20-F
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 20-F

 

 

(Mark One)

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-36891

 

 

CELLECTIS S.A.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter

and translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

 

France

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Cellectis S.A.

8, rue de la Croix Jarry

75013 Paris, France

(Address of principal executive office)

Marie-Bleuenn Terrier

General Counsel

Cellectis S.A.

8, rue de la Croix Jarry

75013 Paris, France

Tel: +33 (0)1 81 69 16 00, Fax: +33 (0)1 81 69 16 06

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

American Depositary Shares, each representing one

ordinary share, nominal value €0.05 per share

  Nasdaq Global Market
Ordinary shares, nominal value €0.05 per share*   Nasdaq Global Market*

*Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of the American Depositary Shares.

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

None

 

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the Annual Report.

Ordinary shares, nominal value €0.05 per share: 35,178,614 as of December 31, 2015

 

 

 


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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark, if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  x

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨                 Accelerated filer  ¨                 Non-accelerated filer  x

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

U.S. GAAP  ¨

    

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued

by the International Accounting Standards Board  x

   Other  ¨

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:    Item 17  ¨    Item 18  ¨

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

 

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE  

INTRODUCTION

     i   

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     iii   

PART I

     

Item 1.

   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers      1   

Item 2.

   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable      1   

Item 3.

   Key Information      1  

Item 4.

   Information on the Company      57   

Item 4A.

   Unresolved Staff Comments      111   

Item 5.

   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects      112   

Item 6.

   Directors, Senior Management and Employees      131   

Item 7.

   Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions      143   

Item 8.

   Financial Information      148   

Item 9.

   The Offer and Listing      149   

Item 10.

   Additional Information      151   

Item 11.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      162   

Item 12.

   Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities      163   

PART II

     

Item 13.

   Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies      165   

Item 14.

   Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds      165   

Item 15.

   Controls and Procedures      165   

Item 15T.

   Controls and Procedures      165   

Item 16A.

   Audit Committee Financial Expert      166   

Item 16B.

   Code of Ethics      166   

Item 16C.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services      166   

Item 16D.

   Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees      167   

Item 16E.

   Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers      167   

Item 16F.

   Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant      167   

Item 16G.

   Corporate Governance      167   

Item 16H.

   Mine Safety Disclosure      170   

PART III

     

Item 17.

   Financial Statements      171   

Item 18.

   Financial Statements      171   

Item 19.

   Exhibits      171  


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INTRODUCTION

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this Annual Report to, “Cellectis,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Cellectis S.A. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

We own various trademark registrations and applications, and unregistered trademarks and servicemarks, including “Cellectis®”, “TALEN®”, “PulseAgile™” and our corporate logo, and all such trademarks and servicemarks appearing in this Annual Report are the property of Cellectis. All other trade names, trademarks and servicemarks of other companies appearing in this Annual Report are the property of their respective holders. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this Annual Report may be referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references, or the failure of such symbols to appear, should not be construed as any indication 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.

Our audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB. Our consolidated financial statements are presented in euros.

All references in this Annual Report to “$,” “US$,” “U.S.$,” “U.S. dollars,” “dollars” and “USD” mean U.S. dollars and all references to “€” and “euros,” mean euros, unless otherwise noted. Throughout this Annual Report, references to ADSs mean ADSs or ordinary shares represented by ADSs, as the case may be.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:

 

    not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and

 

    to the extent that we no longer qualify as a foreign private issuer, (1) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements; and (2) exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation, including golden parachute compensation.

We may take advantage of these exemptions until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our IPO or until such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest to occur of (1) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have more than $1.0 billion in annual revenue; (2) the date we qualify as a “large accelerated filer,” with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates; (3) the issuance, in any three-year period, by us of more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and (4) the last day of the fiscal year ending after the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering.

The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We have previously elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required by the IASB.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Cellectis S.A. presents Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis is not a measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. We have included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F a reconciliation of this figure to Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis, the most directly comparable financial measure

 

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calculated in accordance with IFRS. Because Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis excludes Non-cash stock-based compensation expense—a non-cash expense, we believe that this financial measure, when considered together with our IFRS financial statements, can enhance an overall understanding of Cellectis’ financial performance. Moreover, our management views the Company’s operations, and manages its business, based, in part, on this financial measure. In particular, we believe that the elimination of Non-cash stock-based expenses from Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis can provide a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our core businesses. Our use of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under IFRS. Some of these limitations are: (a) other companies, including companies in our industries which have similar Stock-based compensations, may address the impact of Non-cash stock-based compensation expense differently; and (b) other companies may report Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis or similarly titled measures but calculate them differently, which reduces their usefulness as a comparative measure. Because of these and other limitations, you should consider Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis alongside our other IFRS financial results, including Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this Annual Report, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to us. Many important factors, in addition to the factors described in this Annual Report, may adversely affect such forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is designed to,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “objective,” “should,” or the negative of these and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

    the initiation, timing, progress and results of our pre-clinical and clinical studies, and our research and development programs;

 

    the initiation, timing, progress and results of our agricultural biotechnology research and development program;

 

    our ability to advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical studies;

 

    our ability to advance plant products into, and successfully complete, field trials;

 

    the timing or regulatory filings and the likelihood of favorable regulatory outcomes and approvals;

 

    the regulatory treatment of our plant products;

 

    regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

 

    the commercialization of our product candidates, if approved;

 

    the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved;

 

    our ability to contract on commercially reasonable terms with CROs, third-party suppliers of biological raw materials and manufacturers;

 

    the implementation of our business model, strategic plans for our business, product candidates and technology;

 

    the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and technology;

 

    the ability of third parties with whom we contract to successfully conduct, supervise and monitor clinical studies for our therapeutic product candidates or our plant products;

 

    estimates of our expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing;

 

    our ability to obtain additional funding for our operations;

 

    the potential benefits of our strategic alliances and our ability to enter into future strategic arrangements;

 

    the ability and willingness of collaborators pursuant to our strategic alliances to actively pursue development activities under our collaboration agreements;

 

    our receipt of milestone or royalty payments pursuant to our strategic alliances with Servier and Pfizer;

 

    our ability to maintain and establish collaborations or obtain additional grant funding;

 

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    the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates;

 

    our status as a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

    our financial performance;

 

    our ability to attract and retain key scientific and management personnel;

 

    our expectations regarding the period during which we qualify as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act or as a foreign private issuer;

 

    developments relating to our competitors and our industry, including competing therapies; and

 

    other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.”

You should refer to the section of this Annual Report titled “Risk Factors” for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame or at all. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

This Annual Report contains market data and industry forecasts that were obtained from industry publications. These data and forecasts involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. While we believe the market position, market opportunity and market size information included in this Annual Report is generally reliable, such information is inherently imprecise.

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

 

A. Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and the selected consolidated statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The selected consolidated statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2013 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this Annual Report. Our audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB.

The following selected consolidated financial data for the periods and as of the dates indicated are qualified by reference to and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes beginning on page F-1 of this Annual Report, as well as the sections titled “Operating And Financial Review And Prospects” and “Foreign Currency Exchange Rates” included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Our historical results for any prior period do not necessarily indicate our results to be expected for any future period.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013     2014     2015     2015  
                 $ (3)  
    

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

Total revenues and other income

     12,724        26,453        56,385        61,387   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses and other operating income (expenses)

        

Royalty expenses

     (542     (3,035     (2,475     (2,694

Research and development expenses

     (17,844 )     (14,407 )     (52,410 )     (57,059

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (19,034     (13,114     (27,238     (29,654

Other operating income and expenses

     (1,832 )     (1,142 )     (2,185 )     (2,379
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (26,528 )     (5,245 )     (27,924 )     (30,400

Loss from discontinued operations

     (29,580     (2,822     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial gain (loss)

     (312 )     7,095       7,550       8,220   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     (56,419 )     (972 )     (20,373 )     (22,180
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to shareholders of Cellectis

     (55,402     20        (20,544     (22,366

Attributable to non-controlling interests

     (1,017 )     (992 )     171       186   

Earnings per share attributable to shareholders of Cellectis (1)

        

Basic and diluted (2) 

     (2.68 )     0.00       (0.60 )     (0.65

Number of shares used for computing

        

Basic (1) 

     20,653,912       26,071,709       34,149,908       34,149,908   

Diluted (1)

     20,653,912        26,192,652        34,522,910        34,522,910   

Other operating data

        

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of
Cellectis (4)

     (54,941 )     568       9,559       10,407   

 

(1) See Note 26 to our financial statements for further details on the calculation of basic and diluted loss per ordinary share.
(2) Potential ordinary shares resulting from the exercise of share warrants and employee warrants are antidilutive.
(3) Translated only for convenience into U.S. dollars at an exchange rate of €1.00 = $1.0887, the European Central Bank’s (“ECB”) daily reference exchange rate on December 31, 2015, as published by Banque de France.

 

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(4) We define Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis as our Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis, adjusted to eliminate the impact of Non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis is not a measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. Because Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis excludes Non-cash stock-based compensation expense a non-cash expense, we believe that this financial measure, when considered together with our IFRS financial statements, can enhance an overall understanding of Cellectis’ financial performance. Moreover, our management views the Company’s operations, and manages its business, based, in part, on this financial measure. Our use of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under IFRS. Please refer below for a reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis to Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with IFRS.

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015      2015  
                    $  
     (in thousands)  

Cash and cash equivalents

     7,559         112,347         314,238         342,111   

Total assets

     28,875         137,614         341,062         371,314   

Total shareholders’ equity

     2,517         59,527         263,619         287,002   

Total non current liabilities

     3,812         3,222         503         547   

Total current liabilities

     22,546         74,865         76,940         83,765   

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis to Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
                
     (in thousands)  

Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis

     (55,402      20         (20,544

Adjustment:

        

Research and development non-cash stock-based compensation expense

     189         225         18,532   

Selling, general and administrative non-cash stock-based compensation expense

     272         323         11,570   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

     461         548         30,103   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis

     (54,941      568         9,559   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Exchange Rate Information

The following table sets forth, for each period indicated, the low and high exchange rates for euros expressed in U.S. dollars, the exchange rate at the end of such period and the average of such exchange rates on the last day of each month during such period, based on the ECB’s reference U.S. Dollar exchange rate for Euro, as published by Banque de France. The exchange rates set forth below are provided for reference only and to demonstrate trends in exchange rates. They should not be relied upon, and the actual exchange rates used throughout this Annual Report may vary.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011      2012      2013      2014      2015  

High

     1.4882         1.3454         1.3814         1.3953         1.2043   

Low

     1.2889         1.2089         1.2768         1.2141         1.0552   

Rate at end of period

     1.2939         1.3194         1.3791         1.2141         1.0887   

Average rate per period

     1.4000         1.2932         1.3308         1.3211         1.1046   

The following table sets forth, for each of the periods indicated, the low and high exchange rates for euros expressed in U.S. dollars and the exchange rate at the end of the periods indicated based on the ECB’s reference U.S. Dollar exchange rate for Euro, as published by Banque de France.

 

     September
2015
     October
2015
     November
2015
     December
2015
     January
2016
     February
2016
 

High

     1.1419         1.1439         1.1032         1.0990         1.0920         1.1347   

Low

     1.1138         1.0930         1.0579         1.0600         1.0742         1.0884   

Rate at end of period

     1.1203         1.1017         1.0579         1.0887         1.0920         1.0880   

On March 18, 2016, the ECB’s reference U.S. Dollar exchange rate for the Euro, as published by the Banque de France, was €1.00 = 1.1279.

Information presented on a constant currency basis in this Annual Report is calculated by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates. Management reviews and analyzes business results excluding the effect of foreign currency translation because they believe this better represents our underlying business trends.

In various places throughout this Annual Report we show financial amounts in both U.S. dollars and euros. Unless otherwise stated, these translations, which are provided solely for convenience, are made at the exchange rate of €1.00 = $1.0887, the ECB’s daily reference exchange rate on December 31, 2015, as published by Banque de France.

 

B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable.

 

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

 

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D. Risk Factors

Our business and our industry are subject to significant risks. You should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this Annual Report, including the following risk factors. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks.

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

We have a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects and may increase the risk of your investment.

We are an early-stage gene-editing company with a limited operating history. Investment in biopharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology product development is a highly speculative endeavor. It entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and there is significant risk that any potential product candidate will fail to demonstrate adequate efficacy or an acceptable safety profile, to gain regulatory approval or to become commercially viable. In our therapeutics business, we are focused on developing products using our gene-editing platform to develop genetically modified T-cells that express a CAR and are designed to target and kill cancer cells. While there have been significant advances in cell-based immunotherapy, our gene-editing platform and T-cell and CAR technologies are new and unproven. All of the product candidates that we are developing or co-developing are in pre-clinical stages or entering into a clinical stage (UCART19 for which a CTA has been filed), and we have not yet generated any revenue from product sales to date. In our agricultural biotechnology business, we are exploring the use of our gene-editing technologies to develop healthier food products for a growing population. Our plant products are in early stages of development, and we have not yet generated any revenues from sales of these plant products.

Our limited operating history may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and our future prospects. We have encountered, and will continue to encounter, risks and difficulties frequently experienced by growing companies in rapidly developing and changing industries, such as the biopharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology industries, including challenges in forecasting accuracy, determining appropriate investments of our limited resources, gaining market acceptance of our gene-editing platform, managing a complex regulatory landscape and developing new product candidates. Our current operating model may require changes in order for us to scale our operations efficiently. You should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks and difficulties we face as an early-stage company focused on developing products in the fields of immuno-oncology and agricultural biotechnology.

We have incurred significant losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future.

We devote most of our financial resources to research and development relating to our CAR T-cell immunotherapy product candidates. We finance our current immuno-oncology operations through strategic alliances with pharmaceutical companies, including Les Laboratories Servier S.A.S., or Servier, and Pfizer Inc., or Pfizer, as well as through the sale of equity securities and, to a lesser extent, obtaining public funding in support of innovation, reimbursements of research tax credit claims, and royalties on our licensed technology. During 2013 and 2014, we have received €61.0 million through sales of equity, and €73.7 million in payments made to us under our collaboration agreements with Pfizer and Servier. In 2015 we received €46.9 million pursuant to our collaboration agreements with Pfizer and Servier. In addition, in March 2015, we completed our U.S. Initial Public Offering of 5,500,000 American Depositary Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market for gross proceeds of $228.3 million. Our research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 were €14.4 and €52.4 million, respectively. Our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 was €1.0 million and €20.4 million, respectively.

The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the pace and amount of our future expenditures and our ability to obtain funding through equity or debt financings, on our ability or the ability of our collaborators to achieve milestones that trigger success payments to us, and on additional grants or tax credits.

 

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No clinical studies have been approved on any of our product candidates or those product candidates that our partners control pursuant to our collaboration agreements, and it will be several years, if ever, before we obtain regulatory approval for, and are ready for commercialization of, a product candidate. Even if we or our collaborators obtain regulatory approval to market a product candidate, any future revenues will depend upon the size of any markets in which the product candidates are approved for sale as well as the market share captured by such product candidates, market acceptance of such product candidates and levels of reimbursement from third-party payors.

We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future. We anticipate that such expenses will increase substantially if and as we:

 

    continue the research and development of our current and future immuno-oncology product candidates;

 

    continue the research and development of our current and future agricultural product candidates;

 

    initiate clinical studies for our current and future immuno-oncology product candidates;

 

    conduct and multiply field trials of our agricultural product candidates;

 

    further develop and refine the manufacturing process for our immuno-oncology product candidates;

 

    change or add additional manufacturers or suppliers of biological materials;

 

    seek regulatory and marketing approvals for our product candidates, if any, that successfully complete development;

 

    establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval;

 

    seek to identify and validate additional product candidates;

 

    acquire or in-license other product candidates, technologies, germplasm or other biological material;

 

    make milestone or other payments under any in-license agreements;

 

    maintain, protect and expand our intellectual property portfolio;

 

    secure manufacturing arrangements for commercial production;

 

    seek to attract and retain new and existing skilled personnel;

 

    create additional infrastructure to support our operations as a public company; and

 

    experience any delays or encounter issues with any of the above.

The net losses we incur may fluctuate significantly from year to year and quarter to quarter, such that a period-to-period comparison of our results of operations may not be a good indication of our future performance.

We may need to raise additional funding. Additional funding may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed may force us to delay, limit or terminate our product development efforts or other operations.

We are currently advancing our product candidates to and through pre-clinical testing. The process of developing CAR T-cell product candidates is expensive, lengthy and risky, and we expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance toward clinical trials and seek regulatory approvals of our product candidates. In addition, subject to obtaining regulatory approval of any product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses.

 

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As of December 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately €314 million. We believe our cash and cash equivalents and our cash flow from operations (including payments we expect to receive pursuant to our collaboration agreements) and government funding of research programs will be sufficient to fund our operations through 2018. However, in order to complete the development process, obtain regulatory approval and commercialize, if approved, any of our product candidates and to obtain regulatory approval for, if necessary, and commercialize our lead plant sciences products, we may require additional funding. Also, our operating plan, including our product development plans, may change as a result of many factors currently unknown to us, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned, through public or private equity or debt financings, government or other third-party funding, marketing and distribution arrangements and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements, or a combination of these approaches.

In addition, our ability to raise additional capital in equity offerings will be significantly limited, as described under “—We are limited in our ability to raise additional share capital, which may make it difficult for us to raise capital to fund our operations.” Debt financing, if available, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and a portion of our operating cash flows, if any, being dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on such indebtedness. In addition, debt financing may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that impose operating restrictions, such as restrictions on the incurrence of additional debt, the making of certain capital expenditures or the declaration of dividends. To the extent we raise additional funds through arrangements with collaborators or otherwise, we may be required to relinquish some of our technologies, product candidates or revenue streams, license our technologies or product candidates on unfavorable terms, or otherwise agree to terms unfavorable to us.

Any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates. In addition, we cannot guarantee that future financing will be available in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

If we are unable to obtain funding on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue one or more of our research or product candidate development programs or the commercialization of any product candidate or be unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially affect our business, operating results and prospects.

We are limited in our ability to raise additional share capital, which may make it difficult for us to raise capital to fund our operations.

Under French law, our share capital generally may be increased with the approval of a two-thirds majority vote of the shareholders present, represented by proxy, or voting by mail obtained at an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting following the recommendation of our board of directors. The shareholders may delegate to our board either the authority (délégation de compétence) or the power (délégation de pouvoir) to carry out any increase in the share capital. Accordingly, our board may be precluded from issuing additional share capital if the prior approval of the shareholders is not duly obtained.

Risks Related to the Discovery, Development and Commercialization of Our Therapeutic Product Candidates

Our therapeutic product candidate development programs are still in the discovery or pre-clinical proof-of-concept phase and may be unsuccessful.

The use of our gene-editing technologies in the product candidates we develop has never undergone clinical testing in humans and have only limited testing in animals. None of our potential product candidates have commenced clinical trials, and results from animal studies are not necessarily predictive of clinical trial results. Even if certain of our product candidates progress to clinical trials, these product candidates may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy in clinical development despite demonstrating positive results in animal studies. For example, while our animal studies of product candidates may result in evidence of tumor cell elimination, there can be no assurance that the success we achieve in such animal studies for these product candidates will result in success in any clinical trials.

 

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Because our current product candidates are still in the discovery or pre-clinical proof-of-concept phase there can be no assurance that our research and development activities will result in product candidates we can advance to the clinical development phase. In December 2015, we filed in the United Kingdom a CTA to request approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial on UCART19, which if approved, will be conducted by Servier, but the commencement and results of a clinical trial are subject to a variety of factors and considerations and we cannot assure you that Servier will achieve these targets. Our other product candidates are in various stages of pre-clinical development and we have limited pre-clinical data evaluating many of these product candidates. Because of the early stage of development of our product candidates, we have not yet demonstrated the safety, specificity and clinical benefits of our product candidates in humans, and we cannot assure you that the results of any human trials will demonstrate the value and efficacy of our platform. Moreover, there are a number of regulatory requirements that we must satisfy before we can commence clinical trials in the United States and the European Union, or EU. Satisfaction of these requirements will entail substantial time, effort and financial resources. We may never satisfy these requirements. Any time, effort and financial resources we expend on our other early-stage product candidate development programs may adversely affect our ability to continue development and commercialization of our more advanced product candidates and we may never commence clinical trials of any product candidates despite expending significant resources in pursuit of their development. Even if we do commence clinical trials of our potential product candidates, such product candidates may never be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, or any other regulatory agency.

Encouraging results from compassionate use treatment are not predictive of success in later clinical trials.

In November 2015, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) at University College London (UCL) presented encouraging data from a first-in-human clinical use of UCART19. Under a special license from the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), GOSH administered the UCART19 product candidate to a single patient on a compassionate use basis. Compassionate use refers to the use of an investigational drug outside of a clinical trial to treat a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition who has no comparable or satisfactory alternative treatment options.

We cannot assure you that the administration of UCART19 to other patients will have results that are similar to those reported by GOSH. Such results are necessarily preliminary in nature, do not bear statistical significance and should not be viewed as predictive of ultimate success. It is possible that such encouraging results will not continue or may not be repeated in other potential compassionate uses or in planned clinical trials on UCART19 or other UCART product candidates. We or our collaborators may not obtain regulatory approval to commence such clinical trials with respect to any of our product candidates.

Our product candidates are based on a novel technology, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of product candidate development and obtaining regulatory approval. Currently, no gene therapy products have been approved in the United States and only one such product has been approved in Europe.

We have concentrated our CAR T-cell immunotherapy product research and development efforts on our gene-editing technologies, and our future success depends on the successful development of this therapeutic approach. We are in the early stages of developing our gene-editing platform and there can be no assurance that any development problems we experience in the future related to our gene-editing technologies will not cause significant delays or unanticipated costs, or that such development problems can be overcome. We may also experience delays in developing a sustainable, reproducible and scalable manufacturing process or transferring that process to commercial partners, which may prevent us from completing our clinical studies or commercializing our products on a timely or profitable basis, if at all.

In addition, the clinical study requirements of the FDA, EMA and other regulatory agencies and the criteria these regulators use to determine the safety and efficacy of a product candidate are determined according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use and market of the potential products. The regulatory approval process for novel product candidates such as ours can be more rigorous and consequently more expensive and take longer than for other, better known or extensively studied pharmaceutical or other product candidates. Currently, two gene therapy products received marketing authorization from the EMA and have been approved in Europe, and only one gene therapy product has been approved in the United States, which makes it difficult to determine how long it will take or how much it will cost to obtain regulatory approvals for our product

 

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candidates in either Europe or the United States. Approvals by the EMA may not be indicative of what the FDA may require for approval. More generally, approvals by any regulatory agency may not be indicative of what any other regulatory agency may require for approval.

The regulatory landscape that will govern our product candidates is uncertain; regulations relating to more established gene therapy and cell therapy products are still developing, and changes in regulatory requirements could result in delays or discontinuation of development of our product candidates or unexpected costs in obtaining regulatory approval.

Because we are developing novel CAR T-cell immunotherapy product candidates that are unique biological entities, the regulatory requirements that we will be subject to are not entirely clear. Even with respect to more established products that fit into the categories of gene therapies or cell therapies, the regulatory landscape is still developing. For example, regulatory requirements governing gene therapy products and cell therapy products have changed frequently and will likely continue to change in the future. Moreover, there is substantial, and sometimes uncoordinated, overlap in those responsible for regulation of existing gene therapy products and cell therapy products. For example, in the United States, the FDA has established the Office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies within its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, or CBER, to consolidate the review of gene therapy and related products, and the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee to advise CBER on its review. Gene therapy clinical trials are also subject to review and oversight by an institutional biosafety committee, or IBC, a local institutional committee that reviews and oversees basic and clinical research conducted at the institution participating in the clinical trial. Gene therapy clinical studies conducted at institutions that receive funding for recombinant DNA research from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, or the NIH, are also subject to review by the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities’ Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee, or the RAC. Although the FDA decides whether individual gene therapy protocols may proceed, review process and determinations of other reviewing bodies can impede or delay the initiation of a clinical study, even if the FDA has reviewed the study and approved its initiation. Conversely, the FDA can place an IND application on clinical hold even if such other entities have provided a favorable review. Furthermore, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an independent institutional review board, or IRB, at or servicing each institution at which a clinical trial will be conducted. In addition, adverse developments in clinical trials of gene therapy products conducted by others may cause the FDA or other regulatory bodies to change the requirements for approval of any of our product candidates.

Similarly complex regulatory environments exist in other jurisdictions in which we might consider seeking regulatory approvals for our product candidates, further complicating the regulatory landscape. For example, in the EU a special committee called the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) was established within the EMA in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1394/2007 on advanced-therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) to assess the quality, safety and efficacy of ATMPs, and to follow scientific developments in the field. ATMPs include gene therapy products as well as somatic cell therapy products and tissue engineered products. In this regard, on May 28, 2014, the EMA issued a recommendation that Cellectis’ UCART19 be considered a gene therapy product under Regulation (EC) No 1394/2007 on ATMPs.

These various regulatory review committees and advisory groups and new or revised guidelines that they promulgate from time to time may lengthen the regulatory review process, require us to perform additional studies, increase our development costs, lead to changes in regulatory positions and interpretations, delay or prevent approval and commercialization of our product candidates or lead to significant post-approval limitations or restrictions. Because the regulatory landscape for our CAR T-cell immunotherapy product candidates is new, we may face even more cumbersome and complex regulations than those emerging for gene therapy products and cell therapy products. Furthermore, even if our product candidates obtain required regulatory approvals, such approvals may later be withdrawn as a result of changes in regulations or the interpretation of regulations by applicable regulatory agencies.

As we advance our product candidates, we will be required to consult with these regulatory and advisory groups and comply with all applicable guidelines, rules and regulations. If we fail to do so, we may be required to delay or discontinue development of our product candidates. Delay or failure to obtain, or unexpected costs in obtaining, the regulatory approval necessary to bring a potential product to market could decrease our ability to generate sufficient product revenue to maintain our business.

 

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Our gene-editing technology is relatively new, and if we are unable to use this technology in all of our intended applications, our revenue opportunities will be limited.

Our technology involves a relatively new approach to gene editing, using sequence-specific DNA-cutting enzymes, or nucleases, to perform precise and stable modifications in the DNA of living-cells and organisms. Although we have generated nucleases for many specific gene sequences, we have not created nucleases for all gene sequences that we may seek to target, and we may not be able do so, which could limit the usefulness of our technology.

The expected value and utility of our nucleases is, in part, based on our belief that the targeted modification of genes or specific regulation of gene expression may enable us to develop a new therapeutic approach. There is only a limited understanding of the role of specific genes in these applications. Life sciences companies have only been able to successfully develop or commercialize a few products in this biopharmaceutical space based on results from genome research or the ability to regulate gene expression. We or our collaborators may not be able to use our technology to develop commercial products in the intended diseases.

In addition, the biopharmaceutical industry is rapidly developing, and our competitors may introduce new technologies that render our technology obsolete or less attractive. New technology could emerge at any point in the development cycle of our product candidates. As competitors use or develop new technologies, we may be placed at a competitive disadvantage, and competitive pressures may force us to implement new technologies at a substantial cost. In addition, our competitors have greater financial, technical and personnel resources that allow them to enjoy technological advantages and may in the future allow them to implement new technologies before we can. We cannot be certain that we will be able to implement technologies on a timely basis or at a cost that is acceptable to us. If we are unable to maintain technological advancements consistent with industry standards, our operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

We depend almost entirely on the successful development of our product candidates. We cannot be certain that we or our collaborators will be able to obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully commercialize, these products.

We currently have no product candidates approved for clinical trials and may never be able to develop a product that will be approved or commercialized. Our business depends primarily on the successful clinical development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our CAR T-cell immunotherapy product candidates. In December 2015, we filed a CTA requesting approval to initiate UCART19 clinical investigations in ALL and CLSS. We are also studying in pre-clinical studies, on our own or through our collaborators, other product candidates based on gene-edited CAR T-cells for cancer immunotherapy.

Our therapeutic product candidates will require substantial additional clinical development, testing, and regulatory approval before we are permitted to commence their commercialization. The clinical trials of our product candidates are, and the manufacturing and marketing of our product candidates will be, subject to extensive and rigorous review and regulation by numerous government authorities in the United States and in other countries where we intend to test and, if approved, market any product candidate. Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of any product candidate, we must demonstrate, with substantial evidence gathered in well-controlled clinical trials, and, with respect to approval in the United States, to the satisfaction of the FDA or, with respect to approval in other countries, similar regulatory authorities in those countries, that the product candidate is safe and effective for use in each target indication. In the United States, we expect that the requisite regulatory submission to seek marketing approval for our gene therapy products will be a Biologic License Application, or BLA, and the competent regulatory authority is the FDA. In the EU, the requisite approval is a Marketing Authorisation, or MA, which for products developed by the means of recombinant DNA technology, gene or cell therapy products as well as tissue engineered products, is issued through a centralized procedure involving the EMA. Satisfaction of these and other regulatory requirements is costly, time consuming, uncertain and subject to unanticipated delays. Despite our efforts, our product candidates may not:

 

    offer improvement over existing, comparable products;

 

    be proven safe and effective in clinical trials; or

 

    meet applicable regulatory standards.

 

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This process can take many years and may include post-marketing studies and surveillance, which will require the expenditure of substantial resources beyond our existing cash on hand. Of the large number of drugs in development globally, only a small percentage successfully completes the regulatory approval process and even fewer are commercialized. Furthermore, we have not marketed, distributed or sold any products. Our success will, in addition to the factors discussed above, depend on the successful commercialization of the product candidates we develop on our own or on behalf of our collaborators, which may require:

 

    obtaining and maintain commercial manufacturing arrangements with third-party manufacturers;

 

    collaborating with pharmaceutical companies or contract sales organizations to market and sell any approved drug; or

 

    acceptance of any approved drug in the medical community and by patients and third-party payors.

Many of these factors are beyond our control. We do not expect any of the product candidates we develop on our own and those we develop on behalf of our collaborators to be commercially available for many years and some or all may never become commercially available. We may never generate revenues through the sale of products.

Accordingly, even if we are able to obtain the requisite financing to continue to fund our development and clinical programs, we cannot assure you that our product candidates will be successfully developed or commercialized.

We face substantial competition from companies, including biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, many of which have considerably more resources and experience than we have, which may result in others discovering, developing, receiving approval for, or commercializing products before or more successfully than us.

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by intense competition and rapid innovation, and many companies put significant resources toward developing novel and proprietary therapies for the treatment of cancer, which often incorporate novel technologies and incorporate valuable intellectual property. We compete with companies in the immunotherapy space, as well as companies developing novel targeted therapies for cancer. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, will compete with existing standards of care for the diseases that our product candidates target as well as new compounds, drugs or therapies, some of which may achieve better results than our product candidates. We anticipate that we will face intense and increasing competition from many different sources, including new and established biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions.

Our competitors include:

 

    Gene-editing space: CRISPR Therapeutics, Inc., Editas Medicine, Inc., Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., Precision BioSciences, Inc. and Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.

 

    CAR space: Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celgene Corporation (in collaboration with bluebird bio, Inc.), Ziopharm Oncology (in collaboration with Intrexon, Inc.), Kite Pharma, Inc. (in collaboration with Amgen), Novartis AG and Johnson & Johnson (in collaboration with Transposagen).

 

    Cell-therapy space: Adaptimmune Ltd., Juno Therapeutics, Inc., Lion Biotechnologies, Inc., Unum Therapeutics, Inc. and Immunocare Ltd.

We also face competition from non-cell based treatments offered by companies such as Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Incyte Corporation, Merck & Co., Inc., and F. Hoffman-La Roche AG. Immunotherapy is further being pursued by several biotech companies as well as by large-cap pharmaceutical companies. Many of our competitors, either alone or with their collaboration partners, have substantially greater financial, technical and other resources, such as larger research and development staff and/or

 

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greater expertise in research and development, manufacturing, pre-clinical testing and conducting clinical trials. In addition, smaller or early-stage companies may compete with us through collaborative arrangements with more established companies. Competition may increase further as a result of advances in the commercial applicability of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in these enterprises. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and gene therapy industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Our competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.

We have limited experience in conducting or managing clinical trials for potential therapeutic products.

We have limited experience in conducting or managing the clinical trials necessary to obtain regulatory approvals for any product, and we intend to rely on our collaborators or third parties, such as clinical research organizations, or CROs, medical institutions and clinical investigators to perform these functions. Our reliance on third parties for clinical development activities reduces our control over these activities. Third-party contractors may not complete activities on schedule, or may not conduct clinical trials in accordance with regulatory requirements or our trial design. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet required performance standards or expected deadlines, we might be required to replace them or the data that they provide could be rejected by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory bodies, all of which may result in a delay of the affected trial and additional program costs.

We may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials or we may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities.

To date, we have not completed pre-clinical testing for any of our product candidates, except UCART19, which has not yet commenced clinical trials. Pre-clinical testing and clinical trials are long, expensive and unpredictable processes that can be subject to extensive delays. We cannot guarantee that any pre-clinical studies or clinical trials will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. It may take several years to complete the pre-clinical testing and clinical development necessary to commercialize a product candidate, and delays or failure can occur at any stage. Interim results of clinical trials do not necessarily predict final results, and success in pre-clinical testing and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials even after promising results in earlier trials, and we cannot be certain that our product candidates will not face similar setbacks. In addition, the design of a clinical trial can determine whether its results will support approval of a product and flaws in the design of a clinical trial may not become apparent until the clinical trial is well advanced. An unfavorable outcome in one or more clinical trials would be a major setback for our product candidates and for us and may require us or our collaborators to delay, reduce the scope of, or eliminate one or more product candidate development programs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.

In connection with clinical testing and trials on product candidates we develop for ourselves or on behalf of our collaborators, we may face a number of risks, including:

 

    pre-clinical results may not be indicative of clinical results;

 

    a product candidate may be ineffective, inferior to existing approved drugs or therapies or unacceptably toxic, or may have unacceptable side effects;

 

    patients may die or suffer other adverse effects for reasons that may or may not be related to the product candidate being tested;

 

    the results may not confirm the favorable results of earlier testing or trials; and

 

    the results may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA and/or other applicable regulatory agencies to establish the safety and efficacy of our product candidates.

 

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In addition, a number of events, including any of the following, could delay the completion of our future clinical trials or those of our collaborators and negatively impact the ability to obtain regulatory approval for, and to market and sell, a particular product candidate:

 

    conditions imposed on us or our collaborators by the FDA or any foreign regulatory authority regarding the scope or design of clinical trials;

 

    delays in obtaining, or our inability to obtain, required approvals from institutional review boards, or IRBs, or other reviewing entities at clinical sites selected for participation in our clinical trials;

 

    insufficient supply or deficient quality of the product candidates or other materials necessary to conduct the clinical trials;

 

    delays in obtaining regulatory agency agreement for the conduct of the clinical trials;

 

    lower-than-anticipated enrollment and retention rate of subjects in clinical trials for a variety of reasons, including size of patient population, nature of trial protocol, the availability of approved effective treatments for the relevant disease and competition from other clinical trial programs for similar indications;

 

    serious and unexpected drug-related side effects experienced by patients in clinical trials; or

 

    failure of our or our collaborators’ third-party contractors to meet their contractual obligations in a timely manner.

Data obtained from pre-clinical and clinical activities are subject to varying interpretations, which may delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. In addition, we cannot assure you that, in the course of clinical trials, some drawbacks would not appear that reveal that it is not possible or practical to continue development efforts for the subject product candidates.

Clinical trials may also be delayed or terminated as a result of ambiguous or negative interim results. In addition, a clinical trial may be suspended or terminated by us or our collaborators, the FDA, the IRBs at the sites where the IRBs are overseeing a trial, or a data safety monitoring board, or DSMB, overseeing the clinical trial at issue, or other regulatory authorities due to a number of factors, including:

 

    failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols;

 

    inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial sites by the FDA or other regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold;

 

    unfavorable interpretations by FDA or similar foreign regulatory authorities of data, where clinical study plans call for interim data analysis;

 

    FDA or similar foreign regulatory authorities determine the plan or protocol for the investigation is clearly deficient in design to meet its stated objectives;

 

    lack of, or failure to, demonstrate efficacy;

 

    unforeseen safety issues; or

 

    lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial.

In addition, changes in regulatory requirements and guidance may occur and we or our collaborators may need to amend clinical trial protocols to reflect these changes. Amendments may require us or our collaborators to resubmit our clinical trial protocols to IRBs for reexamination, which may impact the cost, timing or successful completion of a clinical trial.

