2019, was increased by issuing 2 Class E preferred shares;

 

·On June 28, 2019, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on July 5, 2019, was increased by issuing 77 Class E preferred shares;

 

·On August 22, 2019, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on August 28, 2019, was increased by an aggregate amount of CHF 3,714,300 through an increase of the par value of each of our Class A common shares and Class B, C, D and E preferred shares from CHF 100 to CHF 1,000;

 

·On September 19, 2019, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on September 19, 2019, was increased by issuing 140 Class A common shares;

 

·In the one-to-15,625 share split of all issued shares effected on September 19, 2019, each of our issued shares was split into 15,625 shares of the same class with a par value of CHF 0.064 per share;

 

·In the five-to-four reverse share split of all issued shares effected on April 24, 2020, each of our issued shares was consolidated into 0.8 shares of the same class with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share, and an aggregate of 44 common shares were converted into 6 Class C preferred shares, 12 Class D preferred shares and 26 Class E preferred shares, each with a par value of CHF 0.08;

 

·On May 15, 2020, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on May 15, 2020, was increased by issuing 17,432,500 common shares with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share;

 

·On September 28, 2020, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on September 28, 2020, was increased by issuing 6,000,000 common shares with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share;

 

·On April 1, 2021, our share capital as registered with the Commercial Register on April 8, 2021, was increased by issuing 1,500,000 common shares with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share; and

 

·On September 5, 2022, we issued 733,568 common shares out of our authorized share capital. In addition, we amended our articles of association to reflect the issuance of 2,390,207 common shares out of our conditional share capital that occurred on August 15, 2022.

 

Registration Rights

 

6 

 

On August 15, 2022, we entered into a registration rights agreement with Deerfield Partners, L.P. and Deerfield Private Design Fund IV, L.P. that provides them with certain registration rights.

 

On August 15, 2022, we entered into a registration rights agreement with OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P., Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P., Oaktree LSL Holdings EURRC S.à r.l., Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation, Oaktree AZ Strategic Lending Fund, L.P., Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund, Oaktree Diversified Income Fund, Inc. and Oaktree Loan Acquisition Fund, L.P. that provides them with certain registration rights. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part registers under the Securities Act common shares held by them and common shares issuable to them upon the exercise of their warrants.

 

Articles of Association

 

Ordinary Capital Increase, Authorized and Conditional Share Capital

 

Under Swiss law, we may increase our share capital (capital-actions) with a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders (ordinary capital increase) that must be carried out by the board of directors within three months of the respective general meeting in order to become effective. Under our articles of association and Swiss law, in the case of subscription and increase against payment of contributions in cash, a resolution passed by an absolute majority of the shares represented at the general meeting of shareholders is required. In the case of subscription and increase against contributions in kind or to fund acquisitions in kind, when shareholders’ statutory pre-emptive subscription rights or advance subscription rights are limited or withdrawn or where transformation of freely disposable equity into share capital is involved, a resolution passed by two-thirds of the shares represented at a general meeting of shareholders and the absolute majority of the par value of the shares represented is required.

 

Furthermore, under the Swiss Code of Obligations (Code des obligations) (the “CO”), our shareholders, by a resolution passed by two-thirds of the shares represented at a general meeting of shareholders and the absolute majority of the par value of the shares represented, may empower our board of directors to issue shares of a specific aggregate par value up to a maximum of 50% of the share capital in the form of:

 

·conditional share capital (capital-actions conditionnel) for the purpose of issuing shares in connection with, among other things, (i) option and conversion rights granted in connection with warrants and convertible bonds of the Company or one of our subsidiaries or (ii) grants of rights to employees, members of our board of directors or consultants or to our subsidiaries or other persons providing services to the Company or a subsidiary to subscribe for new shares (conversion or option rights); or

 

·authorized share capital (capital-actions autorisé) to be utilized by the board of directors within a period determined by the shareholders but not exceeding two years from the date of the shareholder approval.

 

Pre-Emptive and Advance Subscription Rights

 

Pursuant to the CO, shareholders have pre-emptive subscription rights (droits de souscription préférentiels) to subscribe for new issuances of shares. With respect to conditional capital in connection with the issuance of conversion rights, convertible bonds or similar debt instruments, shareholders have advance subscription rights (droit de souscription préalable) for the subscription of such conversion rights, convertible bonds or similar debt instruments.

 

A resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders by two-thirds of the shares represented and the absolute majority of the par value of the shares represented may authorize our board of directors to withdraw or limit pre-emptive subscription rights or advance subscription rights in certain circumstances.

 

If pre-emptive subscription rights are granted, but not exercised, the board of directors may allocate the unexercised pre-emptive subscription rights at its discretion.

 

Our Authorized Share Capital

 

Under our articles of association, our board of directors is authorized at any time, including to prevent takeovers and changes in control, until June 9, 2023 to increase our nominal share capital by a maximum aggregate amount of CHF 3,072,114.56 through the issuance of not more than 38,401,432 shares, which would have to be fully paid-in, each with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share.

 

Increases in partial amounts are permitted. The board of directors has the power to determine the type of contributions, the issue price and the date on which the dividend entitlement starts.

 

With respect to our authorized share capital, the board of directors is authorized by our articles of association to withdraw or to limit the pre-emptive subscription rights of shareholders, and to allocate them to third parties or to us, in the event that the newly issued shares are issued under the following circumstances:

 

·if the issue price of the new registered shares is determined by reference to the market price;

 

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·for raising of capital (including private placements) in a fast and flexible manner, which would not be possible, or might only be possible with great difficulty or delays or at significantly less favorable conditions, without the exclusion of the statutory pre-emptive subscription rights of the existing shareholders;

 

·for the acquisition of an enterprise, parts of an enterprise or participations, for the acquisition of products, intellectual property or licenses by or for investment projects of the Company or any of its group companies, or for the financing or refinancing of any of such transactions through a placement of shares;

 

·for purposes of broadening the shareholder constituency of the Company in certain geographic, financial or investor markets, for purposes of the participation of strategic partners, or in connection with the listing of new shares on domestic or foreign stock exchanges;

 

·for purposes of granting an over-allotment option or an option to purchase additional shares in a placement or sale of shares to the respective initial purchaser(s) or underwriter(s);

 

·for the participation of members of the board of directors, members of the executive committee, employees, contractors, consultants or other persons performing services for the benefit of the Company or any of its group companies;

 

·following a shareholder or a group of shareholders acting in concert having accumulated shareholdings in excess of 20% of our share capital registered in the Commercial Register without having submitted to all other shareholders a takeover offer recommended by the board of directors;

 

·for the defense of an actual, threatened or potential takeover bid, that the board of directors, upon consultation with an independent financial adviser retained by it, has not recommended to the shareholders acceptance on the basis that the board of directors has not found the takeover bid to be financially fair to the shareholders or not to be in the Company’s interest; or

 

·for other valid grounds in the sense of Article 652b para. 2 of the CO.

 

This authorization is exclusively linked to the particular available authorized share capital set out in the respective article. If the period to increase our share capital out of authorized share capital lapses without having been used by the board of directors, the authorization to withdraw or to limit the pre-emptive subscription rights lapses simultaneously with such capital.

 

Our Conditional Share Capital

 

Conditional Share Capital for Warrants and Convertible Bonds

 

Our nominal share capital may be increased, including to prevent takeovers and changes in control, by a maximum aggregate amount of CHF 1,432,776.24 through the issuance of not more than 17,909,703 common shares, which would have to be fully paid-in, each with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share, by the exercise of option and conversion rights granted in connection with warrants, convertible bonds or similar instruments of the Company or one of our subsidiaries. Shareholders will not have pre-emptive subscription rights in such circumstances, but will have advance subscription rights to subscribe for such warrants, convertible bonds or similar instruments. The holders of warrants, convertible bonds or similar instruments are entitled to the new shares upon the occurrence of the applicable conversion feature.

 

When issuing convertible bonds, warrants or similar instruments, the board of directors is authorized to withdraw or to limit the advance subscription right of shareholders:

 

·for the purpose of financing or refinancing, or the payment for, the acquisition of enterprises, parts of enterprises, participations, intellectual property rights, licenses or investments;

 

·if the issuance occurs in domestic or international capital markets, including private placements;

 

·following a shareholder or a group of shareholders acting in concert having accumulated shareholdings in excess of 20% of the share capital registered in the Commercial Register without having submitted to all other shareholders a takeover offer recommended by the board of directors; or

 

·for the defense of an actual, threatened or potential takeover bid that the board of directors, upon consultation with an independent financial adviser retained by it, has not recommended to the shareholders to accept on the basis that the board of directors has not found the takeover bid to be financially fair to the shareholders or not to be in the Company’s interest.

 

To the extent that the advance subscription rights are withdrawn or limited, (i) the convertible bonds, warrants or similar instruments are to be issued at market conditions; (ii) the term to exercise the convertible bonds, warrants or similar instruments may not exceed ten years from the date of issue of the respective instrument and (iii) the conversion, exchange or exercise price of the convertible

 

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bonds, warrants or similar instruments has to be set with reference to or be subject to change based upon the valuation of the Company’s equity or market conditions.

 

Conditional Share Capital for Equity Incentive Plans

 

Our nominal share capital may, to the exclusion of the pre-emptive subscription rights and advance subscription rights of shareholders, be increased by a maximum aggregate amount of CHF 936,000 through the (direct or indirect) issuance of not more than 11,700,000 common shares, which would have to be fully paid-in, each with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share, by the exercise of options, other rights to receive shares or conversion rights that have been granted to employees, members of the board of directors, contractors or consultants of the Company or of one of our subsidiaries or other persons providing services to the Company or to a subsidiary through one or more equity incentive plans created by the board of directors.

 

Uncertificated Securities

 

Our shares are in the form of uncertificated securities (droits-valeurs, within the meaning of Article 973c of the CO). In accordance with Article 973c of the CO, we will maintain a non-public register of uncertificated securities (registre des droits-valeurs). We may at any time convert uncertificated securities into share certificates (including global certificates), one kind of certificate into another, or share certificates (including global certificates) into uncertificated securities. Following entry in the share register, a shareholder may at any time request from us a written confirmation in respect of his or her shares. Shareholders are not entitled, however, to request the conversion and/or printing and delivery of share certificates. We may print and deliver certificates for shares at any time.

 

General Meeting of Shareholders

 

Ordinary/Extraordinary Meetings, Powers

 

The general meeting of shareholders is our supreme corporate body. Under Swiss law, an annual general meeting of shareholders must be held annually within six months after the end of a corporation’s financial year. In our case, this generally means on or before June 30. In addition, extraordinary general meetings of shareholders may be held.

 

The following powers are vested exclusively in the general meeting of shareholders:

 

·adopting and amending the articles of association, including the change of a company’s purpose or domicile;

 

·electing the members of the board of directors, the chairman of the board of directors, the members of the compensation committee, the auditors and the independent proxy;

 

·approving the business report, the annual statutory and consolidated financial statements, and deciding on the allocation of profits as shown on the balance sheet, in particular with regard to dividends;

 

·approving the aggregate amount of compensation of members of the board of directors and the executive committee;

 

·discharging the members of the board of directors and the executive committee from liability with respect to their conduct of business;

 

·dissolving a company with or without liquidation; and

 

·deciding matters reserved to the general meeting of shareholders by law or the articles of association or submitted to it by the board of directors.

 

An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders may be called by a resolution of the board of directors or the general meeting of shareholders or, under certain circumstances, by a company’s auditor, liquidator or the representatives of bondholders, if any. In addition, the board of directors is required to convene an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders if shareholders representing at least 10% of our share capital request such general meeting of shareholders in writing. Such request must set forth the items to be discussed and the proposals to be acted upon. The board of directors must convene an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders and propose financial restructuring measures if, based on our stand-alone annual statutory balance sheet, half of our share capital and statutory reserves are not covered by our assets.

 

Voting and Quorum Requirements

 

Shareholder resolutions and elections (including elections of members of the board of directors) require the affirmative vote of the absolute majority of shares represented at the general meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise stipulated by law or our articles of association.

 

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Under Swiss law and our articles of association, a resolution of the general meeting of the shareholders passed by two-thirds of the shares represented at the meeting, and the absolute majority of the par value of the shares represented is required for:

 

·amending the Company’s corporate purpose;

 

·creating shares with preference rights;

 

·cancelling or amending the transfer restrictions of shares;

 

·creating authorized or conditional share capital;

 

·increasing share capital out of equity, against contributions in-kind or for the purpose of acquiring specific assets and granting specific benefits;

 

·limiting or withdrawing shareholder’s pre-emptive subscription rights;

 

·changing a company’s domicile;

 

·amending or repealing the voting and recording restrictions, the provision setting a maximum board size or the indemnification provision for the board of directors and the executive committee set forth in our articles of association;

 

·converting registered shares into bearer shares;

 

·removing the chairman or any member of the board of directors before the end of his or her term of office; and

 

·dissolving or liquidating the Company.

 

The same voting requirements apply to resolutions regarding transactions among corporations based on Switzerland’s Federal Act on Mergers, Demergers, Transformations and the Transfer of Assets of 2003, as amended (the “Swiss Merger Act”). See “—Articles of Association—Compulsory Acquisitions; Appraisal Rights.”

 

In accordance with Swiss law and generally accepted business practices, our articles of association do not provide quorum requirements generally applicable to general meetings of shareholders. To this extent, our practice varies from NYSE listing standards, which require an issuer to provide in its bylaws for a generally applicable quorum, and that such quorum may not be less than one-third of the outstanding voting shares.

 

Notice

 

General meetings of shareholders must be convened by the board of directors at least 20 days before the date of the meeting. The general meeting of shareholders is convened by way of a notice appearing in our official publication medium, currently the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce. Registered shareholders may also be informed by ordinary mail or e-mail. The notice of a general meeting of shareholders must state the items on the agenda, the motions to the shareholders and, in case of elections, the names of the nominated candidates. A resolution on a matter which is not on the agenda may not be passed at a general meeting of shareholders, except for motions to convene an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders or to initiate a special investigation, on which the general meeting of shareholders may vote at any time. No previous notification is required for motions concerning items included in the agenda or for debates that do not result in a vote.

 

All of the owners or representatives of our shares may, if no objection is raised, hold a general meeting of shareholders without complying with the formal requirements for convening general meetings of shareholders (a universal meeting). This universal meeting of shareholders may discuss and pass binding resolutions on all matters within the purview of the general meeting of shareholders, provided that the owners or representatives of all the shares are present at the meeting.

 

Agenda Requests

 

Pursuant to Swiss law and our articles of association, one or more shareholders, whose combined shareholdings represent the lower of (i) one tenth of our share capital and (ii) an aggregate par value of at least CHF 1,000,000 may request that an item be included in the agenda for a general meeting of shareholders. To be timely, the shareholder’s request must be received by us generally at least 45 calendar days in advance of the meeting. The request must be made in writing and contain, for each of the agenda items, the following information:

 

·a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the general meeting of shareholders and the reasons for conducting such business at the general meeting of shareholders;

 

·the motions regarding the agenda item;

 

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·the name and address, as they appear in the share register, of the shareholder proposing such business;

 

·the number of shares which are beneficially owned by such shareholder (including documentary support of such beneficial ownership);

 

·the dates upon which the shareholder acquired such shares;

 

·any material interest of the proposing shareholder in the proposed business;

 

·a statement in support of the matter; and

 

·all other information required under the applicable laws and stock exchange rules.

 

In addition, if the shareholder intends to solicit proxies from the shareholders of a company, such shareholder shall notify the company of this intent in accordance with SEC Rule 14a-4 and/or Rule 14a-8.

 

Our business report, the compensation report and the auditor’s report must be made available for inspection by the shareholders at our registered office no later than 20 days prior to the general meeting of shareholders. Shareholders of record may be notified of this in writing.

 

Voting Rights

 

Each of our common shares entitles a holder to one vote. The common shares are not divisible. The right to vote and the other rights of share ownership may only be exercised by shareholders (including any nominees) or usufructuaries who are entered in the share register at a cut-off date determined by the board of directors. Those entitled to vote in the general meeting of shareholders may be represented by the independent proxy holder (annually elected by the general meeting of shareholders), by its legal representative or by another registered shareholder with written authorization to act as proxy. The chairman has the power to decide whether to recognize a power of attorney.

 

Our articles of association contain provisions that prevent investors from acquiring voting rights exceeding 15% of our issued share capital. Specifically, if an individual or legal entity acquires common shares and, as a result, directly or indirectly, has voting rights with respect to more than 15% of the registered share capital recorded in the Commercial Register, the registered shares exceeding the limit of 15% shall be entered in the share register as shares without voting rights (limitation à l’inscription). This restriction applies equally to parties acting in concert and to shares held or acquired via a nominee, including via Cede & Co., New York (or any successor), as the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), New York, acting in its capacity as clearing nominee. Specifically, if shares are being held by a nominee for third-party beneficiaries, which control (alone or together with third parties) voting rights with respect to more than 15% of the share capital recorded in the Commercial Register, our articles of association provide that the board of directors may cancel the registration of the shares with voting rights held by such nominee in excess of the limit of 15%. Furthermore, our articles of association contain provisions that allow the board of directors to make the registration with voting rights of shares held by a nominee subject to conditions, limitations and reporting requirements or to impose or adjust such conditions, limitations and requirements once registered. However, any shareholders who held more than 15% prior to our initial public offering remain registered with voting rights for such shares. Furthermore, the board of directors may in special cases approve exceptions to these restrictions.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

Our board of directors may propose to shareholders that a dividend or other distribution be paid but cannot itself authorize the distribution. Dividend payments require a resolution passed by an absolute majority of the shares represented at a general meeting of shareholders. In addition, our auditors must confirm that the dividend proposal of our board of directors conforms to Swiss statutory law and our articles of association.

 

Under Swiss law, we may pay dividends only if we have sufficient distributable profits from the previous business year (bénéfice de l’exercice) or brought forward from the previous business years (report des bénéfices), or if we have distributable reserves (réserves à libre disposition), each as evidenced by the Company’s audited stand-alone statutory balance sheet prepared pursuant to Swiss law, and after allocations to reserves required by Swiss law and by the articles of association have been deducted. We are not permitted to pay interim dividends out of profit of the current business year.

 

Distributable reserves are generally booked either as “free reserves” (réserves libres) or as “reserve from capital contributions” (apports de capital). Under the CO, if our general reserves (réserve générale) amount to less than 20% of our share capital recorded in the Commercial Register (i.e., 20% of the aggregate par value of our issued capital), then at least 5% of our annual profit must be retained as general reserves. In addition, if our general reserves amount to less than 50% of our share capital recorded in the Commercial Register, 10% of the amounts distributed beyond payment of a dividend of 5% must be retained as general reserves. The CO permits us to accrue additional general reserves. Further, a purchase of our own shares (whether by us or a subsidiary) reduces the

 

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distributable reserves in an amount corresponding to the purchase price of such own shares. Finally, the CO under certain circumstances requires the creation of revaluation reserves which are not distributable.

 

Distributions out of issued share capital (i.e., the aggregate par value of our issued shares) are not allowed and may be made only by way of a share capital reduction. Such a capital reduction requires a resolution passed by an absolute majority of the shares represented at a general meeting of shareholders. The resolution of the shareholders must be recorded in a public deed and a special audit report must confirm that claims of our creditors remain fully covered despite the reduction in our share capital recorded in the Commercial Register. Our share capital may be reduced below CHF 100,000 only if and to the extent that at the same time the statutory minimum share capital of CHF 100,000 is reestablished by sufficient new fully paid-up capital. Upon approval by the general meeting of shareholders of the capital reduction, the board of directors must give public notice of the capital reduction resolution in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce three times and notify creditors that they may request, within two months of the third publication, satisfaction of or security for their claims. The reduction of our share capital may be implemented only after expiration of this time limit.

 

Our board of directors determines the date on which the dividend entitlement starts. Dividends are usually due and payable shortly after the shareholders have passed the resolution approving the payment, but shareholders may also resolve at the annual general meeting of shareholders to pay dividends in quarterly or other installments.

 

For a discussion of the taxation of dividends, see “Taxation—Swiss Tax Considerations—Swiss Federal, Cantonal and Communal Individual Income Tax and Corporate Income Tax.”

