Note B. JOINT VENTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF APO E MIMETIC PEPTIDE MOLECULE AEM-28 AND ANALOGS

On August 3, 2012, we entered into a Contribution Agreement with LipimetiX, LLC to form a joint venture, LipimetiX Development, LLC (“JV”), to develop Apo E mimetic molecules, including AEM-28 and its analogs. In June 2015, the JV converted from a limited liability company to a corporation, LipimetiX Development, Inc. The Company contributed $6 million, which included $1 million for 600,000 voting common ownership units (now common stock), representing 60% ownership in the JV, and $5 million for 5,000,000 non-voting preferred ownership units (now preferred stock), which have preferential distribution rights. On March 31, 2016, the Company converted 1,500,000 shares of its preferred stock into 120,000 shares of common stock, increasing its common stock ownership from 60% to 64%. As discussed below, the JV Series B-1 Preferred Stock issuance, because of the participating and conversion features of the preferred stock, effectively reduces the Company’s ownership in the JV to 59.3%.

LipimetiX, LLC contributed all intellectual property rights for Apo E mimetic molecules it owned and assigned its Exclusive License Agreement between The University of Alabama at Birmingham Research Foundation (“UABRF”) and LipimetiX, LLC, for the UABRF intellectual property related to Apo E mimetic molecules AEM-28 and its analogs to the JV, in return for 400,000 voting common ownership units (now common stock) representing 40% ownership in JV (now 36%), and $378,000 in cash (for certain initial patent-related costs and legal expenses).

On August 25, 2016, LipimetiX Development, Inc. closed a Series B-1 Preferred Stock offering, raising funds of $1,012,000 ($946,000 net of issuance costs of approximately $66,000). Individual accredited investors and management participated in the financing. This initial closing of the Series B-1 preferred stock offering resulted in the issuance of 94,537 shares of preferred stock, convertible to an equal number of the JV’s common stock at the election of the holders, and warrants to purchase an additional 33,088 shares of JV preferred stock, at an exercise price of $10.70, with a ten-year term. The preferred stock represents 7.8% of the post-closing common stock of the JV, on an “as-converted” basis. Following this initial Series B-1 closing, on an “as converted” basis, the Company owns 59.3% of the JV.

In connection with the Series B-1 financing, the JV entered into the Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement. The Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement allows for issuance of up to an additional 45,640 Series B-1 preferred stock and 15,975 preferred stock warrants at the same terms as the current Series B-1 preferred stock and warrants, and up to 1,200,000 additional Series B-2 preferred stock, at terms yet to be determined. Series B preferred stock is a participating preferred stock. As a participating preferred, the preferred stock will earn a 5% dividend, payable only upon the election by the JV or in liquidation. Prior to the JV common stock holders receiving distributions, the participating preferred stockholders will receive their earned dividends and payback of their original investment. Subsequently, the participating preferred will participate in future distributions on an equal “as converted” share basis with common stock holders. The Series B preferred stock has “as converted” voting rights and other terms standard to a security of this nature.

LipimetiX, LLC was formed by the principals of Benu BioPharma, Inc. (“Benu”) and UABRF to commercialize UABRF’s intellectual property related to Apo E mimetic molecules, including AEM-28 and analogs. Benu is composed of Dennis I. Goldberg, Ph.D. and Eric M. Morrel, Ph.D. The Exclusive License Agreement, as amended, calls for payment of patent filing, maintenance and other related patent fees, as well as a royalty of 3% on Net Sales of Licensed Products during the Term of the Agreement. The Agreement terminates upon the expiration of all Valid Patent Claims within the Licensed Patents, which are currently estimated to expire between 2019 and 2035. The Agreement, as amended, also calls for annual maintenance payments of $25,000, various milestone payments of $50,000 to $500,000 and minimum royalty payments of $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year commencing on January 1 of the first calendar year following the year in which the First Commercial Sale occurs. UABRF will also be paid 5% of Non-Royalty Income received.