 

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Even if a product candidate successfully completes clinical trials, those results are not necessarily predictive of results of additional trials that may be needed before regulatory approval may be obtained. Although there are a large number of drugs and biologics in development globally, only a small percentage obtain regulatory approval, even fewer are approved for commercialization, and only a small number achieve widespread physician and consumer acceptance.

If the results of our clinical trials are inconclusive or if there are safety concerns or adverse events associated with the product candidates we develop, we may:

 

    lose any competitive advantages that such product candidates may have;

 

    be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for the subject product candidates, if at all;

 

    obtain approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired;

 

    obtain approval with labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions, contraindications or safety warnings;

 

    be subject to changes with the way the product is administered;

 

    be required to perform additional clinical trials to support approval or be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements;

 

    have regulatory authorities withdraw their approval of the product or impose restrictions on its distribution in the form of a modified risk evaluation and mitigation strategy;

 

    be sued;

 

    experience damage to our reputation; or

 

    not reach the milestones triggering payments from our collaborators.

The regulatory approval processes of the FDA and comparable foreign authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable, and if we are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, our business will be substantially harmed.

The time required to obtain approval by the FDA and comparable foreign authorities is inherently unpredictable but typically takes many years following the commencement of clinical trials and depends upon numerous factors, including the substantial discretion of the regulatory authorities. In addition, approval policies, regulations, or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a product candidate’s clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions. We have not obtained regulatory approval for any product candidate and it is possible that none of our existing product candidates or any product candidates we may seek to develop in the future will ever obtain regulatory approval.

The FDA or other regulatory authority, as applicable, may delay, limit or deny approval of our product candidates for many reasons, including the following:

 

    the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the number, design, size, conduct or implementation of our clinical trials or require that additional clinical trials be conducted;

 

    we may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate is safe and effective for its proposed indication;

 

    the results of clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for approval;

 

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    we may be unable to demonstrate that a product candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks;

 

    the CROs that are retained to conduct the clinical trials of our product candidates may take actions that materially adversely impact the clinical trials;

 

    the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from pre-clinical studies or clinical trials;

 

    the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may not accept data generated at the sites involved in the clinical trials for our product candidates;

 

    the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may not approve the formulation, labeling or specifications of our product candidates;

 

    the data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates may not be sufficient to support the submission of a BLA or other submission or to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere;

 

    if the marketing application, if and when submitted, is reviewed by an advisory committee, the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may have difficulties scheduling an advisory committee meeting in a timely manner or the advisory committee may recommend against approval of our application or may recommend that the competent regulatory authorities require, as a condition of approval, additional pre-clinical studies or clinical trials, limitations on approved labeling or distribution and use restrictions;

 

    the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require development of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy as a condition of approval or post-approval;

 

    the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may restrict the use of our products to a narrow population;

 

    the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies; or

 

    the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.

This lengthy approval process as well as the unpredictability of future clinical trial results may result in our failing to obtain regulatory approval to market the product candidates we develop, which would significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects. In addition, even if we or our collaborators were able to obtain approval, regulatory authorities may approve any of our product candidates for fewer or more limited indications than we request, may not approve the price we intend to charge for our products, may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials, or may approve a drug candidate with a label that does not include the labeling claims necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of that product candidate. Any of the foregoing scenarios could materially harm the commercial prospects for the product candidates we develop.

We expect the product candidates we develop will initially be available as last-line treatments for patients with no other options, which could limit the size of the market for these product candidates.

Last-line treatments are made available to a small patient population with severe disease progression willing to tolerate risk/benefit profiles of more efficacious drugs accompanied by serious side effects. We expect that the product candidates we develop will initially receive regulatory approval only as last-line treatments. This could limit the initial size of the market for these product candidates, and we cannot predict when, if ever, such product candidates would receive regulatory approval for indications treating a more expansive patient population.

 

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The manufacturing of the product candidates we develop is highly complex. Any issues that arise in the manufacturing process could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position or prospects.

The product candidates we develop will be subject to a complex, highly-regulated manufacturing process that will be subject to multiple risks. As a result of the complexities of this process, the cost to manufacture our CAR T-cell immunotherapy product will be generally higher than traditional small molecule chemical compounds, and the manufacturing process requires very minimal batch-to-batch variability, which is expensive to ensure. Our manufacturing process will be susceptible to product loss or failure due to logistical issues associated with the collection of white blood cells, or starting material, from healthy third-party donors, shipping such material to the manufacturing site, ensuring standardized production batch-to-batch in the context of mass production, freezing the manufactured product, shipping the final product globally, and infusing patients with the product. In addition, we may face manufacturing issues associated with interruptions in the manufacturing process, contamination, equipment or reagent failure, improper installation or operation of equipment, vendor or operator error, inconsistency in cell growth, and variability in product characteristics. Even minor deviations from normal manufacturing processes could result in reduced production yields, product defects, and other supply disruptions. If microbial, viral, or other contaminations are discovered in our product candidates or in the manufacturing facilities in which our product candidates are made, such manufacturing facilities may need to be closed for an extended period of time to investigate and remedy the contamination. Further, as product candidates are developed through pre-clinical to late stage clinical trials towards approval and commercialization, it is common that various aspects of the development program, such as manufacturing methods, are altered along the way in an effort to optimize processes and results. Such changes carry the risk that they will not achieve these intended objectives, and any of these changes could cause our product candidates to perform differently and affect the results of planned clinical trials or other future clinical trials.

Currently, the product candidates we develop are manufactured using processes appropriate for pre-clinical stage production by a third-party contract manufacturing organization, or CMO. Although we work with CMOs to ensure that commercially viable processes are available for mass production, there are risks associated with scaling to the level required for advanced clinical trials or commercialization, including, among others, cost overruns, potential problems with process scale-out, process reproducibility, stability issues, lot consistency, and timely availability of reagents or raw materials. We may ultimately be unable to reduce the cost of goods for the product candidates to levels that will allow for an attractive return on investment if and when those product candidates are commercialized.

We expect our manufacturing strategy for the product candidates we develop will continue to involve the use of one or more CMOs as well as establishing our own capabilities and infrastructure, including a manufacturing facility. We expect that development of our own manufacturing facility will provide us with enhanced control of material supply for both clinical trials and the commercial market, enable the more rapid implementation of process changes, and allow for better long-term margins. However, we have no experience as a company in developing a manufacturing facility and may never be successful in developing our own manufacturing facility or capability. We may establish multiple manufacturing facilities as we expand our commercial footprint to multiple geographies, which may lead to regulatory delays or prove costly. Even if we are successful, our manufacturing capabilities could be affected by cost-overruns, unexpected delays, equipment failures, labor shortages, natural disasters, power failures, regulatory issues and numerous other factors that could prevent us from realizing the intended benefits of our manufacturing strategy and have a material adverse effect on our business.

In addition, the manufacturing process for any products that we may develop is subject to FDA and foreign regulatory authority approval processes for the jurisdictions in which we or our collaborators will seek marketing approval for commercialization, and we will need to contract with manufacturers who can meet all applicable FDA and foreign regulatory authority requirements on an ongoing basis. If the manufacturing process is changed during the course of product development, FDA or foreign regulatory authorities could require us to repeat some or all previously conducted trials or conduct additional bridging trials, which could delay or impede our ability to obtain marketing approval. If we or our CMOs are unable to reliably produce product candidates or products to specifications acceptable to the FDA or other regulatory authorities, such as the FDA’s cGMP standards compliance, we may not obtain or maintain the approvals we need to further develop, conduct clinical trials for, and commercialize such products in the relevant territories. Even if we obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, there is no assurance that either we or our CMOs will be able to manufacture the approved product to

 

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specifications acceptable to the FDA or other regulatory authorities, to produce it in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements for the potential launch of the product, or to meet potential future demand. Any of these challenges could delay completion of clinical trials, require bridging clinical trials or the repetition of one or more clinical trials, increase clinical trial costs, delay approval of our product candidate, impair commercialization efforts, increase our cost of goods, and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

Negative public opinion and increased regulatory scrutiny of genetic research and therapies involving gene engineering may damage public perception of our product candidates or adversely affect our ability to conduct our business or obtain regulatory approvals for our product candidates.

Our gene-editing technologies are novel. Public perception may be influenced by claims that gene editing is unsafe, and products incorporating gene editing may not gain the acceptance of the public or the medical community. In particular, our success will depend upon physicians specializing in our targeted diseases prescribing our product candidates as treatments in lieu of, or in addition to, existing, more familiar, treatments for which greater clinical data may be available. Any increase in negative perceptions of gene editing may result in fewer physicians prescribing our treatments or may reduce the willingness of patients to utilize our treatments or participate in clinical trials for our product candidates. Increased negative public opinion, or more restrictive government regulations in response thereto, would have a negative effect on our business or financial condition and may delay or impair the development and commercialization of our product candidates or demand for such product candidates. For example, in 2003, 20 subjects treated for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency in two gene therapy studies using a murine gamma-retroviral vector, a viral delivery system, showed correction of the disease, but the studies were terminated after five subjects developed leukemia. Although none of our current product candidates utilize these gamma-retroviruses, our product candidates use a viral delivery system. Adverse events in clinical studies for the product candidates we develop or those of our competitors, even if not ultimately attributable to our or their product candidates, respectively (such as the many adverse events that typically arise from the transplant process), and any resulting publicity could result in increased governmental regulation, unfavorable public perception, potential regulatory delays in the testing or approval of our product candidates, stronger labeling for those product candidates that are approved and a decrease in demand for any such product candidates.

We or our collaborators may find it difficult to enroll patients in clinical studies on the product candidates we develop, which could delay or prevent clinical studies of the product candidates.

Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical studies of the product candidates we develop is critical to our success. The timing of these clinical studies will depend, in part, on the speed of recruitment of patients to participate in testing such product candidates as well as completion of required follow-up periods. We or our collaborators may not be able to identify, recruit and enroll a sufficient number of patients, or those with required or desired characteristics to achieve diversity in a study, to complete the clinical studies for our product candidates in a timely manner. If patients are unwilling to participate in such studies because of negative publicity from adverse events in the biotechnology or gene or cell therapy industries or for other reasons, the timeline for recruiting patients, conducting studies and obtaining regulatory approval of potential products may be delayed. These delays could result in increased costs, delays in advancing our product candidates, delays in testing the effectiveness of our technology or termination of the clinical studies altogether.

In addition, clinical trials for the product candidates we develop will compete with other clinical trials for product candidates that are in the same therapeutic areas as our product candidates, and this competition may reduce the number and types of patients available to us, because some patients who might have opted to enroll in our trials may instead opt to enroll in a trial being conducted by one of our competitors. Because the number of qualified clinical investigators is limited, we expect to conduct some of the clinical trials at the same clinical trial sites that some of our competitors use, which may reduce the number of patients who are available for our clinical trials at such clinical trial sites. Moreover, because the product candidates we develop represent a departure from more commonly used methods for cancer treatment, potential patients and their doctors may be inclined to use conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, rather than enroll patients in our future clinical trial or clinical trial of our collaborators.

 

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Patient enrollment is affected by a variety of factors, including:

 

    severity of the disease under investigation;

 

    design of the clinical trial protocol;

 

    size and nature of the patient population;

 

    eligibility criteria for the trial in question;

 

    perceived risks and benefits of the product candidate under trial;

 

    proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients;

 

    availability of competing therapies and clinical trials;

 

    clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages of the drug being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs that may be approved for the indications we are investigating;

 

    efforts to facilitate timely enrollment in clinical trials;

 

    patient referral practices of physicians; and

 

    our ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment.

Our competitors in the immuno-oncology space are developing products that similarly use CAR T-cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells. In addition to the factors identified above, patient enrollment in any clinical trials we may conduct may be adversely impacted by any negative outcomes our competitors may experience, including adverse side effects, clinical data showing inadequate efficacy or failures to obtain regulatory approval.

If we or our collaborators have difficulty enrolling a sufficient number of patients to conduct clinical studies as planned, we or our collaborators may need to delay, limit or terminate ongoing or planned clinical studies, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Even if we are able to enroll a sufficient number of patients in our clinical trials, delays in patient enrollment may result in increased costs or may affect the timing or outcome of the planned clinical trials, which could prevent completion of these trials and adversely affect our ability to advance the development of the product candidates we develop.

Our product candidates may fail safety studies in clinical trials or may cause undesirable side effects that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following marketing approval, if any.

Our gene-editing technologies may not be sufficiently specific for their target sites, or they may not target unique sites within the genome of interest, which may result in random DNA recombination events. For example, off-target cleavage may lead to the production of double-strand breaks that overwhelm the cell’s repair machinery and, as a consequence, yield chromosomal rearrangements and/or cell death. Off-target cleavage events also may result in random integration of donor DNA. As a result, off-target cleavage in T-cells may lead to undesirable side effects for patients, and consequently could cause delays, interruptions or suspensions of clinical trials and delays or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. Because clinical trials on the products we develop have not yet commenced, we do not know whether any of our product candidates will cause undesirable side effects.

Any undesirable side effects could cause us, our collaborators or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. Further, if the product candidates we develop receive marketing approval and we or others identify undesirable side effects caused by the products or any other similar products after the approval, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:

 

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    regulatory authorities may withdraw or limit their approval of the products;

 

    regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a “boxed” warning or a contraindication;

 

    we may be required to create a medication guide outlining the risks of such side effects for distribution to patients;

 

    we or our collaborators may be required to change the way the products are distributed or administered or conduct additional clinical trials;

 

    we or our collaborators may decide to remove the products from the marketplace;

 

    we could be sued and held liable for injury caused to individuals exposed to or taking our products or products developed with our technologies; and

 

    our reputation may suffer.

Any of these events could prevent the affected products from (1) reaching the milestones triggering payment to Cellectis or (2) achieving or maintaining market acceptance and could substantially increase the costs of commercializing such products and significantly impact the ability of such products to generate revenues.

If the product candidates we develop do not achieve projected development and commercialization in the announced or expected timeframes, the further development or commercialization of our product candidates may be delayed, and our business will be harmed.

We sometimes estimate, or may in the future estimate, for planning purposes the timing of the accomplishment of various scientific, clinical, manufacturing, regulatory and other product development objectives. These milestones may include our expectations regarding the commencement or completion of scientific studies, clinical trials, the submission of regulatory filings, the receipt of marketing approval or commercialization objectives. The achievement of many of these milestones may be outside of our control. All of these milestones are based on a variety of assumptions including, assumptions regarding capital resources and constraints, progress of development activities, and the receipt of key regulatory approvals or actions, any of which may cause the timing of achievement of the milestones to vary considerably from our estimates.

If we or our collaborators fail to achieve announced milestones in the expected timeframes, the commercialization of the product candidates may be delayed, our credibility may be undermined, and our business and results of operations may be harmed.

Further development and commercialization of our own product candidates will depend, in part, on strategic alliances with our collaborators. If our collaborators do not diligently pursue product development efforts, our progress may be delayed and our revenues may be deferred.

We expect to rely, to some extent, on our collaborators to provide funding in support of our own independent research and pre-clinical and clinical testing. Our technology is broad based, and we do not currently possess the financial resources necessary to fully develop and commercialize potential products that may result from our technologies or the resources or capabilities to complete the lengthy marketing approval processes that may be required for the products. Therefore, we plan to rely on strategic alliances to financially help us develop and commercialize our own biopharmaceutical products. As a result, our success depends, in part, on our ability to collect milestone and royalty payments from our collaborators. To the extent our collaborators do not aggressively pursue product candidates for which we are entitled to such payments or pursue such product candidates ineffectively, we will fail to realize these significant revenue streams, which could have an adverse effect on our business and future prospects. For example, since Servier has acquired UCART19, it owns this product candidate and controls its future development and commercialization. We will receive royalties on sales of the product, but will have no control over its commercialization.

 

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If collaborators with whom we currently have alliances, such as Pfizer and Servier, or future collaborators with whom we may engage, are unable or unwilling to advance our programs, or if they do not diligently pursue product development and product approval, this may slow our progress and defer our revenues. Such failures would have an adverse effect on our ability to collect key revenue streams and, for this reason, would adversely impact our business, financial position and prospects. Our collaborators may sublicense or abandon product candidates or we may have disagreements with our collaborators, which would cause associated product development to slow or cease. There can be no assurance that our current strategic alliances will be successful, and we may require significant time to secure new strategic alliances because we need to effectively market the benefits of our technology to these future alliance partners, which may direct the attention and resources of our research and development personnel and management away from our primary business operations. Further, each strategic alliance arrangement will involve the negotiation of terms that may be unique to each collaborator. These business development efforts may not result in a strategic alliance or may result in unfavorable arrangements.

The loss of existing or future collaboration agreements would not only delay or potentially terminate the possible development or commercialization of products we may derive from our technologies, but it may also delay or terminate our ability to test target candidates for specific genes. If any collaborator fails to conduct the collaborative activities successfully and in a timely manner, the pre-clinical or clinical development or commercialization of the affected target candidates or research programs could be delayed or terminated.

Under typical collaboration agreements, we would expect to receive revenue for the research and development of a CAR T-cell immunotherapy product based on achievement of specific milestones, as well as royalties based on a percentage of sales of the commercialized products. Achieving these milestones will depend, in part, on the efforts of our partner as well as our own. If we, or any alliance partner, fail to meet specific milestones, then the strategic alliance may be terminated, which could reduce our revenues.

Under our collaboration agreement with Pfizer, at any time after the first anniversary of the effective date of the agreement, Pfizer will have the right to terminate the agreement at will upon 60 days’ prior written notice, either in its entirety or on a target-by-target basis. Either party may terminate the agreement in its entirety upon written notice, if the other party commits a material breach that fundamentally frustrates the objectives or transactions contemplated by the agreement or affects substantially all of the research program and such breach remains uncured for 90 days from the date such written notice is provided. Either party may terminate the agreement on a target-by-target basis upon written notice, if the other party commits a material breach that relates to such target and such breach remains uncured for 90 days from the date such written notice is provided. The agreement may also be terminated upon written notice by Pfizer at any time in the event that we become bankrupt or insolvent. Further, the agreement provides Pfizer with a right to terminate any specific research project or research program under the agreement if we undergo a change of control.

Under our collaboration agreement with Servier, either party may terminate the agreement in its entirety in the event of the other party’s material breach, which continues or remains uncured for 90 days after written notice is provided to the breaching party, or 30 days after written notice is provided with respect to a payment obligation breach. The parties may also terminate the agreement by mutual written consent. The agreement immediately and automatically terminates upon the expiration of Servier’s last license option if Servier has not exercised any option to license under the agreement prior to such expiration. Servier has the right, at its sole discretion, to terminate the agreement in its entirety or with respect to specific products or product candidates, upon three months’ prior written notice to us. Servier may also terminate the agreement at any time for product-related safety reasons. Either party may terminate the agreement in the event of the other party’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Further, the agreement provides Servier with buy-out rights with respect to our interest in products and product candidates under the agreement if we undergo a change of control.

Even if we or our collaborators successfully complete clinical trials of our product candidates, those candidates may not be commercialized successfully for other reasons.

Even if we or our collaborators successfully complete clinical trials for one or more of the product candidates, those candidates may not be commercialized for other reasons, including:

 

    failing to receive regulatory approvals required to market them as drugs;

 

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    being subject to proprietary rights held by others;

 

    failing to comply with GMP requirements;

 

    being difficult or expensive to manufacture on a commercial scale;

 

    having adverse side effects that make their use less desirable;

 

    failing to compete effectively with existing or new products or treatments commercialized by competitors; or

 

    failing to show long-term benefits sufficient to offset associated risks.

In addition, for any product candidates we develop through our strategic alliances, we will depend entirely upon the other party for marketing and sales of that product. These partners may not devote sufficient time or resources to the marketing and commercialization, or may determine not to pursue marketing and commercialization at all. Our business and results of operations will be negatively impacted by any failure of our collaborators to effectively market and commercialize and approved products.

Even if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate, our products will remain subject to ongoing regulatory requirements.

Even if we obtain regulatory approval in a jurisdiction for the product candidates we develop, they will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for manufacturing, labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, and submission of safety and other post-market information. Any regulatory approvals received for the product candidates may also be subject to limitations on the approved indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for potentially costly post-marketing testing, including Phase 4 clinical trials, and surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the product. For example, the holder of an approved BLA in the United States is obligated to monitor and report adverse events and any failure of a product to meet the specifications in the BLA. FDA guidance advises that patients treated with some types of gene therapy undergo follow-up observations for potential adverse events for as long as 15 years. Similarly, in the EU, pharmacovigilance obligations are applicable to all medicinal products. In addition to those, holders of a marketing authorization for gene or cell therapy products must detail, in their application, the measures they envisage to ensure follow-up of the efficacy and safety of these products. In cases of particular concern, marketing authorization holders for gene or cell therapy products in the EU may be required to design a risk management system with a view to identifying, preventing or minimizing risks, and may be obliged to carry out post-marketing studies. In the United States, the holder of an approved BLA must also submit new or supplemental applications and obtain FDA approval for certain changes to the approved product, product labeling or manufacturing process. Similar provisions apply in the EU. Advertising and promotional materials must comply with FDA rules and are subject to FDA review, in addition to other potentially applicable federal and state laws. Similarly, in the EU any promotion of medicinal products is highly regulated and, depending on the specific jurisdiction involved, may require prior vetting by the competent national regulatory authority.

In addition, product manufacturers and their facilities are subject to payment of user fees and continual review and periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory authorities for compliance with cGMP requirements and adherence to commitments made in the BLA or foreign marketing application. If we or a regulatory agency discovers previously unknown problems with a product such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured or disagrees with the promotion, marketing or labeling of that product, a regulatory agency may impose restrictions relative to that product, the manufacturing facility or us, including requiring recall or withdrawal of the product from the market or suspension of manufacturing.

If we or our collaborators fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements following approval of any of the product candidates we develop, national competent authorities may:

 

    issue a warning letter asserting that we are in violation of the law;

 

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    seek an injunction or impose civil or criminal penalties or monetary fines;

 

    suspend or withdraw regulatory approval;

 

    suspend or terminate any ongoing clinical trials;

 

    refuse to approve a pending BLA or comparable foreign marketing application (or any supplements thereto) submitted by us or our collaborators;

 

    restrict the marketing, distribution or manufacturing of the product;

 

    seize or detain product or otherwise require the withdrawal or recall of product from the market;

 

    refuse to permit the import or export of products; or

 

    refuse to allow us to enter into supply contracts, including government contracts.

Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response and could generate negative publicity. The occurrence of any event or penalty described above may inhibit ability to commercialize products and generate revenues. In addition, the FDA’s policies, and policies of foreign regulatory agencies, may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the United States or abroad. If we or our collaborators are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we or our collaborators are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, marketing approval that has been obtained may be lost and we may not achieve or sustain profitability, which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

We expect the product candidates we develop will be regulated as biological products, or biologics, and therefore they may be subject to competition sooner than anticipated.

The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, or BPCIA, was enacted as part of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively, the ACA, to establish an abbreviated pathway for the approval of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products. The regulatory pathway establishes legal authority for the FDA to review and approve biosimilar biologics, including the possible designation of a biosimilar as “interchangeable” based on its similarity to an approved biologic. Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product cannot be approved by the FDA until 12 years after the reference product was approved under a BLA. The law is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. As a result, its ultimate impact, implementation, and meaning are subject to uncertainty. While it is uncertain when such processes intended to implement BPCIA may be fully adopted by the FDA, any such processes could have a material adverse effect on the future commercial prospects for our biological products.

We believe that any of the product candidates we develop that is approved as a biological product under a BLA should qualify for the 12-year period of exclusivity. However, there is a risk that this exclusivity could be shortened due to congressional action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider the subject product candidates to be reference products for competing products, potentially creating the opportunity for generic competition sooner than anticipated. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar, once approved, will be substituted for any one of the reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for non-biological products is not yet clear, and will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors that are still developing.

Even if we or our collaborators obtain and maintain approval for the product candidates in the United States or another jurisdiction, we or our collaborators may never obtain approval for the same product candidates in other jurisdictions, which would limit market opportunities and adversely affect our business.

Approval of a product candidate in the United States by the FDA or by the requisite regulatory agencies in any other jurisdiction does not ensure approval of such product candidate by regulatory authorities in other countries

 

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or jurisdictions, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA. The approval process varies among countries and may limit our or our collaborators’ ability to develop, manufacture, promote and sell our product candidates internationally. Failure to obtain marketing approval in international jurisdictions would prevent the product candidates from being marketed outside of the jurisdictions in which regulatory approvals have been received. In order to market and sell the product candidates in the EU and many other jurisdictions, we and our collaborators must obtain separate marketing approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and may involve additional pre-clinical studies or clinical trials both before and post approval. In many countries, a product candidate must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that country. In some cases, the intended price for the product is also subject to approval. Further, while regulatory approval of a product candidate in one country does not ensure approval in any other country, a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may have a negative effect on the regulatory approval process in others. If we or our collaborators fail to comply with the regulatory requirements in international markets and/or receive applicable marketing approvals, the target market will be reduced and the ability to realize the full market potential of the subject product candidates will be harmed and our business will be adversely affected.

Depending on the results of clinical trials and the process for obtaining regulatory approvals in other countries, we or our collaborators may decide to first seek regulatory approvals of a product candidate in countries other than the United States, or we or our collaborators may simultaneously seek regulatory approvals in the United States and other countries, in which case we or our collaborators will be subject to the regulatory requirements of health authorities in each country in which we seek approvals. Obtaining regulatory approvals from health authorities in countries outside the United States is likely to subject us or our collaborators to all of the risks associated with obtaining approval in the United States or the EU described herein.

We plan to seek orphan drug status for some or all of our product candidates, but we may be unable to obtain such designations or to maintain the benefits associated with orphan drug status, including market exclusivity, which may cause our revenue, if any, to be reduced.

We plan to seek orphan drug designation for some or all of our product candidates in specific orphan indications in which there is a medically plausible basis for the use of these products. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition, defined as a disease or condition with a patient population of fewer than 200,000 in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the United States when there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available the drug or biologic in the United States will be recovered from sales in the United States for that drug or biologic. Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting a BLA. In the United States, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax advantages, and user-fee waivers. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the generic identity of the drug and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA. Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process. Although we intend to seek orphan product designation for some or all of our product candidates, we may never receive such designations.

If a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for a particular active ingredient for the disease for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a BLA, to market the same biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances such as a showing of clinical superiority to the product with orphan product exclusivity or if FDA finds that the holder of the orphan drug exclusivity has not shown that it can assure the availability of sufficient quantities of the orphan drug to meet the needs of patients with the disease or condition for which the drug was designated. Even if we obtain orphan drug designation for a product candidate, we may not be the first to obtain marketing approval for any particular orphan indication due to the uncertainties associated with developing pharmaceutical products. Exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be limited if we seek approval for an indication broader than the orphan designated indication and may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition. Further, even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a product, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because different drugs with different active moieties can be

 

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approved for the same condition. Even after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve the same drug with the same active moiety for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later drug is safer, more effective, or makes a major contribution to patient care. Furthermore, the FDA can waive orphan exclusivity if we are unable to manufacture sufficient supply of our product.

Similarly, in Europe, a medicinal product may receive orphan designation under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) 141/2000. This applies to products that are intended for a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition and either (a) such condition affects no more than five in 10,000 persons in the EU when the application is made, or (b) the product, without the benefits derived from orphan status, would unlikely generate sufficient return in the EU to justify the necessary investment. Moreover, in order to obtain orphan designation in the EU it is necessary to demonstrate that there exists no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such condition authorized for marketing in the EU, or if such a method exists, the product will be of significant benefit to those affected by the condition.

In the EU, orphan medicinal products are eligible for financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and applicants can benefit from specific regulatory assistance and scientific advice. Products receiving orphan designation in the EU can receive ten years of market exclusivity, during which time no similar medicinal product for the same indication may be placed on the market. An orphan product can also obtain an additional two years of market exclusivity in the EU for pediatric studies (Article 37, Regulation 1901/2006). However, the 10-year market exclusivity may be reduced to six years if, at the end of the fifth year, it is established that the product no longer meets the criteria for orphan designation—for example, if the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity. Additionally, marketing authorization may be granted to a similar product for the same indication at any time if:

 

    the second applicant can establish that its product, although similar, is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior;

 

    the first applicant consents to a second orphan medicinal product application; or

 

    the first applicant cannot supply enough orphan medicinal product.

We may seek fast-track designation for some or all of our product candidates. There is no assurance that the FDA will grant such designation and, even if it does grant fast track designation to any of our product candidates, that designation may not actually lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process and it does not increase the likelihood that our product candidates will receive marketing approval in the United States.

We may seek fast-track designation and review for some or all of our other product candidates. If a drug is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition or disease, the drug sponsor may apply for FDA fast track designation. The FDA has broad discretion whether or not to grant this designation. Thus, even if we believe a particular product candidate is eligible for this designation, we cannot assure you that the FDA would decide to grant it. Moreover, even if we do receive fast track designation, we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. In addition, the FDA may withdraw fast track designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program.

We may seek a breakthrough therapy designation for our product candidates. Even if we achieve a breakthrough designation from FDA for the product candidates we develop, or, if applicable, by other national or international regulatory agencies, such designation may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process, and it does not increase the likelihood that our product candidates will receive marketing approval.

We may seek a breakthrough therapy designation for our product candidates in the future. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a product that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints. For product candidates that have been designated as breakthrough therapies, interaction and communication between the

 

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FDA and the sponsor of the trial can help to identify the most efficient path for clinical development while minimizing the number of patients placed in ineffective control regimens. Designation as a breakthrough therapy is within the discretion of the FDA. Accordingly, even if we believe that our product candidates meet the criteria for designation as a breakthrough therapy, the FDA may disagree and instead determine not to make such designation. In any event, the receipt of a breakthrough therapy designation for a product candidate may not result in a faster development process, review or approval compared to products considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures and does not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. In addition, even if one or more of our product candidates qualify as breakthrough therapies, the FDA may later decide that the products no longer meet the conditions for qualification.

Even if any of our product candidates are commercialized, they may not be accepted by physicians, patients, or the medical community in general, and may also become subject to market conditions that could harm our business.

Even if any of our product candidates receive marketing approval, the medical community may not accept such products as adequately safe and efficacious for their indicated use. Moreover, physicians may choose to restrict the use of the product, if, based on experience, clinical data, side-effect profiles and other factors, they are not convinced that the product is preferable to existing drugs or treatments. We cannot predict the degree of market acceptance of any product candidate that receives marketing approval, which will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

 

    the demonstration of the clinical efficacy and safety of the product;

 

    the approved labeling for the product and any required warnings;

 

    the advantages and disadvantages of the product compared to alternative treatments;

 

    our and any collaborator’s ability to educate the medical community about the safety and effectiveness of the product;

 

    the coverage and reimbursement policies of government and commercial third-party payors pertaining to the product; and

 

    the market price of the product relative to competing treatments.

Product liability lawsuits could divert our resources, result in substantial liabilities and reduce the commercial potential of our product candidates.

The risk that we may be sued on product liability claims is inherent in the development and commercialization of biopharmaceutical products. Side effects of, or manufacturing defects in, products that we develop could result in the deterioration of a patient’s condition, injury or even death. For example, our liability could be sought by patients participating in the clinical trials for our product candidates as a result of unexpected side effects resulting from the administration of these products. Once a product is approved for sale and commercialized, the likelihood of product liability lawsuits increases. Criminal or civil proceedings might be filed against us by patients, regulatory authorities, biopharmaceutical companies and any other third party using or marketing our products. These actions could include claims resulting from acts by our partners, licensees and subcontractors, over which we have little or no control. These lawsuits may divert our management from pursuing our business strategy and may be costly to defend. In addition, if we are held liable in any of these lawsuits, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be forced to limit or forgo further commercialization of the affected products.

In addition, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, product liability claims may result in: impairment of our business reputation; withdrawal of clinical trial participants; initiation of investigations by regulators; costs due to related litigation; distraction of management’s attention from our primary business; substantial monetary awards to trial participants, patients or other claimants; loss of revenue; exhaustion of any available insurance and our capital resources; the inability by us and our collaborators to commercialize our product candidates; and decreased demand for our product candidates, if approved for commercial sale.

 

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We maintain product liability insurance coverage for damages caused by our product candidates with a €3.0 million annual aggregate coverage limit and general liability insurance with a €6.0 million per claim coverage limit, which we believe are customary amounts for companies in our industry. This coverage may be insufficient to reimburse us for any expenses or losses we may suffer. Because all of our product candidates are in pre-clinical development stages, we currently do not carry clinical trial insurance for our product candidates. In addition, in the future, we may not be able to obtain or maintain sufficient insurance coverage at an acceptable cost or to otherwise protect against potential product or other legal or administrative liability claims by us or our partners, licensees or subcontractors, which could prevent or inhibit the commercial production and sale of any of our product candidates that receive regulatory approval, which could adversely affect our business.

Competition may increase further as a result of advances in the commercial applicability of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in these industries. Our competitors, either alone or with collaborators, may succeed in developing, acquiring or licensing on an exclusive basis drug or biologic products that are more effective, safer, more easily commercialized, or less costly than our product candidates or may develop proprietary technologies or secure patent protection that we may need for the development of our technologies and products.

Even if we obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates, we may not be the first to market and that may affect the price or demand for our product candidates. Additionally, the availability and price of our competitors’ products could limit the demand and the price we are able to charge for our product candidates. We may not be able to implement our business plan if the acceptance of our product candidates is inhibited by price competition or the reluctance of physicians to switch from existing methods of treatment to our product candidates, or if physicians switch to other new drug or biologic products or choose to reserve our product candidates for use in limited circumstances. A competitor could obtain orphan product exclusivity from the FDA with respect to such competitor’s product. If such competitor product is determined to be the same product as one of the product candidates we develop, that may prevent us or our collaborators from obtaining approval from the FDA for such product candidate for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances.

Coverage and reimbursement may be limited or unavailable in certain market segments for our product candidates, which could make it difficult for us to sell our product candidates profitably.

Successful sales of our product candidates, if approved, depend, in part, on the availability of adequate coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors.

Patients who are provided medical treatment for their conditions generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the costs associated with their treatment. Adequate coverage and reimbursement from governmental healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid in the United States, and commercial payors are critical to new product acceptance.

Government authorities and third-party payors, such as private health insurers and health maintenance organizations, decide which drugs and treatments they will cover and the amount of reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement by a third-party payor may depend upon a number of factors, including the third-party payor’s determination that use of a product is:

 

    a covered benefit under its health plan;

 

    safe, effective and medically necessary;

 

    appropriate for the specific patient;

 

    cost-effective; and

 

    neither experimental nor investigational.

Policies for coverage and reimbursement for products vary among third-party payors. As a result, obtaining coverage and reimbursement approval of a product from a government or other third-party payor is a

 

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time-consuming and costly process that could require us or our collaborators to provide to each payor supporting scientific, clinical and cost-effectiveness data for the use of our products on a payor-by-payor basis, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be obtained. Even if we obtain coverage for a given product, the resulting reimbursement payment rates might not be adequate for us to achieve or sustain profitability or may require co-payments that patients find unacceptably high. Additionally, third-party payors may not cover, or provide adequate reimbursement for, long-term follow-up evaluations required following the use of our product candidates.

Patients are unlikely to use our product candidates unless coverage is provided and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of the cost of our product candidates. Because our product candidates represent new approaches to the treatment of cancer and accordingly, may have a higher cost than conventional therapies and may require long-term follow up evaluations, the risk that coverage and reimbursement rates may be inadequate for us to achieve profitability may be elevated.

Government restrictions on pricing and reimbursement, as well as other healthcare payor cost-containment initiatives, may negatively impact our ability to generate revenues if we obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates.

Third-party payors, whether domestic or foreign, or governmental or commercial, are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling healthcare costs. The continuing efforts of various governments, insurance companies, managed care organizations and other payors to contain or reduce healthcare costs may adversely affect one or more of the following:

 

    our ability or our collaborators’ ability to set a price we believe is fair for our products, if approved;

 

    our ability or our collaborators’ ability to obtain and maintain market acceptance by the medical community and patients;

 

    our ability to generate revenues and achieve profitability; and

 

    the availability of capital.