 

Transfer of Shares

 

Shares in uncertificated form (droits-valeurs) may only be transferred by way of assignment. Shares or the beneficial interest in shares, as applicable, credited in a securities account may only be transferred when a credit of the relevant intermediated securities to the acquirer’s securities account is made in accordance with applicable rules. Our articles of association provide that in the case of securities held with an intermediary such as a registrar, transfer agent, trust corporation, bank or similar entity, any transfer, grant of a security interest or usufructuary right in such intermediated securities and the appurtenant rights associated therewith requires the cooperation of the intermediary in order for such transfer, grant of a security interest or usufructuary right to be valid against us.

 

Voting rights may be exercised only after a shareholder has been entered in the share register (registre des actions) with his or her name and address (in the case of legal entities, the registered office) as a shareholder with voting rights. For a discussion of the restrictions applicable to the control and exercise of voting rights, see “Description of Share Capital and Articles of Association—Articles of Association—Voting Rights.”

 

Inspection of Books and Records

 

Under the CO, a shareholder has a right to inspect the share register with respect to his or her own shares and otherwise to the extent necessary to exercise his or her shareholder rights. No other person has a right to inspect the share register. Our books and correspondence may be inspected with the express authorization of the general meeting of shareholders or by resolution of the board of directors and subject to the safeguarding of our business secrets and other legitimate interests. See “Comparison of Swiss Law and Delaware Law—Inspection of books and records.”

 

Special Investigation

 

If the shareholders’ inspection rights as outlined above prove to be insufficient in the judgment of the shareholder, any shareholder may propose to the general meeting of shareholders that specific facts be examined by a special examiner in a special investigation. If the general meeting of shareholders approves the proposal, we or any shareholder may, within 30 calendar days after the general meeting of shareholders, request a court at our registered office (currently Epalinges, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland), to appoint a special examiner. If the general meeting of shareholders rejects the request, one or more shareholders representing at least 10% of our share capital or holders of shares in an aggregate par value of at least CHF 2,000,000 may request that the court appoint a special examiner. The court will issue such an order if the petitioners can demonstrate that the board of directors, any member of the board of directors or our executive committee infringed the law or our articles of association and thereby caused damages to the Company or the shareholders. The costs of the investigation would generally be allocated to us and only in exceptional cases to the petitioners.

 

Compulsory Acquisitions; Appraisal Rights

 

Business combinations and other transactions that are governed by the Swiss Merger Act (i.e., mergers, demergers, transformations and certain asset transfers) are binding on all shareholders. A statutory merger or demerger requires approval of two-thirds of the shares represented at a general meeting of shareholders and the absolute majority of the par value of the shares represented.

 

If a transaction under the Swiss Merger Act receives all of the necessary consents, all shareholders are compelled to participate in such transaction.

 

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Swiss corporations may be acquired by an acquirer through the direct acquisition of the shares of the Swiss corporation. The Swiss Merger Act provides for the possibility of a so-called “cash-out” or “squeeze-out” merger with the approval of holders of 90% of the issued shares. In these limited circumstances, minority shareholders of the corporation being acquired may be compensated in a form other than through shares of the acquiring corporation (for instance, through cash or securities of a parent corporation of the acquiring corporation or of another corporation). For business combinations effected in the form of a statutory merger or demerger and subject to Swiss law, the Swiss Merger Act provides that if equity rights have not been adequately preserved or compensation payments in the transaction are unreasonable, a shareholder may request the competent court to determine a reasonable amount of compensation.

 

In addition, under Swiss law, the sale of “all or substantially all of our assets” by us may require the approval of two-thirds of the number of shares represented at a general meeting of shareholders and the absolute majority of the par value of the shares represented. Whether a shareholder resolution is required depends on the particular transaction, including whether the following test is satisfied:

 

·a core part of our business is sold without which it is economically impracticable or unreasonable to continue to operate the remaining business;

 

·our assets, after the divestment, are not invested in accordance with our corporate purpose as set forth in the articles of association; and

 

·the proceeds of the divestment are not earmarked for reinvestment in accordance with our corporate purpose but, instead, are intended for distribution to our shareholders or for financial investments unrelated to our corporate purpose.

 

A shareholder of a Swiss corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights. As a result, such shareholder may, in addition to the consideration (be it in shares or in cash) receive an additional amount to ensure that the shareholder receives the fair value of the shares held by the shareholder. Following a statutory merger or demerger, pursuant to the Swiss Merger Act, shareholders can file an appraisal action against the surviving company. If the consideration is deemed inadequate, the court will determine an adequate compensation payment.

 

Board of Directors

 

Our articles of association provide that the board of directors shall consist of at least three and not more than 12 members.

 

The members of the board of directors and the chairman are elected annually by the general meeting of shareholders for a period until the completion of the subsequent annual general meeting of shareholders and are eligible for re-election. Each member of the board of directors must be elected individually.

 

Powers

 

The board of directors has the following non-delegable and inalienable powers and duties:

 

·the ultimate direction of the business of the Company and issuing of the relevant directives;

 

·laying down the organization of the Company;

 

·formulating accounting procedures, financial controls and financial planning;

 

·nominating and removing persons entrusted with the management and representation of the Company and regulating the power to sign for the Company;

 

·the ultimate supervision of those persons entrusted with management of the Company, with particular regard to adherence to law, our articles of association, and regulations and directives of the Company;

 

·issuing the business report and the compensation report, and preparing for the general meeting of shareholders and carrying out its resolutions; and

 

·informing the court in case of over-indebtedness.

 

The board of directors may, while retaining such non-delegable and inalienable powers and duties, delegate some of its powers, in particular direct management, to a single or to several of its members, committees or to third parties (such as executive officers) who need be neither members of the board of directors nor shareholders. Pursuant to Swiss law and our articles of association, details of the delegation and other procedural rules such as quorum requirements have been set in the organizational rules established by the board of directors.

 

Indemnification of Executive Officers and Directors

 

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Subject to Swiss law, our articles of association provide for indemnification of the existing and former members of the board of directors and the executive committee and their heirs, executors and administrators, against liabilities arising in connection with the performance of their duties in such capacity, and permits us to advance the expenses of defending any act, suit or proceeding to our directors and executive officers to the extent not included in insurance coverage or advanced by third parties.

 

In addition, under general principles of Swiss employment law, an employer may be required to indemnify an employee against losses and expenses incurred by such employee in the proper execution of his or her duties under the employment agreement with the employer. See “Comparison of Swiss Law and Delaware Law—Indemnification of directors and executive officers and limitation of liability.”

 

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

 

Conflict of Interest, Management Transactions

 

Swiss law does not have a general provision regarding conflicts of interest. However, the CO contains a provision that requires our directors and executive officers to safeguard the Company’s interests and imposes a duty of loyalty and duty of care on our directors and executive officers. This rule is generally understood to disqualify directors and executive officers from participation in decisions that directly affect them. Our directors and executive officers are personally liable to us for breaches of these obligations. In addition, Swiss law contains provisions under which directors and all persons engaged in the Company’s management are liable to the Company, each shareholder and the Company’s creditors for damages caused by an intentional or negligent violation of their duties. Furthermore, Swiss law contains a provision under which payments made to any of the Company’s shareholders or directors or any person related to any such shareholder or director, other than payments made at arm’s length, must be repaid to the Company if such shareholder or director acted in bad faith.

 

Our board of directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and other policies that cover a broad range of matters, including the handling of conflicts of interest.

 

Principles of the Compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

 

Pursuant to Swiss law, our shareholders must annually approve the aggregate amount of compensation of the board of directors and the persons whom the board of directors has, fully or partially, entrusted with the management (which we refer to as our “executive committee”) of the Company. All of our executive officers named in “Management” are deemed to be members of our executive committee.

 

The board of directors must issue, on an annual basis, a written compensation report that must be reviewed by our auditors. The compensation report must disclose all compensation granted by the Company, directly or indirectly, to current members of the board of directors and the executive committee and, to the extent related to their former role within the Company or not on customary market terms, to former members of the board of directors and former executive officers.

 

The disclosure concerning compensation, loans and other forms of indebtedness must include the aggregate amount for the board of directors and the executive committee, respectively, as well as the particular amount for each member of the board of directors and for the highest paid executive officer, specifying the name and function of each of these persons.

 

We are prohibited from granting certain forms of compensation to members of our board of directors and executive committee, such as:

 

·severance payments (compensation due until the termination of a contractual relationship does not qualify as severance payment);

 

·advance compensation;

 

·incentive fees for the acquisition or transfer of companies, or parts thereof, by the Company or by companies being, directly or indirectly, controlled by us;

 

·loans, other forms of indebtedness, pension benefits not based on occupational pension schemes and performance-based compensation not provided for in the articles of association; and

 

·equity-based compensation not provided for in the articles of association.

 

Compensation to members of the board of directors and the executive committee for activities in entities that are, directly or indirectly, controlled by the Company is prohibited if (i) the compensation would be prohibited if it were paid directly by the Company, (ii) the articles of association do not provide for it, or (iii) the compensation has not been approved by the general meeting of shareholders.

 

In each year, the general meeting of shareholders has to vote on the proposals of the board of directors with respect to:

 

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·the maximum aggregate amount of compensation of the board of directors for the term of office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders; and

 

·the maximum aggregate amount of fixed compensation of the executive committee for the following financial year; and

 

·the maximum aggregate amount of variable compensation of the executive committee for the current financial year.

 

The board of directors may submit for approval at the general meeting of shareholders deviating or additional proposals relating to the same or different periods.

 

If, at the general meeting of shareholders, the shareholders do not approve a compensation proposal of the board of directors, the board of directors must prepare a new proposal, taking into account all relevant factors, and submit the new proposal for approval by the same general meeting of shareholders, at a subsequent extraordinary general meeting of shareholders or the next annual general meeting of shareholders.

 

In addition to fixed compensation, members of the board of directors and the executive committee may be paid variable compensation, depending on the achievement of certain performance criteria. The performance criteria may include individual targets, targets of the Company or parts thereof and targets in relation to the market, other companies or comparable benchmarks, taking into account the position and level of responsibility of the recipient of the variable compensation. The board of directors or, where delegated to it, the compensation committee shall determine the relative weight of the performance criteria and the respective target values.

 

Compensation may be paid or granted in the form of cash, shares, financial instruments, in kind, or in the form of other types of benefits. The board of directors or, where delegated to it, the compensation committee shall determine grant, vesting, exercise and forfeiture conditions.

 

Borrowing Powers

 

Neither Swiss law nor our articles of association restricts our power to borrow and raise funds. The decision to borrow funds is made by or under the direction of our board of directors, and no approval by the shareholders is required in relation to any such borrowing.

 

Repurchases of Shares and Purchases of Own Shares

 

The CO limits our ability to repurchase and hold our own shares. We and our subsidiaries may repurchase shares only to the extent that (i) we have freely distributable reserves in the amount of the purchase price; and (ii) the aggregate par value of all shares held by us does not exceed 10% of our share capital. Pursuant to Swiss law, where shares are acquired in connection with a transfer restriction set out in the articles of association, the foregoing upper limit is 20%. If we own shares that exceed the threshold of 10% of our share capital, the excess must be sold or cancelled by means of a capital reduction within two years.

 

Shares held by us or our subsidiaries are not entitled to vote at the general meeting of shareholders but are entitled to the economic benefits applicable to the shares generally, including dividends and pre-emptive subscription rights in the case of share capital increases.

 

In addition, selective share repurchases are only permitted under certain circumstances. Within these limitations, as is customary for Swiss corporations, we may, subject to applicable law, purchase and sell our own shares from time to time in order to meet imbalances of supply and demand, to provide liquidity and to even out variances in the market price of shares.

 

Notification and Disclosure of Substantial Share Interests

 

The disclosure obligations generally applicable to shareholders of Swiss corporations under the Federal Act on Financial Market Infrastructures and Market Conduct in Securities and Derivatives Trading, or the Financial Market Infrastructure Act (the “FMIA”), do not apply to us since our shares are not listed on a Swiss exchange.

 

Pursuant to Article 663c of the CO, Swiss corporations whose shares are listed on a stock exchange must disclose their significant shareholders and their shareholdings in the notes to their statutory annual financial statements, to the extent that this information is known or ought to be known. Significant shareholders are defined as shareholders and groups of shareholders linked through voting rights who hold more than 5% of all voting rights.

 

Mandatory Bid Rules

 

The obligation of any person or group of persons that acquires more than one-third of a company’s voting rights to submit a cash offer for all the outstanding listed equity securities of the relevant company at a minimum price pursuant to the FMIA does not apply to us since our shares are not listed on a Swiss exchange.

 

Stock Exchange Listing

 

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Our common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ADCT.”

 

The Depository Trust Company

 

Each person owning a beneficial interest in common shares held through DTC must rely on the procedures thereof and on institutions that have accounts therewith to exercise any rights of a holder of the shares.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar of Shares

 

Our share register is kept by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., which acts as transfer agent and registrar. The share register reflects only record owners of our shares. Swiss law does not recognize fractional share interests.

 

Comparison of Swiss Law and Delaware Law

 

The Swiss laws applicable to Swiss corporations and their shareholders differ from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. The following table summarizes significant differences in shareholder rights between the provisions of the CO and the Swiss Ordinance against excessive compensation in listed stock corporations (Ordonnance contre les rémunérations abusives dans les sociétés anonymes cotées en bourse) (the “OAEC”) applicable to our Company and the Delaware General Corporation Law applicable to companies incorporated in Delaware and their shareholders. Please note that this is only a general summary of certain provisions applicable to companies in Delaware. Certain Delaware companies may be permitted to exclude certain of the provisions summarized below in their charter documents.

 

DELAWARE CORPORATE LAW   SWISS CORPORATE LAW
Mergers and similar arrangements
     
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, with certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation, sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of a corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. A shareholder of a Delaware corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which such shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair value of the shares held by such shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration such shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction. The Delaware General Corporation Law also provides that a parent corporation, by resolution of its board of directors, may merge with any subsidiary, of which it owns at least 90.0% of each class of capital stock without a vote by the shareholders of such subsidiary. Upon any such merger, dissenting shareholders of the subsidiary would have appraisal rights.   Under Swiss law, with certain exceptions, a merger or a demerger of the corporation or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of a corporation must be approved by two-thirds of the voting rights represented at the respective general meeting of shareholders as well as the absolute majority of the par value of shares represented at such general meeting of shareholders. A shareholder of a Swiss corporation participating in a statutory merger or demerger pursuant to the Swiss Merger Act (Loi sur la fusion) can file a lawsuit against the surviving company. If the consideration is deemed “inadequate,” such shareholder may, in addition to the consideration (be it in shares or in cash) receive an additional amount to ensure that such shareholder receives the fair value of the shares held by such shareholder. Swiss law also provides that if the merger agreement provides only for a compensation payment, at least 90.0% of all members in the transferring legal entity, who are entitled to vote, shall approve the merger agreement.
     
Shareholders’ suits
     
Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to shareholders of a Delaware corporation for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In such actions, the court has discretion to permit the winning party to recover attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action.   Class actions and derivative actions as such are not available under Swiss law. Nevertheless, certain actions may have a similar effect. A shareholder is entitled to bring suit against directors, officers or liquidators for breach of their duties and claim the payment of the company’s losses or damages to the corporation and, in some cases, to the individual shareholder. Likewise, an appraisal lawsuit won by a shareholder may indirectly compensate all shareholders. In addition, to the extent that U.S. laws and regulations provide a basis for liability and U.S. courts have jurisdiction, a class action may be available.
     
    Under Swiss law, the winning party is generally entitled to recover a limited amount of attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action. The court has discretion to permit the shareholder who lost the lawsuit to recover attorneys’ fees incurred to the extent that he or she acted in good faith.
 
Shareholder vote on board and management compensation
     

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DELAWARE CORPORATE LAW   SWISS CORPORATE LAW
     
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the board of directors has the authority to fix the compensation of directors, unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or bylaws.   Pursuant to the OAEC, the general meeting of shareholders has the non-transferable right, amongst others, to vote separately and bindingly on the aggregate amount of compensation of the members of the board of directors, of the executive committee and of the advisory boards.
     
Annual vote on board renewal
     

Unless directors are elected by written consent in lieu of an annual meeting, directors are elected in an annual meeting of shareholders on a date and at a time designated by or in the manner provided in the bylaws. Re-election is possible.

 

Classified boards are permitted.

 

  The general meeting of shareholders elects the members of the board of directors, the chairperson of the board of directors and the members of the compensation committee individually and annually for a term of office until the end of the following general meeting of shareholders. Re-election is possible.
     
Indemnification of directors and executive officers and limitation of liability
     

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors (but not other controlling persons) of the corporation for monetary damages for breach of a fiduciary duty as a director, except no provision in the certificate of incorporation may eliminate or limit the liability of a director for:

 

any breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders;

 

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

 

statutory liability for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful share purchase or redemption; or

 

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

 

A Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding, other than an action by or on behalf of the corporation, because the person is or was a director or officer, against liability incurred in connection with the proceeding if the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation; and the director or officer, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

 

Under Swiss corporate law, an indemnification by the corporation of a director or member of the executive committee in relation to potential personal liability is not effective to the extent the director or member of the executive committee intentionally or negligently violated his or her corporate duties towards the corporation (certain views advocate that at least a grossly negligent violation is required to exclude the indemnification). Furthermore, the general meeting of shareholders may discharge (release) the directors and members of the executive committee from liability for their conduct to the extent the respective facts are known to shareholders. Such discharge is effective only with respect to claims of the company and of those shareholders who approved the discharge or who have since acquired their shares in full knowledge of the discharge. Most violations of corporate law are regarded as violations of duties towards the corporation rather than towards the shareholders. In addition, indemnification of other controlling persons is not permitted under Swiss corporate law, including shareholders of the corporation.

 

The articles of association of a Swiss corporation may also set forth that the corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by the law, the directors and executive managers out of assets of the corporation against threatened, pending or completed actions.

 

Also, a corporation may enter into and pay for directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, which may cover negligent acts as well.

 

Unless ordered by a court, any foregoing indemnification is subject to a determination that the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct:

      by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to the proceeding, even though less than a quorum;

      by a committee of directors designated by a majority vote of the eligible directors, even though less than a quorum;

      by independent legal counsel in a written opinion if there are no eligible directors, or if the eligible directors so direct; or

       by the shareholders.

   

 

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DELAWARE CORPORATE LAW   SWISS CORPORATE LAW
Moreover, a Delaware corporation may not indemnify a director or officer in connection with any proceeding in which the director or officer has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for those expenses which the court deems proper.    
     
Directors’ fiduciary duties
     

A director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components:

 

the duty of care; and

 

the duty of loyalty.

 

The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself or herself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction.

 

The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He or she must not use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties.

 

Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.

 

 

The board of directors of a Swiss corporation manages the business of the corporation, unless responsibility for such management has been duly delegated to the executive committee based on organizational rules. However, there are several non-transferable duties of the board of directors:

 

     the overall management of the corporation and the issuing of all necessary directives;

 

     determination of the corporation’s organization;

 

     the organization of the accounting, financial control and financial planning systems as required for management of the corporation;

 

     the appointment and dismissal of persons entrusted with managing and representing the corporation;

 

     overall supervision of the persons entrusted with managing the corporation, in particular with regard to compliance with the law, articles of association, operational regulations and directives;

 

    compilation of the annual report, preparation for the general meeting of the shareholders, the compensation report and implementation of its resolutions; and

 

    notification of the court in the event that the company is over-indebted.

 

   
 

The members of the board of directors must perform their duties with all due diligence and safeguard the interests of the corporation in good faith. They must afford the shareholders equal treatment in equal circumstances.

 

The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent director would exercise under like circumstances

 

The duty of loyalty requires that a director safeguard the interests of the corporation and requires that directors act in the interest of the corporation and, if necessary, put aside their own interests. If there is a risk of a conflict of interest, the board of directors must take appropriate measures to ensure that the interests of the company are duly taken into account.

 

The burden of proof for a violation of these duties is with the corporation or with the shareholder bringing a suit against the director.

     
Shareholder action by written consent
 
A Delaware corporation may, in its certificate of incorporation, eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent.   Shareholders of a Swiss corporation may only exercise their voting rights in a general meeting of shareholders and may not
     

 

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DELAWARE CORPORATE LAW   SWISS CORPORATE LAW
  act by written consents. The articles of association must allow for (independent) proxies to be present at a general meeting of shareholders. The instruction of such (independent) proxies may occur in writing or electronically.
     
Shareholder proposals
 
A shareholder of a Delaware corporation has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.  