Concurrent with entering into the Contribution Agreement and the First Amendment and Consent to Assignment of Exclusive License Agreement between LipimetiX, LLC, UABRF and the Company, the Company and LipimetiX, LLC entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement for JV which established a Joint Development Committee (“JDC”) to manage JV development activities. Upon conversion by the JV from a limited liability company to a corporation, the parties entered into a Stockholders Agreement for the JV, and the JDC was replaced by a Board of Directors (JV Board). The JV Board is composed of three members appointed by the non-Company common stock ownership group, two members appointed by the Company and one member appointed by the Series B-1 Preferred Stockholders. Non-development JV decisions, including the issuance of new equity, incurrence of debt, entry into strategic transactions, licenses or development agreements, sales of assets and liquidation, and approval of annual budgets, will be decided by a majority vote of the common and series B-1 Preferred Stock (voting on an “as converted” basis) stockholders.

The JV, on August 3, 2012, entered into a Management Agreement with Benu to manage JV development activities for a monthly fee of approximately $63,000 during the twenty-seven month development period, and an Accounting Services Agreement with the Company to manage JV accounting and administrative functions. The services related to these agreements have been completed and new Management and Accounting Services Agreements were entered into effective June 1, 2016.The new monthly management fee is $80,000 and the new monthly accounting services fee is $10,000. However, no Management or Accounting Services fees are due or payable except to the extent funding is available, as unanimously approved by members of the JV Board of Directors and as reflected in the approved operating budget in effect at that time. In connection with the Series B-1 Preferred Stock issuance, Management Fees totaling $300,000 and Accounting Fees totaling $60,000 were paid in 2016.

The joint venture formation was as follows ($000’s):

Patent license rights	$	1,045
Noncontrolling interests		(667)
Cash paid at formation	$	378

Patent license rights were recorded at their estimated fair value and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the key patent life of eighty months.

The financial position and results of operations of the joint venture are presented on a consolidated basis with the financial position and results of operations of the Company. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated. In the Company’s consolidated financial statements, joint venture losses were recorded on the basis of common ownership equity interests until common ownership equity was reduced to $0. Subsequent joint venture losses were being allocated to the Series A preferred ownership equity (100% Company). Subsequent to March 31, 2013, all joint venture losses had been allocated to the Company. On August 25, 2016 the JV raised $1,012,000, ($946,000 net of issuance costs) in a Series B-1 Preferred Stock and Warrant offering and in 2016, $946,000 of losses were allocated to the Series B-1 Preferred Stock ownership interests. As of December 31, 2016, losses incurred by the JV exceeded the capital accounts of the JV. The Company has a revolving loan agreement with the joint venture to advance the joint venture funds for operations in an amount not to exceed a net (net of expected tax credits or other funds obtained) of $1,600,000, with the net amount due December 31, 2016. Losses incurred by the joint venture in excess of the capital accounts of the joint venture will be allocated to the Company to the extent of net outstanding advances. At March 31, 2017, outstanding advances on the revolving loan agreement totaled $1,600,000.

The joint venture incurred net operating expenses, prior to the elimination of intercompany transactions, of $276,000 in 2017 and $8,748,000 for the period from August 3, 2012 (inception) to March 31, 2017, of which $276,000, and $7,126,000, respectively, have been recorded by the Company. The joint venture operating expenses are included in research and development expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Neither the Company nor the noncontrolling interests have an obligation to contribute additional funds to the joint venture or to assume any joint venture liabilities or to provide a guarantee of either joint venture performance or any joint venture liability. Losses allocated to the common stock noncontrolling interests represent an additional potential loss for the Company as the common stock noncontrolling interests are not obligated to contribute assets to the joint venture, and depending on the ultimate outcome of the joint venture, the Company could potentially absorb all losses associated with the joint venture. From formation of the joint venture, August 3, 2012, through March 31, 2017, losses totaling $667,000 have been allocated to the common stock noncontrolling interests. If the joint venture or Company is unable to obtain additional funding, the ability of the joint venture to continue development of AEM-28-14, would be impaired as would the joint venture’s ability to continue operations. If the joint venture does not continue as a going concern, at December 31, 2016 the Company would incur an additional loss of $667,000 for the joint venture losses allocated to the common stock noncontrolling interests.