In both the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the health care system that could impact our or our collaborators’ ability to sell our products profitably. By way of example, in the United States, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (collectively, the ACA) was enacted in March 2010 and is expected to have a significant impact on the provision of, and payment for, health care in the United States. The ACA was intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for the healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on the health industry and impose additional health policy reforms.

Among the provisions of the ACA of importance to our potential product candidates are:

 

    an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports specified branded prescription drugs and biologic agents, apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government healthcare programs;

 

    an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to 23.1% and 13.0% of the average manufacturer price for branded and generic drugs, respectively;

 

    a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for a manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D;

 

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    extension of a manufacturer’s Medicaid rebate liability to covered drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations;

 

    expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for certain individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, thereby potentially increasing a manufacturer’s Medicaid rebate liability;

 

    expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service pharmaceutical pricing program; and

 

    a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. These changes include aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect in April 2013 and will remain in effect through 2024 unless additional Congressional action is taken. In January 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several providers and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. Additional legislative proposals to reform healthcare and government insurance programs, along with the trend toward managed healthcare in the United States, could influence the purchase of medicines and reduce demand and prices for our products, if approved. This could harm our or our collaborators’ ability to market any products and generate revenues. Cost containment measures that healthcare payors and providers are instituting and the effect of further healthcare reform could significantly reduce potential revenues from the sale of any of our product candidates approved in the future, and could cause an increase in our compliance, manufacturing, or other operating expenses.

In some countries, the proposed pricing for a biopharmaceutical product must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. In addition, in certain foreign markets, the pricing of biopharmaceutical product is subject to government control and reimbursement may in some cases be unavailable. The requirements governing drug pricing vary widely from country to country. For example, the EU provides options for its Member States to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. An EU Member State may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for biopharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products. Historically, biopharmaceutical products launched in the EU do not follow price structures of the United States and generally tend to have significantly lower prices.

We believe that pricing pressures will continue and may increase, which may make it difficult for us to sell our potential products that may be approved in the future at a price acceptable to us or any of our future collaborators.

Our future profitability, if any, depends, in part, on our ability to penetrate global markets, where we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and other risks and uncertainties.

Our future profitability, if any, will depend, in part, on our ability and the ability of our collaborators to commercialize the product candidates we develop in markets throughout the world. Commercialization of our product candidates in various markets could subject us to risks and uncertainties, including:

 

    obtaining, on a country-by-country basis, the applicable marketing authorization from the competent regulatory authority;

 

    the burden of complying with complex and changing regulatory, tax, accounting and legal requirements in each jurisdiction that we pursue;

 

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    differing medical practices and customs affecting acceptance in the marketplace;

 

    import or export licensing requirements;

 

    longer accounts receivable collection times;

 

    longer lead times for shipping;

 

    language barriers for technical training;

 

    reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some foreign countries;

 

    foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

    patients’ ability to obtain reimbursement for products in various markets; and

 

    the interpretation of contractual provisions governed by foreign laws in the event of a contract dispute.

Sales of the products could also be adversely affected by the imposition of governmental controls, political and economic instability, trade restrictions and changes in tariffs.

We are subject to healthcare laws and regulations, which could expose us to the potential for criminal sanctions, civil penalties, exclusion from government healthcare programs, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.

Healthcare providers, physicians and others will play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of our products, if approved. Our arrangements with such persons and third-party payors must be structured in accordance with the broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we research, market, sell and distribute our products, if we obtain marketing approval. Restrictions under applicable federal, state and foreign healthcare laws and regulations include but are not limited to the following:

 

    The federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or rebate), directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase or lease, order or recommendation of, any item, good, facility or service, for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

 

    The federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalties laws, which impose criminal and civil penalties, including those from civil whistleblower or qui tam actions, against individuals or entities for knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment that are false or fraudulent or making a false statement to avoid, decrease, or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government.

 

    The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or knowingly and willingly falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making false statements relating to healthcare matters.

 

    HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, and its implementing regulations, which impose certain requirements on covered entities and their business associates, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information.

 

    The federal transparency requirements under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, enacted as part of the ACA, that require applicable manufacturers of covered drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies to track and annually report to CMS payments and other transfers of value provided to physicians and teaching hospitals and certain ownership and investment interests held by physicians or their immediate family members.

 

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    Analogous laws and regulations in various U.S. states, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers, state marketing and/or transparency laws applicable to manufacturers that may be broader in scope than

 

    U.S. federal requirements, state laws that require biopharmaceutical companies to comply with the biopharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the U.S. government, and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect as HIPAA.

 

    Similar legislation is applicable in EU Member States, including by way of example and without limitation: the UK’s Bribery Act 2010 or the French Decree No 3013-414 on Transparency of Benefits Given by Companies Manufacturing or Marketing Health and Cosmetic Products for Human Use (Décret n° 2013-414 du 21 mai 2013 relatif à la transparence des avantages accordés par les entreprises produisant ou commercialisant des produits à finalité sanitaire et cosmétique destinés à l’homme).

Ensuring that our business arrangements with third parties comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations could be costly. It is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that our business practices do not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If our operations were found to be in violation of any of these laws or any other governmental regulations that may apply to us, we may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, individual imprisonment and exclusion from government funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, any of which could substantially disrupt our operations. If the physicians or other providers or entities with whom we expect to do business are found not to be in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded healthcare programs.

Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties

We expect to rely on third parties to conduct some or all aspects of our product manufacturing, protocol development, research and pre-clinical development, clinical testing and distribution, and these third parties may not perform satisfactorily.

We do not expect to independently conduct all aspects of our product manufacturing, protocol development, research and pre-clinical development and clinical testing as well as distribution and will rely on third parties for some of these activities. Under certain circumstances, these third parties may be entitled to terminate their engagements with us. If we need to enter into alternative arrangements, it could delay our product development activities.

In addition, in connection with our engagement of third parties, we expect to control only certain aspects of their activities. Our reliance on these third parties for product manufacturing, protocol development, research and pre-clinical development and clinical testing and distribution activities will reduce our control over these activities but will not relieve us of our responsibility to ensure compliance with all required regulations and study and trial protocols. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines or conduct our studies in accordance with regulatory requirements or our stated study and trial plans and protocols, or if there are disagreements between us and these third parties, we may not be able to complete, or may be delayed in completing, the pre-clinical studies and clinical trials required to support future regulatory submissions and approval of the product candidates we develop. In some such cases we may need to locate an appropriate replacement third-party relationship, which may not be readily available or on acceptable terms, which would cause additional delay with respect to the approval of our product candidates and would thereby have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

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In addition, reliance on third-party manufacturers and/or distributors entails risks to which we would not be subject if we manufactured and distributed the product candidates ourselves, including:

 

    the inability to negotiate manufacturing and/or distribution agreements with third parties under commercially reasonable terms or at all, because the number of potential manufacturers and distributors is limited and each must be approved by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities and would need to develop approved processes for production or distribution of our products;

 

    that our third-party manufacturers or distributors may have little or no experience with our products and may therefore require a significant amount of support from us in order to implement and maintain the infrastructure and processes required to manufacture or distribute our product candidates;

 

    reduced control over manufacturing and distribution activities and quality control processes and the possibility that our contract manufacturers and distributors are not able to execute our manufacturing or distribution procedures and other logistical support requirements appropriately;

 

    that our contract manufacturers may not perform as agreed, may not devote sufficient resources to our products or may not remain in the contract manufacturing business for the time required to supply investigational products for our clinical trials or to successfully produce, store and supply our products once approved;

 

    that we may not own, or have equivalent necessary rights in, the intellectual property rights to any improvements made by our third-party manufacturers in the manufacturing process for our products;

 

    breach, termination or nonrenewal of our agreements by third-party manufacturers or distributors in a manner or at a time that is costly or damaging to us; and

 

    disruptions to the operations of our subcontractors or suppliers caused by conditions unrelated to our business or operations, including the bankruptcy of the manufacturer, distributor or supplier.

Any of these events could lead to clinical study delays or failure to obtain regulatory approval, or impact our ability to successfully commercialize future products.

We and our contract manufacturers are subject to significant regulation with respect to manufacturing our products. The manufacturing facilities on which we rely may not continue to meet regulatory requirements and have limited capacity.

All entities involved in the preparation of products for clinical studies or commercial sale, including our existing contract manufacturers for our product candidates, are subject to extensive regulation. For example, in the United States components of a finished CAR T-cell immunotherapy product approved for commercial sale or used in clinical studies must be manufactured in accordance with cGMP requirements. Similarly, all investigational medicinal products in the EU must be manufactured in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMP. The FDA’s cGMP regulations and comparable regulations in other jurisdictions govern manufacturing processes and procedures (including record keeping) and the implementation and operation of quality systems to control and assure the quality of investigational products and products approved for sale. Poor control of production processes can lead to the introduction of adventitious agents or other contaminants, or to inadvertent changes in the properties or stability of the product candidates we develop that may not be detectable in final product testing. In the United States, we or our contract manufacturers must supply all necessary documentation in support of a BLA on a timely basis and must adhere to the FDA’s cGMP requirements enforced by the FDA through its facilities inspection program. Our facilities and quality systems and the facilities and quality systems of some or all of our third-party contractors must pass a pre-approval inspection for compliance with the applicable regulations as a condition of regulatory approval of our product candidates. In addition, the regulatory authorities may, at any time, audit or inspect a manufacturing facility involved with the preparation of our product candidates or the associated quality systems for compliance with the regulations applicable to the activities being conducted. If these facilities do not pass a pre-approval plant inspection, FDA approval of the products will not be granted.

 

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Similarly, in the EU, Directive 2003/94/EC lays down the principles and guidelines of GMP in respect of medicinal products and investigational medicinal products and requires that products are consistently produced and controlled in accordance with the applicable quality standards. It also requires that medicinal products and investigational medicinal products that are imported from third countries are manufactured in accordance with standards at least equivalent to the GMP standards laid down in the EU. Directive 2003/94/EC, together with the detailed EU Guidelines on GMP, govern the quality management, personnel, premises, documentation, production operations, quality control, outsources activities, complaints and product recall and self inspection. GMP inspections are performed by the competent authorities of the EU Member States, and are coordinated by the EMA in the case of medicinal products that are authorized through the EU centralized procedure.

If any of our third-party manufacturers fail to maintain regulatory compliance, the regulator can impose regulatory sanctions including, among other things, refusal to approve a pending application for a new product, or revocation or non-renewal of a pre-existing approval. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially harmed.

In addition, if supply from one approved manufacturer is interrupted, there could be a significant disruption in commercial supply of our products. Identifying and engaging an alternative manufacturer that complies with applicable regulatory requirements could result in further delay. Applicable regulatory agencies may also require additional studies if a new manufacturer is relied upon for commercial production. Switching manufacturers may involve substantial costs and is likely to result in a delay in our desired clinical and commercial timelines.

These factors could cause the delay of clinical studies, regulatory submissions, required approvals or commercialization of our product candidates, cause us to incur higher costs and prevent us from commercializing our products successfully. Furthermore, if our suppliers fail to meet contractual requirements, and we are unable to secure one or more replacement suppliers capable of production at a substantially equivalent cost, our clinical studies may be delayed or we could lose potential revenue.

Access to raw materials and products necessary for the conduct of clinical trials and manufacturing of our product candidates is not guaranteed.

We are dependent on third parties for the supply of various biological materials—such as cells, cytokines or antibodies—that are necessary to produce our product candidates. The supply of these materials could be reduced or interrupted at any time. In such case, we may not be able to find other acceptable suppliers or on acceptable terms. If key suppliers or manufacturers are lost or the supply of the materials is diminished or discontinued, we may not be able to develop, manufacture, and market our product candidates in a timely and competitive manner. In addition, these materials are subject to stringent manufacturing process and rigorous testing. Delays in the completion and validation of facilities and manufacturing processes of these materials could adversely affect the ability to complete trials and commercialize our products candidates.

We expect to rely on third parties to conduct, supervise and monitor our clinical studies, and if these third parties perform in an unsatisfactory manner, it may harm our business.

We expect to rely on medical institutions, clinical investigators, contract research organizations, or CROs, contract laboratories, and collaborators to carry out our clinical trials and to perform data collection and analysis. While we will have agreements governing their activities, we will have limited influence over their actual performance and will control only certain aspects of such third parties’ activities. Nevertheless, we will be responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal, regulatory, ethical and scientific standards, and our reliance on the third party does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities.

We and our CROs are required to comply with the FDA’s and other regulatory authorities’ good clinical practices, or GCP, cGMP, good laboratory practices, or GLP, and other applicable requirements for conducting, recording and reporting the results of our preclinical studies and clinical trials to assure that the data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of clinical trial participants are protected. Regulatory authorities around the world, including the FDA and European authorities, enforce these requirements through periodic inspections of study sponsors, CROs, principal investigators and clinical trial sites. If

 

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we, our CROs, our investigators or trial sites fail to comply with applicable GCP, GLP and GMP requirements, the clinical data generated in our future clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA, EMA or other regulatory authorities around the world may require us to perform additional clinical trials before issuing any marketing authorizations for our product candidates. Upon inspection, the FDA or EMA may determine that our clinical trials did not comply with GCP, GLP and GMP requirements, which may render the data generated in those trials unreliable or anyway not usable for the purpose of supporting the marketing authorization applications for our products. In addition, our future clinical trials will require a sufficient number of study subjects to evaluate the safety and efficacy of our product candidates. Accordingly, if, for example, our CROs fail to comply with these regulations or if trial sites fail to recruit a sufficient number of patients, we may be required to repeat such clinical trials, or anyway incur delays in the performance of such trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process for the approval of our product candidates.

Clinical trials conducted in reliance on third parties may be delayed, suspended, or terminated if:

 

    we are unable to negotiate agreements with third parties under reasonable terms;

 

    termination or nonrenewal of agreements with third parties occurs in a manner or at a time that is costly or damaging to us;

 

    the third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or fail to meet regulatory obligations or expected deadlines; or

 

    the quality or accuracy of the data obtained by third parties is compromised due to their failure to adhere to clinical protocols, regulatory or ethical requirements, or for other reasons.

Third party performance failures may increase our costs, delay our ability to obtain regulatory approval, and delay or prevent starting or completion of clinical trials and delay or prevent commercialization of our product candidates. While we believe that there are numerous alternative sources to provide these services, in the event that we seek such alternative sources, we may not be able to enter into replacement arrangements without incurring delays or additional costs.

We may enter into agreements with third parties to sell and market any of the products candidates we develop on our own and for which we obtain regulatory approval, which may affect the sales of our own products and our ability to generate revenues.

Given our early development stage, we have no experience in sales, marketing and distribution of biopharmaceutical products. However, if any of our product candidates obtain marketing approval, we intend to develop sales and marketing capacity, either alone or with partners, by contracting with, or licensing, them to market any of our own products. Outsourcing sales and marketing in this manner may subject us to a variety of risks, including:

 

    our inability to exercise direct control over sales and marketing activities and personnel;

 

    failure or inability of contracted sales personnel to obtain access to or persuade adequate numbers of physicians to prescribe our products;

 

    potential disputes with third parties concerning sales and marketing expenses, calculation of royalties, and sales and marketing strategies; and

 

    unforeseen costs and expenses associated with sales and marketing.

If we are unable to partner with a third party that has adequate sales, marketing, and distribution capabilities, we may have difficulty commercializing our product candidates, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, and ability to generate product revenues.

 

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Our reliance on third parties requires us to share our trade secrets, which increases the possibility that a competitor will discover them or that our trade secrets will be misappropriated or disclosed.

Because we will rely on third parties for the advancement of our products platform, clinical trials, and manufacturing facilities, we must, at times, share trade secrets with them. We seek to protect our proprietary technology in part by entering into confidentiality agreements and, if applicable, material transfer agreements, collaborative research agreements, consulting agreements or other similar agreements with our collaborators, advisors, employees and consultants prior to beginning research or disclosing proprietary information. These agreements typically limit the rights of the third parties to use or disclose our confidential information, such as trade secrets. Despite the contractual provisions employed when working with third parties, the need to share trade secrets and other confidential information increases the risk that such trade secrets become known by our competitors, are inadvertently incorporated into the technology of others, or are disclosed or used in violation of these agreements. Given that our proprietary position is based, in part, on our know-how and trade secrets, a competitor’s discovery of our trade secrets or other unauthorized use or disclosure would impair our competitive position and may have a material adverse effect on our business.

In addition, agreements with third parties typically restrict the ability of such third parties to publish data potentially relating to our trade secrets. Our academic collaborators typically have rights to publish data, provided that we are notified in advance and may delay publication for a specified time in order to secure our intellectual property rights arising from the strategic alliance. In other cases, publication rights are controlled exclusively by us, although in some cases we may share these rights with other parties. We also conduct joint research and product development that may require us to share trade secrets under the terms of our research and development partnerships or similar agreements.

Despite our efforts to protect our trade secrets, our competitors may discover our trade secrets, either through breach of these agreements, independent development or publication of information including our trade secrets in cases where we do not have proprietary or otherwise protected rights at the time of publication. A competitor’s discovery of our trade secrets would impair our competitive position and have an adverse impact on our business.

Risks Related to Our Plant Products Business

Our plant product development efforts use complex integrated technology platforms and require substantial time and resources; these efforts may not be successful, or the rate of product improvement may be slower than expected.

The development of successful agricultural products using complex technology platforms such as ours requires significant levels of investment in research and development, including field testing, to demonstrate their effectiveness and can take several years or more. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we spent €1.2 million and €3.4 million, respectively, on plant sciences research and development and royalty expenses. We intend to continue to invest in research and development to continue to improve the performance of our plant products. Our investment in research and development may not result in significant plant product revenues over the next several years, if ever.

Development of new or improved agricultural products involves risks of failure inherent in the development of products based on innovative and complex technologies. These risks include the possibility that:

 

    our plant products will fail to perform as expected in the field;

 

    our plant products will not receive necessary regulatory permits and governmental clearances in the markets in which we intend to sell them;

 

    our plant products may have poisonous effects on consumers;

 

    our plant products will be viewed as too expensive by our potential customers compared to competitive products;

 

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    our plant products will be difficult to produce on a large scale or will not be economical to grow;

 

    proprietary rights of third parties will prevent us, our collaborators, or our licensees from marketing our plant products; and

 

    third parties may develop superior or equivalent plant products.

Our plant products are not yet available for commercial use.

Our plant products are in the early stages of development, and there is no established market for them. If we are not able to commercialize our existing products or new products on a significant scale, then we may not be successful in building a sustainable or profitable plant sciences business. Moreover, we expect to price our products based on our assessment of the value that we believe they provide to the customer, rather than on the cost of production. If our customers attribute a lower value to our products than we do, they may not be willing to pay the premium prices that we expect to charge. Pricing levels may also be negatively affected if our products are unsuccessful in producing the yields we expect.

We rely on third parties to conduct, monitor, support, and oversee field trials for product candidates in development, and any performance issues by third parties, or our inability to engage third parties on acceptable terms, may impact our ability to successfully commercialize such product candidates.

We currently conduct field trials, and plan to conduct further field trials, of our plant product candidates in various geographies. We currently rely on third parties to conduct, monitor, support, and oversee these field trials. Although we provide our third party subcontractors with extensive protocols regarding the establishment, management, harvest, transportation and storage of our product candidates, we have limited control over the execution of field trials. Consequently, the success of these field trials depends upon the ability of these third parties to correctly follow our suggested protocols. However, there is no guarantee that third parties will devote adequate time and resources to our field trials or conduct the field trials in accordance with our protocols, including maintenance of all required field trial information. Any such failures may result in delays in the development of our product candidates or the incurrence of additional costs. Even if our third party subcontractors adhere to our suggested protocols, field trials may fail to succeed for a variety of other reasons, including weather, disease or pests, improper timing of planting our seeds, or incorrect fertilizer use. Ultimately, we remain responsible for ensuring that each of our field trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal, regulatory and scientific standards, and our reliance on third parties does not relieve us of our responsibilities.

Additionally, if we are unable to maintain or enter into agreements with third party subcontractors on acceptable terms, or if any such engagement is terminated prematurely, we may be unable to conduct or complete our field trials in the manner we anticipate. If our relationship with any of these third party subcontractors is terminated, we may be unable to enter into arrangements with alternative subcontractors on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Switching or adding third party subcontractors can involve substantial cost and require extensive management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when any new third party commences field trial work. As a result, delays may occur, which could materially impact our ability to meet our desired development timelines.

Our crops are new, and producers may require instruction to successfully establish, grow and harvest our crops.

As part of our customer support, we plan to provide agricultural producers with information and protocols regarding the establishment, management, harvest, transportation and storage of our crops. Such crop management recommendations may include equipment selection, planting and harvest timing, application of crop protection chemicals or herbicides and storage systems and protocols. Our general or specific protocols may not apply in all circumstances, may be improperly implemented, may not be sufficient, or may be incorrect, leading to reduced yields, crop failures or other production problems or losses by our customers. Such failures may harm our customer relationships, our reputation and our ability to successfully market our products, and may lead to liability claims against us. Further, the use of our seeds may require a change in current planting, rotation or agronomic practices, which may be difficult to implement or may discourage the use of our plant products by agricultural producers.

 

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There are various reasons why our crops of our products, once available, may fail to succeed, including weather, disease or pests, improper timing of planting our seeds, or incorrect fertilizer use. Statements by potential customers about negative experiences with our products could harm our reputation, and the decision by these parties not to proceed with large-scale seed purchases could harm our business, revenue and profitability.

The successful commercialization of our plant products depends on our ability to produce high-quality plants and seeds cost-effectively on a large scale and to accurately forecast demand for our plant products and we may be unable to do so.

The production of commercial-scale quantities of seeds requires the multiplication of the plants or seeds through a succession of plantings and seed harvests. The cost-effective production of high-quality, high-volume quantities of some of our plant products depends on our ability to scale our production processes to produce plants and seeds in sufficient quantity to meet demand. We cannot assure you that our existing or future seed production techniques will enable us to meet our large-scale production goals cost-effectively for the plant products in our pipeline. Even if we are successful in developing ways to increase yields and enhance quality, we may not be able to do so cost-effectively or on a timely basis, which could adversely affect our ability to achieve profitability. If we are unable to maintain or enhance the quality of our plants and seeds as we increase our production capacity, including through the expected use of third parties, we may experience reductions in customer demand, higher costs and increased inventory write-offs.

In addition, because of the length of time it takes to produce commercial quantities of marketable plants and seeds, we will need to make seed production decisions well in advance of plant product sales. Our ability to accurately forecast demand can be adversely affected by a number of factors outside of our control, including changes in market conditions, environmental factors, such as pests and diseases, and adverse weather conditions. A shortfall in the supply of our products may reduce product sales revenue, damage our reputation in the market and adversely affect customer relationships. Any surplus in the amount of plant products we have on hand may negatively impact cash flows, reduce the quality of our inventory and ultimately result in write-offs of inventory. Any failure on our part to produce sufficient inventory, or overproduction of a particular product, could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, customers may cancel orders or request a decrease in quantity at any time prior to delivery of the plants or seeds, which may lead to a surplus of our plant products.

We face significant competition in plant biotechnology and many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and other resources than we do.

The agricultural biotechnology market is characterized by a small number of large companies, which control the vast majority of patented seeds and technology. The majority of these competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and other resources, such as larger research and development staff, more experienced marketing and manufacturing organizations and more well-established sales forces, than us.

Our competitors in the agricultural biotechnology space include:

 

    Companies developing plants with enhanced properties: Arcadia Biosciences, Inc., Chromatin Inc., Cibus Global, Ltd., Evogene Ltd., Danzinger Innovation Ltd., Keygene N.V. and Precision Plant Sciences, Inc.

 

    Major seed/agrochemical companies: BASF SE, Bayer AG, DuPont Pioneer, Groupe Limagrain Holding SA, Monsanto Co., Syngenta AG, Takii & Company, LTD, The Dow Chemical Co. and The J.R. Simplot Co.

Technological developments by our competitors could render our products less competitive, resulting in reduced sales compared to our expectations. Our ability to compete effectively and to achieve commercial success depends, in part, on our ability to: control manufacturing and marketing costs; effectively price and market our plant products; successfully develop an effective marketing program, and an efficient distribution system; develop of new products with properties attractive to our customers, and commercialize of our products quickly without incurring major regulatory costs. We may not be successful in achieving these factors and any such failure may adversely affect our plant sciences business and its results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Our plant sciences business is highly seasonal and subject to weather conditions and other factors beyond our control, which may cause our sales and operating results to fluctuate significantly.

The sale of plant products is dependent upon planting and growing seasons, which vary from year to year, and are expected to result in both highly seasonal patterns and substantial fluctuations in quarterly sales and profitability. As we have not yet made any sales of our plant products, we have not yet experienced the full nature or extent to which this business may be seasonal. Weather conditions and natural disasters, such as heavy rains, hurricanes, hail, floods, tornadoes, freezing conditions, drought or fire, also affect decisions by our customers about the types and amounts of seeds to plant and the timing of harvesting and planting such seeds. Disruptions that cause delays by our customers in harvesting or planting can result in the movement of orders to a future quarter, which would negatively affect the quarter and cause fluctuations in our operating results.

The successful commercialization of our plant products may face challenges from public perceptions of genetically engineered products and ethical, legal, environmental and social concerns. In addition, our products may become subject to government regulation.

The successful commercialization of our plant products depends, in part, on public acceptance of genetically engineered agricultural products. Any increase in negative perceptions of gene editing may result in decreased market acceptance of our plant products. Increased negative public opinion, or more restrictive government regulations in response thereto, would have a negative effect on our plant sciences business and may delay or impair the development and commercialization of our plant products.

The commercial success of our plant products may be adversely affected by claims that biotechnology plant products are unsafe for consumption or use, pose risks of damage to the environment, or create legal, social and ethical dilemmas. If we are not able to overcome these concerns, our products may not achieve market acceptance. Any of the risks discussed below could result in expenses, delays or other impediments to our plant development programs or the market acceptance and commercialization of our plant products:

 

    public attitudes about the safety and environmental hazards of, and ethical concerns over, genetic research and biotechnology plant products, which could influence public acceptance of our technologies and plant products;

 

    public attitudes regarding, and potential changes to laws governing, ownership of genetic material, which could weaken our intellectual property rights with respect to our genetic material and discourage collaborators from supporting, developing or commercializing our products and technologies; and

 

    failure to maintain or secure consumer confidence in, or to maintain or receive governmental approvals for, our plant products.

In addition, changes in regulatory requirements could result in a substantial increase in the time and costs associated with developing our plant products and negatively impact our operating results.

In the United States, the United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, regulates, among other things, the introduction (including the importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to believe are plant pests. Such organisms and products are considered “regulated articles.” However, a petitioner may submit a request for a determination by the USDA of “nonregulated status” for a particular article. A petition for determination of nonregulated status must include detailed information, including relevant experimental data and publications, field test reports, and a description of the genotypic differences between the regulated article and the nonmodified recipient organism, among other things. We previously submitted a request for a determination of “nonregulated status” to the USDA for our potato product candidate, our high oleic and low linolineic soybean product candidates and our powdery mildew-resistant wheat product candidate. The USDA confirmed in writing that each of these product candidates is not deemed to be a “regulated article” under the Plant Protection Act because it does not contain genetic material from plant pests. While we believe that the USDA’s reasoning will continue to extend to our other product candidates, we have not obtained a determination from USDA that any of our other product candidates are not “regulated articles” under these regulations. USDA’s regulations also require

 

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that companies obtain a permit or file a notification before engaging in the introduction (including the importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment such as field testing) of “regulated articles.” We cannot predict whether the USDA or advocacy groups will challenge our interpretation. Additionally, a change in the way the USDA interprets its regulations, or a change in regulations could subject our products to more burdensome regulations, thereby substantially increasing the time and costs associated with developing our plant products. Moreover, we cannot assure you that the USDA will apply this same analysis to any of our other plant products in development. Complying with USDA’s plant pest regulations, including permitting requirements, is a costly, time-consuming process and could delay or prevent the commercialization of our plant products.

Our plant products will also be subject to extensive FDA food product regulations. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, and is therefore subject to FDA premarket review and approval, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use (generally recognized as safe, or GRAS), or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive. The FDA may classify some or all of our product candidates as containing a food additive that is not GRAS. Such classification would cause these product candidates to require pre-market approval, which could delay the commercialization of these products.

In the EU, genetically modified foods, or GM foods, can only be allowed on the market once they have been authorized subject to rigorous safety assessments. The procedures for evaluation and authorization of GM foods are governed by Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 on GM food and feed and Directive 2001/18/EC on the release of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, into the environment. If the GMO is not to be used in food or feed, then an application must be made under Directive 2001/18/EC. If the GMO is to be used in food or feed (but it is not grown in the EU) then a single application for both food and feed purposes under Regulation 1829/2003 should be made. If the GMO is used in feed or food and it is also grown in the EU, an application for both cultivation and food/feed purposes needs to be carried out under Regulation (EC) 1829/2003. A different EU regulation, Regulation (EC) 1830/2003, regulates the labeling of products that contain GMOs that are placed on the EU market. There are currently legislative proposals in the EU that would allow EU Member States to restrict or prohibit growing GMOs in their territory, on a range of environmental grounds, even if such crops were previously authorized at EU level. Should these proposals become law, growing GMOs may become more difficult in individual EU Member States.

We cannot predict whether or when any jurisdiction will change its regulations with respect to our plant products. Advocacy groups have engaged in publicity campaigns and filed lawsuits in various countries against companies and regulatory authorities, seeking to halt biotechnology approval activities or influence public opinion against genetically engineered products. In addition, governmental reaction to negative publicity concerning our plant products could result in greater regulation of genetic research and derivative products or regulatory costs that render our plant products cost prohibitive.

We may be sued for product liability and if such lawsuits were determined adversely, we could be subject to substantial damages.

We may be held liable if any plant product we develop, or any product that uses or incorporates, any of our technologies, causes injury or is found otherwise unsuitable during product testing, production, marketing or sale. For example, the detection of unintended biotechnology material in pre-commercial seed, commercial seed varieties or the crops and products produced may result in the inability to market the crops grown or physical injury to consumers resulting in potential liability for us as the seed producer or technology provider. If this were to occur, we could be subject to claims by multiple parties based not only on the cost of our plant products but also on their lost profits and business opportunities. In addition, the detection of unintended biotechnology material in our seeds or in the environment could result in governmental actions such as mandated crop destruction, product recalls or environmental cleanup or monitoring. Concerns about seed quality related to biotechnology could also lead to additional regulations being imposed on our business, such as regulations related to testing procedures, mandatory governmental reviews of biotechnology advances, or the integrity of the food supply chain from the farm to the finished product.

 

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Some of our plant products may end up in markets or countries in which they have not received regulatory approval, which may result regulatory challenges or lawsuits.

The scale of the commodity food industry may make it difficult to monitor and control the distribution of our plant products. As a result, our plant products may be sold inadvertently within jurisdictions where they are not approved for distribution. Such sales may lead to regulatory challenges or lawsuits against our company, which could result in significant expenses and management attention.

Our plant sciences activities are currently conducted at a limited number of locations, which makes us susceptible to damage or business disruptions caused by natural disasters.

Calyxt’s current headquarters and certain research and development operations are located at a single facility in New Brighton, Minnesota and Calyxt’s new headquarters facility, which is expected to be operational around mid-2017, is located in Roseville, Minnesota. Our seed production takes place primarily in the United States. Warehousing for seed storage is located primarily in Minnesota. We take precautions to safeguard our facilities, including insurance, health and safety protocols, and off-site storage of critical research results and computer data. However, a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, drought, fire, flood, tornado or earthquake, could cause substantial delays in our operations, damage or destroy our equipment, inventory or development projects, and cause us to incur additional expenses.

Risks Related to Intellectual Property

Our ability to compete may decline if we do not adequately protect our proprietary rights.

Our commercial success depends, in part, on obtaining and maintaining proprietary rights to our intellectual property estate, including our product candidates, as well as successfully defending these rights against third-party challenges. We will only be able to protect our product candidates from unauthorized use by third parties to the extent that valid and enforceable patents, or effectively protected trade secrets, cover them. Our ability to obtain patent protection for our product candidates is uncertain due to a number of factors, including:

 

    we may not have been the first to invent the technology covered by our pending patent applications or issued patents;

 

    we cannot be certain that we were the first to file patent applications covering our product candidates, including their compositions or methods of use, as patent applications in the United States and most other countries are confidential for a period of time after filing;

 

    others may independently develop identical, similar or alternative products or compositions or methods of use thereof;

 

    our disclosures in patent applications may not be sufficient to meet the statutory requirements for patentability;

 

    any or all of our pending patent applications may not result in issued patents;

 

    we may not seek or obtain patent protection in countries that may eventually provide us a significant business opportunity;

 

    any patents issued to us may not provide a basis for commercially viable products, may not provide any competitive advantages, or may be successfully challenged by third parties;

 

    our compositions and methods may not be patentable;

 

    others may design around our patent claims to produce competitive products that fall outside of the scope of our patents; and

 

    others may identify prior art or other bases upon which to challenge and ultimately invalidate our patents or otherwise render them unenforceable.

 

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Even if we have or obtain patents covering our product candidates or compositions, we may still be barred from making, using and selling our product candidates or technologies because of the patent rights of others. Others may have filed, and in the future may file, patent applications covering compositions, products or methods that are similar or identical to ours, which could materially affect our ability to develop successfully our product candidates or to commercialize successfully our products if approved. In addition, because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending applications unknown to us that may later result in issued patents that our product candidates or compositions may infringe. These patent applications may have priority over patent applications filed by us.

Obtaining and maintaining a patent portfolio entails significant expense of resources. Part of such expense includes periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees and various other governmental fees on patents and/or applications due over the course of several stages of prosecuting patent applications, and over the lifetime of maintaining and enforcing issued patents. We may or may not choose to pursue or maintain protection for particular intellectual property in our portfolio. If we choose to forgo patent protection or to allow a patent application or patent to lapse purposefully or inadvertently, our competitive position could suffer. Furthermore, we employ reputable law firms and other professionals to help us comply with the various procedural, documentary, fee payment and other similar provisions we are subject to and, in many cases, an inadvertent lapse can be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules. There are situations, however, in which failure to make certain payments or noncompliance with certain requirements in the patent process can result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Legal action that may be required to enforce our patent rights can be expensive and may involve the diversion of significant management time. In addition, these legal actions could be unsuccessful and could also result in the invalidation of our patents or a finding that they are unenforceable. We may or may not choose to pursue litigation or other actions against those that have infringed on our patents, or have used them without authorization, due to the associated expense and time commitment of monitoring these activities. If we fail to protect or to enforce our intellectual property rights successfully, our competitive position could suffer, which could harm our results of operations.

Patents and patent applications involve highly complex legal and factual questions, which, if determined adversely to us, could negatively impact our patent position.

The patent positions of biopharmaceutical companies and other actors in our fields of business can be highly uncertain and typically involve complex scientific, legal and factual analyses. In particular, the interpretation and breadth of claims allowed in some patents covering biopharmaceutical compositions may be uncertain and difficult to determine, and are often affected materially by the facts and circumstances that pertain to the patented compositions and the related patent claims. The standards of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, are sometimes uncertain and could change in the future. Consequently, the issuance and scope of patents cannot be predicted with certainty. Patents, if issued, may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented. U.S. patents and patent applications may also be subject to interference proceedings, and U.S. patents may be subject to reexamination proceedings, post-grant review and/or inter partes review in the USPTO. Foreign patents as well may be subject to opposition or comparable proceedings in the corresponding foreign patent office, which could result in either loss of the patent or denial of the patent application or loss or reduction in the scope of one or more of the claims of the patent or patent application. In addition, such interference, reexamination, post-grant review, inter partes review and opposition proceedings may be costly. Accordingly, rights under any issued patents may not provide us with sufficient protection against competitive products or processes.

Furthermore, even if not challenged, our patents and patent applications may not adequately protect our products or prevent others from designing their products to avoid being covered by our claims. If the breadth or strength of protection provided by the patent applications we hold with respect to our product candidates is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to develop, and could threaten our ability to

 

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successfully commercialize, our product candidates. Furthermore, for U.S. applications in which all claims are entitled to a priority date before March 16, 2013, an interference proceeding can be provoked by a third party or instituted by the USPTO in order to determine who was the first to invent any of the subject matter covered by such patent claims.

In addition, changes in, or different interpretations of, patent laws in the United States and other countries may permit others to use our discoveries or to develop and commercialize our technology and products without providing any compensation to us, or may limit the scope of patent protection that we are able to obtain. The laws of some countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as U.S. laws and those countries may lack adequate rules and procedures for defending our intellectual property rights.