At any general meeting of shareholders any shareholder may put proposals to the meeting if the proposal is part of an agenda item. No resolution may be taken on proposals relating to the agenda items that were not duly notified. Unless the articles of association provide for a lower threshold or for additional shareholders’ rights:

 

     shareholders together representing at least 10% of the share capital may demand that a general meeting of shareholders be called for specific agenda items and specific proposals; and

 

     shareholders together representing shares with a par value of at least CHF 1.0 million or 10% of the share capital, whichever is lower, may demand that an agenda item including a specific proposal be put on the agenda for a scheduled general meeting of shareholders, provided such request is made with appropriate lead time.

 

Any shareholder can propose candidates for election as directors or make other proposals within the scope of an agenda item without prior written notice.

     
    In addition, any shareholder is entitled, at a general meeting of shareholders and without advance notice, to (i) request information from the board of directors on the affairs of the company (note, however, that the right to obtain such information is limited), (ii) request information from the auditors on the methods and results of their audit, (iii) request that the general meeting of shareholders resolve to convene an extraordinary general meeting, or (iv) request that the general meeting of shareholders resolve to appoint an examiner to carry out a special examination (“contrôle spécial”).
     
Cumulative voting
     
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides for it.   Cumulative voting is not permitted under Swiss corporate law. Pursuant to Swiss law, shareholders can vote for each proposed candidate, but they are not allowed to cumulate their votes for single candidates. An annual individual election of (i) all members of the board of directors, (ii) the chairperson of the board of directors, (iii) the members of the compensation committee, (iv) the election of the independent proxy for a term of office of one year (i.e., until the following annual general meeting of shareholders), as well as the vote on the aggregate amount of compensation of the members of the board of directors, of the executive committee and of the members of any advisory board, is mandatory for listed companies. Re-election is permitted.
     
Removal of directors
     
A Delaware corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.   A Swiss corporation may remove, with or without cause, any director at any time with a resolution passed by a majority of the shares represented at a general meeting of shareholders. The articles of association may require the approval by a supermajority of the shares represented at a meeting for the removal of a director.
     
Transactions with interested shareholders
     

 

 

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DELAWARE CORPORATE LAW   SWISS CORPORATE LAW
The Delaware General Corporation Law generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or group who or which owns or owned 15.0% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting shares within the past three years.   No such rule applies to a Swiss corporation.
 
Dissolution; Winding up
     
Unless the board of directors of a Delaware corporation approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100.0% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.   A dissolution of a Swiss corporation requires the approval by two-thirds of the voting rights represented at the respective general meeting of shareholders as well as the absolute majority of the par value of shares represented at such general meeting of shareholders. The articles of association may increase the voting thresholds required for such a resolution.
 
Variation of rights of shares
     
A Delaware corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.  

The general meeting of shareholders of a Swiss corporation may resolve that preference shares be issued or that existing shares be converted into preference shares with a resolution passed by a majority of the shares represented at the general meeting of shareholders. Where a company has issued preference shares, further preference shares conferring preferential rights over the existing preference shares may be issued only with the consent of both a special meeting of the adversely affected holders of the existing preference shares and of a general meeting of all shareholders, unless otherwise provided in the articles of association.

 

Shares with preferential voting rights are not regarded as preference shares for these purposes.

 

     
Amendment of governing documents
     
A Delaware corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.  

The articles of association of a Swiss corporation may be amended with a resolution passed by a majority of the shares represented at a general meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided in the articles of association.

 

There are a number of resolutions, such as an amendment of the stated purpose of the corporation, the introduction of authorized and conditional capital and the introduction of shares with preferential voting rights that require the approval by two-thirds of the votes and an absolute majority of the par value of the shares represented at such general meeting of shareholders. The articles of association may increase these voting thresholds.

 

     
Inspection of books and records
     
Shareholders of a Delaware corporation, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose, and to obtain copies of list(s) of shareholders and other books and records of the corporation and its subsidiaries, if any, to the extent the books and records of such subsidiaries are available to the corporation.   Shareholders of a Swiss corporation may only inspect books and records if the general meeting of shareholders or the board of directors approved such inspection. The information may be refused where providing it would jeopardize the corporation’s trade secrets or other interests warranting protection. A shareholder is only entitled to receive information to the extent required to exercise his or her rights as a shareholder, subject to the interests of the corporation. A shareholder’s right to inspect the share register is limited to the right to inspect his or her own entry in the share register.
     

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DELAWARE CORPORATE LAW   SWISS CORPORATE LAW
Payment of dividends
     
The board of directors may approve a dividend without shareholder approval. Subject to any restrictions contained in its certificate of incorporation, the board may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock either:   Dividend payments are subject to the approval of the general meeting of shareholders. The board of directors may propose to shareholders that a dividend shall be paid but cannot itself authorize the distribution.
     

       out of its surplus, or

 

      in case there is no such surplus, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year.

 

Shareholder approval is required to authorize capital stock in excess of that provided in the charter. Directors may issue authorized shares without shareholder approval.

 

  Payments out of a corporation’s share capital (in other words, the aggregate par value of the corporation’s registered share capital) in the form of dividends are not allowed and may be made only by way of a share capital reduction. Dividends may be paid only from the profits of the previous business year or brought forward from previous business years or if the corporation has distributable reserves, each as evidenced by the corporation’s audited stand-alone statutory balance sheet prepared pursuant to Swiss law and after allocations to reserves required by Swiss law and the articles of association have been deducted.
     
Creation and issuance of new shares
     
All creation of shares require the board of directors to adopt a resolution or resolutions, pursuant to authority expressly vested in the board of directors by the provisions of the company’s certificate of incorporation.   All creation of shares require a shareholders’ resolution. The creation of authorized or contingent share capital requires at least two-thirds of the voting rights represented at the general meeting of shareholders and an absolute majority of the par value of shares represented at such meeting. The board of directors may issue shares out of the authorized share capital during a period of up to two years. Shares are created and issued out of contingent share capital through the exercise of options or of conversion rights that the board of directors may grant in relation to, e.g., debt instruments or employees.

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TAXATION

 

The following discussion is based on the tax laws, regulations and regulatory practices of Switzerland and the United States as in effect on the date hereof, which are subject to change (or subject to changes in interpretation), possibly with retroactive effect.

 

Current and prospective shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers in light of their particular circumstances as to the Swiss or U.S. tax laws, regulations and regulatory practices that could be relevant for them in connection with owning and selling or otherwise disposing of our common shares and receiving dividends and similar cash or in-kind distributions on our common shares (including dividends on liquidation proceeds and share dividends) or distributions on our common shares based upon a capital reduction or reserves paid out of capital contributions and the consequences thereof under the tax laws, regulations and regulatory practices of Switzerland or the United States.

 

Swiss Tax Considerations

 

Withholding Tax

 

Under present Swiss tax law, dividends due and similar cash or in-kind distributions made by the Company to a shareholder of common shares (including liquidation proceeds and bonus shares) are subject to Swiss federal withholding tax (“Withholding Tax”), currently at a rate of 35% (applicable to the gross amount of taxable distribution). However, the repayment of the par value of the common shares and any repayment of qualifying additional paid-in capital (capital contribution reserves), within the limitations accepted by the legislation in force when such Dividend becomes due and the respective administrative practice, are not subject to the Withholding Tax. The Company is obliged to deduct any applicable Withholding Tax from the gross amount of any taxable distribution and to pay the tax to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration within 30 days of the due date of such distribution.

 

Swiss resident individuals who hold their common shares as private assets (“Resident Private Shareholders”) are in principle eligible for a full refund or credit against income tax of the Withholding Tax if they duly report the underlying income in their income tax return. In addition, (i) corporate and individual shareholders who are resident in Switzerland for tax purposes, (ii) corporate and individual shareholders who are not resident in Switzerland, and who, in each case, hold their common shares as part of a trade or business carried on in Switzerland through a permanent establishment with fixed place of business situated in Switzerland for tax purposes and (iii) Swiss resident private individuals who, for income tax purposes, are classified as “professional securities dealers” for reasons of, inter alia, frequent dealing, or leveraged investments, in shares and other securities (collectively, “Domestic Commercial Shareholders”) are in principle eligible for a full refund or credit against income tax of the Withholding Tax if they duly report the underlying income in their statements of operations or income tax return, as the case may be.

 

Shareholders who are not resident in Switzerland for tax purposes, and who, in each case and during the respective taxation year, do not hold their common shares as part of a trade or business carried on through a permanent establishment with fixed place of business situated in Switzerland for tax purposes, and who are not subject to corporate or individual income taxation in Switzerland for any other reason (collectively, “Non-Resident Shareholders”) may be entitled to a total or partial refund of the Withholding Tax if the country in which such recipient resides for tax purposes maintains a bilateral treaty for the avoidance of double taxation with Switzerland and further conditions of such treaty are met. Non-Resident Shareholders should be aware that the procedures for claiming treaty benefits (and the time required for obtaining a refund) may differ from country to country. Non-Resident Shareholders should consult their own legal, financial or tax advisors regarding receipt, ownership, purchases, sale or other dispositions of common shares and the procedures for claiming a refund of the Withholding Tax.

 

Securities Transfer Stamp Duty

 

Any transactions in common shares in the secondary markets are subject to Swiss securities transfer stamp duty at an aggregate rate of 0.15% of the consideration paid for such common shares, however, only if a bank or other securities dealer in Switzerland, as defined in the Swiss Federal Stamp Tax Act (loi fédérale sur les droits de timbre), is a party or an intermediary to the transaction and no exemption applies.

 

Swiss Federal, Cantonal and Communal Individual Income Tax and Corporate Income Tax

 

Non-Resident Shareholders

 

Non-Resident Shareholders are not subject to any Swiss federal, cantonal or communal income tax on dividend payments and similar distributions because of the mere holding of common shares. The same applies for capital gains on the sale of common shares subject to certain exceptions. For Withholding Tax consequences, see “—Swiss Tax Considerations—Withholding Tax.”

 

Resident Private Shareholders and Domestic Commercial Shareholders

 

Resident Private Shareholders who receive dividends and similar cash or in-kind distributions (including liquidation proceeds as well as bonus shares or taxable repurchases of common shares as described above), which are not repayments of the par value of common shares or, within the limitations accepted by the legislation in force and the respective administrative practice, qualifying additional

 

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paid-in capital, are required to report such receipts in their individual income tax returns and are subject to Swiss federal, cantonal and communal income tax on any net taxable income for the relevant tax period. A gain or a loss by Resident Private Shareholders realized upon the sale or other disposition of common shares to a third party will generally be a tax-free private capital gain or not a tax-deductible capital loss, as the case may be. Under exceptional circumstances the capital gain may be re-characterized into a taxable dividend, in particular upon taxable repurchase of common shares as described above. When a capital gain is re-characterized as a dividend, the relevant income for tax purposes corresponds to the difference between the repurchase price and the sum of the par value of common shares and, within the limitations accepted by the legislation in force and the respective administrative practice, qualifying additional paid-in capital.

 

Domestic Commercial Shareholders who receive dividends and similar cash or in-kind distributions (including liquidation proceeds as well as bonus shares) are required to recognize such payments in their statements of operations for the relevant tax period and are subject to Swiss federal, cantonal and communal individual or corporate income tax, as the case may be, on any net taxable earnings accumulated (including the dividends) for such period. On cantonal and communal level, similar provisions were introduced, but the regulations may vary depending on the canton of residency. Domestic Commercial Shareholders who are corporate taxpayers may qualify for participation relief on dividend distributions (réduction pour participations), if common shares held have an aggregate market value of at least CHF 1 million. For cantonal and communal income tax purposes, the regulations on participation relief are broadly similar, depending on the canton of residency.

 

Domestic Commercial Shareholders are required to recognize a gain or loss realized upon the disposal of common shares in their statement of operations for the respective taxation period and are subject to Swiss federal, cantonal and communal individual or corporate income tax, as the case may be, on any net taxable earnings (including the gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of common shares) for such taxation period.

 

Swiss Wealth Tax and Capital Tax

 

Non-Resident Shareholders

 

Non-Resident Shareholders holding common shares are not subject to cantonal and communal wealth or annual capital tax because of the mere holding of common shares.

 

Resident Private Shareholders

 

Resident Private Shareholders are required to report their common shares as part of their private wealth and are subject to cantonal and communal wealth tax.

 

Domestic Commercial Shareholders

 

Domestic Commercial Shareholders are required to report their common shares as part of their business wealth or taxable capital, as defined, and are subject to cantonal and communal wealth or annual capital tax.

 

Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters

 

On November 19, 2014, Switzerland signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement. The Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement is based on Article 6 of the OECD/Council of Europe administrative assistance convention and is intended to ensure the uniform implementation of Automatic Exchange of Information (the “AEOI”). The Federal Act on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters (the “AEOI Act”) entered into force on January 1, 2017. The AEOI Act is the legal basis for the implementation of the AEOI standard in Switzerland.

 

The AEOI is being introduced in Switzerland through bilateral agreements or multilateral agreements. The agreements have been, and will be, concluded on the basis of guaranteed reciprocity, compliance with the principle of speciality (i.e., the information exchanged may only be used to assess and levy taxes (and for criminal tax proceedings)) and adequate data protection.

 

Based on such multilateral or bilateral agreements and the implementation of Swiss law, Switzerland collects and exchanges data in respect of financial assets, including common shares, held in, and income derived thereon and credited to, accounts or deposits with a paying agent in Switzerland for the benefit of individuals resident in a European Union member state or in a treaty state.

 

Swiss Facilitation of the Implementation of the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

 

Switzerland has concluded an intergovernmental agreement with the United States to facilitate the implementation of U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. The agreement ensures that the accounts held by U.S. persons with Swiss financial institutions are disclosed to the U.S. tax authorities either with the consent of the account holder or by means of group requests within the scope of administrative assistance. Information will not be transferred automatically in the absence of consent, and instead will be exchanged only within the scope of administrative assistance on the basis of the double taxation agreement between the United States and Switzerland. On October 8, 2014, the Swiss Federal Council approved a mandate for negotiations with the United States on changing

 

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the current direct-notification-based regime to a regime where the relevant information is sent to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration, which in turn provides the information to the U.S. tax authorities.

 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences for U.S. Holders

 

The following is a description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to the U.S. Holders, as defined below, of owning and disposing our common shares. It does not describe all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to acquire common shares.

 

This discussion applies only to a U.S. Holder that holds common shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment). In addition, it does not describe any tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences, including state and local tax consequences and estate tax consequences, and does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant in light of the U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences, the potential application of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) known as the Medicare contribution tax and tax consequences applicable to U.S. Holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

certain banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions;

 

brokers, dealers or traders in securities who use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting;

 

persons holding common shares as part of a straddle, wash sale, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction or persons entering into a constructive sale with respect to the common shares;

 

persons whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar;

 

entities or arrangements classified as partnerships or S corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

tax-exempt entities, including an “individual retirement account” or “Roth IRAs” and governmental entities;

 

real estate investment trusts or regulated investment companies;

 

former U.S. citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

persons subject to Section 451(b) of the Code;

 

persons that own or are deemed to own 10% or more of the voting power or value of our shares; or

 

persons holding common shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the United States or in connection with a permanent establishment or other fixed place of business outside of the United States.

 

If an entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds common shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding common shares and partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the common shares.

 

This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions, final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, and the income tax treaty between Switzerland and the United States (the “Treaty”), all as of the date hereof, any of which is subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect.

 

A “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our common shares who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty and who is:

 

a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or

 

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

 

U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of owning and disposing of common shares in their particular circumstances.

 

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The discussion under “Taxation of Distributions” and “Sale or Other Disposition of Common Shares” below describes certain consequences to U.S. Holders in the event that we are not a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “PFIC”) during any tax year in which a U.S. Holder holds our common shares. This discussion assumes that we were not a PFIC for our 2021 taxable year, and will not become a PFIC in the foreseeable future. See “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below.

 

Taxation of Distributions

 

Distributions paid on common shares, other than certain pro rata distributions of common shares, will generally be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Because we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, we expect that distributions generally will be reported to U.S. Holders as dividends. Dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for taxation as “qualified dividend income” and therefore, subject to applicable limitations, may be taxable at rates not in excess of the long-term capital gain rate applicable to such U.S. Holder. Dividends will constitute qualified dividend income (a) for so long as the common shares with respect to which such dividends are paid are listed on the NYSE or we are eligible for benefits under the Treaty and (b) we are not a PFIC in the year in which the dividend is paid or the prior taxable year. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends in their particular circumstances.

 

The amount of a dividend will include any amounts withheld by us in respect of Swiss income taxes. The amount of the dividend will be treated as foreign-source dividend income to U.S. Holders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally available to U.S. corporations under the Code. Dividends will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income on the date of the U.S. Holder’s receipt of the dividend. The amount of any dividend income paid in Swiss franc will be the U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of actual or constructive receipt, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars at that time. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. A U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of receipt.

 

Subject to applicable limitations, some of which vary depending upon the U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, Swiss income taxes withheld from dividends on common shares (at a rate not exceeding the rate provided by the Treaty, in the case of a U.S. Holder eligible for a reduced rate under the Treaty) will be creditable against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex and U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the creditability of foreign taxes in their particular circumstances. In lieu of claiming a foreign tax credit, U.S. Holders may, at their election, deduct foreign taxes, including any Swiss income tax, in computing their taxable income, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law. An election to deduct foreign taxes instead of claiming foreign tax credits applies to all foreign taxes paid or accrued in the taxable year.

 

Sale or Other Disposition of Common Shares

 

Gain or loss realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of common shares will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for such common shares was more than one year as of the date of the sale or other disposition. The amount of the gain or loss will equal the difference between the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares disposed of and the amount realized on the disposition, in each case as determined in U.S. dollars. Long-term capital gain recognized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder is subject to U.S. federal income tax at rates lower than the rates applicable to ordinary income and short-term capital gains, while short-term capital gains are subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to ordinary income. This gain or loss will generally be U.S.-source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to various limitations.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

 

Under the Code, we will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which, after the application of certain look-through rules with respect to subsidiaries, either (i) 75% or more of our gross income consists of “passive income” or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets consist of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, “passive income.” For purposes of the above calculations, we will be treated as if we hold our proportionate share of the assets of, and receive directly our proportionate share of the income of, any other corporation in which we directly or indirectly own at least 25%, by value, of the shares of such corporation. Passive income generally includes interest, dividends, certain non-active rents and royalties, and capital gains.

 

We believe that we were a PFIC for our 2019 taxable year. However, we believe were not a PFIC for our 2020 or 2021 taxable year, and we do not expect to become a PFIC for one or more subsequent taxable years. However, whether we will be a PFIC in any future years is uncertain because, among other things, (i) we currently own, and likely will continue to own, a substantial amount of passive assets, including cash, (ii) the timing of our recognition of active income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which may differ from the timing of the recognition of such income for financial accounting purposes, may result in our recognizing minimal amounts of active income for U.S. federal income tax purposes in certain taxable years and (iii) the valuation of our assets that generate non-passive income for PFIC purposes, including our intangible assets, is uncertain and may be determined in substantial part by our

 

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market capitalization, which may vary substantially over time. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any future taxable year.

 

If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds common shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to that U.S. Holder for all succeeding years during which the U.S. Holder holds common shares, even if we cease to meet the threshold requirements for PFIC status, unless the U.S. Holder elects to recognize gain, if any, as if it sold its common shares as of the last day of the last tax year in which we are a PFIC (such election, a “Purging Election”). In addition, the Company may, directly or indirectly, have held or hold equity interests in other PFICs (collectively, “Lower-tier PFICs”). Under attribution rules, if the Company is a PFIC, U.S. Holders will be deemed to own their proportionate shares of the stock of Lower-tier PFICs and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax according to the rules described in the following paragraphs on (i) certain distributions by a Lower-tier PFIC and (ii) a disposition of shares of a Lower-tier PFIC, in each case as if the U.S. Holder held such shares directly, even though holders have not received the proceeds of those distributions or dispositions directly. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers about the consequences to them if we own one or more Lower-tier PFICs.

 

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds common shares (assuming such U.S. Holder has not made certain elections, as described below), gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on sale or other disposition (including certain pledges) of common shares (including any gain recognized as a consequence of a Purging Election) will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before we became a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year will be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge will be imposed on the resulting tax liability. Further, to the extent that any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on its common shares exceeds 125% of the average of the annual distributions on the common shares received during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter, that distribution will be subject to taxation in the same manner as gain, described immediately above. Certain elections may be available (including a mark-to-market election) that may provide alternative tax treatments. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding whether any of these elections for alternative treatment would be available and, if so, what the consequences of the alternative treatments would be in their particular circumstances.