If we fail to obtain and maintain patent protection and trade secret protection of our product candidates, we could lose our competitive advantage and competition we face would increase, reducing any potential revenues and adversely affecting our ability to attain or maintain profitability.

Developments in patent law could have a negative impact on our business.

From time to time, the United States Supreme Court, or the Supreme Court, other federal courts, the United States Congress, the USPTO and similar foreign authorities may change the standards of patentability and any such changes could have a negative impact on our business.

The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the America Invents Act, which was signed into law in 2011, includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These changes include a transition from a “first-to-invent” system to a “first-to-file” system, changes to the way issued patents are challenged, and changes to the way patent applications are disputed during the examination process. As a result of these changes, the patent law in the United States may favor larger and more established companies that have greater resources to devote to patent application filing and prosecution. The USPTO has developed new and untested regulations and procedures to govern the full implementation of the America Invents Act, and many of the substantive changes to patent law associated with the America Invents Act, and, in particular, the first-to-file provisions became effective on March 16, 2013. Substantive changes to patent law associated with the America Invents Act may affect our ability to obtain patents, and if obtained, to enforce or defend them. Accordingly, it is not clear what, if any, impact the America Invents Act will have on the cost of prosecuting our patent applications and our ability to obtain patents based on our discoveries and to enforce or defend any patents that may issue from our patent applications, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.

In addition to patent protection, because we operate in the highly technical field of development of therapies, we rely in part on trade secret protection in order to protect our proprietary technology and processes. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. We expect to enter into confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with our employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers, and other advisors. These agreements generally require that the other party keep confidential and not disclose to third parties all confidential information developed by the party or made known to the party by us during the course of the party’s relationship with us. These agreements also generally provide that inventions conceived by the party in the course of rendering services to us will be our exclusive property. However, these agreements may be breached or held unenforceable and may not effectively assign intellectual property rights to us.

In addition to contractual measures, we try to protect the confidential nature of our proprietary information using physical and technological security measures. Such measures may not provide adequate protection for our proprietary information. For example, our security measures may not prevent an employee or consultant with authorized access from misappropriating our trade secrets and providing them to a competitor, and the recourse we have available against such misconduct may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the United States may be less willing to protect trade secrets. Furthermore, our proprietary information may be independently developed by others in a

 

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manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. If any of our confidential or proprietary information, including our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information was independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position could be harmed.

We will not seek to protect our intellectual property rights in all jurisdictions throughout the world and we may not be able to adequately enforce our intellectual property rights even in the jurisdictions where we seek protection.

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on our product candidates in all countries and jurisdictions throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States could be less extensive than those in the United States, assuming that rights are obtained in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions.

Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we do not pursue and obtain patent protection to develop their own products and further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but where our ability to enforce our patent rights is not as strong as in the United States. These products may compete with our products and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent such competition.

The laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Patent protection must ultimately be sought on a country-by-country basis, which is an expensive and time-consuming process with uncertain outcomes. Accordingly, we may choose not to seek patent protection in certain countries, and we will not have the benefit of patent protection in such countries. In addition, the legal systems of some countries, particularly developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, especially those relating to biopharmaceuticals or biotechnologies. As a result, many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. Such issues may make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents, if obtained, or the misappropriation of our other intellectual property rights. For example, many foreign countries, including the EU countries, have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner must grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against third parties, including government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, patents may provide limited or no benefit. In those countries, we and our licensors may have limited remedies if patents are infringed or if we or our licensors are compelled to grant a license to a third party, which could materially diminish the value of those patents. This could limit our potential revenue opportunities. Accordingly, our and our licensors’ efforts to enforce intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we own or license.

Furthermore, proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly, could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded to us, if any, may not be commercially meaningful, while the damages and other remedies we may be ordered to pay such third parties may be significant. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.

Third parties may assert ownership or commercial rights to inventions we develop or otherwise regard as our own.

Third parties may in the future make claims challenging the inventorship or ownership of our intellectual property. We have written agreements with collaborators that provide for the ownership of intellectual property arising from our strategic alliances. These agreements provide that we must negotiate certain commercial rights with such collaborators with respect to joint inventions or inventions made by our collaborators that arise from the

 

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results of the strategic alliance. In some instances, there may not be adequate written provisions to address clearly the allocation of intellectual property rights that may arise from the respective alliance. If we cannot successfully negotiate sufficient ownership and commercial rights to the inventions that result from our use of a third-party collaborator’s materials when required, or if disputes otherwise arise with respect to the intellectual property developed through the use of a collaborator’s samples, we may be limited in our ability to capitalize on the full market potential of these inventions. In addition, we may face claims by third parties that our agreements with employees, contractors, or consultants obligating them to assign intellectual property to us are ineffective, or are in conflict with prior or competing contractual obligations of assignment, which could result in ownership disputes regarding intellectual property we have developed or will develop and could interfere with our ability to capture the full commercial value of such inventions. Litigation may be necessary to resolve an ownership dispute, and if we are not successful, we may be precluded from using certain intellectual property, or may lose our rights in that intellectual property. Either outcome could have a material adverse impact on our business.

Third parties may assert that our employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information or misappropriated trade secrets.

We may employ individuals who were previously employed at universities or other biopharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of a former employer or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.

A dispute concerning the infringement or misappropriation of our proprietary rights or the proprietary rights of others could be time consuming and costly, and an unfavorable outcome could harm our business.

There is significant litigation in the biopharmaceutical industry regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. Although we are not currently subject to any material pending intellectual property litigation, and are not aware of any such threatened litigation, we may be exposed to future litigation by third parties based on claims that our product candidates, technologies or activities infringe the intellectual property rights of others. If our development activities are found to infringe any such patents, we may have to pay significant damages or seek licenses to such patents. A patentee could prevent us from using the patented drugs or compositions. We may need to resort to litigation to enforce a patent issued to us, to protect our trade secrets, or to determine the scope and validity of third-party proprietary rights. For example, there are other entities that are seeking patent protection that could cover therapeutic products that target the CD19 antigen. We cannot assure you that third parties will not claim infringement of their patents or misappropriation of their proprietary technology without authorization, or challenge our patents and proprietary rights with respect to UCART19. If such third parties were to succeed in their allegations, our business would be materially and adversely affected.

From time to time, we may hire scientific personnel or consultants formerly employed by other companies involved in one or more areas similar to the activities conducted by us. Either we or these individuals may be subject to allegations of trade secret misappropriation or other similar claims as a result of prior affiliations. If we become involved in litigation, it could consume a substantial portion of our managerial and financial resources, regardless of whether we win or lose. We may not be able to afford the costs of litigation. Any adverse ruling or perception of an adverse ruling in defending ourselves against these claims could have a material adverse impact on our cash position. Any legal action against us or our collaborators could lead to:

 

    payment of damages, potentially including treble damages if we are found to have willfully infringed a party’s patent rights;

 

    injunctive or other equitable relief that may effectively block our ability to further develop, commercialize, and sell products; or

 

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    our or our collaborators’ being required to obtain a license under third-party intellectual property, and such license may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all, all of which could have a material adverse impact on our cash position and business and financial condition. As a result, we could be prevented from commercializing current or future product candidates.

We may infringe intellectual property rights of others, which may prevent or delay our product development efforts and may prevent or increase the costs of our successfully commercializing our product candidates, if approved.

Our success will depend in part on our ability to operate without infringing the intellectual property and proprietary rights of third parties. We cannot assure you that our business operations, products and methods do not or will not infringe the patents or other intellectual property rights of third parties.

The biopharmaceutical industry is characterized by extensive litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights. Other parties may allege that our product candidates or the use of our technologies infringe patent claims or other intellectual property rights held by them or that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization. Patent and other types of intellectual property litigation can involve complex factual and legal questions, and their outcome is uncertain. Any claim relating to intellectual property infringement that is successfully asserted against us may require us to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorney’s fees if we are found to be willfully infringing another party’s patents, for past use of the asserted intellectual property and royalties and other consideration going forward if we are forced to take a license. In addition, if any such claim were successfully asserted against us and we could not obtain such a license, we may be forced to stop or delay developing, manufacturing, selling or otherwise commercializing our products.

Even if we are successful in these proceedings, we may incur substantial costs and divert management time and attention in pursuing these proceedings, which could have a material adverse effect on us. If we are unable to avoid infringing the patent rights of others, we may be required to seek a license, defend an infringement action or challenge the validity of the patents in court, or redesign our products. Patent litigation is costly and time consuming. We may not have sufficient resources to bring these actions to a successful conclusion. In addition, intellectual property litigation or claims could force us to do one or more of the following:

 

    cease developing, selling or otherwise commercializing our product candidates;

 

    pay substantial damages for past use of the asserted intellectual property;

 

    obtain a license from the holder of the asserted intellectual property, which license may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all; and

 

    in the case of trademark claims, redesign, or rename trademarks we may own, to avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties, which may not be possible and, even if possible, could be costly and time-consuming.

Any of these risks coming to fruition could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

Issued patents covering our product candidates could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court.

If we or one of our licensing partners initiated legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering our product candidate, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering our product candidate is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace. Furthermore, third parties may petition courts for declarations of invalidity or unenforceability with respect to our patents or individual claims there. If successful, such claims could narrow the scope of protection afforded our product candidates and future products, if any. Grounds for a validity challenge include alleged failures to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness or non-enablement. Grounds for unenforceability assertions include allegations that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading

 

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statement, during prosecution. Third parties may also raise similar claims before administrative bodies in the United States or abroad, even outside the context of litigation. Such mechanisms include re-examination, post grant review and equivalent proceedings in foreign jurisdictions, e.g., opposition proceedings. Such proceedings could result in revocation or amendment of our patents in such a way that they no longer cover our product candidates or competitive products. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to validity, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art, of which we and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity and/or unenforceability, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on our product candidates. Such a loss of patent protection would have a material adverse impact on our business.

We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to gene therapy product components and processes for our development pipeline through acquisitions and in-licenses.

We have rights, through licenses from third parties and under patents that we own, to the intellectual property to develop our gene therapy product candidates. Because our programs may involve additional product candidates that may require the use of proprietary rights held by third parties, the growth of our business will likely depend in part on our ability to acquire, in-license or use these proprietary rights. In addition, our product candidates may require specific formulations to work effectively and efficiently, and these rights may be held by others. We may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, processes or other third-party intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify. The licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and a number of more established companies are also pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider attractive. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size and greater cash resources and clinical development and commercialization capabilities.

For example, we sometimes collaborate with academic institutions to accelerate our pre-clinical research or development under written agreements with these institutions. Typically, these institutions provide us with an option to negotiate a license to any of the institution’s rights in technology resulting from the strategic alliance. Regardless of such right of first negotiation, we may be unable to negotiate a license within the specified time frame or under terms that are acceptable to us, and the institution may license such intellectual property rights to third parties, potentially blocking our ability to pursue our development and commercialization plans.

In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license to us intellectual property rights that we require in order to successfully develop and commercialize our products. We also may be unable to obtain such a license or assignment on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our investment. In either event, our business, financial condition and prospects for growth could suffer.

If we fail to comply with our obligations in the agreements under which we license intellectual property rights from third parties or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our licensors, we could lose license rights that are important to our business.

We are a party to a number of intellectual property license agreements that are important to our business and expect to enter into additional license agreements in the future. Our existing license agreements impose, and we expect that future license agreements will impose, various diligence, milestone payment, royalty and other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with our obligations under these agreements, or we are subject to a bankruptcy, our licensors may have the right to terminate the license, in which event we would not be able to market products covered by the license.

In addition, disputes may arise regarding the payment of the royalties due to licensors in connection with our exploitation of the rights we license from them. Licensors may contest the basis of royalties we retained and claim that we are obligated to make payments under a broader basis. In addition to the costs of any litigation we may face as a result, any legal action against us could increase our payment obligations under the respective agreement and require us to pay interest and potentially damages to such licensors.

In some cases, patent prosecution of our licensed technology is controlled solely by the licensor. If such licensor fails to obtain and maintain patent or other protection for the proprietary intellectual property we license

 

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from such licensor, we could lose our rights to such intellectual property or the exclusivity of such rights, and our competitors could market competing products using such intellectual property. In that event, we may be required to expend significant time and resources to develop or license replacement technology. If we are unable to do so, we may be unable to develop or commercialize the affected product candidates, which could harm our business significantly. In other cases, we control the prosecution of patents resulting from licensed technology. In the event we breach any of our obligations related to such prosecution, we may incur significant liability to our licensing partners.

Under each of the material exclusive licenses granted to us, the licensor controls the prosecution of patents covered by the license. Under our collaboration agreement with Pfizer, we and Pfizer each generally control the prosecution of our respective owned patents, and Pfizer has the first right to elect to control the prosecution of certain jointly-developed intellectual property. Under our collaboration agreement with Servier, we and Servier each generally control the prosecution of our respective owned patents, and we generally control the prosecution of joint patents, unless Servier exercises its option under the agreement to obtain an exclusive license to further develop, manufacture and commercialize a product candidate, in which case Servier will control prosecution of the joint patents. Consequently, Servier currently controls prosecution of those patent rights covering solely UCART19. Licensing of intellectual property is of critical importance to our business and involves complex legal, business and scientific issues and is complicated by the rapid pace of scientific discovery in our industry. Disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a licensing agreement, including:

 

    the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues;

 

    the basis of royalties due to our licensors;

 

    the extent to which our technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the licensing agreement;

 

    the sublicensing of patent and other rights under our collaborative development relationships;

 

    our diligence obligations under the license agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;

 

    the ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and our partners; and

 

    the priority of invention of patented technology.

If disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed from third parties prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current licensing arrangements on acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected product candidates.

Risks Related to Our Organization, Structure and Operation

We will need to develop and expand our company, and we may encounter difficulties in managing this development and expansion, which could disrupt our operations.

As of December 31, 2015, we had 116 full-time employees and we expect to increase our number of employees and the scope and location of our operations. To manage our anticipated development and expansion, including the development and the commercialization of our product candidates, we must continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. Also, our management may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from its day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these development activities. Due to our limited resources, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. This may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, give rise to operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. The physical expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert financial

 

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resources from other projects, such as the development of our product candidates. If our management is unable to effectively manage our expected development and expansion, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate or increase our revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our product candidates, if approved, and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage the future development and expansion of our company.

We depend on key management personnel and attracting and retaining other qualified personnel, and our business could be harmed if we lose key management personnel or cannot attract and retain other qualified personnel.

Our success depends to a significant degree upon the technical skills and continued service of certain members of our management team, including Dr. André Choulika, our co-founder and Chief Executive Officer; Dr. David Sourdive, our co-founder and Executive Vice President, Corporate Development; Dr. Mathieu Simon, our Chief Operating Officer; Dr. Philippe Duchateau, our Chief Scientific Officer; and Dr. Dan Voytas, the Chief Scientific Officer of Calyxt, Inc. The loss of the services of these key executive officers could have a material adverse effect on us. Our success also will depend upon our ability to attract and retain additional qualified management, regulatory, medical, technical, and sales and marketing executives and personnel. The failure to attract, integrate, motivate, and retain additional skilled and qualified personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We compete for such personnel against numerous companies, including larger, more established companies with significantly greater financial resources than we possess. In addition, failure to succeed in our product candidates’ development may make it more challenging to recruit and retain qualified personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in attracting or retaining such personnel and the failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In order to induce valuable employees to remain at Cellectis, we have provided free shares and warrants to purchase ordinary shares that vest over time. The value to employees of free shares and warrants that vest over time may be significantly affected by movements in the price of our ordinary shares that are beyond our control, and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies.

Despite our efforts to retain valuable employees, members of our management, scientific and development teams may terminate their employment with us. The loss of the services of any of our key executive officers or other officers or senior employees within a short timeframe, and our inability to find suitable replacements could potentially harm our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations. We do not maintain “key man” insurance policies on the lives of any of our employees. Our success also depends on our ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled junior, mid-level, and senior managers as well as junior, mid-level, and senior scientific and medical personnel.

We must maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, and if we are unable to do so, the accuracy and timeliness of our financial reporting may be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, investor confidence and market price.

We must maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in order to accurately and timely report our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, as a public company, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, requires, among other things, that we assess the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at the end of each fiscal year. We anticipate being first required to issue management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as of December 31, 2016.

The rules governing the standards that must be met for our management to assess our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act are complex and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation. These stringent standards require that our audit and finance committee be advised and regularly updated on management’s review of internal control over financial reporting. In

 

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addition, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting beginning with our annual report following the date on which we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” If we fail to staff our accounting and finance function adequately or maintain internal control over financial reporting adequate to meet the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our business and reputation may be harmed.

Our failure to maintain certain tax benefits applicable to French technology companies may adversely affect our results of operations.

As a French technology company, we have benefited from certain tax advantages, including, for example, the research tax credit (Crédit d’Impôt Recherche), or CIR. The CIR is a French tax credit aimed at stimulating research and development. The CIR can be offset against French corporate income tax due and the portion in excess (if any) may be refunded at the end of a three fiscal-year period (or, sooner, for smaller companies such as ours). The CIR receivable of €7.1 million and €8.2 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively is calculated based on our claimed amount of eligible research and development expenditures in France. The French tax authority with the assistance of the Research and Technology Ministry may audit each research and development program in respect of which a CIR benefit has been claimed and assess whether such program qualifies in its view for the CIR benefit. The French tax authorities may challenge our eligibility to, or our calculation of certain tax reductions and/or deductions in respect of our research and development activities and, should the French tax authorities be successful, we may be liable for additional corporate income tax, and penalties and interest related thereto, or we may not obtain the refunds for which we have applied, which could have a significant impact on our results of operations and future cash flows. Furthermore, if the French Parliament decides to eliminate, or reduce the scope or the rate of, the CIR benefit, either of which it could decide to do at any time, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

We may be exposed to significant foreign exchange risk, which may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We incur portions of our expenses and may in the future derive revenues in currencies other than the euro, in particular, the U.S. dollar. As a result, we are exposed to foreign currency exchange risk as our results of operations and cash flows are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We currently do not engage in hedging transactions to protect against uncertainty in future exchange rates between particular foreign currencies and the euro. Therefore, for example, an increase in the value of the euro against the U.S. dollar could be expected to have a negative impact on our revenue and earnings growth as U.S. dollar revenue and earnings, if any, would be translated into euros at a reduced value. We cannot predict the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, and foreign currency fluctuations in the future may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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We may use hazardous chemicals and biological materials in our business. Any claims relating to improper handling, storage or disposal of these materials could be time consuming and costly.

We are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures and the handling, use, storage, treatment, manufacture and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Our research and development processes may involve the controlled use of hazardous materials, including chemicals and biological materials. We cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or discharge and any resultant injury from these materials. We may be sued for any injury or contamination that results from our use or the use by third parties of these materials, and our liability may exceed any insurance coverage and our total assets. Federal, state, local or foreign laws and regulations govern the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these hazardous materials and specified waste products, as well as the discharge of pollutants into the environment and human health and safety matters. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations may be expensive and may impair our research and development efforts. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we could incur substantial costs, including civil or criminal fines and penalties, clean-up costs or capital expenditures for control equipment or operational changes necessary to achieve and maintain compliance. In addition, we cannot predict the impact on our business of new or amended environmental laws or regulations or any changes in the way existing and future laws and regulations are interpreted and enforced. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or production efforts.

Our internal computer systems, or those of our third-party contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption of our product development programs.

Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of our third-party contractors and consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. While we do not believe that we have experienced any such system failure, accident, or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our programs. For example, the loss of clinical trial data for our product candidates could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss of or damage to our data or applications or other data or applications relating to our technology or product candidates, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liabilities and the further development of our product candidates could be delayed.

We may acquire businesses or products, or form strategic alliances, in the future, and we may not realize the benefits of such acquisitions.

Our current strategy does not involve plans to acquire companies or technologies facilitating or enabling us to access to new medicines, new technologies, new research projects, or new geographical areas, or enabling us to express synergies with our existing operations. However, if such acquisitions were to become necessary or attractive in the future, we may not be able to identify appropriate targets or make acquisitions under satisfactory conditions, in particular, satisfactory price conditions. In addition, we may unable to obtain the financing for these acquisitions under favorable conditions, and could be led to finance these acquisitions using cash that could be allocated to other purposes in the context of existing operations. If we acquire businesses with promising markets or technologies, we may not be able to realize the benefit of acquiring such businesses if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing operations and company culture. We may encounter numerous difficulties in developing, manufacturing and marketing any new products resulting from a strategic alliance or acquisition that delay or prevent us from realizing their expected benefits or enhancing our business. We cannot assure you that, following any such acquisition, we will achieve the expected synergies to justify the transaction, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, earnings and prospects.

 

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Risks Related to Ownership of Our Ordinary Shares and ADSs

The requirements of being a U.S. public company require significant resources and management attention and affect our ability to attract and retain executive management and qualified board members.

As a U.S. public company, we incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses. We are subject to the Exchange Act, including the reporting requirements thereunder, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Nasdaq listing requirements and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations results in substantial legal and financial compliance costs and makes some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increases demand on our systems and resources. These costs and other impacts will likely increase, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company” and/or a foreign private issuer. For example, although we intend to continue to provide quarterly interim consolidated financial data to the SEC, for so long as we remain a foreign private issuer, we are not required to file with the SEC quarterly reports with respect to our business and results of operations that are required to be made by domestic issuers.

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, we are required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting, including an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. However, while we remain an emerging growth company, we are not be required to include this attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. When our independent registered public accounting firm is required to undertake an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, the cost of complying with Section 404 will significantly increase and management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We may need to hire more employees in the future or engage outside consultants to comply with these requirements, which will further increase our cost and expense. If we fail to implement the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the required timeframe, we may be subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities, including the SEC and the Nasdaq. Furthermore, if we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities. Failure to implement or maintain effective internal control systems required of public companies could also restrict our future access to the capital markets.

Further, being a U.S. public company and a French public company has impacted the disclosure of information and required compliance with two sets of applicable rules. From time to time, this may result in uncertainty regarding compliance matters and has resulted in higher costs necessitated by legal analysis of dual legal regimes, ongoing revisions to disclosure and adherence to heightened governance practices.

We believe we were a “passive foreign investment company” for U.S. federal income tax purposes for 2015, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors.

A non-U.S. corporation will be considered a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for such year is passive income or (2) at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during such year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. Based on the value and composition of our assets, although not free from doubt, we believe that we were a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the 2015 taxable year. The determination of PFIC status is fact-specific, and a separate determination must be made each taxable year as to whether we are a PFIC (after the close of each such taxable year). If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder (as defined in the section titled “Taxation—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in this Annual Report) holds ADSs, the U.S. holder may be subject to adverse tax consequences, including (1) the treatment of all or a portion of any gain on disposition as ordinary income, (2) the application of an interest charge with respect to such gain and certain dividends and (3) compliance with certain reporting requirements. Each U.S. holder is strongly urged to consult its tax advisor regarding these issues and any available elections to mitigate such tax consequences. See the section titled “Taxation—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in this Annual Report.

 

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The market price for our ADSs may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance.

The trading price of the ADSs has fluctuated, and is likely to continue to fluctuate, substantially. The trading price of our ADSs depends on a number of factors, including those described in this “Risk Factors” section, many of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance.

Since the ADSs were sold in our initial public offering in March 2015 at a price of $41.50 per share, the price per ADS has ranged as low as $18.00 and as high as $50.00 through March 18, 2016. The market price of the ADSs may fluctuate significant in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

 

    actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results;

 

    our failure to develop and commercialize our product candidates;

 

    adverse results of delays in our or any of our competitors’ pre-clinical studies or clinical trials;

 

    actual or anticipated changes in our growth rate relative to our competitors;

 

    competition from existing products or new products that may emerge;

 

    announcements by us, our collaborators or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, strategic alliances, or capital commitments;

 

    adverse regulatory decisions, including failure to receive regulatory approval for any of our product candidates;

 

    the termination of a strategic alliance or the inability to establish additional strategic alliances;

 

    unanticipated serious safety concerns related to the use of any of our product candidates;

 

    failure to meet or exceed financial estimates and projections of the investment community or that we provide to the public;

 

    issuance of new or updated research or reports by securities analysts;

 

    fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;

 

    inconsistent trading volume levels of our ADSs;

 

    price and volume fluctuations in trading of our ordinary shares on the Alternext market of the Euronext in Paris;

 

    additions or departures of key management or scientific personnel;

 

    disputes or other developments related to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters, and our ability to obtain patent protection for our technologies;

 

    our inability to obtain reimbursement by commercial third-party payors and government payors and any announcements relating to coverage policies or reimbursement levels;

 

    announcement or expectation of additional debt or equity financing efforts;

 

    sales of our ordinary shares or ADSs by us, our insiders or our other shareholders; and

 

    general economic and market conditions.

 

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These and other market and industry factors may cause the market price and demand for our ADSs to fluctuate substantially, regardless of our actual operating performance, which may limit or prevent holders from readily selling their ADSs and may otherwise negatively affect the liquidity of our capital shares. In addition, the stock market in general, and biopharmaceutical companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies.

Share ownership is concentrated in the hands of our principal shareholders and management, who will continue to be able to exercise a direct or indirect controlling influence on us.

Our executive officers, directors, current 5% or greater shareholders and affiliated entities beneficially own approximately 42.5% of our ordinary shares outstanding (including those underlying our ADSs). As a result, these shareholders, acting together, have significant influence over all matters that require approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. Corporate action might be taken even if other shareholders oppose them. This concentration of ownership might also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of our company that other shareholders may view as beneficial.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our ADSs and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our ADSs depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If few or no securities or industry analysts cover us, the trading price for our ADSs would be negatively impacted. If one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our ADSs or publishes incorrect or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of our company or fails to publish reports on us regularly, or downgrades our ADSs, could also cause the price of our ADSs or trading volume to decline.

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our securities. In addition, French law may limit the amount of dividends we are able to distribute.

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our share capital and do not currently intend to do so for the foreseeable future. We currently intend to invest our future earnings, if any, to fund our growth. Therefore, holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs are not likely to receive any dividends for the foreseeable future and any increase in value will depend solely upon any future appreciation. Consequently, holders of our equity securities may need to sell all or part of their holdings after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains.

Further, under French law, the determination of whether we have been sufficiently profitable to pay dividends is made on the basis of our statutory financial statements prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS. In addition, payment of dividends may subject us to additional taxes under French law. Please see the section of this Annual Report titled “Memorandum and Articles of Association” for further details on the limitations on our ability to declare and pay dividends and the taxes that may become payable by us if we elect to pay a dividend. Therefore, we may be more restricted in our ability to declare dividends than companies not based in France.

In addition, exchange rate fluctuations may affect the amount of euros that we are able to distribute, and the amount in U.S. dollars that our shareholders receive upon the payment of cash dividends or other distributions we declare and pay in euros, if any. These factors could harm the value of our equity securities, and, in turn, the U.S. dollar proceeds that holders receive from the sale of ADSs.

Future sales of ordinary shares or ADSs by existing shareholders could depress the market price of the ADSs.

If our existing shareholders sell, or indicate an intent to sell, substantial amounts of ordinary shares or ADSs in the public market, the trading price of our ordinary shares and/or ADSs could decline significantly. In addition, the sale of these securities could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional securities. As of February 29, 2016, we had 35,178,614 outstanding ordinary shares (including those underlying ADSs), which are all eligible for sale in the public market, subject to applicable securities law restrictions. As of February 29, 2016, approximately 16.4% of our outstanding ordinary shares (excluding those underlying ADSs) are held by

 

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directors, executive officers and other affiliates and continue to be subject to resale limitations under Rule 144 under the Securities Act. In addition, as of February 29, 2016, options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,067,466 ordinary shares issued under our equity incentive plans were exercisable, subject to compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act in the case of our affiliates.

If these additional shares are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our ordinary shares and/or our ADSs could decline substantially.

Our By-laws and French corporate law contain provisions that may delay or discourage a takeover attempt.

Provisions contained in our By-laws and the corporate laws of France, the country in which we are incorporated, could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire us, even if doing so might be beneficial to our shareholders. In addition, provisions of our By-laws impose various procedural and other requirements, which could make it more difficult for shareholders to effect certain corporate actions. These provisions include the following:

 

    under French law, a non-resident of France may have to file an administrative notice with French authorities in connection with a direct or indirect investment in us, as defined by administrative rulings; see the section of this Annual Report titled “Memorandum and Articles of Association”;

 

    a merger (i.e., in a French law context, a share for share exchange following which our company would be dissolved without being liquidated into the acquiring entity and our shareholders would become shareholders of the acquiring entity) of our company into a company incorporated in the EU would require the approval of our board of directors as well as a two-thirds majority of the votes held by the shareholders present, represented by proxy or voting by mail at the relevant meeting;

 

    a merger of our company into a company incorporated outside of the EU would require the unanimous approval of our shareholders;

 

    under French law, a cash merger is treated as a share purchase and would require the consent of each participating shareholder;

 

    our shareholders have granted and may grant in the future our board of directors broad authorizations to increase our share capital or to issue additional ordinary shares or other securities (for example, warrants) to our shareholders, the public or qualified investors, including as a possible defense following the launching of a tender offer for our shares;

 

    our shareholders have preferential subscription rights proportionally to their shareholding in our company on the issuance by us of any additional securities as part of a cash capital increase or a capital increase by way of debt set-off. Such rights may only be waived by the extraordinary general meeting (by a two-thirds majority vote) of our shareholders or on an individual basis by each shareholder;

 

    our board of directors has the right to appoint directors to fill a vacancy created by the resignation or death of a director, subject to the approval by the shareholders of such appointment at the next shareholders’ meeting, which prevents shareholders from having the sole right to fill vacancies on our board;

 

    our board of directors can only be convened by our chairman or our managing director, if any, or, when no board meeting has been held for more than two consecutive months, by directors representing at least one third of the total number of directors;

 

    our board of directors meetings can only be regularly held if at least half of the directors attend either physically or by way of videoconference or teleconference enabling the directors’ identification and ensuring their effective participation in the board’s decisions;

 

    our shares take the form of bearer securities or registered securities, if applicable legislation so permits, according to the shareholder’s choice. Issued shares are registered in individual accounts opened by us or any authorized intermediary (depending on the form of such shares), in the name of each shareholder and kept according to the terms and conditions laid down by the legal and regulatory provisions;

 

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    approval of at least a majority of the votes held by shareholders present, represented by a proxy, or voting by mail at the relevant ordinary shareholders’ general meeting is required to remove directors with or without cause;

 

    advance notice is required for nominations to the board of directors or for proposing matters to be acted upon at a shareholders’ meeting, except that a vote to remove and replace a director can be proposed at any shareholders’ meeting without notice;

 

    the crossing of certain ownership thresholds has to be disclosed and can impose certain obligations; see the section of this Annual Report titled “Item 10.B—Memorandum and Articles of Association;” and

 

    pursuant to French law, the sections of the By-laws relating to the number of directors and election and removal of a director from office may only be modified by a resolution adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of our shareholders present, represented by a proxy or voting by mail at the meeting.

Holders of our ADSs may not be able to exercise their right to vote the ordinary shares underlying such ADSs.

Holders of ADSs may exercise voting rights with respect to the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs only in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement provides that, upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of our ordinary shares, the depositary will fix a record date for the determination of ADS holders who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights. Upon timely receipt of notice from us, if we so request, the depositary shall distribute to the holders as of the record date (1) the notice of the meeting or solicitation of consent or proxy sent by us and (2) a statement as to the manner in which instructions may be given by the holders.

Holders of ADSs may instruct the depositary of the ADSs to vote the ordinary shares underlying such ADSs. Otherwise, holders of our ADSs will not be able to exercise their right to vote, unless they withdraw the ordinary shares underlying such ADSs. However, holders of our ADSs may not know about the meeting far enough in advance to withdraw those ordinary shares. If we ask for instructions, the depositary, upon timely notice from us, will notify holders of our ADSs of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to such holders. We cannot guarantee that holders of our ADSs will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that they can instruct the depositary to vote such ordinary shares or to withdraw such ordinary shares so as to vote them directly. If the depositary does not receive timely voting instructions from holders of our ADSs, it may give a proxy to a person designated by us to vote the ordinary shares underlying such ADSs in accordance with the recommendation of our board of directors. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that holders of our ADSs may not be able to exercise their right to vote, and there may be nothing such holders can do if the ordinary shares underlying such ADSs are not voted as requested.

The right of holders of our ADSs to participate in any future preferential subscription rights or to elect to receive dividends in shares may be limited, which may cause dilution to holders of ADSs.

Under French Law, if we issue additional securities for cash, current shareholders will have preferential subscription rights for these securities proportionally to their shareholding in our company unless they waive those rights at an extraordinary meeting of our shareholders (by a two-thirds majority vote) or individually by each shareholder. However, our ADS holders in the United States will not be entitled to exercise or sell such rights unless we register the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. In addition, the deposit agreement for our ADSs provides that the depositary will not make rights available to holders of our ADSs unless the distribution to ADS holders of both the rights and any related securities are either registered under the Securities Act or exempted from registration under the Securities Act. Further, if we offer holders of our ordinary shares the option to receive dividends in either cash or shares, under the deposit agreement the depositary may require satisfactory assurances from us that extending the offer to holders of ADSs does not require registration of any securities under the Securities Act before making the

 

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option available to holders of ADSs. We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective. Moreover, we may not be able to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, ADS holders may be unable to participate in our rights offerings or to elect to receive dividends in shares and may experience dilution in their holdings. In addition, if the depositary is unable to sell rights that are not exercised or not distributed or if the sale is not lawful or reasonably practicable, it will allow the rights to lapse, in which case holders of our ADSs will receive no value for these rights.

Holders of our ADSs may be subject to limitations on the transfer of such ADSs and the withdrawal of the underlying ordinary shares.

ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. The depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary think it is advisable to do so because of any requirement of law, government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason subject to an ADS holders’ right to cancel such ADSs and withdraw the underlying ordinary shares. Temporary delays in the cancellation of such ADSs and withdrawal of the underlying ordinary shares may arise because the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books, the transfer of ordinary shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting or we are paying a dividend on our ordinary shares. In addition, holders of our ADSs may not be able to cancel such ADSs and withdraw the underlying ordinary shares when such holders owe money for fees, taxes and similar charges and when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of ordinary shares or other deposited securities.

We are an “emerging growth company” and will be able to avail ourselves of reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, which could make our ADSs less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we have taken advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Although Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards, we have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period. Some investors may find our ADSs less attractive because we rely on these exemptions and, as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our ADSs and the price of our ADSs may be more volatile. We may take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (1) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.0 billion or more; (2) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of March 24, 2015, the date of the completion of our initial public offering; (3) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; and (4) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC.

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the U.S. securities laws and are permitted to file less information with the SEC than a U.S. company. This may limit the information available to holders of ADSs.

We are a “foreign private issuer,” as defined in the SEC’s rules and regulations and, consequently, we are not subject to all of the disclosure requirements applicable to public companies organized within the United States. For example, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that regulate disclosure obligations and procedural requirements related to the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations applicable to a security registered under the Exchange Act, including the U.S. proxy rules under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, our officers and directors are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and related rules with respect to their purchases and sales of our securities.

 

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Moreover, while we currently make annual and quarterly filings with the SEC, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. domestic public companies and are not required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information concerning our company than there would be if we were a U.S. domestic issuer.

As a foreign private issuer, we follow certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate governance standards. These practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with Nasdaq’s corporate governance standards.

As a foreign private issuer listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, we are subject to corporate governance standards. However, Nasdaq’s rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in France, which is our home country, may differ significantly from corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq. For example, neither the corporate laws of France nor our By-laws require a majority of our directors to be independent and our independent directors are not required to hold regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present. In addition, home country practice in France does not require us to maintain a nominating and corporate governance committee or to maintain a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. Currently, we follow home country practice in certain key respects. Therefore, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would have under corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. A discussion of our corporate governance practices is set forth in the section titled “Management—Corporate Governance Practices.”

We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional cost and expense.

While we currently qualify as a foreign private issuer, the determination of foreign private issuer status is made annually on the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter and, accordingly, the next determination will be made with respect to us on June 30, 2016.

In the future, we would lose our foreign private issuer status if we to fail to meet the requirements necessary to maintain our foreign private issuer status as of the relevant determination date. For example, if more than 50% of our securities are held by U.S. residents and more than 50% of our executive officers or members of our board of directors are residents or citizens of the United States, we could lose our foreign private issuer status. As of February 29, 2016, approximately 43.3% of our outstanding securities were held by U.S. residents.

The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic public company would be significantly more than costs we currently incur as a foreign private issuer. If we lost our foreign private issuer status, we would be required to file periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, to file periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are more detailed and extensive in certain respects than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. We would be required under current SEC rules to prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, rather than IFRS, in U.S. dollars rather than euros and modify certain of our policies to comply with corporate governance practices associated with U.S. domestic issuers. Such conversion of our financial statements to U.S. GAAP would involve significant time and cost. In addition, we would lose our ability to rely upon exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq that are available to foreign private issuers such as the ones described above and exemptions from procedural requirements related to the solicitation of proxies.

It may be difficult to enforce civil liabilities against our company and directors and senior management and the experts named in this Annual Report.

Certain members of our board of directors and senior management and those of our subsidiaries, are non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible to serve process on such persons or us in the United States or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against them or us based on civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States. Additionally, it may be difficult to assert U.S. securities law claims in actions

 

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originally instituted outside of the United States. Foreign courts may refuse to hear a U.S. securities law claim because foreign courts may not be the most appropriate forums in which to bring such a claim. Even if a foreign court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that the law of the jurisdiction in which the foreign court resides, and not U.S. law, is applicable to the claim. Further, if U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law must be proved as a fact, which can be a time-consuming and costly process, and certain matters of procedure would still be governed by the law of the jurisdiction in which the foreign court resides. In particular, there is some doubt as to whether French courts would recognize and enforce certain civil liabilities under U.S. securities laws in original actions or judgments of U.S. courts based upon these civil liability provisions. In addition, awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in France. An award for monetary damages under the U.S. securities laws would be considered punitive if it does not seek to compensate the claimant for loss or damage suffered but is intended to punish the defendant. French law provides that a shareholder, or a group of shareholders, may initiate a legal action to seek indemnification from the directors of a corporation in the corporation’s interest if it fails to bring such legal action itself. If so, any damages awarded by the court are paid to the corporation and any legal fees relating to such action are borne by the relevant shareholder or the group of shareholders.

The enforceability of any judgment in France will depend on the particular facts of the case as well as the laws and treaties in effect at the time. The United States and France do not currently have a treaty providing for recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters.

Provisions in our collaboration agreement with Servier may prevent or delay a change in control.

Our collaboration agreement with Servier provides that if any third party begins to control us, directly or indirectly, by any means, or in the event that we engage in a change of control transaction, including, but not limited to, the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or all or substantially all of our assets that are material to the performance of our obligations under the collaboration agreement, then Servier has the right to buy-out our interest in the pre-candidate products, product candidates, and products as described under the collaboration agreement. We refer to this right to acquire such interest as the buy-out. In the event we fail to agree with Servier on the amount of payment for our interest in the pre-candidate products, product candidates or products within twenty days following Servier’s provision of a buy-out notice, then the buy-out payment would be determined by-third party valuators.

The buy-out may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control transaction involving us, or may reduce the number of companies interested in acquiring us. If Servier were to exercise the buy-out, it would gain exclusive development and marketing rights to the pre-candidate products, product candidates and products developed under the collaboration agreement. Were this to happen, our successor would not receive milestone payments or royalty payments on net sales of any of the products sold to Servier in connection with the buy-out. These provisions could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control transaction involving Cellectis, or could reduce the number of companies interested in acquiring us.

The rights of shareholders in companies subject to French corporate law differ in material respects from the rights of shareholders of corporations incorporated in the United States.

We are a French company with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our By-laws and by the laws governing companies incorporated in France. The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of members of our board of directors are in many ways different from the rights and obligations of shareholders in companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions. For example, in the performance of its duties, our board is required by French law to consider the interests of our company, its shareholders, its employees and other stakeholders, rather than solely our shareholders and/or creditors. It is possible that some of these parties will have interests that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of our shareholders. See the sections of this Annual Report titled “Memorandum and Articles of Association” and “Corporate Governance.”

 

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ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

 

A. History and Development of the Company

Our legal and commercial name is Cellectis S.A. We were incorporated as a société anonyme, or S.A., under the laws of the French Republic on January 4, 2000 for a period of 99 years. We are registered at the Paris Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés under the number 428 859 052. Our principal executive offices are located at 8, rue de la Croix Jarry, 75013 Paris, France, and our telephone number is +33 1 81 69 16 00. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Puglisi & Associates. We also maintain a website at www.cellectis.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only and the information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this Annual Report.

Our actual capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 amounted to €0.6 million, €0.4 million and €4.0 million, respectively. These capital expenditures primarily consisted of the acquisitions of industrial and laboratory equipment and fittings required to conduct our research programs. We expect our capital expenditures to increase in absolute terms in the near term as we continue to advance our research and development programs and grow our operations. We anticipate our capital expenditure in 2016 to be financed from our cash and cash equivalents on hand. Primarily, these capital expenditures will be made both in France and in the United States, where our research and development facilities are currently located.

Expanding U.S. Presence

On January 21, 2015, we signed a lease for an administrative and research facility in New York, New York to enhance our presence in the United States. This facility, which includes large state-of-the-art research laboratories, opened on April 8, 2015, and supports the development of our CAR-T pipeline. In March 2016, we entered into a lease for a 26,928 square-foot space in Montvale, New Jersey.

 

B. Business Overview

We are a pioneering gene-editing company, employing our core proprietary technologies to develop best-in-class products in the emerging field of immuno-oncology. Our product candidates, based on gene-edited T-cells that express chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs, seek to harness the power of the immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells. We believe that CAR-based immunotherapy is one of the most promising areas of cancer research, representing a new paradigm for cancer treatment. We are designing next-generation immunotherapies that are based on gene-edited CAR T-cells. Our gene-editing technologies allow us to create allogeneic CAR T-cells, meaning they are derived from healthy donors rather than the patients themselves. We believe that the production of allogeneic CAR T-cells will allow us to develop cost-effective, off-the-shelf products that are capable of being cryopreserved, stored and distributed worldwide. Our gene-editing expertise also enables us to develop product candidates that feature additional safety and efficacy attributes, including control properties designed to prevent them from attacking healthy tissues, to enable them to tolerate standard oncology treatments, and to equip them to resist mechanisms that inhibit immune-system activity. In addition to our focus on immuno-oncology, we are exploring the use of our gene-editing technologies in other therapeutic applications, as well as to develop healthier food products for a growing population.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States and accounts for one in four deaths. Immuno-oncology seeks to harness the power of the body’s immune system to target and kill cancer. A key to this effort is a type of white blood cell known as the T-cell, which plays an important role in identifying and killing cancer cells. Unfortunately, cancer cells often develop mechanisms to evade the immune system. CARs, which are engineered receptors that can be expressed on the surface of the T-cell, provide the T-cell with a specific targeting mechanism, thereby enhancing its ability to seek, identify, interact with and destroy tumor cells bearing a selected antigen. Research and development of CAR T-cell immunotherapies currently focuses on two approaches: autologous and allogeneic therapies. Autologous CAR T-cell immunotherapies modify a patient’s own T-cells to target specific antigens that are located on cancer cells. This type of therapy requires an individualized immunotherapy product for each patient and is currently being tested in clinical trials by several academic institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. In contrast, an allogeneic CAR T-cell immunotherapy is an approach by which a cancer patient is infused with a mass-produced, off-the-shelf immunotherapy product derived from a healthy T-cell donor. Our initial focus is on developing allogeneic treatments, and we believe that we are the leading company pursuing this approach.

 

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Gene editing is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted, repaired or replaced from a precise location in the genome. The most fundamental challenge of gene editing is the need to specifically and efficiently target a precise DNA sequence within a gene. Our proprietary nuclease-based gene-editing technologies, combined with 16 years of genome engineering experience, allow us to edit any gene with highly precise insertion, deletion, repair and replacement of DNA sequences. Our nucleases, including a particular class of proteins derived from transcription activator-like effectors act like DNA scissors to edit genes at precise target sites and allow us to design allogeneic CAR T-cells. Our patented PulseAgile electroporation technology allows us to efficiently deliver our clinical grade nucleases into human cells while preserving cell viability, making it particularly well-suited for a large-scale manufacturing process. We believe these technologies will enable our clinical grade drug therapeutic products to be manufactured, cryopreserved, stored, distributed broadly and infused into patients in an off-the-shelf approach.

We are developing products internally and through strategic alliances with Pfizer and Servier. Our strategic alliances include upfront and potential milestone payments to us of up to $3.9 billion and high single-digit royalties on future sales. We believe that our alliances with Pfizer and Servier validate our technology platform, our expertise in the CAR T-cells field and the strength of our intellectual property portfolio.

We conducted UCART19 product candidate development up to the filing of a clinical trial application, which was submitted on December 2015 to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom, requesting approval to initiate first in humans UCART19 clinical investigations for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). On November 18, 2015, we announced that we and Servier signed an amendment to our initial collaboration agreement, which allowed for an early exercise of Servier’s option with respect to UCART19 and other product candidates. Pursuant to this amendment, Servier has exercised its option to acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to further develop and commercialize UCART19. In addition, Pfizer and Servier have announced that they have entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement to further co-develop and commercialize UCART19.

Additionally, we are pursuing development of our six proprietary pre-clinical programs (UCART123, UCARTCS1, UCART38, UCART22 and two other programs), and are jointly pursuing thirteen pre-clinical programs with Pfizer and Servier. We may also pursue up to twelve additional targets, six of which would be wholly owned by us. Our objective is to file, directly or indirectly one Investigational New Drug, or IND, application (or foreign equivalent), per year.

During the 57th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting on December 5, 2015, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) at University College London (UCL) presented encouraging data from a first-in-human use of UCART19 product candidate. Under a special license from the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), GOSH administered UCART19 product candidate to a single patient on a compassionate use basis, representing the first human application of our TALEN engineered T-cell product candidate. See “Item 3.B—Risk Factors—Encouraging results from compassionate use treatment are not predictive of success in later clinical trials.”

Our vision is to leverage the potential of gene editing to deliver revolutionary products that address unmet medical needs, as well as to provide healthier food for a growing population across the world. Our initial focus is to apply our leadership in gene-editing technology to develop and commercialize best-in-class allogeneic CAR T-cell therapeutic products in the area of immuno-oncology.

 

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Our Immuno-oncology Pipeline

Our lead immuno-oncology product candidates, which we refer to as UCARTs, are all allogeneic CAR T-cells engineered to be used for treating any patient with a particular cancer type. Each UCART product candidate targets a selected tumor antigen and bears specific engineered attributes, such as non-alloreactivity or compatibility with specific medical regimens that cancer patients may undergo. UCART is the first therapeutic product line that we are developing using our gene-editing platform to address unmet medical needs in oncology. All of our wholly-owned product candidates are currently in the discovery or pre-clinical proof-of-concept phase, and the following chart highlights some of these product candidates:

 

 

LOGO

Our wholly-owned product candidates UCART123, UCARTCS1, UCART38 and UCART22 are in various stages of early development. UCART 123, UCARTCS1, UCART38 and UCART22 are engineered T-cell product candidates that bear CARs that seek to kill cells expressing targets CD123, CS1 (also known as SLAMF7), CD38 and CD22, respectively, which are found in other hematologic tumors, such as acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and multiple myeloma, or MM, as well as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL.

Strategic Alliances

In addition to the development of our own portfolio of product candidates targeting tumor-associated antigens, we have pursued a strategy of forging strong pharmaceutical alliances. We believe that our approach to CAR T-cell development has been validated by our strategic alliances with Servier and Pfizer. Our strategic alliances include potential upfront and milestone payments to us of up to $3.9 billion and high single digit royalties on future sales.

 

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Collaboration with Servier

In February 2014, we entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Servier to develop and commercialize certain product candidates. Pursuant to the agreement, Servier made an upfront payment of €7.55 million ($8.2 million). In addition, the strategic alliance, as amended in November 2015, provides for aggregate additional payments of up to €895.0 million ($974.0 million), comprising payments upon the exercise of each option granted to Servier and payments upon the occurrence of certain specified development and commercial milestones. We are also eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging in the high single-digit percentages based on annual net sales of commercialized products. This agreement covers the development and the potential commercialization of the lead product candidate, UCART19, as well as other product candidates directed at four targets. Under the terms of the agreement, we will be responsible for the research and development of certain product candidates through the end of Phase 1 clinical trials. We granted Servier an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive, worldwide license on a product candidate-by-product candidate basis, with respect to each target selected by Servier and developed under the agreement, to further develop, manufacture and commercialize such product in the field of anti-tumor adoptive immunotherapy. Upon exercising each such option, Servier will assume responsibility for the further clinical development, manufacture and commercialization of the relevant product candidate. In November 2015, we entered into an amendment to our initial collaboration agreement with Servier, which allowed for an early exercise of Servier’s option with respect to UCART19 and other product candidates. Pursuant to this amendment, Servier has exercised its option to acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to further develop and commercialize UCART19. In addition, Pfizer and Servier have announced that they have entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement to co-develop and commercialize UCART19.

In December 2015, we filed a CTA in the United Kingdom requesting approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial on UCART19 in ALL, which, if approved, will be conducted by Servier.

Collaboration with Pfizer

In June 2014, we entered into a global strategic collaboration agreement with Pfizer pursuant to which we will collaborate to conduct discovery and pre-clinical development activities to generate CAR T-cells directed at targets selected by Pfizer or us in the field of oncology. Pursuant to the agreement, Pfizer made an upfront, non-refundable $80.0 million payment to us, concurrent with Pfizer’s equity investment in our Company. In addition, the strategic alliance provides for up to $2.8 billion in potential clinical and commercial milestone payments. We are also eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging in the high single-digit percentages based on annual net sales of commercialized products. We may also receive funding for research and development costs associated with the Pfizer-selected targets and for four Cellectis-selected targets within the alliance. Pfizer has exclusive rights to pursue development and commercialization of products for a total of 15 targets of their choice. In addition, in November 2015 Pfizer and Servier announced that they had entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement to co-develop and commercialize UCART19. According to their announcement, Pfizer and Servier would work together on a joint clinical development program for UCART19 and share development costs. Pfizer will be responsible for potential commercialization of UCART19 in the United States and Servier will retain marketing rights in countries outside the United States.

Our Strategy

Our strategy is to leverage the transformative potential of our unique gene-editing technologies and expertise through two product platforms: our cell engineering platform designed to deliver therapeutic products and our plant engineering platform designed to deliver healthier food to a growing population.

The key elements of our strategy are to:

 

    Advance our additional UCART product candidates into clinical trials. We have a deep pipeline of promising immunotherapy product candidates in various stages of development, which we plan to develop and advance into clinical investigations. Based upon pre-clinical results to date, we expect several of our product candidates to enter into clinical trials in the coming years. We plan to continue to leverage our cell-engineering platform to develop additional UCART product candidates and to expand our clinical pipeline of CAR T-cell product candidates in the coming years.

 

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    Leverage our existing and potential future alliances to advance our research and to bring products to market. Our strategic alliances with Pfizer and Servier for the development of CAR T-cell applications in oncology provide us with funding for research and development, and may provide milestone payments and royalties on sales. We may enter into additional strategic alliances to facilitate our development and commercialization of CAR T-cell immunotherapy products.

 

    Expand our product pipeline to other therapeutic indications with unmet medical needs. We intend to continue using our gene-editing technologies in therapeutic applications beyond immuno-oncology, including the treatment of chronic infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases.

 

    Develop plant products for the multibillion dollar agricultural-biotechnology market through the use of our gene-editing platform. We are applying our gene-editing technologies to create food products with consumer health benefits, adaptations for climate change or nutritional enhancements that address the needs of a growing population. By selecting and inactivating target genes in certain agricultural crops, we believe we can produce unique variants with consumer benefits. For example, we are developing a potato that could be stored safely in cold conditions and have completed the first field trials for this product, new soybean breeds with improved oil qualities and protein content, of which we have completed the second year of field trials and powdery mildew resistant wheat. We also intend to integrate additional crops into our product pipeline, including canola, corn and rice.

Immunotherapy: Turning the Immune System into “Smart Drugs”

The immune system has evolved to protect the body from invading pathogens or external harmful materials by identifying these foreign bodies through “non-self” antigens, which are molecular signatures that they carry and are foreign to the body. A central function of the immune system is to discriminate between “self,” which is recognized through antigens normally present in the body and borne by cells, proteins, sugars or lipids, and non-self, which is detected through abnormal or foreign antigens. Cancer cells thrive, in part, because they trick the immune system into treating them as self, even though they express abnormal antigens, and thus immune tolerance occurs when the immune system fails to recognize and attack tumors. Breaking immune tolerance is an important aspect of most immuno-oncology-based therapeutics because it enables the immune system to recognize and treat tumors as non-self and lead to tumor destruction.

The immune system recognizes non-self danger signals and responds to threats at a cellular level. The immune system may be conceptualized as comprising two arms. The first arm, known as the innate immune system, recognizes non-specific signals of infection or abnormalities as a first line of defense. The innate immune system is the initial response to an infection, and the response is the same every time regardless of prior exposure to the infectious agent. The second arm, known as the adaptive immune system, is composed of highly specialized cells and provides long-term specific recognition and protection from infectious agents and abnormal processes such as cancer. The adaptive immune response is further subdivided into antibody-based responses and cellular responses, which include T-cell-based immune responses. The most significant components of the cellular aspect of the adaptive immune response are T-cells, which are specialized cells that generally mature in the thymus. T-cells are involved in both sensing and killing infected or abnormal cells, as well as coordinating the activation of other cells and mounting an immune response.

Although the immune system is designed to identify and destroy foreign or abnormal protein-bearing tumor cells, this process is often defective in cancer patients. Additionally, cancer cells employ a number of mechanisms to escape immune detection and attack to suppress the effect of the immune response.

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that modifies, stimulates, or re-directs certain parts of the immune system to fight diseases, such as cancer. Immunotherapy works by stimulating a patient’s own immune system or by turning its attacks towards harmful targets, such as cancer cells. Immunotherapy can also be pursued by giving patients engineered immune cells, such as CAR T-cells to target certain cells. Immunotherapy is playing an increasingly large role in treating cancer, chronic infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases.

 

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T-cells and T-cell Receptors (TCRs)

T-cells are a class of white blood cells that carry a specific TCR at their surface, that allows them to recognize and kill other cells that express antigens foreign to the individual. Normal cells express a set of specific molecules, called human leukocyte antigen, or HLA, at their surface. HLA is associated with small fragments, or peptides of the proteins expressed or processed inside the cell. Abnormal or foreign proteins expressed in a cell (viruses, for example) can attach to HLAs at the cell’s surface and be recognized by T-cells through these HLA-peptide complexes and identified as foreign antigens. This recognition triggers the activation of the T-cells, which destroy the foreign HLA-peptide complex-bearing cell, secrete specific hormones attracting other immune-competent cells to their location, and start multiplying to establish a full immune response.

An activated T-cell can multiply tens of thousands of times, so long as there remains a presence of the foreign antigen in the body. Unlike antibodies that mainly diffuse passively through the body and its circulating fluids, T-cells actively leave blood vessels or lymphoid organs and travel through the tissues of the body where they can attack foreign antigens. Once the antigen is eliminated from the body, the T-cells run out of stimulation and die off, with only a fraction surviving as “memory T-cells,” which can react promptly should the antigen reappear in the body.

There is a high variability of HLA molecules in the population. Therefore, if a cell is introduced into a person and originally comes from another individual that is not HLA-matched, it will bear, at its surface, HLA-peptide complexes that are recognized as foreign and will be killed by the T-cells of the recipient. This mechanism of graft rejection has been a major limitation to transplanting patients with allogeneic tissues. Reciprocally, if T-cells are grafted from one individual to another and start recognizing as foreign the normal HLA-peptide complexes at the surface of all tissues of the grafted individual, then they may attack and kill those healthy tissues, leading to Graft-versus-Host disease (GvHD), which can be very severe, and potentially fatal, if left untreated. GvHD has been a major limitation to the use of allogeneic T-cells when treating patients.

Cancerous cells express abnormal antigens and can be killed by T-cells. However, cancer may grow and spread to various organs when T-cells with cancer-specific receptors are in low numbers, of poor quality, or rendered inactive by suppressive mechanisms employed by tumor tissues. T-cells are a key armament when fighting cancers. They play a particularly significant role if they are tailored to target tumors, and even more so if their genes are edited to overcome tumor defenses, to make T-cells compatible with other anti-cancer drugs that can be combined with them, and to prevent GvHD, which would allow the use of allogeneic T-cells.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CARs)

CARs are engineered molecules that, when present at the surface of T-cells, enable them to recognize specific proteins or antigens that are present on the surface of other cells. These receptors are typically used to graft the specificity of an antibody derived from a single cell, or a monoclonal antibody, onto a T-cell and provide it with a specific targeting mechanism to seek, identify, interact with and destroy the tumor cells bearing a selected antigen associated with that tumor also known as tumor-associated antigen, or TAA and tumor-specific antigens, or TSA. The expression of some genes, or combinations of genes, can be associated with certain classes of cancers. It is sometimes possible to identify TAAs that are expressed at various levels by tumor cells from a given cancer type. These TAAs may also be normally expressed by other tissues at different stages of development.

T-cells with CARs are referred to as CAR T-cells. Whereas natural T-cell receptors, or TCRs, only recognize antigens bound to an HLA molecule at a cell’s surface, a CAR is able to directly recognize antigens that are present at the targeted cell’s surface. It is believed that upon cell-to-cell contact between a CAR T-cell and an antigen-bearing targeted cell, antigen recognition by the CAR “activates” the CAR T-cell, triggering it to multiply, attack and kill its target through the release of “hole-forming” proteins, known as perforins, and “degradation enzymes,” known as granzymes, that enter the targeted cell through the perforin-formed holes and carry out the killing. The activation of a T-cell through a CAR results in a target-associated “kill and amplify” chain reaction that eradicates the tumor.

 

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CARs are constructed by assembling components, or domains, from different proteins, including:

 

    In the extracellular space, one or more target binding domains, coming from ligands, such as antibodies or receptors, that can recognize their targets on the outside of the T-cell;

 

    A hinge that anchors the target binding domains at the T-cell’s surface and helps position the target binding domains relative to their targets;

 

    Trans-membrane domains that anchor the CAR at the T-cell’s surface relative to the T-cells; and

 

    A set of activating or silencing domains, which are located within the T-cell’s interior, that deliver appropriate signals to the T-cells leading to T-cell activation or repression according to the T-cell environment. Such signals may induce tumor cell killing, hormone secretion and CAR T-cell multiplication.

The following diagram shows the mechanism by which a CAR T-cell is believed to attack a tumor cell:

 

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Recent immuno-oncology advancements have shown the potential to cure certain cancers by harnessing the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. For example:

 

    The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania conducted several studies, and updated data presented at the 57th ASH meeting in Orlando. Results from a trial of 59 children with relapsed /refractory ALL infused with CAR based therapy showed that 55 (93 percent) experienced complete remissions, with an overall one-year survival of 79 percent. Relapse-free survival at six months was 76 percent, and 55 percent at one year. With a median follow-up of 12 months, 34 patients remained in complete remission, with six undergoing additional treatments such as stem cell transplant.

 

    In another study in Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, fifty-seven percent of patients (15 of 28 evaluable patients) had responded to the therapy within three months of receiving their cellular infusion. Response rates were 72 percent (8 of 11 patients) among patients with follicular lymphoma, 47 percent (7 out of 15 patients) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DBCL) and 50 percent in mantle cell lymphoma (1 of 2 patients). Overall, 14 patients experienced complete remissions of their disease. All patients had stopped responding to conventional therapies before receiving the investigational cellular therapy, including stem cell transplants in many cases.

 

   

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center presented updated data at the 57th ASH meeting on a study where 44 adult patients with ALL were treated with a CAR based therapy. Of these, 43 patients were evaluable for response. At the time of the CAR T-cell infusion, 22 of the 43 patients (51%) had

 

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morphologic disease (³5% blasts in BM or measurable extramedullary disease) and the remaining 21 patients had minimal disease (<5% blasts in BM). Thirty six patients (84%) were in complete remission (CR) after CAR T-cell infusion. MRD analysis was performed in 35 of 36 CR patients, and 29 of these 35 patients (83%) achieved an MRD-negative CR (MRD-CR).

Based on these and other advancements, immuno-oncology has become a new frontier for treatment, and we believe it is one of the most promising areas of development within oncology.

Limitations of Current Autologous Treatments

Many of the CAR T-cell immunotherapy treatments currently under development are created through an autologous approach in which the patient’s own T-cells are engineered to fight cancer cells. Part of our scientific basis for pursuing allogeneic approaches rests in the recognized limitations of autologous approaches, including:

 

    Autologous treatments must be specifically designed for each patient due to significant patient-to-patient variability in the quality of the T-cell;

 

    Autologous treatments can bear high costs due to the necessity of designing a bespoke treatment for each patient and the effort consumed in modifying and growing each patient’s T-cells; and

 

    At this time, autologous treatments cannot be mass produced, may involve significant production time, and require patients be treated at select advanced facilities.

Although some autologous approaches to CAR T-cell have recently demonstrated encouraging clinical data, we believe our allogeneic approach provides developmental benefits.

Our Gene-Editing Approach to Allogeneic CAR T-cell Therapy

The most fundamental challenge of genome engineering is the need to specifically and efficiently target a precise DNA sequence within a complex genome. Our founder and CEO, Dr. André Choulika, was one of the pioneers and first researchers in nuclease-based genome engineering in the early 1990s and has been integral in the development and advancement of gene-editing tools.

Our proprietary gene-editing platform relies on our capacity to custom design DNA-sequence specific cutting enzymes, or nucleases, for any chosen gene we need to modify and our capability to introduce such custom-made nucleases into the living cells we want to engineer. Our platform relies on precisely chosen protein families that can specifically recognize unique DNA sequences and can be tailored to target such sequences in any chosen gene or genetic region.

We are currently developing an allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy approach based on our technology platform that combines single or multi-chain CARs, TALEN and PulseAgile to address the opportunities for improvement discussed above. Our approach aims to deliver an off-the-shelf product with the following benefits:

 

    Market Access. Enable products to be shipped globally, thereby reducing deployment obstacles and providing accessibility to a broad patient population;

 

    Cost-effectiveness. Streamlined manufacturing process has the potential reduce costs;

 

    Novel Features. Develop products with specific safety and control properties;

 

    Compatibility. Develop products taking into consideration the current standards of cancer care; and

 

    Consistency. Qualify and develop cancer products that are designed for optimal dosage, while reducing batch-to-batch variability.

 

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TALEN—Proprietary Gene-editing Technology

The flagship nuclease structure we use for gene editing is based on a class of proteins derived from transcription activator-like effectors, or TALE. TALEN products are designed by fusing the DNA-cutting domain of a nuclease to TALE domains, which can be tailored to specifically recognize a unique DNA sequence. These fusion proteins serve as readily targetable “DNA scissors” for genome engineering applications that enable us to perform targeted genome modifications such as sequence insertion, deletion, repair and replacement in living cells.

The following diagram shows the structure of a TALEN. The DNA binding domain of TALEN is composed of DNA binding units (repeat variable di-residues or RVDs) that individually recognize the base pair, assembled to recognize DNA. The specificity of this recognition is mediated by two amino-acids (NN, NI, NG, HD), the RVDs that directly interact with the base of the DNA.

 

LOGO

We believe the key benefits of TALEN technology are:

 

    Precision. It is possible to design a TALEN that will cleave at any selected region in any gene, giving us the ability to achieve the desired genetic outcome with any gene in any living species.

 

    Specificity and Selectivity. TALEN may be designed to limit its DNA cleavage to the desired sequence and to avoid cutting elsewhere in the genome. This parameter is essential, especially for therapeutic applications, because unwanted genomic modifications potentially could lead to harmful effects for the patient. In addition, gene editing requires only a transient presence of TALEN, thus preserving the integrity and functionality of the T-cell’s genome.

 

    Efficiency. A large percentage of cells treated by the nuclease bear the desired genomic modification after treatment is completed. In our routine gene-editing processes, around 70% of the T-cells treated by TALEN to inactivate one gene copy bear the desired genomic modification. We believe TALEN’s high efficiency will be important to the cost-effectiveness of a manufacturing process involving the generation of gene-edited T-cells.

 

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The following diagram shows the mechanism by which TALEN inactivates, or knocks out, a gene:

 

 

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We are able to assemble long arrays of modular domains with predictable specificity for a chosen sequence of DNA unique within a genome. When a TALEN is present, its TALE domains recognize its target DNA sequence and thereby direct the enzyme to the proper chromosomal location. Once bound to its target DNA sequence, the DNA cleaving-domain of the TALEN induces a DNA break at the targeted location to induce permanent DNA modifications. We believe TALEN stands out among nucleases as exceptionally precise, accurate and efficient to perform gene inactivation.

Other Types of Gene Editing Technologies

We have developed a strong expertise and capacity in meganuclease technologies, which involve enzymes capable of recognizing very large unique DNA sequences. In addition, using the flexibility of the TALE domain, we have developed new classes of custom-designed nucleases, such as compact TALEN and mega-TALE nucleases that combine meganucleases and TALEN technology. Compact-TALEN is built with a single TALE molecule fused to a fragment of a chosen meganuclease that carries limited DNA sequence recognition functionality but fully functional DNA-cleaving activity. These chimeric proteins are smaller in size than classical TALEN, which can facilitate their delivery to cells. In contrast, mega-TALEs use a full-size meganuclease to enhance their DNA sequence recognition capacities, while demonstrating enhanced precision. In addition, we have discovered a new class of nuclease that we named BurrH nucleases, also based on arrays of single DNA-base recognizing modular domains.

 

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PulseAgile—Electroporation Technology

In order to perform gene editing, we use our proprietary PulseAgile electroporation technology to introduce nucleases inside the target T-cell where they can access the cell’s DNA. Electroporation allows messenger RNA, or mRNA, molecules coding for the nuclease to enter into the cell, where it is translated into the nuclease protein that can cut into the cell’s DNA. The mRNA molecules are rapidly degraded by the cell, which means that the nuclease is only expressed for a short time.

PulseAgile electroporation uses a unique electrical field wave-form that, in combination with a proprietary buffer solution, enables molecules, such as nucleases, to enter efficiently into the cell while maintaining a high percentage of viable cells. PulseAgile technology is particularly effective due to the shape of the electrical field that includes high voltage peaks, which are optimized to create transient holes in the cell membrane, followed by lower voltage pulses that help mRNA (for example TALEN encoding mRNA) migrate into the cells. In addition, PulseAgile is optimized to preserve high cell viability and thus suited for large-scale manufacturing.

Next-Generation Products Based on Multi-chain CAR

Historically, CAR components have been assembled into a linear CAR molecule, known as a “single-chain” CAR. We have developed another architecture, which we call “multi-chain” CAR, that is currently based on the structure of the high-affinity IgE receptor, which is normally absent in T-cells. The multi-chain CAR is composed of several membrane-bound proteins that naturally assemble at the cell’s surface and, as described below, have several benefits.

CAR architectures generally utilize a single polypeptide chain, which requires multiple appending of domains to enable a configuration that provides both the T-cell activation and co-stimulation needed for optimal T-cell responses. Typically, the target-binding domain of a CAR consists of a single-chain variable fragment of an antibody comprising variable domains of large polypeptide subunits, or heavy chains, and small polypeptide subunits, or light chains, joined by a short linker peptide. This structure allows the expression of the CAR as a single-chain protein. One limitation of single-chain CAR architecture is the small number of features that it is able to add to a cell. With single-chain CARs, each additional feature, or domain, has to hinge on the transmembrane structure. As a result, single-chain CARs are structured so that as domains are added, they are inevitably located further away from the transmembrane structure. When such protein domains are not located close to the transmembrane structure, they tend to be less stable or active, which limits the number of domains that can be added.

We have developed a novel multi-subunit CAR architecture that overcomes these structural issues and expands the functional possibilities that can be brought to a T-cell. Our multi-chain CAR is currently based on the architecture of a specific high affinity antibody receptor, IgE, that is normally absent from T-cells. This architecture offers the potential for inclusion of multiple intra-cellular signaling domains, optimally located at their natural distance from the membrane. In other words, our multi-chain CAR offers additional positions close to the cell membrane so that domains can be more flexibly located relative to the cell’s transmembrane structure. This also facilitates the potential implementation of multiple recognition domains, possibly allowing the recognition of not only a single antigen, but also of patterns of multiple antigen expression. This novel multi-subunit architecture would allow the construction of CARs with both improved activity and specificity and thus an expanded range of applications.

CARs, whether single or multi-chain, are means to redirect T-cell activity toward cells bearing selected antigens. Our platform allows us to design CARs and to optimize their design depending on where and how their target is expressed on the surface of cancer cells.

 

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The following diagram shows the distinction between single-chain CARs and multi-chain CARs:

 

 

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Nuclease Technology and T-cells: The Design Process

Our T-cell gene-editing process involves two engineering rounds:

Step 1: Add Genes, such as a CAR

In the first round, genetic material is added to the T-cell’s genome using a viral vector—a benign modified virus that cannot replicate autonomously but can efficiently deliver such genetic material into a cell with which it is in contact. In particular, we use replication-deficient viral vectors derived from a specific type of virus, known as lentivirus, to establish integration. The genetic material added includes a gene-coding for a CAR, which becomes a new receptor at the T-cell’s surface that allows it to recognize and bind to a target molecule that is present at the surface of other cells. At this stage, we can also add additional genes to these cells that confer specific properties. For example, we add suicide genes, which code for proteins that can make T-cells susceptible to certain drugs and enable us to deplete our engineered T-cells at our discretion by administering a drug to the patient. This system can also be integrated within the CAR itself.

Step 2: Gene Editing to Inactivate Genes, such as the TCRa, PD-1, CD52

In the second round, we use our PulseAgile electroporation technology to introduce specific TALEN mRNA into the T-cells to inactivate a number of genes that are naturally present in the genome of these T-cells.

TCRs at the surface of T-cells allow them to recognize other cells that express foreign, non-self, antigens (for example, cells infected by a virus or cells coming from another individual). Non-modified allogeneic T-cells

 

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bear functional TCRs and, if injected into a patient, can potentially recognize non-self on that patient’s tissues and start to attack them. For this reason, all of our UCART product candidates undergo the inactivation of a gene coding for TCRa, a key component of the natural antigen receptor of T-cells, to suppress their alloreactivity. The engineered T-cells lack functional TCRs and are no longer capable of recognizing foreign antigens. As a result, when injected into a patient, the engineered T-cell would not recognize the tissues of the host patient as foreign and thus would avoid attacking the patient’s tissues. This could avoid the GvHD that can sometimes be observed when allogeneic TCR-positive T-cells are infused into some patients.

The figure below depicts the suppression of alloreactivity in T-cells engineered to lack functional TCRs. The figure summarizes experiments in which we injected mice with T-cells engineered for the inactivation of TCRa while injecting other mice with non-engineered T-cells with functional TCRs. We then measured the effects of such injections on mean body weight, which serves as a proxy for the impact of GvHD.

 

LOGO

Once modified, the T-cells of our UCART products are amplified. The desired TCR-less T-cells are then purified from the cells that may still bear a TCR, and are finally frozen. We perform a battery of specialized testing techniques and various quality assurance and quality control assays to further validate cellular functional integrity following gene editing.

The lack of a TCR at the surface of our UCART product candidates is a key feature that allows them to be used as allogeneic off-the-shelf products. Other genes can also be inactivated in this round to confer additional specific attributes to the T-cells. They can be made resistant, and therefore compatible, with specific medical regimens used during the course of cancer treatments. For example, we inactivate the CD52 gene, which codes for the target of alemtuzumab, a monoclonal antibody sometimes used in CLL patients, that would otherwise destroy our engineered T-cells. Likewise, we believe we can inactivate the deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) genes in order to make our T-cells respectively resistant to purine nucleotide analogs (e.g.fludarabine, clfarabine or cytarabine) or to corticoids that are used for several types of cancer patients.

 

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The following diagram shows the key stages in our engineering of UCART19:

 

 

LOGO

Our engineered T-cell could also be made insensitive to inhibition signals, which diminishes immune system activity, that may be present within the tumor microenvironment and that usually block T-cell attacks. For example, we inactivate the PD-1 gene in our engineered T-cells so that they would no longer be subject to checkpoint regulator inhibition by tumors expressing PDL-1, a common anti-immune defense mechanism found in cancer.