 

If we are a PFIC (or, with respect to a particular U.S. Holder, are treated as a PFIC) for a taxable year in which we pay a dividend or for the prior taxable year, the preferential dividend rates discussed above with respect to dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders will not apply.

 

If we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds common shares, the U.S. Holder would generally be required to file an annual report on IRS Form 8621 with their annual U.S. federal income tax returns, subject to certain exceptions.

 

Prospective U.S. holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential PFIC rules to an investment in common shares.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally are subject to information reporting, and may be subject to backup withholding, unless (i) the U.S. Holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, the U.S. Holder provides a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding.

 

The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle it to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

 

The common shares being offered by the selling shareholders are (i) 733,568 common shares held by OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P. and Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P. and (ii) 527,295 common shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants issued to OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P., Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P., Oaktree LSL Holdings EURRC S.à r.l., Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation, Oaktree AZ Strategic Lending Fund, L.P., Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund, Oaktree Diversified Income Fund, Inc., and Oaktree Loan Acquisition Fund, L.P., to the extent that the holders of such warrants opt to exercise their warrants to purchase our common shares. The warrants are exercisable at any time at the option of the holders thereof. The number of common shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is subject to adjustment in certain events described in the warrants.

 

We do not know whether, when or the extent to which the holders of common shares will sell such common shares or the holders of the warrants will opt to exercise their warrants. We are registering the common shares in order to permit the selling shareholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for ownership of the common shares and warrants and as described in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the selling shareholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.

 

The table below lists the selling shareholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of common shares by each of the selling shareholders. The second column lists the number of common shares owned by each selling shareholder, based on its ownership of common shares and warrants, assuming the exercise of such warrants. The third column lists the number of common shares offered by this prospectus by each selling shareholder. The fourth column lists the number of common shares beneficially owned by each selling shareholder after the offering contemplated by this prospectus, assuming the sale of all common shares being offered by this prospectus by each selling shareholder.

 

The selling shareholders may sell some, all or none of their common shares. We do not know how long the selling shareholders will hold the common shares before selling them, and we currently have no agreements, arrangements or understandings with any selling shareholder regarding its resale of any of the common shares. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Selling Shareholders Number of Common Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Any Sale Number of Common Shares Offered by this Prospectus   Number of Common Shares Beneficially Owned Assuming Sale of All Shares Offered by this Prospectus
OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P. (1)   28,491     28,491      
Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P.(2)   968,725     968,725      
Oaktree LSL Holdings EURRC S.à r.l. (3)   21,376     21,376      
Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (4)   28,948     28,948      
Oaktree AZ Strategic Lending Fund, L.P. (5)   39,083     39,083      
Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund (6)   45,727     45,727      
Oaktree Diversified Income Fund, Inc. (7)   4,988     4,988      
Oaktree Loan Acquisition Fund, L.P. (8)   123,525     123,525      

 

(1)Represents (i) 20,959 common shares held by OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P. and (ii) 7,532 common shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants issued to OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P. Owl Rock Capital Private Fund Advisors LLC is the investment manager of OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P. and has sole voting and investment control with respect to the shares held by OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P. The address of OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P. is 399 Park Avenue, 38th Floor, Attn: Accounting, New York, New York 10022, United States.

 

(2)Represents (i) 712,609 common shares held by Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P. and (ii) 256,116 common shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants issued to Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P.. Owl Rock Capital Private Fund Advisors LLC is the investment manager of Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P. and has sole voting and investment control with respect to the shares held by Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P. The address of Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P. is 399 Park Avenue, 38th Floor, Attn: Accounting, New York, New York 10022, United States.

 

(3)The sole shareholder of Oaktree LSL Holdings EURRC S.à r.l. is Oaktree LSL Fund Delaware Holdings II EURRC, L.P. (“Holdings EURRC”). The general partner of Holdings EURRC is Oaktree Life Sciences Lending Fund GP, L.P. (“Fund GP”). The general partner of Fund GP is Oaktree Life Sciences Lending Fund GP Ltd. “Fund GP Ltd”). The sole director of Fund GP Ltd is Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (“OCM LP”). The general partner of OCM LP is Oaktree Capital Management GP LLC (“OCM GP LLC”). The managing member of OCM GP LLC is Atlas OCM Holdings LLC (“Atlas”). Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC is the indirect owner of the class B units of Atlas and Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (“BAM”) is the indirect owner of the Class A units of Atlas. Each of the managing members, managers, general partners and members described above disclaims beneficial ownership of any Registrable Securities beneficially or of record owned by Oaktree LSL Holdings EURRC S.à r.l., except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of BAM is 181 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3, Canada. The business address of each other person and entity named herein is 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071 except for Oaktree LSL Holdings EURRC S.à r.l. that is 26A, boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

 

(4)Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation is managed by Oaktree Fund Advisors, LLC (“Fund Advisors”). The managing member of Fund Advisors is Oaktree Capital II, L.P. (“Capital II”). The general partner of Capital II is Oaktree Capital II GP LLC (“Capital II GP”). The managing member of Capital II GP is Atlas OCM Holdings LLC (“Atlas”). Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC is the indirect owner of the class B units of Atlas and Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (“BAM”) is the indirect owner of the Class A units of Atlas. Each of the managing members, managers, general partners and members described above disclaims beneficial ownership of any Registrable Securities beneficially or of record owned by Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of BAM is 181 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3, Canada. The business address of each other person and entity named herein is 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

(5)The general partner of Oaktree AZ Strategic Lending Fund, L.P. is Oaktree AZ Strategic Lending Fund GP, L.P. (“Fund GP”). The general partner of Fund GP is Oaktree Fund GP IIA, LLC (“GP IIA LLC”). The managing member of GP IIA LLC is Oaktree Fund GP II, LLC (“GP II”). The general partner of GP II is Oaktree Capital II, L.P. (“Capital II”). The general partner of Capital II is Oaktree Capital II GP LLC (“Capital II GP”). The managing member of Capital II GP is Atlas OCM Holdings LLC (“Atlas”). Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC is the indirect owner of the class B units of Atlas and Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (“BAM”) is the indirect owner of the Class A units of Atlas. Each of the managing members, managers, general partners and members described above disclaims beneficial ownership of any Registrable Securities beneficially or of record owned by Oaktree AZ Strategic Lending Fund, L.P., except

 

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to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of BAM is 181 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3, Canada. The business address of each other person and entity named herein is 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

(6)Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund is managed by Oaktree Fund Advisors, LLC (“Fund Advisors”). The managing member of Fund Advisors is Oaktree Capital II, L.P. (“Capital II”). The general partner of Capital II is Oaktree Capital II GP LLC (“Capital II GP”). The managing member of Capital II GP is Atlas OCM Holdings LLC (“Atlas”). Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC is the indirect owner of the class B units of Atlas and Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (“BAM”) is the indirect owner of the Class A units of Atlas. Each of the managing members, managers, general partners and members described above disclaims beneficial ownership of any Registrable Securities beneficially or of record owned by Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of BAM is 181 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3, Canada. The business address of each other person and entity named herein is 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

(7)Oaktree Diversified Income Fund, Inc. is managed by Oaktree Fund Advisors, LLC (“Fund Advisors”). The managing member of Fund Advisors is Oaktree Capital II, L.P. (“Capital II”). The general partner of Capital II is Oaktree Capital II GP LLC (“Capital II GP”). The managing member of Capital II GP is Atlas OCM Holdings LLC (“Atlas”). Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC is the indirect owner of the class B units of Atlas and Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (“BAM”) is the indirect owner of the Class A units of Atlas. Each of the managing members, managers, general partners and members described above disclaims beneficial ownership of any Registrable Securities beneficially or of record owned by Oaktree Diversified Income Fund, Inc., except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of BAM is 181 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3, Canada. The business address of each other person and entity named herein is 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

(8)The general partner of Oaktree Loan Acquisition Fund, L.P. is Oaktree Fund GP IIA, LLC (“GP IIA LLC”). The managing member of GP IIA LLC is Oaktree Fund GP II, LLC (“GP II”). The general partner of GP II is Oaktree Capital II, L.P. (“Capital II”). The general partner of Capital II is Oaktree Capital II GP LLC (“Capital II GP”). The managing member of Capital II GP is Atlas OCM Holdings LLC (“Atlas”). Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC is the indirect owner of the class B units of Atlas and Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (“BAM”) is the indirect owner of the Class A units of Atlas. Each of the managing members, managers, general partners and members described above disclaims beneficial ownership of any Registrable Securities beneficially or of record owned by Oaktree Loan Acquisition Fund, L.P., except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The address of BAM is 181 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3, Canada. The business address of each other person and entity named herein is 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

The table above is prepared based on information supplied by us by the selling shareholder as of the date of this prospectus. The selling shareholders may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of all or a portion of that holder’s common shares and warrants since the date on which the selling shareholder provided information for this table. We have not made independent inquiries about such transfers or dispositions. Information about any other selling shareholders will be included in prospectus supplements or post-effective amendments, if required. Information about the selling shareholders may change from time to time. Any changed information with respect to which we are given notice will be included in prospectus supplements.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each selling shareholder of the securities and any of their pledgees, donees, assignees, transferees, and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities or interests in any securities covered hereby on the NYSE or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales or dispositions may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A selling shareholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

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

 

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

 

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

privately negotiated transactions;

 

settlement of short sales made after the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part;

 

in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;

 

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 or any other exemptions from registration under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Rule 2121, and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121.

 

In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell securities short after the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

Any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each selling shareholder has informed us that, at the time of its acquisition of the common shares or the warrants, as applicable, it did not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.

 

We are required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by us incident to the registration of the securities. We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus or any other exemptions from registration under the Securities Act.

 

We agreed to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part effective until the date on which all securities included in the registration statement have been sold pursuant to the registration statement or Rule 144, are eligible to be immediately sold to

 

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the public without registration or restriction, are no longer outstanding, are no longer held by persons entitled to registration rights or for three years.

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common shares for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling shareholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M.

 

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EXPENSES OF THE OFFERING

 

We expect that our expenses in connection with this offering will be as follows:

 

Expenses  Amount
SEC registration fee   $812 
Printing and engraving expenses    3,000 
Legal fees and expenses    50,000 
Accounting fees and expenses    30,000 
Miscellaneous costs    16,188 
Total   $100,000 

 

All amounts in the table are estimates except the SEC registration fee. We will pay fees and expenses incurred by us incident to the registration of the securities. If any shares are sold, the selling shareholders will pay any brokerage commissions and/or similar charges incurred for the sale of such shares.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the common shares and certain other matters with respect to Swiss law will be passed upon for us by Homburger AG, Zurich, Switzerland. Certain matters with respect to U.S. federal and New York State law will be passed upon for us by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers SA, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers SA is a member of EXPERTsuisse — Swiss Expert Association for Audit, Tax and Fiduciary.

 

ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS

 

We are organized under the laws of Switzerland and our registered office and domicile is located in Epalinges, Switzerland. Moreover, a number of our directors and executive officers are not residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or upon such persons or to enforce against them judgments obtained in U.S. courts, including judgments in actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. We have been advised by our Swiss counsel that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Switzerland of original actions, or in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, of civil liabilities to the extent solely predicated upon the federal and state securities laws of the United States. Original actions against persons in Switzerland based solely upon the U.S. federal or state securities laws are governed, among other things, by the principles set forth in the Swiss Federal Act on Private International Law (the “PILA”). This statute provides that the application of provisions of non-Swiss law by the courts in Switzerland shall be precluded if the result would be incompatible with Swiss public policy. Also, mandatory provisions of Swiss law may be applicable regardless of any other law that would otherwise apply.

 

Switzerland and the United States do not have a treaty providing for reciprocal recognition of and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. The recognition and enforcement of a judgment of the courts of the United States in Switzerland is governed by the principles set forth in the PILA. This statute provides in principle that a judgment rendered by a non-Swiss court may be enforced in Switzerland only if:

 

·the non-Swiss court had jurisdiction pursuant to the PILA;

 

·the judgment of such non-Swiss court has become final and non-appealable;

 

·the judgment does not contravene Swiss public policy;

 

·the court procedures and the service of documents leading to the judgment were in accordance with the due process of law; and

 

·no proceeding involving the same position and the same subject matter was first brought in Switzerland, or adjudicated in Switzerland, or was earlier adjudicated in a third state and this decision is recognizable in Switzerland.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. The SEC maintains an Internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information we have filed electronically with the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement (including amendments and exhibits to the registration statement) on Form F-3 under the Securities Act. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For more detail about us and the common shares offered by this prospectus, you may examine the registration statement on Form F-3 and the exhibits filed with it at the website provided in the previous paragraph.

 

We maintain a corporate website at www.adctherapeutics.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.

 

33 

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information in this prospectus, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be a part of this prospectus. Any statement made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below:

 

·our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021;

 

·our Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2022 (only with respect to “2. Compensation of the Board of Directors” and “3. Compensation of the Members of Executive Management” in Exhibit 99.4 thereto), May 9, 2022 (only with respect to Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 thereto), June 30, 2022, August 9, 2022 (only with respect to Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 thereto) and August 15, 2022; and

 

·our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on May 11, 2020, which incorporates by reference the description of our common shares from our Registration Statement on Form F-1, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F, Form 40-F or Form 10-K that we file with the SEC and all subsequent filings on Forms 10-Q and 8-K filed by us with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act (excluding, in each case, any information or documents deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC), after the date hereof and prior to the termination or expiration of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, shall be incorporated by reference. We may incorporate by reference any reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC that we specifically identify in such form or in any applicable prospectus supplement as being incorporated by reference into this prospectus or such prospectus supplement after the date hereof and prior to the completion of an offering of securities under this prospectus.

 

You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus through us or from the SEC through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 20-F and Reports on Form 6-K and exhibits incorporated in and amendments to those reports, are also available free of charge on our website (www.adctherapeutics.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part. We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all the reports or documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus at no cost, upon written or oral request to us at the following address:

 

Investor Relations
ADC Therapeutics SA
c/o ADC Therapeutics America, Inc.
430 Mountain Avenue, 4th Floor
Murray Hill, NJ 07974
(908) 546-5556

 

34 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADC THERAPEUTICS SA

 

1,260,863 Common Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, 2022

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 8.Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Under Swiss law, a corporation may indemnify its directors or officers against losses and expenses (except for such losses and expenses arising from willful misconduct or negligence, although legal scholars advocate that at least gross negligence be required), including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred in a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding by reason of having been the representative of, or serving at the request of, the corporation.

 

Subject to Swiss law, our articles of association provide for indemnification of the existing and former members of our board of directors and our executive committee as well as their heirs, executors and administrators, against liabilities arising in connection with the performance of their duties in such capacity, and our articles of association require us to advance the expenses of defending any action, suit or proceeding to existing and former members of our board of directors and our executive committee to the extent not included in insurance coverage or advanced by third parties.

 

In addition, under general principles of Swiss employment law, an employer may be required to indemnify an employee against losses and expenses incurred by such employee in the proper execution of their duties under the employment agreement with the company.

 

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

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company, the Company has been advised that, in the opinion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

Item 9.Exhibits

 

The exhibit index attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 10.Undertakings

 

The undersigned hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

(1) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(2) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(3) 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)(1), (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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.

 

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

 

(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;

 

 

 

(d)to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (d) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Item 8.A of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3;

 

(e)that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(1) 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

 

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

 

(f)that, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of 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:

 

(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(2) 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;

 

(3) 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

 

(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser;

 

The undersigned 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 therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

The following documents are filed as part of this registration statement:

 

    Incorporation by Reference
Exhibit No. Description Form File No. Exhibit No. Filing Date
4.1 Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA        
4.2 Form of Warrant 6-K 001-39071 99.4 August 15, 2022
4.3 Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 15, 2022, between ADC Therapeutics SA and OR Opportunistic DL (C), L.P., Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund II, L.P., Oaktree LSL Holdings EURRC S.à r.l., Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation, Oaktree AZ Strategic Lending Fund, L.P., Oaktree Strategic Credit Fund, Oaktree Diversified Income Fund, Inc., and Oaktree Loan Acquisition Fund, L.P. 6-K 001-39071 99.5 August 15, 2022
5.1 Opinion of Homburger AG, Swiss counsel of ADC Therapeutics SA        
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers SA, independent registered public accounting firm        
23.2 Consent of Homburger AG, Swiss counsel of ADC Therapeutics SA (included in Exhibit 5.1)        
24.1 Powers of attorney (included on signature page to the registration statement)        
107 Filing fee table        

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the municipality of Epalinges, Switzerland on September 6, 2022.

 

  ADC THERAPEUTICS SA
   
           
  By:    /s/ Ameet Mallik
    Name:     Ameet Mallik
    Title:     Chief Executive Officer

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Ameet Mallik, Michael Forer and Jennifer Creel and each of them, individually, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead in any and all capacities, in connection with this registration statement, including to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, this registration statement and any and all amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments and registrations filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents 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 all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute, 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 on September 6, 2022 in the capacities indicated:

 

Name     Title
       
/s/ Ameet Mallik    

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(principal executive officer)

Ameet Mallik    
       
/s/ Jennifer Creel    

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

Jennifer Creel    
       
/s/ Robert A. Schmidt    

Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

(principal accounting officer)

Robert A. Schmidt    
       
/s/ Ron Squarer     Chairman of the Board of Directors
Ron Squarer    
       
/s/ Michael Forer     Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Michael Forer      
       
/s/ Jean-Pierre Bizzari     Director
Jean-Pierre Bizzari    
       
/s/ Stephen Evans-Freke     Director
Stephen Evans-Freke    
       
/s/ Peter Hug     Director
Peter Hug    
       
/s/ Christopher Martin     Director
Christopher Martin    
       

 

 

 

 

/s/ Viviane Monges     Director
Viviane Monges    
       
/s/ Thomas Pfisterer     Director
Thomas Pfisterer    
       
/s/ Tyrell J. Rivers     Director
Tyrell J. Rivers    
       
/s/ Victor Sandor     Director
Victor Sandor    
       
/s/ Jacques Theurillat     Director
Jacques Theurillat    
       
/s/ Jennifer Creel     Authorized Representative in the United States
Jennifer Creel    
ADC Therapeutics America, Inc.      

 

 

 

EX-4.1 2 dp179924_ex0401.htm EXHIBIT 4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

Articles of Association

of ADC Therapeutics SA

(ADC Therapeutics AG)

(ADC Therapeutics Ltd)

 

 

 

Statuts

de ADC Therapeutics SA

(ADC Therapeutics AG)

(ADC Therapeutics Ltd)

 

 

 

 

1/34

Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

 

  Section 1
Name, Registered Office, Purpose and Duration of the Company
    Section 1
Raison sociale, siège, but de la société, durée
         
  Article 1     Article 1
Name, Place of Incorporation Under the name ADC Therapeutics SA (ADC Therapeutics AG) (ADC Therapeutics Ltd) (the Company) shall exist a corporation with its registered office in Epalinges, canton of Vaud.   Raison sociale, siège Sous la raison sociale ADC Therapeutics SA (ADC Therapeutics AG), (ADC Therapeutics Ltd) (la Société) existe une société anonyme avec siège à Epalinges, canton de Vaud.
         
  Article 2     Article 2
Purpose

1 The Company's purpose is to research, develop, produce and sell products in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceutics, medical technology, diagnosis and therapy as well as to purchase, sell and use patents and licenses in these fields. The Company may engage in all types of transactions that appear appropriate to promote the purpose of the Company or that are related thereto.

 

  But 1 La Société a pour but la recherche, le développement, la production et la vente de produits dans les domaines de la biotechnologie, de la pharmaceutique, de la technologie médicale, du diagnostic et de la thérapie ainsi que l’acquisition, la vente et l'utilisation de brevets et de licences dans ces domaines. La Société peut exercer toutes activités aptes à favoriser son but ou en rapport avec ce dernier.
  2 The Company may open branch offices and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad. It may also acquire participations or otherwise invest in other companies in Switzerland and abroad.     2 La Société peut constituer des succursales et des filiales en Suisse et à l'étranger et participer à ou investir autrement dans d'autres entreprises en Suisse et à l'étranger.
  3 The Company may acquire, hold, manage, mortgage, exploit and sell real estate and intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad and may also finance other companies.     3 La Société peut acquérir, détenir, gérer, gager, mettre en valeur et aliéner des immeubles et des droits de propriété intellectuelle en Suisse et à l'étranger, ainsi que financer d'autres sociétés.
         

 

2/34

Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

  Article 3     Article 3
Duration The duration of the Company shall be unlimited.   Durée La durée de la Société est illimitée.
            
             
 

Section 2

Share Capital, Shares, Restrictions of Transferability

   

Section 2

Capital-actions, actions et restrictions à la transmissibilité

         
  Article 4     Article 4
Share Capital The share capital of the Company is CHF 6,511,509.20 and is divided into 81,393,865 fully paid in registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.08 each.   Capital-actions Le capital-actions de la Société s'élève à
CHF 6'511’509.20 et est divisé en 81'393’865 actions nominatives entièrement libérées d'une valeur nominale de CHF 0.08 chacune.
         
  Article 4a     Article 4a
Authorized Share Capital 1 The Board of Directors shall be authorized to increase the share capital at any time, including in connection with an intended takeover, until June 9, 2023 by a maximum amount of CHF 3,072,114.56 by issuing a maximum of 38,401,432 fully paid in registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.08 each. Increases in partial amounts shall be permissible.   Capital-actions autorisé 1 Le Conseil d'administration est autorisé à augmenter le capital-actions d'un montant maximum de CHF 3'072'114.56, en tout temps, y inclus en lien avec une future offre publique d'acquisition, mais jusqu'au
9 juin 2023 au plus tard, par l'émission d'un maximum de 38'401’432 actions nominatives d'une valeur nominale de CHF 0.08 chacune, qui doivent être intégralement libérées. Des augmentations par montants partiels sont autorisées.
  2 The subscription and acquisition of the new shares as well as any subsequent transfer of the shares shall be subject to the restrictions pursuant to Article 6 of these articles of association.     2 La souscription et l'acquisition des nouvelles actions ainsi que tout transfert ultérieur des actions sont assujettis aux restrictions à la transmissibilité conformément à l'article 6 des présents statuts.
  3 The Board of Directors shall determine the issue price, the type of contribution, the date of issue, the conditions for the exercise of pre-emptive rights and the beginning.     3 Le Conseil d'administration détermine le prix d'émission, la nature des apports, le moment de l'émission, les conditions de l'exercice du droit de souscription préfé

3/34

Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

  date for dividend entitlement. In this regard, the Board of Directors may issue new shares by means of a firm underwriting through a financial institution, a syndicate of financial institutions or another third party and a subsequent offer of these shares to the existing shareholders or third parties (if the pre-emptive rights of the existing shareholders have been withdrawn or have not been duly exercised). The Board of Directors is entitled to permit, to restrict or to exclude the trading of pre-emptive rights. It may permit the expiration of pre-emptive rights that have not been exercised, or it may place such rights or shares as to which pre-emptive rights have been granted, but not exercised, at market conditions or may use them otherwise in the interest of the Company     rentiel et le moment à partir duquel les actions donneront droit à des dividendes. A cet effet, le Conseil d'administration peut émettre des nouvelles actions par voie de prise ferme par un établissement financier, un consortium bancaire ou un tiers et d'offre subséquente de ces actions aux actionnaires actuels ou à des tiers (si les droits de souscription préférentiels des actionnaires actuels ont été supprimés ou qu'ils n'ont pas été valablement exercés). Le Conseil d'administration est en droit d'autoriser, de limiter ou d'exclure le négoce des droits de souscription préférentiels. Le Conseil d'administration peut laisser s'éteindre les droits de souscription préférentiels non exercés; il peut aussi aliéner ceux-ci, respectivement les actions pour lesquelles des droits de souscription ont été accordés sans toutefois être exercés, aux conditions du marché ou les utiliser autrement dans l'intérêt de la Société.
  4 The Board of Directors is further authorized to withdraw or restrict pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders and to allocate such rights to third parties, the Company or any of its group companies:     4 Le Conseil d'administration peut aussi exclure ou limiter les droits de souscription préférentiels des actionnaires actuels et les attribuer à des tiers, à la Société ou à une des sociétés du groupe:
  (a)   if the issue price of the new shares is determined by reference to the market price; or     (a) si le prix d'émission des nouvelles actions est déterminé en fonction du prix du marché; ou
  (b)   for raising capital in a fast and flexible manner, which would not be possible, or might only be possible with great difficulty or delays or at significantly less favorable conditions, without the exclusion of the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders; or     (b) pour créer des fonds de manière rapide et flexible, ce qui ne serait pas possible ou possible qu'avec difficulté ou tardivement ou à des conditions nettement plus défavorables sans l'exclusion des droits de souscription préférentiels des actionnaires actuels; ou
  (c)    for the acquisition of companies, part(s) of companies or participations, for the acquisition of products, intellectual property or licenses by or for investment projects of the Company or any of its group companies, or for the financing or refinancing of any of such transactions through a place     (c) pour l'acquisition de sociétés, de partie(s) de sociétés ou de participations, pour l'acquisition de produits, de droits de propriété intellectuelle, ou licences par ou pour des projets d'investissement de la Société ou de l'une des sociétés du groupe, ou pour le financement ou le refinancement de telles

4/34

Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

    ment of shares; or            transactions par le placement d'actions; ou
  (d)     for purposes of broadening the shareholder constituency of the Company in certain geographic, financial or investor markets, for purposes of the participation of strategic partners, or in connection with the listing of new shares on domestic or foreign stock exchanges; or     (d)     pour élargir le cercle des actionnaires de la Société dans certains marchés géographiques, financiers ou d'investisseurs, pour permettre la participation de partenaires stratégiques, ou en relation avec la cotation de nouvelles actions sur des bourses nationales ou étrangères; ou
  (e)      for purposes of granting an over-allotment option (Greenshoe)  or an option to subscribe for additional shares in a placement or sale of shares to the respective initial purchaser(s) or underwriter(s); or     (e)      pour octroyer une option de surallocation (Greenshoe) ou une option de souscription d'actions supplémentaires lors d'un placement ou de la vente d'actions à un ou plusieurs acheteurs initiaux ou souscripteurs; ou
  (f)        for the participation of members of the Board of Directors, members of the executive management, employees, contractors, consultants or other persons performing services for the benefit of the Company or any of its group companies; or     (f)       pour la participation de membres du Conseil d'administration, de membres de la direction, d'employés, de co-contractants, de consultants ou d'autres personnes exerçant des services au bénéfice de la Société ou de l'une des sociétés du groupe; ou
  (g)     following a shareholder or a group of shareholders acting in concert having accumulated shareholdings in excess of 20% of the share capital registered in the commercial register without having submitted to all other shareholders a takeover offer recommended by the Board of Directors; or     (g)      si un actionnaire ou un groupe d'actionnaires agissant de concert a acquis ou réuni une participation de plus de 20% du capital-actions inscrit au registre du commerce sans avoir présenté à tous les autres actionnaires une offre publique d'achat dont l'acceptation a été recommandée par le Conseil d'administration; ou
  (h)     for the defense of an actual, threatened or potential takeover bid that the Board of Directors, upon consultation with an independent financial adviser retained by it, has not recommended or will not recommend to the shareholders to accept on the basis that the Board of Directors does not find such takeover bid to be financially fair to the shareholders or not to be in the Company's interest.     (h)     pour se défendre contre une offre publique d'achat hostile présentée, menaçante ou potentielle dont le rejet est, respectivement sera, recommandé par le Conseil d'administration, après consultation d'un conseiller financier indépendant qu'il aura choisi, dans la mesure où le Conseil d'administration estime que l'offre publique d'achat n'est pas équitable d'un point de vue financier vis-à-vis des actionnaires ou n'est pas dans l'intérêt de la Société.
         

5/34

Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

  Article 4b     Article 4b
Conditional Share Capital for Employee Participation 1 The share capital may be increased in an amount not to exceed CHF 936,000.00 through the issuance of up to 11,700,000 fully paid in registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share through the direct or indirect issuance of shares, options or related subscription rights to members of the Board of Directors, members of the executive management, employees, contractors or consultants of the Company or its group companies, or other persons providing services to the Company or its group companies.   Capital-actions conditionnel pour la participation des employés 1 Le capital-actions peut être augmenté d'un montant maximum de CHF 936'000.00 par l'émission de 11'700'000 actions nominatives au plus, d'une valeur nominale de CHF 0.08 chacune, qui doivent être intégralement libérées, par l'émission directe ou indirecte d'actions, d'options ou de droits de souscription y relatifs, octroyés aux membres du Conseil d'administration, aux membres de la direction, ou aux employés, co-contractants ou consultants de la Société ou de l'une des sociétés du groupe, ou d'autres personnes exerçant des services au bénéfice de la Société ou de l'une des sociétés du groupe.
  2 The pre-emptive rights and advance subscription rights of the shareholders of the Company shall be excluded in connection with the issuance of any shares, options, other rights to receive shares, or subscription rights therefor. Shares, options, other rights to receive shares, or subscription rights therefor shall be issued pursuant to one or more regulations to be issued by the Board of Directors or, to the extent delegated to it, the Compensation Committee, and to the extent applicable, taking into account the compensation principles pursuant to Article 28 of these articles of association. Shares, options, other rights to receive shares, or subscription rights therefor may be issued at a price or with an exercise price lower than the market price.     2 Le droit de souscription préférentiel ainsi que le droit de souscription préalable des actionnaires de la Société sont exclus en relation avec l'émission de toutes actions, options, autres droits à recevoir des actions ou des droits de souscription qui y sont attachés. L'émission d'actions, d'options, d'autres droits à recevoir des actions ou des droits de souscription qui y sont attachés est faite selon un ou plusieurs règlements adoptés par le Conseil d'administration ou le Comité de rémunération, dans la mesure où cette compétence lui a été déléguée, et le cas échéant en tenant compte des principes de rémunération selon l'article 28 des présents statuts. L'émission d'actions, d'options, d'autres droits à recevoir des actions ou des droits de souscription qui y sont attachés peut se faire à un prix ou avec un prix d'exercice en-dessous du prix du marché.
  3 The direct or indirect acquisition of the new shares by persons listed in paragraph 1 in connection with an employee participation program and any subsequent transfer of such shares shall be subject to the restrictions of Article 6 of these articles of association.     3 L'acquisition directe ou indirecte de nouvelles actions par des personnes mentionnées à l'alinéa 1 dans le cadre d'un programme de participation des collaborateurs ainsi que le transfert subséquent de ces actions sont assujettis aux restrictions à la transmissibilité con

 

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        formément à l'article 6 des présents statuts.
  Article 4c     Article 4c
Conditional Share Capital for Financing, Acquisitions and other Purposes 1 The share capital may be increased including in connection with an intended takeover in an amount not to exceed CHF 1,432,776.24 through the issuance of up to 17,909,703 fully paid in registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.08 per share through the exercise or mandatory exercise of conversion, exchange, option, warrant or similar rights or obligations for the subscription of shares granted to shareholders or third parties on a stand-alone basis or in connection with bonds, notes, options, warrants or other securities or contractual obligations of the Company or any of its group companies, including without limitation a convertible debenture to be entered into by the Company, as may be amended or novated from time to time (hereinafter collectively, the Financial Instruments).   Capital-actions conditionnel aux fins de financement, acquisitions ou d'autres buts 1 Le capital-actions peut être augmenté, y compris en lien avec une future offre publique d'acquisition, d'un montant maximum de CHF 1'432'776.24 par l'émission de 17'909'703 actions nominatives au plus, d'une valeur nominale de CHF 0.08 chacune, qui doivent être intégralement libérées par l'exercice ou l'exercice obligatoire de droits de conversion, d'échange, d'option, de warrant ou d'autres droits ou obligations similaires pour la souscription d'actions octroyés aux actionnaires ou à des tiers de manière autonome ou en rapport avec des obligations, effets, options, warrants ou autres instruments financiers ou obligations contractuelles de la Société ou de l'une des sociétés du groupe, y compris, mais sans s'y limiter, une débenture convertible de la société, laquelle peut être amenée à être modifiée ou actualisée (ci-après désignés collectivement les Instruments Financiers).
  2 The pre-emptive rights of shareholders shall be excluded for the exercise of any Financial Instruments in connection with the issuance of shares. The then-current owners of such Financial Instruments shall be entitled to acquire the new shares issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Financial Instruments. The key conditions of the Financial Instruments shall be determined by the Board of Directors.     2 Le droit de souscription préférentiel des actionnaires est exclu en relation avec l'émission d'actions à l'occasion de l'exercice d'Instruments Financiers. Les personnes qui détiendront alors de tels Instruments Financiers seront en droit d'acquérir les nouvelles actions émises à l'occasion de la conversion, de l'échange ou de l'exercice d'Instruments Financiers. Le Conseil d'administration détermine les principales conditions des Instruments Financiers.
  3 The Board of Directors shall be authorized to restrict or withdraw advance subscription rights of shareholders in connection with the issuance of Financial Instruments by the Company or one of its group companies (1) if the issuance is for purposes of financing or refinancing, or the payment for, the acquisition of companies, parts of a company, participations, intellectual property rights, li     3 Le Conseil d'administration est autorisé à limiter ou retirer le droit de souscription préalable des actionnaires en relation avec l'émission d'Instruments Financiers par la Société ou une des sociétés du groupe (1) si l'émission a pour but le financement, le refinancement ou le paiement de l'acquisition d'entreprises, de parties d'une entreprise, de participations, de droits de propriété intel

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  censes or investments, (2) if the issuance occurs in domestic or international capital markets or through a private placement, (3) following a shareholder or a group of shareholders acting in concert having accumulated shareholdings in excess of 20% of the share capital registered in the commercial register without having submitted to all other shareholders a takeover offer recommended by the Board of Directors, or (4) for the defense of an actual, threatened or potential takeover bid that the Board of Directors, upon consultation with an independent financial adviser retained by it, has not recommended or will not recommend to the shareholders to accept on the basis that the Board of Directors does not find such takeover bid to be financially fair to the shareholders or not in the Company's interest. If the advance subscription rights are neither granted directly nor indirectly by the Board of Directors, the following shall apply:     lectuelle, de licences ou d'investissements, (2) si l'émission a lieu sur les marchés de capitaux nationaux ou internationaux ou par le biais d'un placement privé, (3) si un actionnaire ou un groupe d'actionnaires agissant de concert a acquis ou réuni une participation de plus de 20% du capital-actions inscrit au registre du commerce sans avoir présenté à tous les autres actionnaires une offre publique d'achat dont l'acceptation a été recommandée par le Conseil d'administration, ou (4) pour se défendre contre une offre publique d'achat hostile présentée, menaçante ou potentielle dont le rejet est, respectivement sera, recommandé par le Conseil d'administration, après consultation d'un conseiller financier indépendant qu'il aura choisi, dans la mesure où le Conseil d'administration estime que l'offre publique d'achat n'est pas équitable d'un point de vue financier vis-à-vis des actionnaires ou n'est pas dans l'intérêt de la Société. Si le droit de souscription préalable n'est pas accordé, de manière directe ou indirecte, par le Conseil d'administration, les règles suivantes s'appliquent:
  (a)     the Financial Instruments shall be issued or entered into at market conditions;     (a)    les Instruments Financiers sont émis ou conclus aux conditions du marché;
  (b)     the Financial Instruments may be converted, exchanged or exercised during a maximum period of 10 years from the date of issuance or contract conclusion; and     (b)     les Instruments Financiers peuvent être convertis, échangés ou exercés durant une période maximale de 10 ans suivant la date de l'émission ou de la conclusion du contrat; et
  (c)     the conversion, exchange or exercise price of the Financial Instruments shall be set with reference to, and/or shall be subject to change based upon, the valuation of the Company's equity and/or market conditions.     (c)     le prix de conversion, d'échange ou d'exercice des Instruments Financiers est fixé en prenant en compte, et/ou peut être modifié en fonction, de la valorisation des fonds propres de la société et/ou des conditions du marché.
  4 The direct or indirect acquisition of the new shares acquired through the exercise of Financial Instruments and any subsequent transfer of such shares shall be subject to the restrictions of Article 6 of these articles of     4 L'acquisition de nouvelles actions acquises directement ou indirectement par l'exercice d'Instruments Financiers ainsi que le transfert subséquent de ces actions sont assujettis aux restrictions à la transmissibilité confor

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  association.     mément à l'article 6 des présents statuts.
         
  Article 5     Article 5
Share Certificates and Intermediated Securities 1 The Company may issue its registered shares in the form of single certificates, global certificates and uncertificated securities. Subject to applicable law, the Company may convert its registered shares from one form into another form at any time and without the approval of the shareholders. The Company shall bear the cost associated with any such conversion.   Certificats d'actions et titres intermédiés 1 La Société émet ses actions nominatives sous forme de certificats individuels, de certificats globaux ou de droits-valeurs. La Société est libre, dans les limites du droit applicable, en tout temps et sans l'approbation des actionnaires, de convertir ses actions nominatives émises sous l'une des formes ci-dessus, en une autre forme. La Société supporte les coûts d'une telle conversion.
  2 A shareholder has no right to request a conversion of the registered shares issued in one form into another form. Each shareholder may, however, at any time request from the Company a written confirmation of the registered shares held by such shareholder, as reflected in the share register.     2 Un actionnaire n'a pas le droit de réclamer la conversion d'actions nominatives émises sous une certaine forme en une autre forme. Chaque actionnaire peut toutefois exiger en tout temps que la Société établisse une attestation relative aux actions nominatives qu'il détient selon le registre des actions.
  3 Intermediated securities based on registered shares of the Company cannot be transferred by way of assignment. A security interest in any such intermediated securities also cannot be granted by way of assignment.     3 Les titres intermédiés fondés sur des actions nominatives de la Société ne peuvent pas être transférés par cession. Il ne peut pas non plus être constitué de sûretés par cession sur ces titres intermédiés.
         