The following diagram shows the inactivation of the PD-1 gene to suppress checkpoint inhibition in the T-cell:

 

 

LOGO

 

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Using our ability to add and to inactivate genes, our platform has the flexibility to deliver smart T-cells designed for specific indications and purposes.

Key Benefits of our UCART Approach

We believe our CAR T approach and manufacturing process has the potential to provide the following benefits:

 

    Market Access. Enable products to be shipped globally, thereby reducing deployment obstacles.

Our UCART product candidates are intended to enable universal market access driven by an allogeneic approach. Current autologous treatments require dedicated infrastructure, which could limit their availability to only a few select sites. Because our UCART product candidates are designed to be frozen and available off-the-shelf, they could be shipped globally at any time and administered immediately to patients when needed, including in local clinics.

 

    Cost-effectiveness. Streamlined manufacturing process has the potential to reduce costs.

Our manufacturing process is a benefit to our UCART product candidate line that could contribute to the design of a reasonably priced product. Our manufacturing process produces UCART product candidates from healthy, tested and qualified donor T-cells. Moreover, because our process is powered by our nucleases and our proprietary PulseAgile electroporation systems, we expect to be able to inactivate genes in a highly efficient manner that avoids harming T-cells during processing, which could allow us to manufacture quality UCART products at high yields. This could enable us to manufacture in bulk, and we expect that T-cells from one healthy donor, and one manufacturing run of UCART, could be used to create hundreds of doses of product. These efficiencies could allow us to reduce costs to patients and produce competitive gross profit margins.

 

    Novel Features. Develop products with specific safety and control properties.

We aim to engineer T-cells for specific clinical results that enhance safety and provide greater control over cellular activity. For example, our research includes disabling T-cells from attacking a patient’s healthy tissues, designing T-cells to be compatible with standard oncology treatments, enabling our engineered T-cells to surpass key immune checkpoint regulators that can protect tumors from the immune system, and building into our products a suicide gene that directs the natural clearance of allogeneic T-cells with the addition of a drug.

 

    Compatibility. Develop products taking into consideration the current standards of cancer care.

We are researching augmenting T-cells to resist and be compatible with compounds that cancer patients are exposed to, including standard oncology treatments, such as specific monoclonal antibody therapies, corticoids, or other relevant chemotherapies. We are pursuing treatment options that would allow patients to be treated with our engineered T-cells after or during treatment with traditional approaches that would impair T-cell function or viability.

 

    Consistency. Qualify and develop cancer products that are designed for optimal dosage, while reducing batch-to-batch variability.

Our frozen, off-the-shelf UCART product candidates are intended to be produced pursuant to cGMP and are extensively controlled. Like other pharmaceutical products, we expect that their quality will be controlled to ensure consistency over time and from batch to batch. This is a significant difference from autologous approaches currently reported to be in clinical development. In these autologous settings, where the donor of T-cells is the very patient who will receive the CAR-bearing cells, a specific batch of T-cells must be made for each patient and, in some cases, sufficient T-cells may not be available from the patient to create the autologous product.

 

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How can we turn a procedure into a large scale, widely available drug?

We have made significant progress in the manufacturing process for the first gene-edited living cell product, UCART19, a TALEN® gene-edited, allogeneic CAR T-cell product candidate designed to target the CD19 antigen in ALL and CLL patients. On October 28, 2015, we announced that we completed a series of three production runs of UCART19, confirming the transfer of Cellectis’ manufacturing process into clinical grade, GMP conditions. This important milestone shows that UCARTs can be manufactured in GMP conditions and demonstrates the industrial production of UCART19, as well as the capacity of Cellectis’ pipeline of UCART product candidates to be manufactured for clinical investigations.

The manufacturing process for our allogeneic CAR T-cell product line, Universal CARTs or UCARTs, yields frozen, off-the-shelf, allogeneic, engineered CAR T-cells. UCARTs are meant to be readily available CAR T-cells for a large patient population. The specificity of those allogeneic therapies is that T-cells from healthy donors are genetically edited with our proprietary technology, TALEN®, to seek and destroy cancer cells. The TALEN®-based gene editing (knock-out of the TCR-alpha and CD52 genes) is designed to suppress T-cell alloreactivity and confer resistance to alemtuzumab to the T-cells.

We have initiated the manufacturing process transfer to CellforCure of UCART123, to whom we subcontract the manufacturing of the clinical supplies of UCART123, and we intend to start manufacturing of clinical grade UCART123 in large scale according to GMP in 2016, for purposes of conducting clinical investigation.

 

 

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UCART Pipeline

We are developing a series of product candidates for advanced solid and hematologic malignancies.

Our lead immuno-oncology product candidates, which we refer to as UCARTs, are all allogeneic CAR T-cells engineered to be used for treating any patient with a particular cancer type. Each UCART product candidate targets a selected antigen expressed on tumor cells and bears specific engineered attributes, such as compatibility with specific medical regimens that cancer patients may undergo. UCART is the first therapeutic product line that we are developing with our gene-editing platform to address unmet medical needs in oncology. We are focusing our initial internal pipeline in the liquid tumor space or leukemias, targeting diseases with high unmet needs such as

 

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ALL, CLL, AML, and MM. All of our product candidates are currently in the discovery or pre-clinical proof-of-concept phase, and the following chart highlights some of these product candidates:

 

 

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UCART19 for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

UCART is an allogeneic, off-the-shelf product candidate designed to exhibit high efficacy in fighting hematological malignancies bearing the B-lymphocyte antigen CD19, or CD19.

Targeted Indications

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

ALL is a heterogeneous hematologic disease characterized by the proliferation of immature lymphoid cells in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and other organs. The proliferation and accumulation of blast cells in the marrow results in suppression of hematopoiesis and, thereafter, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. Extramedullary accumulations of lymphoblasts may occur in various sites, especially the meninges, gonads, thymus, liver, spleen, or lymph nodes. The age-adjusted incidence rate of ALL in the United States is 1.77 per 100,000 individuals per year, with approximately 6250 new cases and 1450 deaths estimated in 2015. The median age at diagnosis for ALL is 14 years with 58.8% of patients diagnosed at younger than 20 years of age. In contrast, 25.5% of cases are diagnosed at 45 years or older and only approximately 11% of patients are diagnosed at 65 years or older. ALL represents 75% to 80% of acute leukemia among children, making it the most common form of childhood leukemia; by contrast, ALL represents approximately 20% of all leukemia among adults. The cure rates and survival outcomes for patients with ALL have improved dramatically over the past several decades, primarily among children. Improvements are largely owed to advances in the understanding of the molecular genetics and pathogenesis of the disease, the incorporation of risk-adapted therapy, and the advent of new targeted agents. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database have shown a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 86% to 89% for children. Adults have the poorest 5-year OS rate of 24.1% for patients between the ages of 40 and 59 years and an even lower rate of 17.7% for patients between the ages of 60 and 69 years. Despite great progress in the development of curative therapies, ALL remains a leading cause of pediatric cancer-related mortality for patients presenting with a relapsed or refractory disease. New therapies are needed to overcome chemotherapy resistance and reduce non-specific treatment associated side effects.

 

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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

CLL is a chronic disease of the blood that develops slowly and is characterized by an excess of white blood cells. In healthy individuals, B-lymphocytes produced by the bone marrow are replaced in a few days. In the case of chronic lymphoid leukemia, the B-lymphocytes produced by the bone marrow accumulate in the blood, the ganglia, the spleen and the bone marrow, instead of dying within a few days or months to be replaced by others. Prognosis depends on the disease stage at diagnosis as well as the presence or absence of high-risk markers. CLL is the most common leukemia in the developed countries (approximately one-third of all new leukemia cases) with an incidence of four cases per 100,000 people per year. CLL primarily affects the elderly, with a median age at diagnosis of approximately 70 years. Efforts by competitors are ongoing to develop CAR adoptive immunotherapies for CLL and ALL through autologous approaches. The initial results in a recently published CAR clinical trial are very encouraging.

Other CD-19 positive indications

There are other CD19 positive B-lymphocyte tumors. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, or NHL, are a group of hematological cancers, 85% of which are B-lymphocyte-derived and express CD19. In the United States, there are approximately 70,000 new NHL cases diagnosed per year, with incidence from 2.5 cases per 100,000 persons in the 20- to 24-year age-group, to 44.6 cases per 100,000 individuals by age 60 to 64, to more than 100 cases per 100,000 individuals older than 75. For example, B-lymphocyte derived NHL include:

 

    Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (31% of NHL)

 

    Follicular Lymphoma (22% of NHL)

 

    Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma (7.5% of NHL)

 

    Small Cell Lymphocytic Lymphoma–Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (7% of NHL)

 

    Mantle Cell Lymphoma (6% of NHL)

Product Features

UCART19 is an allogeneic T-cell product intended for the treatment of CD19-expressing hematologic malignancies, which develop in ALL and CLL.

UCART19 is designed to become active, proliferate, secrete cytokines and kill CD19-bearing B-cell malignancies upon contact with such cells, following administration to patients. Activation of UCART19 is driven by contact between its anti-CD19 CAR and the CD19 protein on the surface of tumor cells.

UCART19 cells bear a CAR targeting the CD19 antigen that drives their capacity to kill CD19-bearing cells. Moreover, as all UCART product candidates, UCART19 lacks the TCR responsible for recognition of non-self antigens by the T-cells, which allows use of healthy donor T-cells to produce UCART19, with reduced potential for GvHD. In addition, some UCART19 cells lack CD52, a protein expressed on the cell surface that makes T-cells sensitive to alemtuzumab, a drug often used to treat CLL patients. This feature should allow for engraftment of the cells in conjunction with a potential alemtuzumab treatment.

UCART19 activation could potentially lead to eradication of CD19-expressing cancer cells through T-cell mediated killing of such cancer cells and potentially pro-inflammatory immune system production as well as CAR T-cell amplification.

Pre-clinical Findings

UCART19 has been evaluated both in vitro and in animal studies, with promising results.

 

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In vitro studies demonstrated efficient killing of human CD19-bearing cells by UCART19. Animal studies were conducted in mice injected both with UCART19 and human CD19-bearing tumor cells. UCART19 was tested for its potential to induce GvHD. As expected, mice receiving unmodified T-cells from a human donor showed GvHD, while mice receiving the UCART19 cells that lack the TCR showed no sign of GvHD. In these experiments, all mice receiving tumor cells but no T-cells showed strong tumor progression. In most of the mice that received the tumor, it was eradicated within 13 days after receiving UCART19 cells, and partial responses were observed in the remaining mice. In addition, our studies also show that UCART19 cells were resistant to alemtuzumab in mice.

We believe our promising pre-clinical results, coupled with the results obtained by others in human autologous clinical trial settings showing high rates of complete remission in late-stage ALL and CLL patients, are positive indicators that our off-the-shelf UCART19 product may successfully eradicate CD19-bearing tumors when infused into patients.

Development Strategy

In November 2015, we entered into an amendment to our initial collaboration agreement with Servier, which allowed for an early exercise of Servier’s option with respect to UCART19 and other product candidates. Pursuant to this amendment, Servier has exercised its option to acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to further develop and commercialize UCART19. In addition, Pfizer and Servier have announced that they have entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement to co-develop and commercialize UCART19.

In connection with the entry into the amendment to the collaboration agreement, Servier made an upfront payment of $38.5 million, excluding taxes.

In December 2015, we filed a CTA in the United Kingdom requesting approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial on UCART19 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which, if approved, will be conducted by Servier.

UCART123 for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN)

UCART123 is an allogeneic engineered T-cell product designed for the treatment of hematologic malignancies expressing the interleukin-3 low affinity receptor, or CD123, and is being developed for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Blastic Plasmacytoid Dentric Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN).

Targeted Indications

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a form of cancer that is characterized by infiltration of the bone marrow, blood, and other tissues by proliferative, clonal, abnormally and/or poorly differentiated cells of the hematopoietic system called blast cells. These cells interfere with normal hematopoiesis, thus contributing to the bone marrow failure which is the most common underlying cause of death. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults and has an annual overall incidence of 3.8 cases per 100,000 in the US and Europe. Although it can occur in children and adults, AML is primarily a disease of the elderly, with an incidence of 15 cases per 100,000 for those over 60 and a median age of patients with AML of 67 years. While complete response rates can be as high as 80% in patients undergoing initial induction cytotoxic chemotherapy, the majority of AML patients will ultimately be diagnosed with relapsed or refractory disease with a poor prognosis. The outcome in older patients who are unable to receive intensive chemotherapy without unacceptable side effects remains dismal, with a median survival of only 5 to 10 months. CD 123 is highly expressed on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) leukemic stem cells and blast cells, as well as in other hematologic malignancies, and constitutes an attractive target for AML.

 

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Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN)

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and aggressive hematological neoplasm recently classified among AML in the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of hematologic malignancies. BPDCN is a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukemia characterized by the clonal proliferation of precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells. There are no formal studies on the incidence of BPDCN in the general population. The few available data reported indicate that its overall incidence is extremely low, accounting for 0.44% of all hematologic malignancies and 0.7% of cutaneous lymphomas. Moreover, the leukemic form of disease is a rare phenomenon, representing <1% of cases of acute leukemia. The disease may occur at any age, but most patients are elderly men who present with skin lesions and/or involved lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. Given its rarity and only recent recognition as a distinct clinico-pathological entity, no standardized therapeutic approach has been established for BPDCN and the optimal therapy remains to be defined. Although transient responses are seen to combination chemotherapy regimens used to treat acute leukemia or lymphoma, most patients relapse with drug-resistant disease with a median overall survival rate of 9 to 13 months, irrespective of the initial presentation of the disease. High CD123 surface expression is observed on BPDCN tumoral cells and therefore represents a rational target for therapeutic development in this rare disease.

Product Features

UCART123 is an allogeneic T-cell product candidate intended for the treatment of CD123-expressing hematologic malignancies. UCART123 is designed to become active, proliferate, secrete cytokines and kill CD123 expressing cells. UCART123 bears a CAR targeting the CD123 antigen, providing specificity for CD123 expressing cells. In addition, as with all UCART products, UCART123 lacks the TCR and is intended to be used in an allogeneic context.

UCART123 activity could potentially lead to eradication of CD123-expressing cancer cells through T-cell mediated killing, pro-inflammatory cytokine production as well as CAR T-cell amplification.

Pre-clinical Findings

UCART123 is being evaluated both in vitro and in animal studies, with promising results.

In vitro studies demonstrated efficient killing of human CD123-bearing cell lines by UCART123. In addition UCART123 has also demonstrated efficient killing on human CD123-expressing cells derived from AML patients. Further studies will assess UCART123 activity against BPDCN patient samples. Animal studies were conducted in mice injected both with UCART123 and human CD123-bearing tumor cells, and have shown anti-tumor activity in an immunodeficient mouse model. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are ongoing to further investigate the safety and activity of UCART123.

Development Strategy

UCART123 is at a pre-clinical stage of development. We have initiated the manufacturing process transfer to CellforCure of UCART123, to whom we subcontract the manufacturing of the clinical supplies of UCART123, and we intend to start manufacturing of clinical grade UCART123 in large scale according to GMP in 2016, for purposes of conducting clinical investigation. Preclinical and translational activities on UCART123 in AML are to be performed in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medical Center. In addition, we are collaborating with the MD Anderson Cancer Center on the preclinical development UCART123 in BPDCN with a view toward a potential clinical trial.

UCARTCS1 for Multiple Myeloma (MM)

UCARTCS1 is an allogeneic engineered T-cell product candidate designed for the treatment of CS1-expressing hematologic malignancies which is being developed in multiple myeloma (MM).

 

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Targeted Indication Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma cell malignant neoplasm that is characterized by the neoplastic proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells producing a monoclonal immunoglobulin. This clone of plasma cells proliferates in the bone marrow and often results in extensive skeletal destruction with osteolytic lesions, osteopenia, and/or pathologic fractures. Additional disease-related complications include hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia, and infections. MM accounts for approximately 10% of hematologic malignant disorders. The annual incidence, age-adjusted to the US population, is 4.3 per 100,000, resulting in over 20,000 new patients in the United States each year. The median age at onset is 66 years, and only 2% of patients are younger than 40 years of age at diagnosis. Nine drugs have been approved over the past fifteen years for the treatment of MM, substantially expanding the number of treatment regimens available for patients in all stages of the disease. In the last decade, survival of multiple myeloma (MM) patients has markedly improved with a median survival of approximately 5 to 7 years but with major variation depending on host factors, stage of the disease, cytogenetic abnormalities, and response to therapy. However, despite this progress, patients with disease refractory to both immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) and proteasome inhibitors have a median overall survival (OS) of only 9 months. CS1 (also known as SLAMF7) is a member of the signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) family is highly and nearly universally expressed on MM cells.

Product Features

UCARTCS1 is an allogeneic T-cell drug candidate intended for the treatment of CS1 (also as known as SLAMF7)-expressing hematologic malignancies, in particular MM. UCARTCS1 is designed to become active, proliferate, secrete cytokines and kill CS1 expressing cells. As CS1 is expressed on the cell surface of CD8 T-cells, CS1 will be inactivated in T-cells prior to transduction with a viral vector encoding an anti-CS1 CAR. The inactivation of CS1 may improve the production and activity of UCARTCS1 by preserving the CD8 T cell population. In addition, as with all UCART products, UCARTCS1 lacks the TCR and is intended to be used in an allogeneic context.

Pre-clinical Findings

In vitro studies demonstrated efficient killing of human CS1-bearing cell lines by UCARTCS1. Furthermore, while non-gene-edited T-cells expressing an anti-CS1 CAR display limited cytolytic activity in vitro against MM cell lines and result in a progressive loss of CD8 T-cells, CS1-gene-edited CAR cells (UCARTCS1) display significantly increased cytotoxic activity, with the percentage of CD8 T-cells remaining unaffected. Experiments in an orthotopic MM mouse model showed that UCARTCS1 was able to mediate an in vivo anti-tumoral activity. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are ongoing to further investigate the safety and the activity of UCARTCS1.

Development Strategy

UCARTCS1 is at the pre-clinical stage of development. We intend to initiate manufacturing of UCARTCS1 according to GMP in 2016, for purposes of conducting clinical trial. Preclinical and translational activities for UCARTCS1 in MM are to be performed in collaboration with the MDAnderson Cancer Center.

UCART38 for T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) and Multiple Myeloma (MM)

UCART38 is an allogeneic engineered T-cell product candidate designed for the treatment of CD38-expressing hematologic malignancies which develop in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and in multiple myeloma (MM).

Targeted Indications:

T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL)

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignant neoplasm of the bone marrow. It accounts for approximately 20% of all cases of ALL and is somewhat more common in adults than children, although the incidence diminishes with older age. Its clinical presentation can include hyperleukocytosis with

 

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extramedullary involvement of lymph nodes and other organs, including frequent central nervous system infiltration and the presence of a mediastinal mass, arising from the thymus. The diagnosis and treatment of T-ALL remains a challenge with its uncommon and aggressive presentation.

Multiple Myeloma (MM)

See “Item 4.B—Business Overview—UCART Pipeline—UCARTS1 for Multiple Myeloma (MM)—Targeted Indication Multiple Myeloma” for more information on Multiple Myeloma.

Product Features

UCART38 is an allogeneic T-cell drug candidate intended for the treatment of CD38-expressing hematologic malignancies. UCART38 is designed to become active, proliferate, secrete cytokines and kill CD38 expressing cells. As CD38 is expressed on the cell surface of T-cells, CD38 will be inactivated in T-cells prior to transduction with a viral vector encoding an anti-CD38 CAR. The inactivation of CD38 may improve the production and activity of UCART38 by preserving T-cell population. In addition, as with all UCART products, UCART38 lacks the TCR and is intended to be used in an allogeneic context.

UCART38 activity could potentially lead to eradication of CD38-expressing cancer cells through T-cell mediated killing, pro-inflammatory cytokine production as well as CAR T-cell amplification.

Pre-clinical findings

In vitro studies demonstrated efficient killing of human CD38-bearing cell lines by UCART38. In addition, experiments in immunodeficient mice using human CD19+ tumor cells show that CD38 disrupted T-cells expressing an anti-CD19 CAR are able to mediate an in vivo anti-tumor activity similar to unmodified T-cells expressing an anti-CD19 CAR. These results suggest that CD38 inactivation has no major impact on the in vivo anti-tumor activity of T-cells. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are ongoing to further investigate the safety and the activity of UCART38.

Development Strategy

UCART38 is at an early preclinical stage. Preclinical and translational activities on UCART38 in T-cell ALL are to be performed in collaboration with the MDAnderson Cancer Center.

UCART22 for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

UCART22 is an allogeneic engineered T-cell product designed for the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Targeted Indication: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

See “Item 4.B—Business Overview—UCART Pipeline—UCART19 for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia—Targeted Indication—Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia” for more information on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

 

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Product Features

UCART22 is an allogeneic T-cell drug candidate intended for the treatment of CD22-expressing hematologic malignancies. UCART22 is designed to become active, proliferate, secrete cytokines and kill CD22 expressing cells (i.e. either CD22 positive tumor cells or non-malignant CD22 positive B lineage cells). UCART22 bears a CAR targeting the CD22 antigen, providing specificity for CD22 expressing cells. In addition, as with all UCART products, UCART22 lacks the TCR and is intended to be used in an allogeneic context.

UCART22 activity could potentially lead to eradication of CD22-expressing cancer cells through T-cell mediated killing, pro-inflammatory cytokine production as well as CAR T-cell amplification.

Development Strategy

UCART22 is at an early pre-clinical stage of development. Preclinical and translational activities on UCART22 in ALL are to be performed in collaboration with the MD Anderson Cancer Center with a view to a potential clinical trial.

Our Strategic Alliances

We have signed collaboration agreements with Pfizer and Servier, which we believe validate our research and approach to CAR-T. Our strategic alliances include potential milestone payments to us of up to $3.9 billion and royalties on future sales.

Research Collaboration and License Agreement with Pfizer

In June 2014, we entered into a Research Collaboration and License Agreement with Pfizer pursuant to which we will collaborate to conduct discovery and pre-clinical development activities to generate CAR T-cells directed at Pfizer- and Cellectis-selected targets in the field of human oncology. We granted Pfizer an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license, on a target-by-target basis, under certain of our intellectual property to make, use, sell, import, and otherwise commercialize products directed at the Pfizer-selected targets in the field of human oncology.

Under the agreement, we are obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop, for each Cellectis-selected target, at least one product candidate. Pfizer granted us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license, with sublicensing rights under certain conditions, under certain of its intellectual property to conduct research, and to make, use, sell, import and otherwise commercialize products directed at Cellectis-selected targets.

 

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Pursuant to the agreement, Pfizer made an upfront, non-refundable $80.0 million payment to us, concurrent with Pfizer’s €25.8 million equity investment in our company. In addition, the strategic alliance provides for payments of up to $185.0 million per product that is directed against a Pfizer-selected target, with aggregate potential pre-clinical, clinical and commercial milestone payments totaling up to $2.8 billion. We are also eligible to receive from Pfizer tiered royalties on annual net sales of any products that are commercialized by Pfizer that contain or incorporate certain of our intellectual property at rates in the high single-digit percentages.

Except as required of us by our collaboration agreement with Servier, until the earlier of (1) the completion or termination of a four-year term or (2) the filing by Cellectis of an IND for certain targets to which we retain rights, we and our affiliates may not grant rights under certain of our intellectual property and intellectual property developed in the course of the collaboration to develop or commercialize CAR T-cells in the field of human oncology, other than certain specified non-commercial collaborations.

Unless earlier terminated in accordance with the agreement, our agreement with Pfizer will expire on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis, until the later of (1) the expiration of the last to expire of the licensed patents covering such product; (2) the loss of regulatory exclusivity afforded such product in such country, and (3) the tenth anniversary of the date of the first commercial sale of such product in such country; however, in no event shall the term extend, with respect to a particular licensed product, past the twentieth anniversary of the first commercial sale for such product. At any time after the first anniversary of the effective date of the agreement, Pfizer will have the right to terminate the agreement at will upon 60 days’ prior written notice, either in its entirety or on a target-by-target basis. Either party may terminate the agreement, in its entirety or on a target-by-target basis, upon 90 days’ prior written notice in the event of the other party’s uncured material breach. The agreement may also be terminated upon written notice by Pfizer at any time in the event that we become bankrupt or insolvent.

Research, Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement with Servier

In February 2014, we entered into a Research, Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement with Servier. Pursuant to this agreement, we are responsible for the research and development up to and including the Phase 1 clinical trial of candidate products directed against five targets, including the UCART19 product candidate. Pursuant to the agreement, we granted Servier the right to exercise an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive, worldwide license, on a product candidate-by-product candidate basis, with respect to each product candidate selected by Servier and developed under the agreement. Upon Servier’s exercise of each option, we shall grant Servier an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license under certain of our patents and know-how covering the respective product candidate to develop, manufacture and commercialize such product in the field of anti-tumor adoptive immunotherapy, and Servier will assume responsibility for the further clinical development, manufacture and commercialization of such product. During the term of the agreement, we are prohibited from researching, developing, or commercializing any product directed against a target that is used for the same purpose as it is used with a product candidate developed under the agreement.

Pursuant to the agreement, Servier made an upfront payment of €7.55 million and, upon its exercise of each license option provided for in the agreement, Servier will pay us a lump sum license fee.

In November 2015, we entered into an amendment to our initial collaboration agreement with Servier, which allowed for an early exercise of Servier’s option with respect to UCART19 and other product candidates. Pursuant to this amendment, Servier has exercised its option to acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to further develop and commercialize UCART19. In connection with the entry into the amendment to the collaboration agreement, Servier made an upfront payment of €35.6 million ($38.5 million), excluding taxes.

In December 2015, we filed a CTA in the United Kingdom requesting approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial on UCART19 in ALL, which, if approved, will be conducted by Servier in accordance with the exercise of its option with respect to UCART19.

 

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We are eligible to receive from Servier aggregate additional payments of up to €895 million ($974.0 million), comprising payments upon the exercise of options granted to Servier under the agreement and payments upon the occurrence of certain specified development and commercial milestones. Pursuant to the agreement, we are also eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging in the high single-digit percentages based on annual net sales of commercialized products.

Unless earlier terminated, the agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last to expire of the patents covering a product licensed pursuant to the agreement. Either party may terminate the agreement for the other party’s uncured material breach upon 90 days’ prior written notice to the breaching party, or 30 days’ notice if such breach relates to a payment obligation. The parties may also terminate the agreement by mutual consent. The agreement immediately and automatically terminates upon the expiration of Servier’s last license option in the event Servier has not exercised any option to license in accordance with the agreement prior to such expiration. Servier has the right, at its sole discretion, to terminate the agreement in its entirety or with respect to specific products, upon three months’ prior written notice to us. Servier may also terminate the agreement at any time for product-related safety reasons. Either party may terminate the agreement in the event of the other party’s bankruptcy or insolvency. In the event that Servier does not exercise its option to license a product candidate, we may independently pursue all activities related to such product candidate and/or license such product candidate and the associated intellectual property to a third party. For such purpose, Servier granted us a non-exclusive, sublicensable license under any such Servier-controlled intellectual property for which we will pay tiered royalties on annual net revenues at rates ranging in the low single-digit percentages.

Collaboration with The Weill Cornell Medical College / MD Anderson

In 2015, we entered into alliances with Weill Cornell Medical College and the MD Anderson Cancer Center to accelerate the development of our lead candidate products.

Alliance with The Weill Cornell Medical College

On June 2, 2015, The Weill Cornell Medical College and Cellectis entered into a strategic research alliance to accelerate the development of a targeted immunotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Under our alliance with The Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC), WCMC and Cellectis will conduct research and develop clinical strategies with the objective of implementing and conducting one or more clinical trials at WCMC on UCART123 and potentially other product candidates in AML. Cellectis is responsible for funding the research programs, and WCMC and Cellectis will work together to develop and implement improvements to the research plan for the programs. The objectives of the collaboration are to demonstrate functionalities and specificity of UCART123 in vitro and in vivo, define the preclinical package required for a clinical trial application, prepare the clinical trial protocol and the regulatory and other study-specific documents, and discovery research for the identification of novel targets in AML patients potentially enabling the development of additional CARs for AML.

In connection with the alliance, Cellectis is responsible for generating and manufacturing UCART123 and performing in vitro and in vivo preclinical activities on tumor cell lines and in animal models. WCMC is responsible for evaluating UCART123 activity against primary AML samples and in animal models, as well as evaluating toxicity against HSCs in animal models. WCMC will also work on the development and implementation of correlative studies. In addition, WCMC and Cellectis will collaborate on the preparation of clinical trial protocols. Finally, Cellectis and WCMC are working on target discovery in the AML area, in order to identify new potential targets for AML and generate new potential candidate products for AML patients.

Alliance with The MD Anderson Cancer Center

On September 1, 2015, Cellectis and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center entered into a research and development alliance aimed at bringing novel cellular immunotherapies to patients suffering from different types of liquid tumors, particularly multiple myeloma (MM), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). Under this strategic alliance, The MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and Cellectis have agreed to collaboratively conduct several preclinical studies on candidate products: UCART123 in BPDCN, UCARTCS1 for multiple myeloma, UCART38 for T-ALL and UCART22 for ALL. Cellectis has agreed to provide funding and other support for these studies. The objective of the studies is to build on complementary expertise from MDACC and Cellectis for the

 

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development of the product candidates. MDACC and Cellectis will work together to develop and implement improvements to the research plan for the programs under joint direction of MDACC and Cellectis’ investigators. The objective of the studies is to demonstrate the functionalities and specificity of the UCART candidate products listed above, define the preclinical package required for clinical trial applications, prepare a clinical trial protocol and the regulatory documents required for interactions with FDA and the clinical trial applications. Pursuant to the alliance, Cellectis is responsible for generation and manufacturing of the UCART candidate products and some of the in vitro and in vivo preclinical work. The MDACC is responsible for evaluation of the candidate products against primary patient samples and for some activities to be performed in animal models. The alliance also includes the possibility for Cellectis and the MDACC to collaborate on one or more early phase clinical studies on the same product candidates.

Raw Materials

We are dependent on specialized third parties, who are subject to stringent manufacturing requirements and regulations, for the supply of various critical and biological materials—such as cells, cytokines or antibodies—that are necessary to produce our product candidates. We source these raw materials on a purchase order basis and do not have long-term supply contracts in place. However, we believe that competitive pricing is achieved because there are a number of potential long-term replacements to each of our suppliers. Generally, the prices of the principal biological raw materials that we purchase are stable. To the extent that we are exposed to price fluctuations, we generally do not expect, in the near term, to be able to pass on cost increases because of the early development stage of our product candidates.

Applications of Our Technology in Agricultural Biotechnology

Calyxt, Inc., (formerly Cellectis Plant Sciences, Inc.) or Calyxt, was established in 2010 and currently focuses on the development and commercialization of plant products. As the global population continues to increase, so too does the global food market. The current U.S. market size of major crops such as soybean, wheat and potato, as measured at the grower level, is in excess of $33 billion, $12 billion and $4 billion, respectively. By leveraging our plant-engineering platform and the transformative potential of gene editing, we aim to create food products with consumer health benefits, adaptations for climate change or nutritional enhancements that address the needs of a growing population. We believe we have the unique opportunity to develop products at a much lower cost than currently developed transgenic plants and to do so within a shorter timeline.

Gene Editing in Agricultural Biotechnology

The underlying process of targeted gene editing using plant nucleases is no different than the process we apply to human organisms and cells. We seek to create a sequence-specific DNA break in a gene-of-interest and allow the cell’s natural repair machinery to create a stable change at that location in the genome. The resulting changes can precisely alter certain genes to remove potentially harmful proteins or to confer specific traits.

Plant breeders have been crossbreeding varieties and selecting advantageous traits for thousands of years. The aim of targeted gene editing is to simply speed up that process by incorporating changes into elite germplasm known from wild ancestors or from other species altogether, to produce the best possible attributes faster and more cheaply. This gene-editing approach is more predictable, more reliable, and more effective than current techniques. Calyxt is applying our plant gene-editing platform to a broad range of horticultural and agronomic plant species. Calyxt performs transient expression of nucleases into a single-cell protoplast system by proprietary transformation technologies to allow precise gene editing, while avoiding the presence of foreign DNA in the final product. Following the completion of this gene-editing step, the modified plant single cell is re-grown into a fully functional plant and multiplied. The creation of these new varieties is already applicable to a wide range of crop families.

Market Dynamics

Following 20 years of industry consolidation, the current agricultural biotechnology market is dominated by a small number of large companies, such as Bayer AG, DuPont Pioneer, Groupe Limagrain Holding SA, Monsanto Co., Syngenta AG and The Dow Chemical Co. The small number of companies is also due in part to the high costs associated with product development and regulatory approval, which limit the capacity of small players to grow. Published data from industry sources indicate that the development of biotech plants takes 13 years and costs

 

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an average of $136 million, of which about $35 million are spent in regulatory science and regulatory affairs. In addition to these features, the development of transgenic crops is dependent on a set of technologies controlled by major companies. This creates a barrier for new small companies or startup companies willing to develop new crops.

TALEN Technology Platform in Agricultural Biotechnology

We aim to create food products with consumer health benefits by leveraging our plant-engineering platform and the transformative potential of gene editing. We edit genes naturally present in the plant genomes through temporary expression of TALEN products to knock out or precisely edit genes, which creates engineered plants that bear mutated endogenous, or non-foreign, genes. Our goal is to quickly develop a large number of traits in key crops, obtain regulatory clearance and field validation data, and become a new leader in the agricultural biotechnology landscape.

We believe we have the unique opportunity to develop products at a much lower cost than currently developed transgenic plants and to do so within a shorter timeline.

 

 

LOGO

Based on the USDA letters dated August 28, 2014, May 5, 2015, May 20, 2015 and February 2016, confirming that certain of Calyxt’s potato, soybean and wheat products fall outside of the scope of plant regulation, we seek to enter the U.S. agricultural biotechnology market by using our proprietary TALEN technology, which we believe will enable us to expedite the trait development process to 6-10 years and significantly lower the cost associated with development. In addition, our gene-editing approach results in transgene-free food products. We believe this will result in simpler, shorter and cheaper regulatory pathway because our products may avoid the significant expenses and long process associated with plant deregulation. We thus believe Calyxt will have the ability to commercialize its products quickly without incurring major regulatory costs or going through time-consuming deregulation studies.

By leveraging our plant-engineering platform and the transformative potential of gene editing, we aim to create food products with consumer health benefits, adaptations for climate change or nutritional enhancements that address the needs of a growing population. We are developing products in a range of highly valuable plants, including soybean, potato, canola and wheat. In addition, we believe our processes can be adjusted to virtually any crop.

 

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Calyxt Agricultural Biotechnology Products

Our current agricultural biotechnology product candidates are depicted in the following diagram, which assumes that the same regulatory scientific rationale would apply to all these product candidates:

 

Product   Trait    Discovery      Estimated
Field Trial

Soybean

  High oleic    ü    ü
  High oleic/low linolenic oil stack    Ongoing    2016
  Protein content    Ongoing    2017

Potato

  Cold storage    ü    ü
  Browning reduction    Ongoing    2017
  Cold storage/browning reduction stack (chips variety)    Ongoing    2018

Canola

  Improved oil    Ongoing    2018
  Herbicide tolerance    Ongoing    2018

Wheat

  High dietary fiber    Ongoing    2017
  Powdery mildew disease resistance    ü    2016

Upon the successful completion of a field trial, it generally takes two to three years to establish a commercial proof of concept and following commercial proof of concept, an additional two to three years to grow sufficient quantities for commercialization.

The typical development pathway of our agricultural product candidates go through is as follows:

 

(1) Research proof of concept—the proof that the intended mutations have been achieved and that they lead to the intended phenotype, obtained in greenhouse and in a variety that is adapted for research work,

 

(2) Field trial—proof that, when planted in fields, the same mutated variety leads to the intended phenotype,

 

(3) Implementation in elite background—crossing (possibly multiple times) of the mutated variety with high yield “elite” varieties to place the trait into that commercial grade genetic context,

 

(4) Commercial proof of concept—two field trials testing for the yield of the mutated elite variety. It is usually assumed that, at that stage, most development risks intrinsic to the trait, are eliminated,

 

(5) Commercialization—although we have not yet reached the commercial stage on our products, we anticipate using a number of strategies depending on the crop type. These could include licensing traits, selling seed and participating in processing and end-user marketing.