  Article 6     Article 6
Share Register, Restrictions on Registration, Nominees 1 The Company shall maintain, itself or through a third party, a share register for the registered shares that lists the surname and name (the name of the company in case of a legal entity), the address and domicile (the registered office in case of a legal entity) of the shareholders or usufructuaries. A person registered in the share register shall notify the share registrar of any change of address. Until such notification has occurred, all written communications from the Company to persons registered in the share register shall be deemed to   Registre des actions, limitations à l'inscription, Nominees 1 La Société ou un tiers mandaté par elle tient un registre des actions qui mentionne le nom et le prénom (la raison sociale pour les personnes morales), l'adresse et le domicile (le siège pour les personnes morales) des propriétaires et des usufruitiers. Si une personne inscrite au registre des actions change d'adresse, elle doit le communiquer à la personne en charge de la tenue du registre. Aussi longtemps que cette communication n'a pas eu lieu, toutes les communications écrites de la Société aux personnes inscrites au registre des actions

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  have validly been made if sent to the address previously recorded in the share register.     seront valablement envoyées à l'adresse inscrite au registre des actions.
  2 Persons acquiring shares shall be registered in the share register as shareholders with voting rights upon their request if they expressly declare to have acquired these shares in their own name and for their own account. Subject to paragraph 4 of this Article 6 and article 685d para. 3 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, no person or entity shall be registered in the share register as a shareholder with voting rights for, and no person or entity may directly or indirectly, formally, constructively or beneficially own, or otherwise control alone or together with third parties voting rights (whether exercisable or not) with respect to more than 15% of the share capital as set forth in the commercial register as a shareholder with voting rights. This restriction shall also apply to persons or entities who hold some or all of their shares through Nominees (as defined in paragraph 4 of this Article 6).     2 Les personnes qui acquièrent des actions sont inscrites dans le registre des actions, à leur demande, comme actionnaires avec droit de vote, pour autant qu'ils déclarent expressément avoir acquis les actions en leur nom et pour leur propre compte. Sous réserve de l'alinéa 4 du présent article 6 et de l'article 685d al. 3 du Code des obligations, aucune personne physique ou morale ne peut être inscrite au registre des actions comme actionnaire avec droit de vote et aucune personne physique ou morale ne peut détenir, directement ou indirectement, formellement, de fait ou comme ayant droit économique, ou contrôler autrement, seul ou avec des tiers, des droits de vote (exerçables ou non), par rapport à plus de 15% du capital-actions inscrit au registre du commerce en tant qu'actionnaire avec droit de vote. Cette restriction s'applique également aux personnes ou entités qui détiennent tout ou partie de leurs actions par l'intermédiaire de Nominees (tels que définis à l'alinéa 4 du présent article 6).
  3 Subject to Art. 652b para. 3 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, this transfer restriction also applies in the case of the acquisition of shares by the exercise of subscription, option and conversion rights. The transfer restriction does not apply to acquisitions by inheritance, division of an estate or matrimonial property law.     3 Sous réserve de l'art. 652b al. 3 CO, les restrictions au transfert s'appliquent également lors de l'acquisition d'actions dans le cadre de l'exercice d'un droit de souscription, d'option ou de conversion. Les restrictions au transfert ne s'appliquent pas lors d'acquisitions par succession, partage successoral ou en vertu du droit matrimonial.
  4 The Board of Directors may, in its own discretion, register persons who declare in the registration application that they hold the shares as nominees (each a Nominee) on behalf of third party beneficiaries (each a Beneficial Owner) in the share register as shareholders with voting rights. If, however, any Beneficial Owner should as a result of such registration being made or upheld, directly or indirectly, formally, constructively or benefi     4 Le Conseil d'administration peut, à son entière discretion inscrire les personnes qui déclarent dans leur requête d'inscription qu'elles détiennent les actions en tant que nominees (chacun un Nominee) pour le compte de tiers ayants droit économiques (chacun un Ayant Droit Economique) en tant qu'actionnaires avec droit de vote. Toutefois, si suite à l'inscription ou à la confirmation de l'inscription, un Ayant Droit Economique détient directe

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  cially own, or otherwise control or direct, alone or together with third parties, voting rights (whether exercisable or not) with respect to more than 15% of the share capital as set forth in the commercial register, the Board of Directors may cancel the registration of the Nominee holding shares for the account of such Beneficial Owner with respect to any shares in excess of such limit. The Board of Directors may make the registration with voting rights of the shares held by a Nominee subject to conditions, limitations and reporting requirements or may impose or adjust such conditions, limitations and requirements once registered.     ment ou indirectement, formellement, de fait ou comme ayant droit économique, ou contrôle ou dirige autrement, seul ou avec des tiers, des droits de votes (exerçables ou non) par rapport à plus de 15% du capital-actions inscrit au registre du commerce, le Conseil d'administration peut annuler l'inscription du Nominee détenant les actions pour le compte d'un tel Ayant Droit Economique pour les actions dépassant cette limite. Le Conseil d'administration peut soumettre l'inscription avec droit de vote des actions détenues par un Nominee à des conditions, limitations, exigences de rapports ou peut imposer de telles conditions, limitiations ou exigences suite à l'inscription.
  5 Legal entities and partnerships or other groups of persons or joint owners who are interrelated to one another through capital ownership, voting rights, uniform management or are otherwise linked, as well as individuals or legal entities or partnerships who act in concert or otherwise act in a coordinated manner or acquire shares indirectly, thereby circumventing the restrictions or limits pursuant to paragraph 2 or 4 of this article 6 shall be treated as one single person, entity, Nominee or as a person acquiring shares, as applicable, for purposes of paragraphs 2 and 4 of this article 6.     5 Les personnes morales et communautés de personnes ou autres groupes de personnes ou de copropriétaires qui sont liés par le capital, les droits de vote, la gestion commune ou de toute autre manière, de même que les personnes physiques ou morales ou communautés de personnes qui agissent de concert ou de manière coordonnée ou acquièrent indirectement des actions, et contournent ainsi les restrictions ou limites visées aux alinéas 2 ou 4 du présent article 6 sont traités comme une seule personne, personne morale, Nominee ou comme une personne acquérant des actions, selon le cas, aux fins des alinéas 2 et 4 du présent article 6.
  6 The Board of Directors may grant exceptions from the restrictions or limits pursuant to paragraph 2 or 4 of this article 6 for justified reasons with the majority vote of two thirds of all its members. A justified reason may include the situation where a person extends an offer to purchase with respect to all other shares of the Company, which the Board of Directors, after having consulted an independent financial advisor, recommends to the shareholders. Shareholders, other than Nominees, already being registered directly or through a Nominee with more than 15% at the time that this article takes     6 Le Conseil d'administration peut octroyer des dérogations aux restrictions et limites mentionnées aux alinéas 2 ou 4 du présent article 6 pour des raisons justifiées, à la majorité des deux tiers de l'ensemble de ses membres. Peut aussi être considérée comme une raison justifiée le fait qu'une personne étende une offre d'achat par rapport à l'ensemble des autres actions de la Société et que le Conseil d'administration, après avoir consulté un conseiller financier indépendant, recommande aux actionnaires d'accepter cette offre. Les actionnaires autres que les Nominees déjà inscrits directement ou

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  effect remain registered with voting rights for such shares.     par l'intermédiaire d'un Nominee pour plus de 15% au moment où le présent article entre en vigueur demeurent enregistrés avec droit de vote pour ces actions.
  7 After hearing the registered shareholder or Nominee, the Board of Directors may cancel such person's registration in the share register with retroactive effect as of the date of registration if such registration was made based on false or misleading information or if such information becomes untrue or misleading. The relevant shareholder or Nominee shall be promptly informed of the cancellation.     7 Le Conseil d'administration peut, après avoir entendu l'actionnaire ou le Nominee, radier du registre des actions l'inscription qui a été faite sur la base d'informations fausses ou trompeuses données par l'acquéreur, ou si les informations deviennent fausses ou trompeuses. L'actionnaire ou le Nominee doit être informé immédiatement de la radiation.
  8 The Board of Directors shall regulate all details and issue the instructions necessary to ensure compliance with the preceding provisions. The Board of Directors may delegate its duties.     8 Le Conseil d'administration règle les détails et prend les mesures nécessaires au respect des dispositions ci-dessus. Le Conseil d'administration peut déléguer ses tâches.
         
  Article 7     Article 7
Exercise of Rights 1 The Company shall only accept one representative per share.   Exercice des droits 1 La Société ne reconnaît qu'un représentant par action.
  2 The voting right and the rights associated therewith may be exercised vis-à-vis the Company by a shareholder, usufructuary or Nominee only to the extent that such person is registered in the share register with voting rights.     2 Le droit de vote et les droits y relatifs ne peuvent être exercés à l'égard de la Société que par un actionnaire, un usufruitier ou un Nominee uniquement dans la mesure où celui-ci est inscrit avec droit de vote au registre des actions.
       
         

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Section 3

Corporate Bodies

   

Section 3

Organes

  A. The General Meeting of Shareholders     A. L'Assemblée générale
         
  Article 8     Article 8
Powers of the General Meeting of Shareholders 1 The General Meeting of Shareholders is the supreme corporate body of the Company.   Pouvoirs de l'Assemblée générale 1 L'Assemblée générale est l'organe suprême de la Société.
2 The General Meeting of Shareholders shall have the following inalienable powers:   2 L'Assemblée générale a le droit inaliénable:
1.            the adoption and amendment of these articles of association;   1.       d'adopter et de modifier les présents statuts;
2.            the election of the members of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the members of the Compensation Committee;   2.       de nommer les membres du Conseil d'administration, le président du Conseil d'administration et les membres du Comité de rémunération;
  3.            the election of the Auditors;     3.       de nommer l'organe de révision;
  4.            the election of the independent voting rights representative;     4.       de nommer le représentant indépendant;
  5.            the approval of the annual management report and the consolidated financial statements;     5.       d’approuver le rapport annuel et les comptes consolidés;
  6.            the approval of the annual financial statements as well as the resolution on the allocation of profit shown on the balance sheet, in particular the determination of dividends;     6.       d'approuver les comptes annuels et de déterminer l'emploi du bénéfice résultant du bilan, en particulier de fixer le dividende;
  7.            the discharge from liability of the members of the Board of Directors and the persons entrusted with management;     7.       de donner décharge aux membres du Conseil d'administration et aux personnes chargées de la gestion;
  8.            the approval of the compensation of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee pursu     8.       d'approuver la rémunération du Conseil d'administration et de la Direction exécutive selon l'article 26

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             ant to Article 26 of these articles of association; and             des présents statuts; et
  9.            the adoption of resolutions on matters that are reserved to the General Meeting of Shareholders by law or these articles of association or that are, subject to article 716a CO, submitted to the General Meeting of Shareholders by the Board of Directors.     9.       de prendre toutes les décisions qui lui sont réservées par la loi ou les présents statuts ou qui lui sont soumises par le Conseil d’administration, sous réserve de l’article 716a CO.
         
  Article 9     Article 9
Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meetings of Shareholders 1 The Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders shall be held each year within six months of the close of the financial year of the Company.   Assemblées générales ordinaires et extraordinaires 1 L'Assemblée générale ordinaire a lieu chaque année dans les six mois qui suivent la clôture de l'exercice de la Société.
  2 Extraordinary General Meetings of Shareholders shall be held if     2 Des Assemblées générales extraordinaires ont lieu lorsque
  (a)      the Board of Directors or the Auditors deem it necessary;     (a)       le Conseil d'administration ou l'organe de révision l'estime nécessaire;
  (b)     so resolved by a General Meeting of Shareholders; or     (b)       une Assemblée générale le décide; ou
  (c)      shareholders who hold, alone or together, shares representing at least 10% of the share capital so request in writing, indicating the matters to be discussed and the corresponding proposals and, in case of elections, the names of the nominated candidates.     (c)       des actionnaires représentant seuls ou ensemble 10% au moins du capital-actions le requièrent par écrit en indiquant les objets de discussion et les propositions, et en cas d'élections, les noms des candidats proposés.
         
  Article 10     Article 10
Notice 1 Notice of a General Meeting of Shareholders shall be given by the Board of Directors or, if necessary, by the Auditors, no later than 20 calendar days prior to the date of the meeting. Liquidators and representatives of bond-holders are also entitled to call a General Meeting of   Convocation 1 L'Assemblée générale est convoquée par le Conseil d'administration ou, si nécessaire, par l'organe de révision au plus tard 20 jours calendaires avant le jour de l'assemblée. Les liquidateurs et les représentants de détenteurs d'obligations ont également le droit de con

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  Shareholders.     voquer l'Assemblée générale.
  2 Notice of the General Meeting of Shareholders shall be given by way of a single announcement in the official means of publication of the Company pursuant to Article 36 of these articles of association. Registered shareholders may in addition be notified in writing.     2 La convocation à l'Assemblée générale a lieu par une annonce unique dans l'organe de publication de la Société selon l'article 36 des présents statuts. La convocation peut également être envoyée par écrit aux actionnaires inscrits.
  3 The annual report, the compensation report and the Auditors' reports shall be made available for inspection by the shareholders at the registered office of the Company no later than 20 calendar days prior to the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Registered shareholders shall be informed in writing in the notice.     3 Le rapport de gestion, le rapport de rémunération et les rapports de révision sont mis à la disposition des actionnaires au siège de la Société au plus tard 20 jours calendaires avant l'Assemblée générale ordinaire. Les actionnaires inscrits doivent en être informés par écrit dans la convocation.
  4 The notice shall specify the items on the agenda as well as the proposals of the Board of Directors and the shareholder(s) who requested that a General Meeting of Shareholders be held or an item be included on the agenda and, in the event of elections, the names of the proposed candidates.     4 La convocation mentionne les objets portés à l'ordre du jour ainsi que les propositions du Conseil d'administration et du ou des actionnaires qui ont demandé la convocation de l'Assemblée générale ou l'inscription d'un objet à l'ordre du jour et, en cas d'élections, les noms des candidats proposés.
         
  Article 11     Article 11
Agenda 1 Shareholders who, alone or together, either hold shares with a par value of at least CHF 1,000,000 or who represent at least 10% of the share capital may request that an item be included on the agenda. Such request must be made in writing and be received at the registered office of the Company at least 45 calendar days prior to the General Meeting of Shareholders, specifying the agenda item and the proposals of the shareholders.   Objets à l'ordre du jour 1 Des actionnaires qui représentent seuls ou ensemble des actions totalisant une valeur nominale d'au moins CHF 1'000'000 ou qui représentent au moins 10% du capital-actions peuvent requérir l'inscription d'un objet à l'ordre du jour. La demande doit être faite par écrit et reçue au siège de la Société au moins 45 jours calendaires avant l'Assemblée générale avec indication des objets à l'ordre du jour et des propositions des actionnaires.
  2 No resolutions may be passed at a General Meeting of Shareholders on proposals concerning agenda items for which proper notice was not given. This provision shall not apply, however, to proposals made during a General Meeting of Shareholders to convene an Extraordinary     2 Aucune décision ne peut être prise par l'Assemblée générale sur des objets qui n'ont pas été dûment portés à l'ordre du jour, à l'exception des propositions de convoquer une Assemblée générale extraordinaire et d'instituer un contrôle spécial. Toute requête visant l'inscrip

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  General Meeting of Shareholders or to initiate a special audit. Each request for inclusion of an item on the agenda shall include (i) a brief description of the agenda item and the reason for which it is to be discussed at the meeting; (ii) the motions regarding the agenda item; (iii) the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s register of shareholders, of the shareholder proposing such business; (iv) the number of shares of the Company which are beneficially owned by such shareholder; (v) the dates upon which the shareholder acquired such shares; (vi) documentary support for any claim of beneficial ownership; (vii) any material interest of such shareholder in including the item in the agenda; (viii) a statement in support of the matter; and (ix) all other information required under applicable law and stock exchange rules.     tion d'un objet à l'ordre du jour doit inclure (i) une brève description de cet objet et la raison pour laquelle il doit être discuté lors de l'Asemblée générale; (ii) les propositions relatives à cet objet; (iii) le nom et l'adresse, tels qu'ils apparaissent dans le registre des actions, de l'actionnaire proposant un tel objet; (iv) le nombre d'actions de la Société dont cet actionnaire est ayant droit économique; (v) les dates auxquelles l'actionnaire a acquis ces actions; (vi) les pièces justificatives démontrant le statut d'ayant droit économique; (vii) l'intérêt important de l'actionnaire à l'inscription de l'objet à l'ordre du jour; (viii) une déclaration à l'appui de la requête; et (ix) toute autre information requise par la loi ou les règles boursières applicables.
  3 No prior notice is required to bring motions related to items already on the agenda or for the discussion of matters on which no resolution is to be taken.     3 En revanche, il n'est pas nécessaire d'annoncer à l'avance les propositions entrant dans le cadre des objets portés à l'ordre du jour ni les délibérations qui ne doivent pas être suivies d'un vote.
         
  Article 12     Article 12
Chairman, Vote Counters, Minutes 1 The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall chair the General Meeting of Shareholders. In his absence, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, another member or a person designated by the Board of Directors shall chair the General Meeting of Shareholders. If no member of the Board of Directors is available and no other person has been designated by the Board of Directors, the acting chair shall be elected by the General Meeting of Shareholders.   Présidence, scrutateurs, procès-verbal 1 Le président du Conseil d'administration préside l'Assemblée générale. En son absence, le vice-président du Conseil d'administration, un autre membre ou une personne désignée par le Conseil d'administration préside l'Assemblée générale. Si aucun membre du Conseil d'administration n'est disponible et aucune personne n'a été désignée par le Conseil d'administration, l'Assemblée générale élit son président.
  2 The acting chair of the General Meeting of Shareholders shall appoint the secretary and the vote counter(s), none of whom need be shareholders. The minutes shall be signed by the acting chair of the General Meeting of     2 Le président de l'Assemblée générale désigne un rédacteur du procès-verbal et le ou les scrutateurs, qui ne doivent pas nécessairement être des actionnaires. Le procès-verbal doit être signé par le président de

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  Shareholders and the secretary.     l'Assemblée générale et le secrétaire.
  3 The acting chair of the General Meeting of Shareholders shall have all powers and authority necessary and appropriate to ensure the orderly conduct of the General Meeting of Shareholders.     3 Le président de l'Assemblée générale a tous les pouvoirs nécessaires et appropriés pour s'assurer de la conduite régulière de l'Assemblée générale.
         
  Article 13     Article 13
Voting Rights, Representation 1 Each share shall convey the right to one vote. The voting rights are subject to the conditions of Articles 6 and 7 of these articles of association.   Droit de vote, représentation 1 Chaque action donne droit à une voix. Les droits de vote sont soumis aux conditions des articles 6 et 7 des présents statuts.
2 The Board of Directors shall issue the rules regarding the participation in and representation at the General Meeting of Shareholders and determine the requirements as to proxies and instructions. A shareholder may only be represented at the General Meeting of Shareholders by the independent voting rights representative, its legal representative or, by means of a written proxy, by another shareholder with the right to vote. All shares held by a shareholder may only be represented by one person.     2 Le Conseil d'administration prend les dispositions relatives à la participation et à la représentation à l'Assemblée générale et détermine les exigences applicables aux procurations et instructions. Un actionnaire ne peut être représenté à l'Assemblée générale que par le représentant indépendant, par son représentant légal ou, au moyen d'une procuration écrite, par un autre actionnaire ayant droit de vote. Toutes les actions détenues par un actionnaire ne peuvent être représentées que par une seule personne.
  3 The General Meeting of Shareholders shall elect the independent voting rights representative for a term of office until completion of the next Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Re-election is possible.     3 L'Assemblée générale nomme le représentant indépendant pour une durée de fonctions s’achevant à la fin de l’Assemblée générale ordinaire suivante. La réélection est possible.
  4 If the Company does not have an independent voting rights representative, the Board of Directors shall appoint the independent voting rights representative for the next General Meeting of Shareholders.     4 Dans le cas où la Société n'a pas de représentant indépendant, le Conseil d'administration nommera le représentant indépendant pour l'Assemblée générale suivante.
         
  Article 14     Article 14
Resolutions, Elections 1 The General Meeting of Shareholders shall pass its resolutions and decide its elections by the absolute ma   Décisions, élections 1 Les décisions de l'Assemblée générale sont prises à la majorité absolue des voix attribuées aux actions repré

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  jority of the votes attached to the shares represented, unless required otherwise by law or these articles of association. In the event of a tie, the resolution shall be deemed refused.     sentées, à moins que la loi ou les présents statuts n'en disposent autrement. En cas d'égalité de voix, la décision est refusée.
  2 Two thirds of the votes represented and the absolute majority of the par value of shares represented shall be required for the General Meeting of Shareholders to adopt resolutions on the following matters:     2 Une décision de l'Assemblée générale recueillant au moins les deux tiers des voix attribuées aux actions représentées et la majorité absolue des valeurs nominales représentées est nécessaire pour:
  1.       the amendment of the purpose of the Company;     1.       la modification du but social de la Société;
  2.       the creation of shares with privileged voting rights;     2.       l'introduction d'actions à droit de vote privilégié;
  3.       the restriction on the transferability of registered shares or their registration with voting rights and the cancelation of such a restriction;     3.       la restriction de la transmissibilité des actions nominatives ou leur inscription avec droit de vote ainsi que la suppression d'une telle restriction;
  4.        an authorized or conditional increase in share capital;     4.       l'augmentation autorisée ou conditionnelle du capital-actions;
  5.       an increase in share capital through the conversion of equity surplus, against contributions in kind or for purposes of an acquisition of assets, or the granting of special benefits;     5.       l'augmentation du capital-actions au moyen de la conversion de fonds propres, contre apport en nature ou en vue d'une reprise de biens et l'octroi d'avantages particuliers;
  6.       the limitation or withdrawal of pre-emptive rights;     6.       la limitation ou la suppression du droit de souscription préférentiel;
  7.       the relocation of the registered office of the Company;     7.       le transfert du siège de la Société;
  8.       the dissolution of the Company;     8.       la dissolution de la Société;
  9.      mergers, demergers and conversions pursuant to the Merger Act;     9.        une fusion, scission ou transformation conformément à la Loi sur la fusion;
 

10.     the conversion of registered shares into bearer shares;

 

11.    the removal of any member of the Board of Directors or of its Chairman before the end of his or her term of office; and

 

   

10.     la conversion d'actions nominatives en actions au porteur;

11.     la révocation de tout membre du Conseil d'administration ou de son président avant la fin de son mandat; et

 

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12.    the amendment or repeal of the following provisions of these articles of association, with the exception of editorial amendments that do not effectively change their content:

 

(i)        article 6;

(ii)       article 14;

(iii)      article 15; and

(iv)       article 18.

   

12.     la modification ou la suppression des dispositions suivantes des présents statuts, à l'exception des modifications rédactionnelles qui ne modifient pas effectivement leur contenu:

(i)        article 6;

(ii)        article 14;

(iii)       article 15; et

        (iv)       article 18.

  3 Resolutions and elections shall be decided by open ballot, unless the acting chair of the General Meeting of Shareholders decides that a secret ballot be held or that it be voted by electronic means. The acting chair may at any time order that a resolution or election be repeated if he considers the vote to be in doubt. The resolution or election previously held shall then be deemed not to have taken place.     3 Les décisions et élections ont lieu à main levée, à moins qu'un vote à bulletins secrets ou électronique ne soit ordonné par le président de l'Assemblée générale. Le président peut en tout temps ordonner qu'une décision ou élection soit répétée s'il estime qu'il existe des doutes sur le résultat. Dans ce cas, la décision ou l'élection précédente est réputée ne pas avoir eu lieu.
         
  B. The Board of Directors     B. Le Conseil d'administration
         
  Article 15     Article 15
Number of Directors The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than 3 and no more than 12 members.   Nombre de membres Le Conseil d'administration se compose de 3 membres au moins et de 12 membres au plus.
         
  Article 16     Article 16
Election and Term of Office 1 The General Meeting of Shareholders shall elect the members of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Board of Directors individually and for a term of office until the completion of the next Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Re-election is possible.   Élection et durée des fonctions 1 Les membres du Conseil d’administration et le président du Conseil d’administration sont élus individuellement par l’Assemblée générale pour une durée de fonctions s’achevant à la fin de l’Assemblée générale ordinaire suivante. La réélection est possible.
  2 If the office of the Chairman of the Board of Directors is vacant, the Board of Directors shall appoint a new     2 Lorsque la fonction de président du Conseil d’administration est vacante, le Conseil d’administration

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  Chairman from among its members for a term of office extending until completion of the next Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders.     désigne un nouveau président parmi ses membres pour une durée de fonctions s’achevant à la fin de l’Assemblée générale ordinaire suivante.
  Article 17     Article 17
Organization of the Board of Directors 1 Except for the election of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the members of the Compensation Committee by the General Meeting of Shareholders, the Board of Directors shall constitute itself. The Board of Directors may elect one or several Vice-Chairmen. The Board of Directors shall further appoint a secretary who need not be member of the Board of Directors.   Organisation du Conseil d'administration 1 A l'exception de l'élection par l'Assemblée générale du président du Conseil d'administration et des membres du Comité de rémunération, le Conseil d'administration se constitue lui-même. Il peut désigner au besoin, un ou plusieurs vice-présidents. Le Conseil d'administration désigne en outre un secrétaire, qui ne doit pas nécessairement être membre du Conseil d'administration.
  2 Subject to these articles of association, the Board of Directors shall regulate its organization and the adoption of resolutions in the organizational regulations.     2 Le Conseil d'administration règle en outre son organisation et la manière de prendre des décisions dans un règlement d'organisation, sous réserve des présents statuts.
         
  Article 18     Article 18
Reimbursement of Expenses, Indemnification 1 The members of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to the reimbursement of all expenses incurred in the interest of the Company.   Remboursement des frais, indemnisation 1 Les membres du Conseil d'administration ont droit au remboursement de tous les frais engagés dans l'intérêt de la Société.
2 To the extent not included in insurance coverage or paid by third parties, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, the existing and former members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and their heirs, executors and administrators, out of the assets of the Company from and against all threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings – whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative – and all costs, charges, losses, damages, and expenses which they or any of them, their heirs, executors or administrators, shall or may incur or sustain by or by reason of any actual or   2 Dans la mesure où la loi le permet, la Société indemnisera, à concurrence de la portion non couverte par une assurance ou payée par un tiers, sur ses propres biens les membres actuels et passés du Conseil d'administration et de la Direction exécutive ainsi que leurs héritiers, masse en faillite ou masse successorale contre toutes actions, procès ou poursuites, menaçants, en cours ou terminés, de nature civile, pénale, administrative ou autre, et tous les coûts, dépenses, pertes, dommages et frais qu'ils (ou leurs héritiers, masse en faillite ou masse successorale) subiraient ou pourraient subir en raison d'actions, consentements ou omissions, effectifs ou.

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  alleged actions, consents or omissions in or about the execution of their duty, or alleged duty, or by reason of the fact that he is or was a member of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries, or, while serving as a member of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, member of the executive management, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; provided, however, that this indemnity shall not extend to any matter in which any of said persons is found, in a final judgment or decree of a court or governmental or administrative authority of competent jurisdiction not subject to appeal, to have committed an intentional or grossly negligent breach of his statutory duties as a member of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee.     présumés, en relation avec l'exercice de leurs fonctions, leurs fonctions supposées ou en raison du fait d'être ou d'avoir été membres du Conseil d'administration ou de la Direction exécutive de la Société ou de l'une de ses filiales ou, sur instruction de la Société en tant que membres du Conseil d'administration ou de la Direction exécutive, en raison du fait d'être ou d'avoir été administrateur, membre de la direction, employé ou mandataire d'une autre société, entreprise, coentreprise, personne morale dénuée de la personnalité ou trust. L'obligation d'indemnisation s'éteint dès qu'un jugement définitif et exécutoire d'un tribunal ou d'une autorité compétente a décidé que la personne en question a violé, volontairement ou par grave négligence, ses devoirs de membre du Conseil d'administration ou de la Direction exécutive
  3 Without limiting the foregoing paragraph 2 of this Article 18, the Company shall advance costs and expenses idemnifiable thereunder to the existing and former members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee to the extent not included in insurance coverage or advanced by third parties. The Company may however recover such advanced costs if any of said persons is found, in a final judgment or decree of a court or governmental or administrative authority of competent jurisdiction not subject to appeal, to have committed an intentional or grossly negligent breach of his statutory duties as a member of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee.     3 Sans préjudice de l'alinéa 2 du présent article 18, la Société avancera les frais et les coûts indemnisables en vertu de la disposition précitée aux membres actuels et passés du Conseil d'administration et de la Direction exécutive, à concurrence de la portion non couverte par une assurance ou payée par un tiers. La Société peut cependant recouvrer ces avances de frais si l'une de ces personnes a été reconnue coupable de violation intentionnelle ou par négligence grave de ses devoirs de membre du Conseil d'administration ou de la Direction exécutive par un jugement ou une décision final et exécutoire d'un tribunal ou d'une autorité gouvernementale ou administrative compétente.
         
  Article 19     Article 19
Convening of Meetings, Resolutions, Minutes 1 The Board of Directors shall meet at the invitation of its Chairman or, if not available, of the Vice-Chairman or of another member of the Board of Directors as often as   Convocation, décisions, procès-verbal 1 Le Conseil d'administration est convoqué par son président ou, en cas d'empêchement de ce dernier, par son vice-président ou par un autre membre du Conseil

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  the business of the Company shall require or if a member requests it in writing or via telefax, e-mail or another form of electronic communication, indicating the reasons.     d'administration, aussi souvent que cela apparaît nécessaire ou lorsqu'un membre du Conseil d'administration le demande par écrit, par télécopie, courriel ou par un autre moyen de communication électronique, avec indication des motifs.
  2 Unless the organizational regulations adopted by the Board of Directors or a board resolution taken with the applicable attendance quorum provide otherwise, the Board of Directors shall only have a quorum if a majority of the members of the Board of Directors is present. No attendance quorum shall be required for resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the amendment and ascertainment of a capital increase.     2 A moins que le contraire ne résulte d'une disposition du règlement d'organisation adopté par le Conseil d'administration ou d'une décision du Conseil d'administration prise conformément aux dispositions applicables au quorum de présence, la majorité des membres du Conseil d'administration doivent être présents afin de pouvoir prendre une décision. Ce quorum de présence n'est pas nécessaire pour les décisions de modification et de constatation du Conseil d'administration en lien avec les augmentations du capital-actions.
  3 The Board of Directors shall adopt its resolutions by a majority of votes cast. In the case of a tie, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall have the casting vote.     3 Les décisions du Conseil d'administration sont prises à la majorité des voix exprimées. En cas d'égalité des voix, la voix du président du Conseil d'administration prévaut.
  4 Resolutions may also be adopted by way of written consent or by approval via telefax, e-mail or another form of electronic communication, unless a member requests discussion thereof.     4 Les décisions du Conseil d'administration peuvent également être prises par voie de circulation ou être adoptées par télécopie, courriel ou par un autre moyen de communication électronique, à moins qu'une discussion ne soit requise par l'un des membres du Conseil d'administration.
  5 The decisions of the Board of Directors shall be recorded in minutes to be signed by the acting chair and the secretary.     5 Les décisions du Conseil d'administration sont consignées dans un procès-verbal signé par le président et par le secrétaire.
         
  Article 20     Article 20
Powers of the Board of Directors 1 The Board of Directors may pass resolutions with respect to all matters which are not delegated to another corporate body of the Company by law, by these articles of association or by regulations.   Attributions du Conseil d'administration 1 Le Conseil d'administration peut prendre des décisions sur toutes les affaires qui ne sont pas attribuées à un autre organe de la Société par la loi, les présents statuts ou un règlement.

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  2 It shall have the following non-transferable and inalienable duties:     2 Il a les attributions intransmissibles et inaliénables suivantes:
  1.       the ultimate management of the Company and the issuance of necessary instructions;     1.       exercer la haute direction de la Société et établir les instructions nécessaires;
  2.       the determination of the organization of the Company;     2.       fixer l'organisation de la Société;
  3.       the structuring of the accounting system, of the financial controls and of the financial planning;     3.       fixer les principes de la comptabilité et du contrôle financier ainsi que le plan financier;
  4.       the appointment and dismissal of the persons entrusted with management and representation of the Company, and issuance of rules on the signature authority;     4.       nommer et révoquer les personnes chargées de la gestion et de la représentation de la Société et réglementer le droit de signature;
  5.        the ultimate supervision of the persons entrusted with management, in particular in view of compliance with the law, these articles of association, regulations and directives;     5.       exercer la haute surveillance sur les personnes chargées de la gestion pour s'assurer notamment qu'elles observent la loi, les présents statuts, les règlements et les instructions données;
  6.       the preparation of the annual report and the compensation report;     6.       établir le rapport de gestion et le rapport de rémunération;
  7.       the preparation of the General Meeting of Shareholders and the implementation of its resolutions;     7.       préparer l'Assemblée générale et exécuter ses décisions;
  8.       the adoption of resolutions on the increase of the share capital to the extent that such power is vested in the Board of Directors, the ascertainment of capital increases, the preparation of the report on the capital increase, and the respective amendments of the articles of association (including deletions);     8.        prendre les décisions relatives aux augmentations du capital-actions, dans la mesure où elles sont de la compétence du Conseil d'administration, ainsi que les décisions relatives à la constatation d'augmentations de capital, à l'établissement du rapport d'augmentation du capital-actions et aux modifications des statuts qui en résultent (radiation comprise);
  9.        the non-transferable and inalienable duties and powers of the Board of Directors pursuant to the Merger Act;     9.       les attributions et compétences intransmissibles et inaliénables du Conseil d'administration selon la Loi sur la fusion;
  10.     the notification of the judge if liabilities exceed as     10.     informer le juge en cas de surendettement; et

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          sets; and      
  11.     other powers and duties reserved to the Board of Directors by law or these articles of association.     11.     d'autres attributions et compétences réservées au Conseil d'administration par la loi ou les présents statuts.
  3 In all other respects, the Board of Directors may delegate in whole or in part the management and the representation of the Company within the framework set forth by these articles of association and the law to one or several of its members or to third parties by means of organizational regulations.     3 En outre, le Conseil d'administration peut déléguer en tout ou en partie la gestion ainsi que la représentation de la Société, dans le cadre des présents statuts et de la loi, à un ou plusieurs de ses membres ou à des tiers conformément au règlement d'organisation.
         
  C. The Compensation Committee     C. Le Comité de rémunération
         
  Article 21     Article 21
Number of Members The Compensation Committee shall consist of at least two members of the Board of Directors.   Nombre de membres Le Comité de rémunération se compose d'au moins deux membres du Conseil d'administration.
         
  Article 22     Article 22
Election and Term of Office 1 The General Meeting of Shareholders shall elect the members of the Compensation Committee individually for a term of office until the completion of the subsequent Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Only members of the Board of Directors may be elected. Re-election is possible.   Election et durée de fonctions 1 L'Assemblée générale élit individuellement les membres du Comité de rémunération pour une durée de fonctions s'achevant à la fin de l'Assemblée générale ordinaire suivante. Seuls des membres du Conseil d'administration sont éligibles. La réélection est possible.
  2 If there are vacancies on the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors may appoint substitute members from among its members for a term of office extending until completion of the next Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders.     2 En cas de vacance au sein du Comité de rémunération, le Conseil d'administration peut désigner des substituts parmi ses membres pour une durée de fonctions s'achevant à la fin de l'Assemblée générale ordinaire suivante.
         

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  Article 23     Article 23
Organization of the Compensation Committee 1 The Compensation Committee shall constitute itself. Unless the organizational regulations provide otherwise, the Board of Directors shall elect a chairman from among the Compensation Committee's members.   Organisation du Comité de rémunération 1 Le Comité de rémunération se constitue lui-même. A moins que le règlement d'organisation n'en dispose autrement, le Conseil d'administration élit le Président du Comité de rémunération parmi les membres du Comité de rémunération.
2 The Board of Directors shall issue regulations establishing the organization and decision-making process of the Compensation Committee, which may be part of the organizational regulations.   2 Le Conseil d'administration établit un règlement concernant l'organisation et le processus de décision du Comité de rémunération, qui peut être intégré au règlement d'organisation.
         
  Article 24     Article 24
Duties and Powers 1 The Compensation Committee shall support the Board of Directors in establishing and reviewing the compensation strategy and guidelines as well as in preparing the proposals to the General Meeting of Shareholders regarding the compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. It may submit proposals to the Board of Directors in other compensation-related issues.   Attributions 1 Le Comité de rémunération assiste le Conseil d'administration dans l'établissement et la révision de la stratégie et des directives de rémunération, ainsi que dans la préparation des propositions à soumettre à l'Assemblée générale concernant la rémunération du Conseil d'administration et de la Direction exécutive. Il peut soumettre au Conseil d'administration des propositions en toutes autres matières relatives à la rémunération.
  2 The Board of Directors shall determine in regulations for which positions of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and other member of management (if any) the Compensation Committee shall submit proposals for the performance metrics, target values and/or the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and for which positions it shall itself determine, in accordance with these articles of association and the compensation guidelines established by the Board of Directors, such performance metrics, target values and/or the compensation.     2 Le Conseil d'administration détermine dans un règlement pour quelles fonctions du Conseil d'administration, de la Direction exécutive et d'autres membres de la direction (si applicable) le Comité de rémunération proposera au Conseil d'administration les mesures de performances, les valeurs cibles et/ou la rémunération des membres du Conseil d'administration et de la Direction exécutive, et pour quelles fonctions il aura la compétence de déterminer de son propre chef, en accord avec les statuts et les directives de rémunération établies par le Conseil d'administration, les mesures de performances, les valeurs cibles et/ou la rémunération.
  3 The Board of Directors may delegate further tasks to     3 Le Conseil d’administration peut déléguer d'autres

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  the Compensation Committee.     tâches au Comité de rémunération.
  D. The Auditors     D. L'organe de révision
         
  Article 25     Article 25
  1 The General Meeting of Shareholders shall elect the Auditors for a term of office until the completion of the next Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Re-election is possible.     1 L'Assemblée générale élit l'organe de révision pour une durée de fonctions s’achevant à la fin de l’Assemblée générale ordinaire suivante. La réélection est possible.
  2 The Auditors shall have the powers and duties vested in them by law.     2 L'organe de révision a les pouvoirs et obligations que lui confère la loi.
  3 The Board of Directors may mandate the Auditors at any time to perform special investigations, in particular interim audits, and to prepare a report on their findings.     3 Le Conseil d'administration peut en tout temps charger l'organe de révision de procéder à des contrôles spéciaux, notamment des révisions intermédiaires, et de lui en soumettre un rapport.
         
         
  Section 4
Compensation of the Members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and Related Matters
    Section 4
Rémunération des membres du Conseil d'administration et de la Direction exécutive et affaires connexes
         
  Article 26     Article 26
Approval of the Compensation by the General Meeting of Shareholders 1 The General Meeting of Shareholders shall approve the proposals of the Board of Directors in relation to the aggregate amounts of:   Approbation de la rémunération par l'Assemblée générale 1 L'Assemblée générale approuve les propositions du Conseil d'administration en relation avec les montants maximaux suivants:
1.         the maximum compensation of the Board of Directors until the completion of the next Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders;   1.       la rémunération maximale du Conseil d'administration jusqu'à la fin de l'Assemblée générale ordinaire des actionnaires suivante;
  2.        the maximum fixed compensation of the Executive     2.       la rémunération fixe maximale de la Direction exé

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Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

           Committee for the following financial year; and             cutive pour l'année comptable suivante; et
  3.        the maximum variable compensation of the Executive Committee for the current financial year.     3.        la rémunération variable maximale de la Direction exécutive pour l'exercice en cours.
  2 The Board of Directors may submit for approval by the General Meeting of Shareholders deviating, additional or conditional proposals relating to the maximum aggregate amount or maximum partial amounts for the same or different periods and/or specific compensation components and/or in relation to additional amounts for specific compensation components.     2 Le Conseil d'administration peut soumettre à l'approbation de l'Assemblée générale des propositions divergentes, supplémentaires ou conditionnelles concernant le montant maximal total ou les montants maximaux partiels pour les mêmes périodes ou des périodes différentes et/ou des éléments de rémunération spécifiques et/ou en relation avec des montants additionnels pour des éléments de rémunération spécifiques.
  3 In the event that the General Meeting of Shareholders does not approve a proposal of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall determine, taking into account all relevant factors, the respective (maximum) aggregate amount or (maximum) partial amounts, and submit the amount(s) so determined for approval by a General Meeting of Shareholders.     3 Si l'Assemblée générale n'approuve pas une proposition du Conseil d'administration, le Conseil d'administration détermine, en prenant en compte tous les critères pertinents, le montant (maximal) total ou des montants (maximaux) partiels respectifs, et soumet le(s) montant(s) ainsi déterminé(s) à l'approbation d'une Assemblée générale.
  4 The Company or companies controlled by it may pay or grant compensation prior to approval by the General Meeting of Shareholders, subject to subsequent approval.     4 La rémunération peut être versée ou octroyée par la Société ou les sociétés qu'elle contrôle avant l'approbation de l'Assemblée générale, sous réserve d'une approbation ultérieure.
         
  Article 27     Article 27
Supplementary Amount for Changes to the Executive Committee If the maximum aggregate amount of compensation already approved by the General Meeting of Shareholders is not sufficient to also cover the compensation of one or more persons who become members of the Executive Committee or are being promoted within the Executive Committee after the General Meeting of Shareholders has approved the compensation of the Executive Committee for the relevant period, then the Company or companies controlled by it shall be authorized to pay such member(s) a supplementary amount   Montant complémentaire en cas de changements au sein de la Direction exécutive Si le montant global maximal de la rémunération déjà approuvé par l'Assemblée générale n'est pas suffisant pour couvrir également la rémunération d'une ou plusieurs personnes devenant membre(s) de la Direction exécutive ou étant promue(s) au sein de la Direction exécutive après que l'Assemblée générale a approuvé la rémunération de la Direction exécutive pour la période visée, la Société ou toute autre société qu'elle contrôle est alors autorisée à verser à ce(s) membre(s) un montant complémentaire au cours de la (ou les) période(s)

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Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

  during the compensation period(s) already approved. The supplementary amount per compensation period per member shall not exceed 100% of the aggregate amount of (maximum) compensation of the Executive Committee last approved.     de rémunération déjà approuvée(s). Le montant complémentaire par période de compensation par membre ne doit pas dépasser 100% du montant global de la rémunération (maximale) de la Direction exécutive approuvée en dernier.
  Article 28     Article 28
General Compensation Principles 1 The compensation of the non-executive members of the Board of Directors may consist of fixed and variable compensation elements. Total compensation shall take into account the position and level of responsibility of the recipient.   Principes généraux de rémunération 1 La rémunération des membres non-exécutifs du Conseil d'administration peut être constituée d'éléments de rémunérations fixes et variables. La rémunération totale prend en compte la position et le niveau de responsabilité du bénéficiaire.
2 The compensation of the members of the Executive Committee may consist of fixed and variable compensation elements. Fixed compensation comprises the base salary and may consist of other compensation elements. Variable compensation may take into account the achievement of specific performance targets. Total compensation shall take into account the position and level of responsibility of the recipient.   2 La rémunération des membres de la Direction exécutive peut être constituée d'éléments de rémunération fixes et variables. La rémunération fixe comprend le salaire de base et peut être constituée d'autres éléments de rémunération. La rémunération variable peut prendre en compte l'accomplissement d'objectifs de performance spécifiques. La rémunération totale prend en compte la position et le niveau de responsabilité du bénéficiaire.
  3 The performance targets may include individual targets, targets of the Company, group or parts thereof or targets in relation to the market, other companies or comparable benchmarks, taking into account the position and level of responsibility of the recipient. The Board of Directors or, to the extent delegated to it, the Compensation Committee shall determine the relative weight of the performance targets and the respective target values.     3 Les objectifs de performance peuvent comprendre des objectifs personnels, des objectifs liés à la performance de la Société ou de tout ou partie du groupe ou des buts en relation avec le marché, d'autres sociétés ou d'autres repères comparables, prenant en compte la position et le niveau de responsabilité du bénéficiaire. Le Conseil d'administration ou le Comité de rémunération, dans la mesure où cette compétence lui est déléguée, détermine le poids relatif des objectifs de performance et les valeurs cibles respectives.
  4 Compensation may be paid in the form of cash, shares, options or other share-based instruments or units, or in the form of other types of benefits. The Board of Direc     4 La rémunération peut être versée en espèces, sous forme d'actions, d'options ou d'instruments ou unités sur base d'actions ou d'autres types de prestations. Le Con

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Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

  tors or, to the extent delegated to it, the Compensation Committee shall determine grant, vesting, exercise, restriction and forfeiture conditions and periods. In particular, they may provide for continuation, acceleration or removal of vesting, exercise, restriction and forfeiture conditions and periods, for payment or grant of compensation based upon assumed target achievement, or for forfeiture, in each case in the event of pre-determined events such as a change of control or termination of an employment or mandate agreement. The Company may procure the required shares or other securities through purchases in the market, from treasury shares or by using conditional or authorized share capital.     seil d'administration ou le Comité de rémunération, dans la mesure où cette compétence lui a été déléguée, détermine les conditions et périodes d'octroi, d'acquisition (vesting), d'exercice, de restriction et de péremption. Ils peuvent en particulier prévoir la continuation, l'accélération ou la suppression des conditions ou périodes d'acquisition (vesting), d'exercice, de restriction et de péremption, le versement ou l'octroi d'une rémunération supposant l'atteinte des objectifs ou encore la déchéance des droits, dans chaque cas lors d'événements prédéterminés tels que, notamment, un changement de contrôle ou la fin d'un contrat de travail ou de mandat. La Société peut se procurer les actions ou autres instruments des marchés financiers requis par le biais d'achats sur le marché ou d'actions propres, ou en utilisant son capital-actions conditionnel ou autorisé.
  5 Compensation may be paid by the Company or companies controlled by it.     5 La rémunération peut être versée par la Société ou tout autre société qu'elle contrôle.
         