We may choose to partner on selected programs with third parties that have developed elite germplasm when such varieties are not readily available.

Our current main product candidates are:

High Oleic Soybean

Soybean oil is low in monounsaturated fatty acids compared to canola and olive oils. Consumption of oils high in monounsaturated fats is considered healthier, and such oils typically have a longer shelf life and enhanced oxidative stability. Partial hydrogenation is often undertaken to improve soybean oil’s fatty acid profile. However, a negative consequence of hydrogenation is the production of trans-fatty acids, which when consumed raises low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol levels and contributes to cardio-vascular diseases.

 

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We are developing a new variety of soybean with a high oleic acid and low linolenic acid content, which eliminates the need for hydrogenation and the creation of trans-fats. This new variety has a fatty acid profile very similar to olive oil, with the added benefit of a decrease of approximately 20% in saturated fatty acids compared to standard soybean oil. In mid-2015, we received two letters from the USDA confirming that our high oleic and low linolenic varieties were deemed non-regulated under the Plant Protection Act. In November 2015, we announced completion of the second year of multi-location d trials in Minnesota and South Dakota of Calyxt’s high oleic/no trans fat soybean variety.

We are currently in the process of developing a commercialization plan for our high oleic soybean and anticipate beginning sales in 2018. Although we are still studying the market, our current expectation is to accelerate the acceptance of our product through incentives to growers and partnering with processors. We believe that our soybean varieties will create premium pricing opportunities for growers and processors due to its its high oleic oil content.

Powdery Mildew Resistant Wheat

In 2015, 225 million hectares of wheat were harvested worldwide resulting in more than 735 million metric tons of production, making wheat the third most-produced cereal in the world. Like many cereal crops, wheat is susceptible to a number of fungal diseases. One in particular, powdery mildew, which is caused by the fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is particularly devastating. Yield losses associated with heavy powdery mildew infestations can be as high as 40%, with grain quality also being negatively affected.

Pursuant to an agreement with Plant Bioscience Limited and Institute of Genetics and Development Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGBD), Calyxt holds an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive license on traits that are newly developed by IGBD, including a trait providing for resistance to powdery mildew. This trait would not only improve yield potential but would also reduce the amount of chemical fungicide applications normally used to combat this disease.

We intend to conduct the first field trial to assess agronomic and trait performance of the powdery mildew resistance trait line in 2016.

Cold Storable Potato

During the cold storage of potatoes, starch is converted into reducing sugars through a process known as “cold-induced sweetening.” Once these cold-stored potatoes are cooked at temperatures above 250°F, the free amino acids and reducing sugars interact to form browning and acrylamide. The National Toxicology Program has reported that acrylamide is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer similarly considers acrylamide to be a “probable human carcinogen” based on studies in laboratory animals.

Companies operating in the potato market lose a portion of raw material potatoes that must be stored. This loss, which is estimated to be approximately 10%, results from a combination of sprouting and browning, both of which can be avoided by colder storage. However, cold storage traditionally has been limited by the cold-induced sweetening that results from this type of storage. A cold storable potato, like the one developed by Calyxt, can address sprouting and browning as well as the traditional storage limitations.

We have developed a potato that can be cold stored but does not produce acrylamide during cooking. In November 2015, we announced the completion of the first field trials of cold storable potatoes.

 

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Low Gluten Wheat

In 2013, wheat was the second-most produced cereal grain globally. A key component of wheat is gluten. Gluten gives elasticity to dough, helping it rise and keep its shape and often gives texture to the final product. However, gluten found in wheat can also be responsible for adverse immune system reactions. People sensitive to gluten generally feel better on a diet with less gluten.

We are working to remove the components of gluten responsible for that harmful immune reaction. The low gluten wheat program is at an early stage of development.

Improved Fat Profile Canola

We are also developing a new variety of Canola with high oleic acid, low linoleic acid and linolenic oil, similar to our soybean product.

Intellectual Property

We seek to protect and enhance proprietary technology, inventions, and improvements that are commercially important to the development of our business by seeking, maintaining, and defending patent rights, whether developed internally or licensed from third parties. We will also seek to rely on regulatory protection afforded through orphan drug designations, data exclusivity, market exclusivity and patent term extensions where available.

To achieve this objective, we maintain a strategic focus on identifying and licensing key patents that provide protection and serve as an optimal platform to enhance our intellectual property and technology base.

Historical Perspectives

Cellectis was founded in early 2000. In June 2000, Institut Pasteur provided us with exclusive rights to its gene-editing patent portfolio. This patent portfolio includes patents relating to homologous recombination and rare-cutting endonucleases (also named meganucleases), respectively, for genetic engineering in living cells.

Since 2002, we have filed a large number of patent applications, many now issued as patents, for custom-made meganucleases, and uses thereof, that specifically target a desired genetic sequence in a genome. In 2014, we entered into a cross-licensing agreement with Precision Biosciences, Inc., or Precision, in settlement of patent litigation and patent proceedings related to this technology. Pursuant to this cross-license, we licensed our patents and patent applications in this area to Precision, and Precision licensed its relevant patents and patent applications to us.

In 2010, we acquired a portfolio of patents and patent applications relating to electroporation methods and devices. In addition, in 2014, we entered into a series of agreements with Life Technologies Corporation (now Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.) pursuant to which we received a non-exclusive sublicense under certain patents and patent applications related to the research and therapeutic uses of TALEN. In 2011, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with the Regents of the University of Minnesota (UMN) pursuant to which we in-licensed one patent family related to a new generation of customized rare-cutting endonucleases, in connection with which we have registered the trademark TALEN in certain jurisdictions outside of the United States. This patent portfolio comprises five patents in the United States and one European patent, which is under opposition before the European Patent Office.

Since 2012, we have filed about 40 new patent applications related to the CAR T-cell technology. Included in this patent portfolio are patent applications relating to manufacturing allogeneic immune cells and to CAR design, including multi-subunit CARs. In addition, we have filed a number of patent applications related to new TALEN structures (for example, compact TALEN, methylation TALEN) and alternatives to the TALEN structure (BurrH, CRISPR-Cas9).

 

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In October 2014 and March 2014, we exclusively in-licensed two patent portfolios from Ohio State Innovation Foundation and University College London, respectively. The Ohio State Innovation Foundation patent portfolio includes an international patent application relating to CARs directed to cancer marker CS1. The University College London patent portfolio includes patent applications relating to a polypeptide expressing the suicide gene RQR8, and uses thereof.

Current Intellectual Property Portfolio

As a result of the licensing opportunities described below and our continuing research and development efforts, our intellectual property estate now contains patent applications that cover our products, including claims that cover:

 

    methods central to genome engineering and gene editing, including methods of homologous recombination, nuclease-based gene targeting, replacement, insertions and/or knock-out;

 

    the main products we use in the manufacturing process, including nucleases;

 

    manufacturing steps, including cell electroporation, transformation and genetic modifications;

 

    engineered cells;

 

    plant traits;

 

    single-chain and multi-subunit CARs expressed at the surface of T-cells;

 

    specific gene inactivation and the suicide gene; and

 

    allogeneic and autologous treatment strategies using our T-cell products.

The issued patents in our portfolio consist of approximately 19 Cellectis-owned and 19 in-licensed U.S. patents, 11 Cellectis-owned and 3 in-licensed European patents, 36 Cellectis-owned and 9 in-licensed patents in other jurisdictions, including Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Singapore.

The pending patent applications in our portfolio consist of approximately 58 Cellectis-owned and 9 in-licensed U.S. patent applications, 25 Cellectis-owned and 8 in-licensed European patent applications, 218 Cellectis-owned and 21 in-licensed patent applications pending in other jurisdictions, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Singapore.

Our portfolio includes a total of 97 owned and in-licensed granted patents, and 360 owned and in-licensed patent applications.

Our UCART product candidates rely for each product candidate upon one or more patent rights protecting various aspects of the technologies, including rights relating to:

 

    the genetic editing of T-cells, using TALEN technology or meganuclease technology, covered by approximately twelve Cellectis-owned patent families and three in-licensed patent families;

 

    the insertion of transgenes into T-cells using electroporation of mRNA, covered by approximately five Cellectis-owned patent families;

 

    the appending of attributes to T-cells, covered by approximately eight Cellectis-owned patent families and one in-licensed patent family;

 

    the molecular structure of CARs, covered by approximately six Cellectis-owned patent families; and

 

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    specific CARs that target selected antigen markers are covered by approximately fifteen Cellectis-owned patent applications and one in-licensed patent family.

Similarly, our most advanced plant product candidates each rely upon one or more patent rights relating to:

 

    the genetic editing of plants using TALEN technology, covered by approximately six Cellectis-owned patent families and two in-licensed patent families;

 

    the genetic editing of plants using meganuclease technology, covered by approximately eight Cellectis-owned patent families and one in-licensed patent family;

 

    the genetic editing of plants using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, covered by approximately two Cellectis-owned patent families and four in-licensed patent families; and

 

    specific plant traits, which are covered by approximately nine Cellectis-owned patent families.

Individual patent terms extend for varying periods of time, depending upon the date of filing of the patent application, the date of patent issuance, and the legal term of patents in the countries in which they are obtained. In most countries in which we file patent applications, including the United States, the patent term is 20 years from the date of filing of the first non-provisional application to which priority is claimed. In certain instances, a patent term can be extended under certain circumstances. For example, in the United States, the term of a patent that covers an FDA-approved drug may be eligible for a patent term restoration of up to five years to effectively compensate for the patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process, subject to several limitations discussed below under “—Our Intellectual Property Strategy.” Also, in the United States, a patent’s term may be lengthened by patent term adjustment, which compensates a patentee for administrative delays by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in granting a patent, or may be shortened if a patent is terminally disclaimed over an earlier-filed patent. Our issued patents will expire on dates ranging from 2015 to 2035. If patents are issued on our pending patent applications, the resulting patents are projected to expire on dates ranging from 2023 to 2035. However, the actual protection afforded by a patent varies on a product-by-product basis, from country-to-country, and depends upon many factors, including the type of patent, the scope of its coverage, the availability of regulatory-related extensions, the availability of legal remedies in a particular country, and the validity and enforceability of the patent.

Material Exclusive Licenses Granted to Cellectis

Licenses from Institut Pasteur

In 2000, we entered into three license agreements with L’Institut Pasteur, or Pasteur, pursuant to which we in-licensed a substantial portion of Pasteur’s gene-editing patent portfolio. The details of these three license agreements are provided below.

In June 2000, we entered into an agreement with Pasteur, later amended in 2002, 2003, 2008, and 2013 (collectively, the “First June 2000 Agreement”), pursuant to which we were granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicenseable license under certain patents and know-how owned by Pasteur, L’Université Pierre et Marie Curie, L’Institut Curie, and Le Centre National de Recherche Scientifique relating to certain meganucleases to use, manufacture, and sell products and to practice processes covered by such patents. The exclusivity of the license grant under the First June 2000 Agreement is subject to certain exploitation rights previously granted to third parties under the licensed patents for (i) the production of a specified enzyme, (ii) the use of a specified plasmid, and (iii) internal research. One of the licensed patents is under third party ex-parte reexamination.

In June 2000, we also entered into an agreement with Pasteur, later amended in 2003 (collectively, the “Second June 2000 Agreement”), acting on its own behalf and on the Boston Children Hospital’s behalf, pursuant to which it granted to us an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicenseable license under certain patents and know-how owned by Pasteur and the Boston Children’s Hospital relating to certain chimeric endonucleases for chromosomal gene editing by homologous recombination in cells to use, manufacture, and sell products and to practice processes covered by such patents. The license granted under the Second June 2000 Agreement is non-exclusive, however, with respect to the licensed processes applied to human gene therapy. In the event that Pasteur has the possibility to grant exploitation rights for applications to human gene therapy, it must immediately inform us, and we may amend our agreement with Pasteur to obtain such exploitation rights.

 

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The exclusivity of each of the licenses granted under the First June 2000 Agreement and the Second June 2000 Agreement is further contingent upon our continued diligence in designing, developing, and obtaining the required regulatory authorizations necessary to sell the respective licensed products and processes.

In October 2000, we entered into an agreement with Pasteur, later amended in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 (collectively, the “October Agreement”), pursuant to which we obtained an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicenseable license under certain patents and know-how owned by Pasteur relating to a method of homologous recombination to make, use, and sell products and to implement processes covered by such patents. The exclusivity of the license granted under the October Agreement is subject to a license granted to a third party under the licensed patents in the domain of genes that encode for Erythropoietin.

We may only grant sub-licenses under our Pasteur agreements with Pasteur’s prior approval, which is deemed to have been given if Pasteur does not object to a proposed sub-license within a specified period of time from notice of the proposed sublicense and which may only be withheld for serious cause.

Pursuant to the terms of each of the First June 2000 Agreement and the Second June 2000 Agreement, we made cash payments to Pasteur in an aggregate amount of 600,000 French Francs for each agreement with respect to the entry into the agreement and the reimbursement of license fees. Pursuant to the terms of the October Agreement, we made cash payments to Pasteur in the aggregate amount of 500,000 French Francs with respect to the entry into the agreement and the reimbursement of license fees and 250,000 Euros in connection with the execution of amendments. Under each of the First June 2000 Agreement and the Second June 2000 Agreement, we are also required to pay Pasteur an ongoing royalty fee equal to a low- to mid-single digit percentage of our net income with respect to licensed products under the respective agreement. With respect to sublicenses granted under the First June 2000 Agreement and the Second June 2000 Agreement, we are also required to pay Pasteur a percentage of all payments received under such sublicenses, subject in certain cases to minimum payment amounts based on net revenues of the applicable sublicensee. Under the October Agreement, we are also required to pay Pasteur an ongoing royalty fee equal to a low-single digit percentage of our net income with respect to licensed products under the October Agreement. With respect to sublicenses granted under the October Agreement, we are required to pay Pasteur a tiered percentage of all compensation received by us during the applicable year under the sublicense agreement, subject in certain cases to minimum payment amounts based on net revenues of the applicable sublicensee.

The terms of each of our agreements with Pasteur will expire upon the expiration of the last-to-expire of the respective patents licensed to us pursuant to the applicable agreement. The last to expire patent under the First June 2000 Agreement has expired on February 2, 2016, and we expect the last to expire patent under the Second June 2000 Agreement to expire on February 3, 2020 and the last to expire patent under the October Agreement to expire on April 3, 2020. We and Pasteur may each terminate any of our agreements with Pasteur in the event of the other party’s breach of an obligation under the applicable agreement, which remains uncured for 90 days following receipt of notice of such breach from the terminating party. Pasteur may immediately terminate such agreements if we challenge or contest the validity of any of the licensed patents under the respective agreement before a court or patents office. In addition, we and Pasteur may terminate any of the agreements, upon 60 days’ prior notice, in connection with certain insolvency-related judicial proceedings instituted against the other party. Further, we have the right to terminate any of these agreements for any reason immediately upon notice to Pasteur.

License from Regents of the University of Minnesota

In January 2011, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with Regents of the University of Minnesota, or UMN. Pursuant to this agreement, as amended in 2012, 2014, and 2015 we and our affiliates were granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicenseable license, under certain patents and patent applications owned by UMN, to make, use, sell, import, and otherwise dispose of products covered by the licensed patents, for all fields of use. These licensed patents relate to TALEN molecules and their use in gene editing. Pursuant to the agreement, we are required to achieve certain specified research- and sales-related milestones.

 

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Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we paid UMN an upfront license fee in the amount of $250,000 upon the effective date of the license agreement. We are also required to pay to UMN low-single digit percentage royalties on net sales of licensed products, and are subject to minimum annual royalties of $30,000 per year and an annual fee of $150,000 per year in the agricutural field due to UMN. We are also required to pay UMN a percentage of all revenues received by us under sublicenses. We are also required to pay UMN milestone payments up to a total of $290,000 in the aggregate upon the occurrence of specified events and to pay certain patent-related expenses incurred under the agreement for prosecuting and maintaining the licensed patents. If we undergo a change of control and wish to assign our rights and duties under the agreement, we will be required to pay UMN an additional transfer fee.

The license agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last to expire valid claim of the licensed patents. UMN may terminate the agreement upon advance written notice in the event of our insolvency or bankruptcy, and immediately upon written notice in the event that we challenge the validity or enforceability of any licensed patent in a court or other applicable authority. We and UMN may terminate the agreement by written notice in the event of the other party’s breach that has not been cured within a specified number of days after receiving notice of such breach.

License from Ohio State Innovation Foundation

In October 2014, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with Ohio State Innovation Foundation. Pursuant to this agreement, we were granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicenseable license under certain patents and patent applications owned by Ohio State Innovation Foundation to use, make, distribute, sell, lease, loan or import products or process covered by the licensed patents, for any and all activities relating to cancer immunotherapy. The licensed portfolio includes an international patent application relating to CAR directed to cancer marker CS1. Pursuant to the agreement, we must use diligence and commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize licensed products or processes, including achieving certain milestone events by specified deadlines, subject to our ability to extend such deadlines upon payment of certain fees.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we paid Ohio State Innovation Foundation an upfront license fee in the amount of $100,000. We are required to pay an annual license maintenance fee of $20,000 from 2015 onward until our first sale of a licensed product. We are also required to pay to Ohio State Innovation Foundation low single-digit percentage royalties on net sales of licensed products and licensed processes by us and are subject to minimum annual royalties due to Ohio State Innovation Foundation of $100,000. We are also required to pay Ohio State Innovation Foundation a percentage of royalties paid to us by sublicensees. We are also required to pay Ohio State Innovation Foundation milestone payments up to a total of $1,950,000 in the aggregate upon the occurrence of certain development-related events prior to deadlines specified in the agreement.

Unless earlier terminated, the license agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last to expire valid claim of the licensed patents, which we expect will be on May 2, 2034. We may terminate the agreement at our option by giving 90 days’ written notice. Ohio State Innovation Foundation may immediately terminate the agreement, any part of the licensed patent rights or the agreement’s exclusivity if we fail to make required payments under the agreement and such breach continues for sixty days after delivery of written notice from Ohio State Innovation Foundation or if we breach any other provision of the agreement and fail to cure such breach within 60 days after delivery of written notice from Ohio State Innovation Foundation. Ohio State Innovation Foundation may also terminate the agreement if we or our affiliate initiates any proceeding or action challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any of the patent rights or assists a third party in such a proceeding or action. The agreement automatically terminates if we file for bankruptcy or become bankrupt or insolvent, our board of directors elects to liquidate our assets or dissolve our business, we cease business operations, we make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or if we are otherwise placed in the hands of a receiver, assignee or trustee, whether by our voluntary act or otherwise.

Other Exclusive Licenses Granted to Cellectis

With respect to our plant sciences business, we have filed nine patent applications in connection with new soybean, tobacco and potato traits. These new traits have been obtained mainly by using TALEN, which is protected by the UMN and the Cellectis TALEN patent portfolios.

 

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License Agreements from Regents of the University of Minnesota

In December 2014, Calyxt entered into an exclusive license with the Regents of the University of Minnesota, or UMN, pursuant to which Calyxt was granted an exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable license under a specified patent application owned by UMN relating to the use of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology to make use, and commercialize products covered by the licensed patents in any field of use. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Calyxt must use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize the licensed technology and to manufacture, offer to sell, and sell licensed products as soon as practicable and to maximize sales. Calyxt must also achieve certain sales- and patent-related milestones.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Calyxt paid UMN an upfront license fee payment in the amount of $130,000 in connection with entering into the agreement. Calyxt is also required to pay UMN a tiered annual fee that increases from $20,000 to $225,000 based on the occurrence of certain specified events, including the grant of a sublicense to a third party, as well as patent-related expenses incurred under the agreement in prosecuting and maintaining the licensed patents. Calyxt is also required to pay UMN a percentage of all revenues received by it under sublicenses. If Calyxt undergoes a change of control and wishes to assign all of its rights and duties under the agreement, Calyxt will have to pay UMN a specified transfer fee.

Unless earlier terminated, the agreement will continue in effect until no licensed patent is active and until no licensed patent application is pending, which we expect will be on March 24, 2034. UMN may terminate the agreement for Calyxt’s uncured breach of the agreement upon 90 days’ prior written notice, or 60 days’ prior written notice if the breach relates to Calyxt’s payment obligations under the agreement. UMN may also terminate the agreement, upon 10 days’ prior written notice, if Calyxt files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent. UMN may also immediately terminate the agreement if Calyxt or its agents or representatives commences or maintains an action in any court or before any governmental agency asserting or alleging the invalidity or unenforceability of the licensed patent rights. Calyxt may terminate the agreement for UMN’s uncured breach of the agreement upon 90 days’ prior written notice. Calyxt may also terminate the agreement at any time upon 60 days’ prior written notice.

In January 2015, Calyxt entered into a second exclusive license with UMN, pursuant to which Calyxt was granted an exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable license under specified patent applications owned by UMN relating to gene targeting technology. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Calyxt must use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize the licensed technology and to manufacture, offer to sell, and sell licensed products as soon as practicable and to maximize sales. Calyxt must also achieve certain sales- and patent-related milestones.

Pursuant to the terms of this second agreement, Calyxt paid UMN an upfront fee in the amount of $20,000 in connection with entering into the agreement. Calyxt is also required to pay UMN a tiered annual fee that increases from $5,000 to $25,000 based on the occurrence of certain specified events, as well as patent-related expenses incurred under the agreement in prosecuting and maintaining the licensed patents. Calyxt is also required to pay UMN an upfront fee upon granting of a sublicense and a percentage of all revenues received by it under such sublicenses. If Calyxt undergoes a change of control and wishes to assign all of its rights and duties under the agreement, Calyxt will have to pay UMN a specified transfer fee.

Unless earlier terminated, this second agreement will continue in effect until no licensed patent is active and until no licensed patent application is pending, which we expect will be June 19, 2033. UMN may terminate the agreement for Calyxt’s uncured breach of the agreement upon 90 days’ prior written notice, or 60 days’ prior written notice if the breach relates to Calyxt’s payment obligations under the agreement. UMN may also terminate the agreement, upon 10 days’ prior written notice, if Calyxt files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent. UMN may also immediately terminate the agreement if Calyxt or its agents or representatives commences or maintains an action in any court or before any governmental agency asserting or alleging the invalidity or unenforceability of the licensed patent rights. Calyxt may terminate the agreement for UMN’s uncured breach of the agreement upon 90 days’ prior written notice. Calyxt may also terminate the agreement at any time upon 60 days’ prior written notice.

Other Exlcusive License Granted to Calyxt

In December 2015, Calyxt entered into a Research Funding and License Option Agreement with Plant Bioscience Limited, or PBL, and Institute of Genetics and Development Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences, or

 

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IGDB, pursuant to which Calyxt commits to financially support development of new traits by IGBD, including without limitation a trait providing resistance to powdery mildew. Pursuant to this agreement, Calyxt has an option to obtain an exclusive license on such new traits and such option is exercisable at any time by sending of a notification.

Our Intellectual Property Strategy

We believe our current layered patent estate, together with our efforts to develop and patent next generation technologies, provides us with substantial intellectual property protection. However, the area of patent and other intellectual property rights in biotechnology is an evolving one with many risks and uncertainties.

Our strategy is also to develop and obtain additional intellectual property covering innovative manufacturing processes and methods for genetically engineering T-cells expressing new constructs and for genetically engineering plants expressing new traits. To support this effort, we have established expertise and development capabilities focused in the areas of pre-clinical research and development, manufacturing and manufacturing process scale-up, quality control, quality assurance, regulatory affairs and clinical trial design and implementation. Thus, we expect to file additional patent applications to expand this layer of our intellectual property estate.

The term of individual patents depends upon the legal term of the patents in the countries in which they are obtained. In most countries in which we file, the patent term is 20 years from the date of filing of the first non-provisional application to which priority is claimed. In the United States, a patent’s term may be lengthened by patent term adjustment, which compensates a patentee for administrative delays by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in granting a patent, or may be shortened if a patent is terminally disclaimed over an earlier-filed patent. The term of a patent that covers an FDA-approved drug may also be eligible for a patent term restoration of up to five years under the Hatch-Waxman Act, which is designed to compensate for the patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. The length of the patent term restoration is calculated based on the length of time the drug is under regulatory review. A patent term restoration under the Hatch-Waxman Act cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval and only one patent applicable to an approved drug may be restored. Moreover, a patent can only be restored once, and thus, if a single patent is applicable to multiple products, it can only be extended based on one product. Similar provisions are available in Europe and certain other foreign jurisdictions to extend the term of a patent that covers an approved drug. When possible, depending upon the length of clinical trials and other factors involved in the filing of a BLA, we expect to apply for patent term extensions for patents covering our product candidates and their methods of use.

Our commercial success may depend in part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and other proprietary protection for commercially important technology, inventions and know-how related to our business; defend and enforce our patents; preserve the confidentiality of our trade secrets; and operate without infringing the valid enforceable patents and proprietary rights of third parties. Our ability to stop third parties from making, using, selling, offering to sell or importing our products may depend on the extent to which we have rights under valid and enforceable patents or trade secrets that cover these activities. With respect to both licensed and company-owned intellectual property, we cannot be sure that patents will be granted with respect to any of our pending patent applications or with respect to any patent applications filed by us in the future, nor can we be sure that any of our existing patents or any patents that may be granted to us in the future will be commercially useful in protecting our commercial products and methods of manufacturing the same.

We may rely, in some circumstances, on trade secrets to protect our technology. However, trade secrets can be difficult to protect. We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors and contractors. We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our data and trade secrets by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems. While we have confidence in these individuals, organizations and systems, agreements or security measures may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. To the extent that our consultants, contractors or collaborators use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions.

 

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Competition

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries put significant resources toward developing novel and proprietary therapies for the treatment of cancer, which often incorporate novel technologies and incorporate valuable intellectual property. We compete with companies in the immunotherapy space, as well as companies developing novel targeted therapies for cancer. In addition, our products will compete with existing standards of care for the diseases that our product candidates target. We anticipate that we will face intense and increasing competition from many different sources, including new and established biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions.

Our competitors include:

 

    Gene-editing space: CRISPR Therapeutics, Inc., Editas Medicine, Inc., Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., Precision BioSciences, Inc. and Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.

 

    CAR space: Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celgene Corporation (in collaboration with bluebird bio, Inc.), Ziopharm Oncology in collaboration with Intrexon, Inc., Kite Pharma, Inc. (in collaboration with Amgen), Novartis AG and Johnson & Johnson (in collaboration with Transposagen).

 

    Cell-therapy space: Adaptimmune Ltd., Juno Therapeutics, Inc., Lion Biotechnologies, Inc.,Unum Therapeutics, Inc. and Immunocore Ltd.

 

    Agricultural biotechnology space:

 

    Companies developing plants with enhanced properties: Arcadia Biosciences, Inc., Chromatin Inc., Cibus Global, Ltd., Evogene Ltd., Danzinger Innovation Ltd., Keygene N.V. and Precision PlantSciences, Inc.

 

    Major seed/agrochemical companies: BASF SE, Bayer AG, DuPont Pioneer, Groupe Limagrain Holding SA, Monsanto Co., Syngenta AG, Takii & Company, LTD, The Dow Chemical Co. and The J.R. Simplot Co.

Due to the promising therapeutic effect of T-cell therapies in clinical exploratory trials, we anticipate substantial direct competition from other existing and new competitors developing these therapies. In particular, we expect to compete with therapies with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, or TILs, that are naturally occurring tumor-reactive T-cells harvested, propagated ex vivo and re-infused into patients. We also expect to compete with therapies using genetically engineered T-cells, rendered reactive against tumor-associated antigens prior to their administration to patients. However, we believe that all of our competitors, are currently focused on autologous therapies, as opposed to our allogeneic approach. In addition, we differentiate ourselves by using our gene-editing capabilities to add specific features to our T-cell products, such as cancer drug resistance or resistance to checkpoint inhibition.

We also face competition from non-cell based treatments offered by companies such as Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Incyte Corporation, Merck & Co., Inc., and F. Hoffman-La Roche AG. Immunotherapy is further being pursued by several biotech companies as well as by large-cap pharma. Many of our current or potential competitors, either alone or with their collaboration partners, have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, pre-clinical testing, conducting clinical trials, and marketing approved products than we do. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and gene therapy industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.

 

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Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than any products that we may develop. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market. The key competitive factors affecting the success of all of our programs are likely to be their efficacy, safety, and convenience.

Government Regulation and Product Approval

Government Regulation of Biological Products

We are subject to extensive regulation. We expect our cell product candidates to be regulated as biologics. Governmental authorities, including the FDA and comparable regulatory authorities in other countries, regulate the design, development, testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labeling, storage, record-keeping, advertising, promotion and marketing of pharmaceutical products, including biologics. Non-compliance with applicable requirements can result in fines and other judicially imposed sanctions, including product seizures, import restrictions, injunctive actions and criminal prosecutions of both companies and individuals. In addition, administrative remedies can involve requests to recall violative products; the refusal of the government to enter into supply contracts; or the refusal to approve pending product approval applications until manufacturing or other alleged deficiencies are brought into compliance. The FDA and similar authorities around the world also have the authority to cause the withdrawal of approval of a marketed product or to impose labeling restrictions.

The FDA categorizes human cell- or tissue-based products as either minimally manipulated or more than minimally manipulated, and has determined that more than minimally manipulated products require clinical trials to demonstrate product safety and efficacy and the submission of a BLA for marketing authorization.

Our product candidates must be approved by the FDA before they may be legally marketed in the United States and by the appropriate foreign regulatory agencies before they may be legally marketed in foreign countries. Generally, our activities in foreign countries will be subject to regulation that is similar in nature and scope as that imposed in the United States, although there can be important differences. Additionally, some significant aspects of regulation in Europe are addressed in a centralized way, but country-specific regulation remains essential in many respects. The process for obtaining regulatory marketing approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources.

Ethical, social and legal concerns about gene therapy, genetic testing and genetic research could result in additional regulations restricting or prohibiting the processes we may use. Federal and state agencies, congressional committees and foreign governments have expressed interest in further regulating biotechnology. More restrictive regulations or claims that our products are unsafe or pose a hazard could prevent us from commercializing any products in one or more jurisdictions. New government requirements may be established that could delay or prevent regulatory approval of our product candidates under development. It is impossible to predict whether legislative changes will be enacted, regulations, policies or guidance changed, or interpretations by agencies or courts changed, or what the impact of such changes, if any, may be.

Set forth below is a description of the process of obtaining U.S. government approval for biological product development. Similar processes apply in other jurisdictions.

U.S. Biological Product Development

In the United States, the FDA regulates biologics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, and the Public Health Service Act, or PHSA, and their implementing regulations. Biologics are also subject to other federal, state and local statutes and regulations. The process required by the FDA before biologic product candidates may be marketed in the United States and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply with the applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval, may subject an applicant to administrative or judicial sanctions. These sanctions could

 

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include, among other actions, the FDA’s refusal to approve pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, a clinical hold, untitled or warning letters, product recall requests or withdrawals from the market, labeling restrictions, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution injunctions, import restrictions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement, or civil or criminal penalties for both companies and individuals. Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on us.

Our biological product candidates must be approved by the FDA through the Biologics License Application, or BLA, process before they may be legally marketed in the United States. The process required by the FDA before a biologic may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:

 

    completion of extensive nonclinical, sometimes referred to as pre-clinical laboratory tests, pre-clinical animal studies and formulation studies in accordance with applicable regulations, including the FDA’s GLP regulations;

 

    submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before clinical trials may begin and must be updated annually;

 

    performance of adequate and well-controlled clinical trials in accordance with applicable IND and other clinical trial-related regulations, sometimes referred to as good clinical practices, or GCPs, to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed product candidate for each proposed indication;

 

    submission to the FDA of a BLA;

 

    satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities where the active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, and finished product are produced to assess compliance with the FDA’s cGMP requirements to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the product’s identity, strength, quality, purity and potency;

 

    FDA review and approval of the BLA prior to any commercial marketing or sale of the product in the United States.

The data required to support a BLA is generated in two distinct development stages: pre-clinical and clinical. The pre-clinical development stage generally involves laboratory evaluations of drug chemistry, formulation and stability, as well as studies to evaluate toxicity in animals, which support subsequent clinical testing. The conduct of the pre-clinical studies must comply with federal regulations, including GLPs.

Where a trial involving the deliberate transfer of (1) recombinant DNA or (2) DNA or RNA derived from recombinant DNA into one or more human research participants (including recombinant DNA molecules, and/or organisms and viruses containing recombinant DNA molecules) (a gene therapy trial) is conducted at, or sponsored by, institutions receiving NIH funding for recombinant DNA research, a protocol and related documentation is submitted to and the trial is registered with the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities, or OBA, prior to the submission of an IND to the FDA. This is done pursuant to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules, or NIH Guidelines. Compliance with the NIH Guidelines is mandatory for investigators at institutions receiving NIH funds for research involving recombinant DNA, however many companies and other institutions not otherwise subject to the NIH Guidelines voluntarily follow them. The NIH is responsible for convening the RAC, a federal advisory committee, which discusses protocols that raise novel or particularly important scientific, safety or ethical considerations at one of its quarterly public meetings. The OBA will notify the FDA of the RAC’s decision regarding the necessity for full public review of a gene therapy protocol. RAC proceedings and reports are posted to the OBA web site and may be accessed by the public.

The sponsor must submit the results of the pre-clinical studies, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and a proposed clinical protocol, to the FDA as part of an IND before any clinical testing may proceed. An IND is a request for authorization from the FDA to administer an investigational drug product to humans. The IND must become effective before clinical trials may begin. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless during that time the FDA raises concerns or questions regarding the proposed clinical trials. In such a case, the FDA may place the IND on clinical hold and

 

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the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin. With gene therapy protocols, if the FDA allows the IND to proceed, and the RAC decides that full public review of the protocol is warranted but did not take place before the IND review is complete, the FDA will request at the completion of its IND review that sponsors delay initiation of the protocol until after completion of the RAC review process. The FDA may also impose clinical holds on a product candidate at any time before or during clinical trials due to safety concerns or non-compliance. Accordingly, we cannot be sure that submission of an IND will result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will not arise that could cause the trial to be suspended or terminated.

Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational product to human subjects under the supervision of qualified investigators, generally physicians not employed by or under the trial sponsor’s control, in accordance with GCPs, which include the requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent for their participation in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, dosing procedures, subject selection and exclusion criteria, and the parameters to be used to monitor subject safety and assess efficacy. Each protocol, and any subsequent amendments to the protocol, must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. Further, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an independent institutional review board, or IRB, at or servicing each institution at which the clinical trial will be conducted. An IRB is charged with protecting the welfare and rights of trial participants and considers such items as whether the risks to individuals participating in the clinical trials are minimized and are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits. The IRB also approves the informed consent form that must be provided to each clinical trial subject or his or her legal representative and must monitor the clinical trial until completed.

All gene therapy experiments and clinical trials are also subject to review and oversight by an institutional biosafety committee, or IBC, a local institutional committee that reviews and oversees basic and clinical research conducted at that institution. The IBC assesses the safety of the research and identifies any potential risk to public health or the environment.

There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical trials and completed clinical trial results to public registries. Sponsors of clinical trials of FDA-regulated products, including biologics, are required to register and disclose certain clinical trial information, which is publicly available at www.clinicaltrials.gov. Information related to the product, patient population, phase of investigation, study sites and investigators, and other aspects of the clinical trial is then made public as part of the registration. Sponsors are also obligated to discuss the results of their clinical trials after completion. Disclosure of the results of these trials can be delayed until the new product or new indication being studied has been approved.

Human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases. However, these phases may overlap or be combined:

 

    Phase 1. The biological product candidate is initially introduced into healthy human subjects and tested for safety. In the case of some products for severe or life-threatening diseases, especially when the product may be too inherently toxic to ethically administer to healthy volunteers, if pre-clinical testing warrants, the initial human testing may be conducted in patients with the condition of interest.

 

    Phase 2. The biological product candidate is evaluated in a limited patient population with the condition of interest to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance, optimal dosage and dosing schedule.

 

    Phase 3. Clinical trials are undertaken to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy, potency and safety in an expanded patient population with the condition of interest at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites. These clinical trials are intended to establish the overall risk to benefit ratio of the product and provide an adequate basis for approval, including appropriate product labeling.