  Article 29     Article 29
Agreements with Members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee 1 The Company or companies controlled by it may enter into agreements with non-executive members of the Board of Directors relating to their compensation for a fixed term or for an indefinite term. The duration and termination are subject to the term of office and the law.   Contrats avec les membres du Conseil d'administration et de la Direction exécutive 1 La Société, ou toute société qu'elle contrôle, peut conclure des contrats de durée déterminée ou indéterminée avec les membres non-exécutifs du Conseil d'administration en relation avec leur rémunération. La durée et la résiliation doivent être conformes avec la durée des fonctions ainsi qu'avec les dispositions légales applicables.
  2 The Company or companies controlled by it may enter into employment agreements with executive members of the Board of Directors and other members of the Executive Committee for a fixed term or for an indefinite term. Fixed term agreements may have a maximum duration of one year; renewal is possible. Agreements for an indefinite term may have a notice period of maximum twelve months.     2 La Société, ou toute société qu'elle contrôle, peut conclure des contrats de travail de durée déterminée ou indéterminée avec les membres exécutifs du conseil d'administration et les autres membres de la Direction exécutive. Les contrats de durée déterminée peuvent avoir une durée maximale d'une année; le renouvellement est possible. Les contrats de durée indéterminée peuvent prévoir un délai de congé d'au maximum douze

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Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

        mois.
  3 The Company or companies controlled by it may enter into non-compete agreements with members of the Executive Committee for the time after termination of employment. Their duration shall not exceed two years, and consideration paid per year for such non-compete undertaking shall not exceed the sum of the total annual compensation of such member last paid or payable for the first time.     3 La Société, ou toute société qu'elle contrôle, peut conclure des accords de non-concurrence avec les membres de la Direction exécutive pour la période suivant la fin des rapports de travail. Leur durée ne peut excéder deux ans, et l'indemnisation par an versée en contrepartie d'un tel accord de non concurrence ne peut excéder la somme de la dernière rémunération annuelle totale versée ou à verser pour la première fois au membre concerné.
         
  Article 30     Article 30
Mandates Outside of the Group 1 The number of mandates on the board of directors or the executive committee of legal entities that have to be registered in a Swiss commercial register or a similar foreign register outside the group is limited:   Mandats en dehors du groupe 1 Le nombre de mandats d'administrateur et/ou au sein de la Direction exécutive d'entités juridiques tenues d'être inscrites au registre du commerce suisse ou dans un registre similaire étranger est limité:
  (a)    for members of the Executive Committee, to seven mandates, of which no more than two in a listed company; and     (a)     pour les membres de la Direction exécutive, à sept mandats, dont pas plus de deux au sein de sociétés cotées; et
  (b)     for members of the Board of Directors, to fifteen mandates, of which no more than five in listed companies.     (b)     pour les membres du Conseil d'administration à quinze mandats, dont pas plus de cinq au sein de sociétés cotées.
  2 Mandates in different legal entities being part of the same group or for the same group are deemed to be one mandate.     2 Les mandats dans différentes entités juridiques appartenant au même groupe ou assumés pour le même groupe sont considérés comme un mandat.
  3 Mandates in associations, charitable organizations, family trusts and foundations relating to post-retirement benefits are not subject to the above limitations. No member of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee shall hold more than 10 such mandates.     Les mandats dans des associations, organisations caritatives, fondations de famille et fondations de prévoyance professionnelle ne sont pas soumis aux limites mentionnées ci-dessus. Aucun membre du Conseil d'administration ou de la Direction exécutive ne peut exercer plus de 10 mandats de ce genre.
         

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Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

  Article 31     Article 31
Post-Retirement Benefits The Company or companies controlled by it may grant to members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee post-retirement benefits beyond the occupational benefit schemes which do not exceed the annual compensation of the respective member of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee last paid or payable for the first time.   Prestations de retraite La Société ou toute société qu'elle contrôle peut octroyer aux membres du Conseil d'administration et de la Direction exécutive des prestations de retraite allant au-delà du régime de prévoyance professionnelle n'excédant pas la rémunération annuelle du membre du Conseil d'administration ou de la Direction exécutive concerné versée ou à verser pour la première fois.
         
         
  Section 5
Financial Year, Profit Allocation
    Section 5
Exercice, répartition du bénéfice
         
  Article 32     Article 32
Financial Year, Annual and Compensation Report 1 The Company's financial year shall be determined by the Board of Directors.   Exercice social, rapport de gestion et de rémunération 1 L'exercice est fixé par le Conseil d'administration.

2 The Board of Directors shall prepare an annual report for each financial year, comprising the annual financial statements, if required, the management report and the consolidated financial statements, as well as a compensation report.   2 Le Conseil d'administration établit pour chaque exercice un rapport de gestion, qui se compose des comptes annuels et, cas échéant, du rapport annuel et des comptes de groupe, ainsi qu'un rapport de rémunération.
         
  Article 33     Article 33
Allocation of Profit Shown on the Balance Sheet, Reserves 1 The General Meeting of Shareholders shall resolve on the allocation of the profit as shown on the balance sheet in accordance with applicable law. The Board of Directors shall submit its proposals to the General Meeting of Shareholders.   Utilisation du bénéfice résultant du bilan, réserves 1 L'Assemblée générale détermine l'emploi du bénéfice résultant du bilan, sous réserve des prescriptions légales concernant la répartition du bénéfice. Le Conseil d'administration lui soumet ses propositions.
2 In addition to the reserves required by law, the General Meeting of Shareholders may create other reserves.   2 En sus des réserves légales, l'Assemblée générale peut constituer des réserves supplémentaires.

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Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

  3 Dividends that have not been collected within five years after their payment date shall inure to the Company and be allocated to the general statutory reserves.     3 Les dividendes qui n'ont pas été perçus dans un délai de cinq ans après leur date de paiement sont prescrits et sont alloués aux réserves statutaires de la Société.
         
         
  Section 6
Dissolution, Liquidation
    Section 6
Dissolution, liquidation
         
  Article 34     Article 34
Dissolution, Liquidation 1 The General Meeting of Shareholders may at any time resolve to dissolve and liquidate the Company in accordance with the law and the provisions set forth in these articles of association.   Dissolution, liquidation 1 L'Assemblée générale peut décider en tout temps de la dissolution et de la liquidation de la Société en conformité avec les prescriptions légales et statutaires.
  2 The liquidation shall be effected by the Board of Directors, unless the General Meeting of Shareholders appoints other persons as liquidators.     2 La liquidation a lieu par les soins du Conseil d'administration, à moins que l'Assemblée générale ne désigne d'autres liquidateurs.
  3 The liquidation of the Company shall be effected pursuant to applicable law. The liquidators shall be entitled to sell assets (real estate included) in private transactions.     3 La liquidation de la Société s'effectue conformément au droit applicable. Les liquidateurs sont autorisés à vendre des actifs (immeubles y compris) de gré à gré.
  4 Upon discharge of all liabilities of the Company, the assets shall be distributed to the shareholders in proportion to the share capital, unless these articles of association provide otherwise.     4 Après paiement des dettes de la Société, l'actif est réparti entre les actionnaires au prorata du capital-actions, à moins que les présents statuts n'en disposent autrement.
         
         
  Section 7
Notices, Communications
    Section 7
Communications, organe de publication

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Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

         
  Article 35     Article 35
Notices, Communications 1 The official means of publication of the Company shall be the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce.   Communications, organe de publication 1 L'organe de publication de la Société est la Feuille officielle suisse du commerce.
2 To the extent that personal notification is not mandated by law, all communications to the shareholders shall be deemed valid if published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce. Written communications by the Company to its shareholders shall be sent by ordinary mail to the last address of the shareholder or authorized recipient entered in the share register. If neither these articles of association nor the law mandatorily require a communication to be in written form, the Company can validly send communications to the shareholders to the last e-mail address of the shareholder or authorized recipient communicated to the Company, through the banking system, electronically, by publication in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce or in any other way. To comply with a written form, a facsimile or electronic copy of a signature shall be sufficient.   2 Dans la mesure où la loi n’exige pas de notification personnelle, toutes les communications aux actionnaires publiées dans la Feuille officielle suisse du commerce seront réputées valides. Les communications écrites adressées par la Société à ses actionnaires seront envoyées par courrier ordinaire à la dernière adresse de l’actionnaire ou de son bénéficiaire autorisé qui figure sur le registre des actions. Si ni la loi ni les présents statuts n'imposent qu'une communication revête la forme écrite, la Société peut valablement envoyer une telle communication aux actionnaires par courriel, à la dernière adresse e-mail de l’actionnaire ou de son bénéficiaire autorisé communiquée à la Société, par l'intermédiraire du système bancaire, électroniquement, par publication dans la Feuille officielle suisse du commerce ou de toute autre manière. Un téléfax ou une copie électronique de la signature suffisent pour se conformer à la forme écrite.
       
         
  Section 8
Authoritative Language
    Section 8
Langue faisant foi

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Articles of Association of ADC Therapeutics SA

         
  Article 36     Article 36
Authoritative Language In the event of discrepancies between the French and English version of these articles of association, the French version shall prevail.   Langue faisant foi En cas de désaccord entre la version française et la version anglaise, la version française des présents statuts prévaut.

 

 

 

Lausanne, le 5 septembre 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EX-5.1 3 dp179924_ex0501.htm EXHIBIT 5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

ADC Therapeutics SA
Biopôle

Route de la Corniche 3 B

1066 Epalinges

Switzerland

Homburger AG

Prime Tower

Hardstrasse 201

CH-8005 Zurich

 

homburger.ch
T +41 43 222 10 00

 

 

 

 

 

September 6, 2022  

 

 

 

 

ADC Therapeutics SA – Registration Statement on Form F-3

 

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

We have acted as special Swiss counsel to ADC Therapeutics SA, a stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Switzerland (the Company), in connection with the filing of a registration statement on Form F-3 (the Registration Statement), including a prospectus, to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on the date hereof for the purpose of registering under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) 1,260,863 common shares of the Company, each with a nominal value of CHF 0.08 (the Common Shares). As such counsel, we have been requested to give our opinion as to certain legal matters of Swiss law.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Documents (as defined below).

 

I. Basis of Opinion

 

This opinion is confined to and given on the basis of the laws of Switzerland in force at the date hereof. Such laws and the interpretation thereof are subject to change. In the absence of explicit statutory law, we base our opinion solely on our independent professional judgment. This opinion is also confined to the matters stated herein and is not to be read as extending, by implication or otherwise, to any document referred to in the Documents (other than as listed below) or any other matter.

 

For purposes of this opinion we have not conducted any due diligence or similar investigation as to factual circumstances, which are or may be referred to in the Documents, and we express no opinion as to the accuracy of representations and warranties of facts set out in the Documents or the factual background assumed therein.

 

For purposes of this opinion, we have only reviewed originals or copies of the following documents we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion (collectively, the Documents):

 

(a)an electronic copy of the Registration Statement;

 

(b)an electronic copy of the articles of association (statuts) of the Company, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement (the Articles); and

 

(c)an electronic copy of the circular resolution of the Company's board of directors (the Board of Directors) dated August 13, 2022, approving, among other things, the filing of the Registration Statement and of the Prospectus with the SEC (the Board Resolution).

 

No documents other than the Documents have been reviewed by us in connection with this opinion. Accordingly, we shall limit our opinion to the Documents and their legal implications under Swiss law.

1 

 

In this opinion, Swiss legal concepts are expressed in English terms and not in their original language. These concepts may not be identical to the concepts described by the same English terms as they exist under the laws of other jurisdictions.

 

II. Assumptions

 

In rendering the opinion below, we have assumed the following:

 

(a)all documents produced to us as originals are authentic and complete, and all documents produced to us as copies (including, without limitation, electronic copies) conform to the original;

 

(b)all documents produced to us as originals and the originals of all documents produced to us as copies were duly executed and certified, as applicable, by the individuals purported to have executed or certified, as the case may be, such documents, and any electronic signatures on any such document have been affixed thereto by the individual to whom such electronic signature belongs and such individual has saved and submitted such document as so electronically signed in such a manner so as to prevent removal or other alteration of such signature;

 

(c)all documents produced to us in draft form will be executed in the form of the draft submitted to us;

 

(d)each party to the Documents is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized and validly existing and in good standing (if applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and/or establishment and none of the parties to the Documents (other than the Company) has passed or, until the issuance of all Common Shares, will have passed a voluntary winding-up resolution; no petition has been, or, until the issuance of all Common Shares, will be presented or order made by a court for the winding-up, dissolution, bankruptcy or administration of any party (other than the Company); and no receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, administrator or similar officer has been or, until the issuance of all Common Shares, will have been appointed in relation to any of the parties (other than the Company) or any of their assets or revenues;

 

(e)to the extent relevant for purposes of this opinion, any and all information contained in the Documents is and will be true, complete and accurate at all relevant times;

 

(f)no laws (other than those of Switzerland) affect any of the conclusions stated in this opinion;

 

(g)the Registration Statement and the Articles are unchanged and correct, complete and up-to-date and in full force and effect as of the date hereof and no changes have been made which should have been or should be reflected in the Registration Statement or the Articles, as the case may be, as of the date hereof;

 

(h)the Board Resolution has been duly resolved in a duly executed circular resolution, and has not been rescinded or amended and is and will be in full force and effect until the issuance of all such Common Shares;

 

(i)all exercise notices with respect to Common Shares issued out of the Company's conditional share capital for financing, acquisitions and other purposes (the Conditional Share Capital) will be duly delivered in accordance with Swiss law and the underlying contractual arrangements;

 

(j)the Company has not entered and will not enter into any transaction which could be construed as repayment of share capital (restitution des versements) and has not undertaken and will not undertake an acquisition in kind (reprise de biens) or intended acquisition in kind (reprise de biens envisagée) without complying with the formal procedure set forth in article 628 of the Swiss Code of Obligations; and

 

(k)all authorizations, approvals, consents, licenses, exemptions, other than as required by mandatory Swiss law applicable to the Company or the Articles, and other requirements for the filing of the Registration Statement or for any other activities carried on in view of, or in connection with, the performance of the obligations expressed to be undertaken by the Company in the Registration Statement have been duly obtained or fulfilled in due time and are and will remain in full force and effect, and any related conditions to which the parties thereto are subject have been satisfied.

 

III. Opinion

 

Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set out below, we are of the opinion that as of the date hereof the Common Shares, if and/or when issued and paid for pursuant to the Articles, the underlying contractual arrangements and Swiss law—in particular after the written conversion or exercise notice has been given (if applicable) and the issue price for such Common Shares has been paid-in in accordance with the Articles, the underlying contractual arrangements and Swiss law and upon registration of the corresponding share capital increase into the Commercial Register of the Canton of Vaud (if applicable)—and if and/or when such Common Shares have been entered into the Company's book of uncertificated securities, have been or will be, as applicable, validly issued, fully paid as to their nominal value and non-assessable.

 

2 

 

V. Qualifications

 

The above opinions are subject to the following qualifications:

 

(a)The lawyers of our firm are members of the Zurich bar and do not hold themselves out to be experts in any laws other than the laws of Switzerland. Accordingly, we are opining herein as to Swiss law only and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability or the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction to or on the matters covered herein.

 

(b)The exercise of voting rights and rights related thereto with respect to any Common Shares is only permissible after registration in the Company's share register as a shareholder with voting rights in accordance with the provisions of, and subject to the limitations provided in, the Articles.

 

(c)We express no opinion as to whether the Registration Statement is accurate, true, correct, complete or not misleading. In particular, and without limitation to the foregoing, we express no opinion on whether the Registration Statement provides sufficient information for investors to reach an informed assessment of the Company, any companies within the Company's consolidation perimeter and the Common Shares.

 

(d)We express no opinion as to regulatory matters or as to any commercial, accounting, calculating, auditing or other non-legal matter.

 

We have issued this opinion as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in fact or in law that are made or brought to our attention hereafter.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to the reference to our name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

This opinion is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Switzerland.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

/s/ Daniel Häusermann

 

Homburger AG
Daniel Häusermann

 

3 

EX-23.1 4 dp179924_ex2301.htm EXHIBIT 23.1

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of ADC Therapeutics SA of our report dated March 17, 2022 relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in ADC Therapeutics SA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers SA
Lausanne, Switzerland
September 6, 2022

 

 

1

 

EX-FILING FEES 5 dp179924_exfillingfee.htm EXHIBIT 107

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form F-3

(Form Type)

 

ADC Therapeutics SA

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

  Security Type 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 Equity Common Shares Rule 457(c) 1,260,863 (1) $6.95 (2) $8,762,997.85 0.0000927 $812.33        
Fees Previously Paid N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A   N/A        
Carry Forward Securities
Carry Forward Securities N/A N/A N/A N/A   N/A     N/A N/A N/A N/A
  Total Offering Amounts   $8,762,997.85   $812.33        
  Total Fees Previously Paid       N/A        
  Total Fee Offsets       $812.33        
  Net Fee Due       $0        

 

(1)       Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant is also registering hereunder an indeterminate number of common shares that may be issued in connection with anti-dilution provisions or stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(2)       Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The maximum price per share and maximum aggregate offering price are based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the common shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on August 30, 2022, which date is within five business days prior to filing this registration statement.

 

Table 2: Fee Offset Claims and Sources

 

  Registrant or Filer Name Form or Filing Type File Number Initial Filing Date Filing Date Fee Offset Claimed Security Type Associated with Fee Offset Claimed Security Title Associated with Fee Offset Claimed Unsold Securities Associated with Fee Offset Claimed Unsold Aggregate Offering Amount Associated with Fee Offset Claimed Fee Paid with Fee Offset Source
Rules 457(b) and 0-11(a)(2)
Fee Offset Claims   N/A N/A N/A   N/A          
Fee Offset Sources N/A N/A N/A   N/A           N/A
Rule 457(p)
Fee Offset Claims ADC Therapeutics SA F-3 333-256686 (1) June 1, 2021   $812.33 Equity Common Shares 5,558,318 $13,171.28  
Fee Offset Sources ADC Therapeutics SA F-3 333-256686 (1)   June 1, 2021           $812.33

(1)       The Registrant has terminated the offering of securities under this registration statement. No securities were sold pursuant to this registration statement.

 

1

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