Post-approval clinical trials, sometimes referred to as “Phase 4” clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These clinical trials are used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication, particularly for long-term safety follow-up. The FDA recommends that

 

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sponsors observe subjects for potential gene therapy-related delayed adverse events for a 15-year period, including a minimum of five years of annual examinations followed by ten years of annual queries, either in person or by questionnaire, of study subjects.

During all phases of clinical development, regulatory agencies require extensive monitoring and auditing of all clinical activities, clinical data, and clinical trial investigators. Annual progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials must be submitted to the FDA. Written IND safety reports must be promptly submitted to the FDA, the NIH, IRB and the investigators for serious and unexpected adverse events, any findings from other studies, tests in laboratory animals or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk for human patients, or any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure. The sponsor must submit an IND safety report within 15 calendar days after the sponsor determines that the information qualifies for reporting. The sponsor also must notify the FDA of any unexpected fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reaction within seven calendar days after the sponsor’s initial receipt of the information.

Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, if at all. The FDA or the sponsor or its data safety monitoring board may suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk, including risks inferred from other unrelated immunotherapy trials. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the biological product has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.

Human immunotherapy products are a new category of therapeutics. Because this is a relatively new and expanding area of novel therapeutic interventions, there can be no assurance as to the length of the trial period, the number of patients the FDA will require to be enrolled in the trials in order to establish the safety, efficacy, purity and potency of immunotherapy products, or that the data generated in these trials will be acceptable to the FDA to support marketing approval.

Concurrently with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal studies and must also develop additional information about the physical characteristics of the biological product as well as finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP requirements. To help reduce the risk of the introduction of adventitious agents with use of biological products, the PHSA emphasizes the importance of manufacturing control for products whose attributes cannot be precisely defined. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other things, the sponsor must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality, potency and purity of the final biological product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the biological product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.

U.S. Review and Approval Processes for Biological Product Candidates

After the completion of clinical trials of a biological product candidate, FDA approval of a BLA must be obtained before commercial marketing of the biological product. The BLA must include results of product development, laboratory and animal studies, human trials, information on the manufacture and composition of the product, proposed labeling and other relevant information. The testing and approval processes require substantial time and effort and there can be no assurance that the FDA will accept the BLA for filing and, even if filed, that any approval will be granted on a timely basis, if at all.

Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, as amended, each BLA must be accompanied by a significant user fee. The FDA adjusts the PDUFA user fees on an annual basis. PDUFA also imposes an annual product fee for biological products and an annual establishment fee on facilities used to manufacture prescription biological products. Fee waivers or reductions are available in certain circumstances, including a waiver of the application fee for the first application filed by a small business. Additionally, no user fees are assessed on BLAs for products designated as orphan drugs, unless the product also includes a non-orphan indication.

 

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Within 60 days following submission of the application, the FDA reviews a BLA submitted to determine if it is substantially complete before the agency accepts it for filing. The FDA may refuse to file any BLA that it deems incomplete or not properly reviewable at the time of submission and may request additional information. In this event, the BLA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth substantive review of the BLA. The FDA reviews the BLA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe and potent, or effective, for its intended use, and has an acceptable purity profile, and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with cGMP regulations to assure and preserve the product’s identity, safety, strength, quality, potency and purity. The FDA may refer applications for novel biological products or biological products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory committee, typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions. During the biological product approval process, the FDA also will determine whether a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, is necessary to assure the safe use of the biological product candidate. A REMS may be imposed to ensure safe use of the drug, and could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the BLA must submit a proposed REMS. The FDA will not approve a BLA without a REMS, if required.

Before approving a BLA, the FDA will inspect the facilities at which the product candidate is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the product candidate unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMP requirements and adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. For immunotherapy products, the FDA also will not approve the product if the manufacturer is not in compliance with the current good tissue practice, or GTP requirements, to the extent applicable. These requirements are set out in FDA regulations and guidance documents and govern the methods used in, and the facilities and controls used for, the manufacture of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue based products, or HCT/Ps, which are human cells or tissue intended for use in implantation, transplantation, infusion, or transfer into a human recipient. The primary intent of the GTP requirements is to ensure that cell and tissue based products are manufactured in a manner designed to prevent the introduction, transmission and spread of communicable disease. FDA regulations also require tissue establishments to register and list their HCT/Ps with the FDA and, when applicable, to evaluate donors through screening and testing. Additionally, before approving a BLA, the FDA may inspect one or more clinical sites to assure that the clinical trials were conducted in compliance with IND trial requirements and GCP requirements. To assure cGMP, GTP and GCP compliance, an applicant must incur significant expenditure of time, money and effort in the areas of training, record keeping, production, and quality control.

Notwithstanding the submission of relevant data and information, the FDA may ultimately decide that the BLA does not satisfy its regulatory criteria for approval and deny approval. Data obtained from clinical trials are not always conclusive and the FDA may interpret data differently than we interpret the same data. If the agency decides not to approve the BLA in its submitted form, the FDA will issue a complete response letter that describes all of the specific deficiencies in the BLA identified by the FDA. The deficiencies identified may be minor, for example, requiring labeling changes, or major, for example, requiring additional clinical trials. Additionally, the complete response letter may include recommended actions that the applicant might take to place the application in a condition for approval. If a complete response letter is issued, the applicant may either resubmit the BLA, addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application.

If a product candidate receives regulatory approval, the approval may be significantly limited to specific diseases and dosages or the indications for use may otherwise be limited, which could restrict the commercial value of the product.

Further, the FDA may require that certain contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling. The FDA may impose restrictions and conditions on product distribution, prescribing, or dispensing in the form of a REMS, or otherwise limit the scope of any approval. In addition, the FDA may require post marketing clinical trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, designed to further assess a biological product’s safety and effectiveness, and testing and surveillance programs to monitor the safety of approved products that have been commercialized.

 

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In addition, unless a waiver is granted, under the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, a BLA or supplement to a BLA must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the product for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, or FDASIA, requires that a sponsor who is planning to submit a marketing application for a drug or biological product that includes a new active ingredient, new indication, new dosage form, new dosing regimen or new route of administration submit an initial Pediatric Study Plan, or PSP, within sixty days after an end-of-Phase 2 meeting or as may be agreed between the sponsor and FDA. The initial PSP must include, among other things, an outline of the pediatric study or studies that the sponsor plans to conduct, including to the extent practicable study objectives and design, age groups, relevant endpoints and statistical approach, or a justification for not including such detailed information, and any request for a deferral of pediatric assessments or a full or partial waiver of the requirement to provide data from pediatric studies along with supporting information. FDA and the sponsor must reach agreement on the PSP. A sponsor can submit amendments to an agreed-upon initial PSP at any time if changes to the pediatric plan need to be considered based on data collected from nonclinical studies, early phase clinical trials, and/or other clinical development programs. The FDA may grant deferrals for submission of data or full or partial waivers. Unless otherwise required by regulation, PREA does not apply to any product for an indication for which orphan designation has been granted. However, if only one indication for a product has orphan designation, a pediatric assessment may still be required for any applications to market that same product for the non-orphan indication(s).

One of the performance goals agreed to by the FDA under the PDUFA is to review 90% of standard BLAs in 10 months and 90% of priority BLAs in six months, whereupon a review decision is to be made. The FDA does not always meet its PDUFA goal dates for standard and priority BLAs and its review goals are subject to change from time to time. The review process and the PDUFA goal date may be extended by three months if the FDA requests or the BLA sponsor otherwise provides additional information or clarification regarding information already provided in the submission within the last three months before the PDUFA goal date.

Orphan Drug Designation

Under the Orphan Drug Act, a sponsor may request and the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or if it affects more than 200,000 individuals in the United States and there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available in the United States drug or biologic for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales in the United States for that product. Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting a BLA. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the generic and trade name, if any, of the drug or biologic and the rare disease or condition for which orphan-drug designation was granted are disclosed publicly by the FDA. The orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage during, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review or approval process.

If a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease or condition for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a full BLA, to market the same drug or biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority to the product with orphan drug exclusivity. Orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent FDA from approving a different drug or biologic for the same disease or condition, or the same drug or biologic for a different disease or condition. Among the other benefits of orphan drug designation are tax credits for certain research and a waiver of the BLA application user fee.

A designated orphan drug may not receive orphan drug exclusivity if it is approved for a use that is broader than the indication for which it received orphan designation. Orphan exclusivity also could block the approval of one of our products for seven years if a competitor obtains approval of the same drug or biologic as defined by the FDA or if our product candidate is determined to be contained within the competitor’s product for the same indication or disease. In addition, exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition.

 

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The criteria for designating an “orphan medicinal product” in the EU are similar to those in the United States. Such designation can be requested in the case of products that are intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition and either (a) such condition affects no more than five in 10,000 persons in the EU when the application is made, or (b) the product, without the benefits derived from orphan status, would unlikely generate sufficient return in the EU to justify the necessary investment. Moreover, in order to obtain orphan designation it is necessary to demonstrate that there exists no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such condition authorized for marketing in the EU, or if such a method exists, the product will be of significant benefit to those affected by the condition.

In the EU, orphan medicinal products are eligible for financial incentives as well as specific regulatory assistance and scientific advice. Products receiving orphan designation in the EU can receive ten years of market exclusivity, during which time no similar medicinal product for the same indication may be placed on the market. An orphan product can also obtain an additional two years of market exclusivity in the EU for pediatric studies. No extension to any supplementary protection certificate can be granted on the basis of pediatric studies for orphan indications.

However, the 10-year market exclusivity may be reduced to six years in certain circumstances, including for example if, at the end of the fifth year, it is established that the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity.

There can be no assurance that we will receive orphan drug designation for any product candidates in the United States, in the EU or in any other market.

Expedited Development and Review Programs

The FDA has a Fast Track program that is intended to expedite or facilitate the process for reviewing new drugs and biological products that meet certain criteria. Specifically, new products are eligible for Fast Track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition. Fast Track designation applies to the combination of the product and the specific indication for which it is being studied. The sponsor of a new drug or biologic may request the FDA to designate the drug or biologic as a Fast Track product candidate at any time during the clinical development of the product candidate. Unique to a Fast Track product, the FDA may consider the review of sections of the BLA on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted, if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the BLA, the FDA agrees to accept sections of the BLA and determines that the schedule is acceptable, and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the BLA.

Any product candidate, submitted to the FDA for approval, including a product with a Fast Track designation, may also be eligible for other types of FDA programs intended to expedite development and review, such as priority review and accelerated approval. A product candidate is eligible for priority review if it has the potential to provide safe and effective therapy where no satisfactory alternative therapy exists or a significant improvement in the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of a disease compared to marketed products. The FDA will attempt to direct additional resources to the evaluation of an application for a new product candidate designated for priority review in an effort to facilitate the review, and aims to review such applications within six months as opposed to ten months for standard review. Additionally, a product candidate may be eligible for accelerated approval. Product candidates studied for their safety and effectiveness in treating serious or life-threatening illnesses and that provide meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing treatments may receive accelerated approval which means that they may be approved on the basis of adequate and well-controlled clinical trials establishing that the product candidate has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, or on the basis of an effect on a clinical endpoint other than irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. As a condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a drug or biological product candidate receiving accelerated approval perform adequate and well-controlled post-marketing clinical trials. In

 

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addition, the FDA currently requires as a condition for accelerated approval pre-approval of promotional materials, which could adversely impact the timing of the commercial launch of the product. Fast Track designation, priority review and accelerated approval do not change the standards for approval but may expedite the development or approval process.

Breakthrough Therapy Designation

Under the provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, or FDASIA, enacted in 2012, the FDA established a Breakthrough Therapy Designation which is intended to expedite the development and review of products that treat serious or life-threatening conditions. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. The designation includes all of the features of Fast Track designation, as well as more intensive FDA interaction and guidance. The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is a distinct status from both accelerated approval and priority review, but these can also be granted to the same product candidate if the relevant criteria are met.

The FDA must take certain actions, such as holding timely meetings and providing advice, intended to expedite the development and review of an application for approval of a breakthrough therapy. All requests for breakthrough therapy designation will be reviewed within 60 days of receipt, and FDA will either grant or deny the request.

Where applicable, we plan to request Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy Designation for our product candidates, including UCART19. Even if we receive one or both of these designations for our product candidates, the FDA may later decide that our product candidates no longer meets the conditions for qualification. In addition, these designations may not provide us with a material commercial advantage.

Post-Approval Requirements

Maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations requires the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Rigorous and extensive FDA regulation of biological products continues after approval, particularly with respect to cGMP requirements. Any products for which we receive FDA approval will be subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, record-keeping requirements, reporting of adverse experiences with the product, providing the FDA with updated safety and efficacy information, product sampling and distribution requirements, and complying with FDA promotion and advertising requirements, which include, among others, standards for direct-to-consumer advertising, restrictions on promoting products for uses or in patient populations that are not described in the product’s approved uses (known as off-label use), limitations on industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities, and requirements for promotional activities involving the internet. Although physicians may prescribe legally available products for off-label use that they deem to be appropriate in their professional medical judgment, manufacturers may not market or promote such off-label uses.

Other post-approval requirements applicable to biological products include reporting of cGMP deviations that may affect the identity, potency, purity and overall safety of a distributed product, record-keeping requirements, reporting of adverse effects, reporting updated safety and efficacy information, and complying with electronic record and signature requirements. After a BLA is approved, the product may also be subject to official lot release. In this case, as part of the manufacturing process, the manufacturer is required to perform certain tests on each lot of the product before it is released for distribution. If the product is subject to official release by the FDA, the manufacturer submits samples of each lot of product to the FDA together with a release protocol showing a summary of the history of manufacture of the lot and the results of all of the manufacturer’s tests performed on the lot. The FDA also may perform certain confirmatory tests on lots of some products before releasing the lots for distribution by the manufacturer. In addition, the FDA conducts laboratory research related to the regulatory standards on the safety, purity, potency, and effectiveness of biological products.

 

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In addition, we and any third-party manufacturers of our products will be required to comply with applicable requirements in the cGMP regulations, including quality control and quality assurance and maintenance of records and documentation. We rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties for the production of clinical and commercial quantities of our products in accordance with cGMP regulations. cGMP regulations require among other things, quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and documentation and the obligation to investigate and correct any deviations from cGMP. Manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved products are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies, and are subject to periodic announced and unannounced inspections by the FDA and certain state agencies for compliance with cGMP and other laws. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money, and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMP compliance. Discovery of problems with a product after approval may result in restrictions on a product, manufacturer, or holder of an approved BLA, including, among other things, recall or withdrawal of the product from the market. In addition, changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated, and depending on the significance of the change, may require prior FDA approval before being implemented. Other types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications and claims, are also subject to further FDA review and approval.

The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, known as Phase 4 testing, and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product. Discovery of previously unknown problems with a product or the failure to comply with applicable FDA requirements can have negative consequences, including adverse publicity, judicial or administrative enforcement, warning letters from the FDA, mandated corrective advertising or communications with doctors, and civil or criminal penalties, among others. Newly discovered or developed safety or effectiveness data may require changes to a product’s approved labeling, including the addition of new warnings and contraindications, and also may require the implementation of other risk management measures. Also, new government requirements, including those resulting from new legislation, may be established, or the FDA’s policies may change, which could delay or prevent regulatory approval of our products under development.

U.S. Patent Term Restoration and Marketing Exclusivity

The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, or BPCIA, amended the PHSA to authorize the FDA to approve similar versions of innovative biologics, commonly known as biosimilars. A competitor seeking approval of a biosimilar must file an application to establish its molecule as highly similar to an approved innovator biologic, among other requirements. The BPCIA, however, bars the FDA from approving biosimilar applications for 12 years after an innovator biological product receives initial marketing approval. This 12-year period of data exclusivity may be extended by six months, for a total of 12.5 years, if the FDA requests that the innovator company conduct pediatric clinical investigations of the product.

The first biological product submitted under the abbreviated approval pathway that is determined to be interchangeable with the reference product has exclusivity against other biologics submitting applications under the abbreviated approval pathway for the lesser of (1) one year after the first commercial marketing, (2) 18 months after approval if there is no legal challenge, (3) 18 months after the resolution in the applicant’s favor of a lawsuit challenging the biologic’s patents if an application has been submitted, or (4) 42 months after the application has been approved if a lawsuit is ongoing within the 42-month period.

Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of the FDA approval of the use of our product candidates, some of our U.S. patents, if granted, may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, commonly referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent restoration term of up to five years, as compensation for patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review process. However, patent term restoration cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the product’s approval date. The patent term restoration period is generally one-half the time between the effective date of an IND and the submission date of a BLA plus the time between the submission date of a BLA and the approval of that application. Only one patent applicable to an approved product is eligible for the extension and the application for the extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of the patent. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, in consultation with the FDA, reviews and approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration. In the future as applicable, we may apply for restoration of patent term for one of our currently owned or licensed patents seeking restored patent life beyond its current expiration date, depending on the expected length of the clinical trials and other factors involved in the filing of the relevant BLA.

 

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Pediatric exclusivity is another type of regulatory market exclusivity in the United States. Pediatric exclusivity, if granted, adds six months to existing exclusivity periods and patent terms. This six-month exclusivity, which attaches to and runs from the end of other exclusivity protection or patent term, may be granted based on the voluntary completion of a pediatric trial in accordance with an FDA-issued “Written Request” for such a trial.

Other U.S. Healthcare Laws and Compliance Requirements

In the United States, our activities are subject to regulation by various federal, state and local authorities in addition to the FDA, including but not limited to, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, other divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, and individual U.S. Attorney offices within the DOJ, and state and local governments. For example, sales, marketing and scientific/educational grant programs must comply with the anti-fraud and abuse provisions of the Social Security Act, the false claims laws, the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, and similar state laws, each as amended.

The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, any person or entity, from knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving any remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of any item or service reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs. The term remuneration has been interpreted broadly to include anything of value. The Anti-Kickback Statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers on one hand and prescribers, purchasers, and formulary managers on the other. There are a number of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting some common activities from prosecution. The exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly and practices that involve remuneration that may be alleged to be intended to induce prescribing, purchasing or recommending may be subject to scrutiny if they do not qualify for an exception or safe harbor. Failure to meet all of the requirements of a particular applicable statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor does not make the conduct per se illegal under the Anti-Kickback Statute. Instead, the legality of the arrangement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on a cumulative review of all of its facts and circumstances. Our practices may not in all cases meet all of the criteria for protection under a statutory exception or regulatory safe harbor.

Additionally, the intent standard under the Anti-Kickback Statute was amended by the ACA to a stricter standard such that a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. In addition, the ACA codified case law that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal False Claims Act (discussed below).

The civil monetary penalties statute imposes penalties against any person or entity who, among other things, is determined to have presented or caused to be presented a claim to a federal health program that the person knows or should know is for an item or service that was not provided as claimed or is false or fraudulent.

The federal False Claims Act prohibits, among other things, any person or entity from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment to, or approval by, the federal government or knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim to the federal government. As a result of a modification made by the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, a claim includes “any request or demand” for money or property presented to the U.S. government. Recently, several pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies have been prosecuted under these laws for allegedly providing free product to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal programs for the product. Other companies have been prosecuted for causing false claims to be submitted because of the companies’ marketing of the product for unapproved, and thus non-reimbursable, uses.

HIPAA created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud or to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any money or property owned by, or under the control or custody of, any healthcare benefit program, including

 

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private third-party payors and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up by trick, scheme or device, a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services.

Also, many states have similar fraud and abuse statutes or regulations that apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor.

We may also be subject to data privacy and security regulations by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, and its implementing regulations, imposes requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information. Among other things, HITECH makes HIPAA’s privacy and security standards directly applicable to business associates independent contractors or agents of covered entities that receive or obtain protected health information in connection with providing a service on behalf of a covered entity. HITECH also created four new tiers of civil monetary penalties, amended HIPAA to make civil and criminal penalties directly applicable to business associates, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions.

In addition, state laws govern the privacy and security of health information in specified circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts.

Additionally, the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, enacted as part of the ACA, and its implementing regulations, require certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biological and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to report information related to certain payments or other transfers of value made or distributed to physicians and teaching hospitals, or to entities or individuals at the request of, or designated on behalf of, the physicians and teaching hospitals and to report annually certain ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members.

In order to distribute products commercially, we will need to comply with state laws that require the registration of manufacturers and wholesale distributors of drug and biological products in a state, including, in certain states, manufacturers and distributors who ship products into the state even if such manufacturers or distributors have no place of business within the state. Some states also impose requirements on manufacturers and distributors to establish the pedigree of product in the chain of distribution, including some states that require manufacturers and others to adopt new technology capable of tracking and tracing product as it moves through the distribution chain. Several states have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to establish marketing compliance programs, file periodic reports with the state, make periodic public disclosures on sales, marketing, pricing, clinical trials and other activities, and/or register their sales representatives, as well as to prohibit pharmacies and other healthcare entities from providing certain physician prescribing data to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for use in sales and marketing, and to prohibit certain other sales and marketing practices. All of our activities are also potentially subject to federal and state consumer protection and unfair competition laws.

If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the federal and state healthcare laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including without limitation, civil, criminal and/or administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, exclusion from participation in government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, injunctions, private “qui tam” actions brought by individual whistleblowers in the name of the government, or refusal to allow us to enter into government contracts, contractual damages, reputational harm, administrative burdens, diminished profits and future earnings, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.

 

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Coverage, Pricing and Reimbursement

Sales of our products will depend, in part, on the extent to which our products, if approved, will be covered and reimbursed by third-party payors, such as government health programs, commercial insurance and managed healthcare organizations. These third-party payors are increasingly reducing reimbursements for medical products and services. The process for determining whether a third-party payor will provide coverage for a drug product typically is separate from the process for setting the price of a drug product or for establishing the reimbursement rate that a payor will pay for the drug product once coverage is approved. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific drug products on an approved list, also known as a formulary, which might not include all of the approved drugs for a particular indication.

In order to secure coverage and reimbursement for any product candidate that might be approved for sale, we may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of the product candidate, in addition to the costs required to obtain FDA or other comparable regulatory approvals. Whether or not we conduct such studies, our product candidates may not be considered medically necessary or cost-effective. A third-party payor’s decision to provide coverage for a drug product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Further, one payor’s determination to provide coverage for a product does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage for the product. Even if coverage is obtained from third party payors, reimbursement may not be sufficient to enable us to maintain price levels high enough to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.

The containment of healthcare costs has become a priority of federal, state and foreign governments, and the prices of drugs have been a focus in this effort. The U.S. government, state legislatures and foreign governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost-containment programs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products. Similar policies and laws have been adopted by many EU Member States. Adoption of price controls and cost-containment measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limit our net revenue and results. Decreases in third-party reimbursement for our product candidate or a decision by a third-party payor to not cover our product candidate could reduce physician usage of the product candidate and have a material adverse effect on our sales, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, in some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a drug must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements governing drug pricing vary widely from country to country. For example, the EU provides options for its Member States to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. A Member State may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. For example, in France, effective access to the market assumes that our future products will be supported by the hospital (through an agreement for local communities) or reimbursed by social security. The price of medications is negotiated with the Economic Committee for Health Products, or CEPS. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for pharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our product candidates. Historically, products launched in the EU do not follow price structures of the United States and generally tend to be significantly lower.

Healthcare Reform and Subsequent Legislation

In March 2010, President Obama enacted the ACA, which has the potential to substantially change healthcare financing and delivery by both governmental and private insurers, and significantly impact the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The ACA will impact existing government healthcare programs and will result in the development of new programs.

Among the ACA’s provisions of importance to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, in addition to those otherwise described above, are the following:

 

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    an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain specified branded prescription drugs and biologic agents apportioned among these entities according to their market share in some government healthcare programs;

 

    an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to 23.1% and 13% of the average manufacturer price for most branded and generic drugs, respectively and a cap on the total rebate amount for innovator drugs at 100% of the Average Manufacturer Price, or AMP;

 

    a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturers’ outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D;

 

    extension of manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability to covered drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations;

 

    expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, thereby potentially increasing manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability;

 

    expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service pharmaceutical pricing program; and

 

    a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research.

We anticipate that the ACA will result in additional downward pressure on coverage and the price that we receive for any approved product in the United States, and could seriously harm our business. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare and other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our product candidates, if approved. In addition, it is possible that there will be further legislation or regulation that could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the ACA was enacted. On August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 among other things, created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year, which started in April 2013. On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, or the ATRA, which, among other things, also reduced Medicare payments to several providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer treatment centers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. We expect that additional federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, and in turn could significantly reduce the projected value of certain development projects and reduce our profitability.

Additional Regulation

In addition to the foregoing, state and federal laws regarding environmental protection and hazardous substances, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Resource Conservancy and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act, affect our business. These and other laws govern our use, handling and disposal of various biological, chemical and radioactive substances used in, and wastes generated by, our operations. If our

 

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operations result in contamination of the environment or expose individuals to hazardous substances, we could be liable for damages and governmental fines. We believe that we are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws and that continued compliance therewith will not have a material adverse effect on our business. We cannot predict, however, how changes in these laws may affect our future operations.

European Union Drug Development

In the EU, our future product candidates may also be subject to extensive regulatory requirements. As in the United States, medicinal products can only be marketed if a marketing authorization from the competent regulatory agencies has been obtained.

Similar to the United States, the various phases of pre-clinical and clinical research in the European Union are subject to significant regulatory controls. Although the EU Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC has sought to harmonize the EU clinical trials regulatory framework, setting out common rules for the control and authorization of clinical trials in the EU, the EU Member States have transposed and applied the provisions of the Directive differently. This has led to significant variations in the Member State regimes. To improve the current system, a new Regulation No. 536/2014 on clinical trials on medicinal product candidates for human use, which will repeal Directive 2001/20/EC, was adopted on April 16, 2014 and published in the European Official Journal on May 27, 2014. The new Regulation aims at harmonizing and streamlining the clinical trials authorization process, simplifying adverse event reporting procedures, improving the supervision of clinical trials, and increasing their transparency. The new Regulation entered into force on June 16, 2014 and was set to apply not earlier than May 28, 2016. Based on announcements of the European Medicines Agency, it is now expected that the mentioned Regulation will not enter into force before October 2018. Until then the Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC will continue to apply. In addition, the transitional provisions of the new Regulation offer, under certain conditions, the clinical trial sponsors the possibility to choose between the requirements of the Directive and the Regulation for a limited amount of time.

Under the current regime, before a clinical trial can be initiated it must be approved in each of the EU Member States where the trial is to be conducted by two distinct sets of bodies: the National Competent Authority, or NCA, and one or more Ethics Committees, or ECs. Under the current regime all suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions, or SUSARs, to the investigational product that occur during the clinical trial have to be reported to the NCA and ECs of the Member State where they occurred.

European Union Drug Review and Approval

In the EU, medicinal products can only be commercialized after obtaining a Marketing Authorization, or MA. The same rules also apply in the EFTA Member States (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). There are two types of marketing authorizations:

The Community MA, which is issued by the European Commission through the Centralized Procedure, based on the opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP, of the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, and which is valid throughout the entire territory of the EU. The Centralized Procedure is mandatory for certain types of products, such as biotechnology medicinal products, orphan medicinal products, and medicinal products containing a new active substance indicated for the treatment of AIDS, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, auto-immune and viral diseases. The Centralized Procedure is also mandatory for so-called Advance Therapy Medicinal Products (or ATMPs). ATMPs comprise gene therapy, somatic cell and tissue engineered products. In this regard, on May 28, 2014, the EMA issued a recommendation that Cellectis’ UCART19 be considered a gene therapy product under Regulation (EC) No 1394/2007 on ATMPs. The Centralized Procedure is optional for products containing a new active substance not yet authorized in the EEA, or for products that constitute a significant therapeutic, scientific or technical innovation or which are in the interest of public health in the EU. Under the Centralized Procedure, the CHMP serves as the scientific committee that renders opinions about the safety, efficacy and quality of human products on behalf of the EMA. The CHMP is composed of experts nominated by each Member State’s national drug authority, with one of them appointed to act as Rapporteur for the co-ordination of the evaluation with the possible assistance of a further member of the Committee acting as a Co-Rapporteur. The CHMP has 210 days to adopt an opinion as to whether a marketing authorization should be granted. The process usually takes longer as additional information is requested, which

 

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triggers clock-stops in the procedural timelines. Based on the CHMP’s opinion the European Commission will adopt a decision on the granting of the marketing authorization. In case of ATMPs, the EMA’s Committee for Advanced Therapies, a multidisciplinary committee of experts on ATMPs, will prepare a draft opinion which will be submitted to the CHMP before the latter adopts its final opinion.

Under the above described procedure, before granting the MA, the EMA makes an assessment of the risk-benefit balance of the product on the basis of scientific criteria concerning its quality, safety and efficacy.

In the EU, new products authorized for marketing (i.e., reference products) qualify for eight years of data exclusivity and an additional two years of market exclusivity upon marketing authorization. The data exclusivity period prevents generic applicants from relying on the preclinical and clinical trial data contained in the dossier of the reference product when applying for a generic marketing authorization in the EU during a period of eight years from the date on which the reference product was first authorized in the EU. The market exclusivity period prevents a successful generic applicant from commercializing its product in the EU until ten years have elapsed from the initial authorization of the reference product in the EU. The ten-year market exclusivity period can be extended to a maximum of eleven years if, during the first eight years of those ten years, the marketing authorization holder obtains an authorization for one or more new therapeutic indications which, during the scientific evaluation prior to their authorization, are held to bring a significant clinical benefit in comparison with existing therapies.

The EU also provides opportunities for market exclusivity. For example, products receiving orphan designation in the EU can receive ten years of market exclusivity, during which time no similar medicinal product for the same indication may be placed on the market. An orphan product can also obtain an additional two years of market exclusivity in the EU for pediatric studies. No extension to any supplementary protection certificate can be granted on the basis of pediatric studies for orphan indications.

The criteria for designating an “orphan medicinal product” in the EU are similar in principle to those in the United States. Under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) 141/2000, a medicinal product may be designated as orphan if (1) it is intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition; (2) either (a) such condition affects no more than five in 10,000 persons in the EU when the application is made, or (b) the product, without the benefits derived from orphan status, would not generate sufficient return in the EU to justify investment; and (3) there exists no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such condition authorized for marketing in the EU, or if such a method exists, the product will be of significant benefit to those affected by the condition, as defined in Regulation (EC) 847/2000. Orphan medicinal products are eligible for financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and are, upon grant of a marketing authorization, entitled to ten years of market exclusivity for the approved therapeutic indication. The application for orphan drug designation must be submitted before the application for marketing authorization. The applicant will receive a fee reduction for the marketing authorization application if the orphan drug designation has been granted, but not if the designation is still pending at the time the marketing authorization is submitted. Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process.

The 10-year market exclusivity may be reduced to six years if, at the end of the fifth year, it is established that the product no longer meets the criteria for orphan designation, for example, if the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity. Additionally, marketing authorization may be granted to a similar product for the same indication at any time if:

 

    The second applicant can establish that its product, although similar, is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior;

 

    The applicant consents to a second orphan medicinal product application; or

 

    The applicant cannot supply enough orphan medicinal product.

 

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Food Oversight Responsibilities Between USDA and FDA, Including Transgenic or Genetically Modified Organisms

In the United States, the FDA and the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, or FSIS, are primarily responsible for overseeing food regulation and safety, although as many as fifteen federal agencies also play a role in U.S. food regulation, including several other agencies within USDA.

FSIS is responsible for ensuring the safety, wholesomeness, and correct packaging and labeling of the nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, egg products, and catfish. The agency’s main authorizing statutes are the Poultry Products Inspection Act, Federal Meat Inspection Act, Agricultural Marketing Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act. To carry out its mission, FSIS deploys almost 8,000 inspection program personnel to the more than 6,000 establishments around the country to ensure food manufactures are following the proper procedures to reduce the risks of food borne illnesses such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter.

USDA has regulatory jurisdiction over transgenic crops through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS. Under the Plant Protection Act, USDA requires anyone who wishes to import, transport interstate, or plant a “regulated article” to apply for a permit or notify APHIS that the introduction will be made. Regulated articles are defined as “any organism which has been altered or produced through genetic engineering . . . which USDA determines is a plant pest or has reason to believe is a plant pest.” The petition process can be a multi-year process that varies based on a number of factors, including APHIS’ familiarity with similar products, the type and scope of the environmental review conducted, and the number and types of public comments received. APHIS conducts a comprehensive science-based review of the petition to assess, among other things, plant pest risk, environmental considerations pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, or NEPA, and any potential impact on endangered species. If, upon the completion of the review, APHIS grants the petition, the product is no longer deemed a “regulated article” and the petitioner may commercialize the product, subject to any conditions set forth in the decision. If APHIS does not determine the product to be non-regulated, the product may be subject to extensive regulation, including permitting requirements for import, handling, interstate movement, and release into the environment, and inspections.

We have submitted a petition for a determination of “nonregulated status” to the APHIS for our potato product candidate and our No Trans Fat (High Oleic) Soybean product candidates. APHIS has granted the petition for our potato product candidate and has not yet made a determination on our soybean product candidate. There can be no guarantee of the timing or success in obtaining nonregulated status from APHIS for our other crops or that the governing regulations will not change. Government regulations, regulatory systems, and the politics that influence them vary widely among jurisdictions and change often.

As part of its National Organic Program, USDA also regulates GMOs, or genetically modified (“GM”) foods, to the extent that food manufacturers can use the “USDA Organic” label on their products. The use of genetic engineering, or GMOs, is prohibited in USDA organic products. According to USDA, this means, for example, that an organic farmer cannot plant GMO seeds, an organic cow cannot eat GMO alfalfa or corn, and an organic soup producer cannot put any GM ingredients into its soup. To label products with the USDA organic seal, farmers and food processors must show they are not using GMOs and that they are protecting their products from contact with GMOs (along with other prohibited substances) from farm to table.

FDA has jurisdiction to regulate more than 80 percent of the U.S. food supply. It derives its regulatory power from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”), which has been amended over time by several subsequent laws. FDA’s oversight of food safety and security is primarily carried out by its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (“CFSAN”). To execute its responsibilities, FDA has a team of 900 investigators and 450 analysts in the foods program who conduct inspections and collect and analyze product samples. FDA typically does not perform pre-market inspection for foods. FDA also regulates ingredients, packaging, and labeling of foods, including nutrition and health claims and the nutrition facts panel. Foods are typically not subject to premarket review and approval requirements, with limited exceptions.

For its part, FDA regulates foods made with GMOs under its 1992 “Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties.” Under this policy, FDA regulates foods derived from GM plant varieties consistent with the framework for non-GM foods. In most cases, foods derived from GM plant varieties are not subject to

 

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premarket review and approval. In some cases, however, such foods will be considered to contain “food additives” that require premarket review and approval. FDA offers a voluntary consultation process to determine whether foods derived from GM plant varieties will be subject to these more stringent regulatory requirements.

FDA does not currently require manufacturers to label foods made with GMOs as such, but permits voluntary labeling pursuant to a guidance document finalized in November 2015. The topic of GMO use and labeling has been of significant public interest; as political forces continue to work, and there can be no guaranty that it will not change in the future. Additionally, three states have passed, and nearly half of U.S. states have considered, mandatory GMO labeling laws to date.

Other Regulatory Matters

French Pharmaceutical Company Status

To date, we do not have the status of pharmaceutical establishment, and therefore, cannot either manufacture the product candidates we develop or directly consider their marketing. Obtaining the pharmaceutical establishment license, either as distributor, operator, importer or as manufacturer, requires the submission of a request file specific to each of the mentioned qualifications with the Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (ANSM), which only grants it after review of this file and evaluation, usually after verification that the company has adequate premises, the necessary personnel and an adapted structure with satisfactory procedures for carrying out the proposed pharmaceutical activities.

We currently entrust CMOs with the manufacturing of clinical batches and intend to continue relying on CMOs for the production of the first commercial batches. We may consider internalizing production once our first product candidate is approved by regulatory authorities.

Employees

As of December 31, 2015, we had 116 employees, 110 of whom are full-time, 39 of whom hold Ph.D. or M.D. degrees, 92 of whom were engaged in research and development activities and 24 of whom were engaged in business development, legal, finance, information systems, facilities, human resources or administrative support. As of December 31, 2015, 79 of our employees were located in France and 37 of our employees were located in the United States. None of our employees is subject to a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal proceedings relating to claims arising out of our operations. We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

 

C. Organizational Structure

We have the following wholly owned subsidiaries (state or country of incorporation): Cellectis, Inc. (Delaware), Calyxt, Inc. (Delaware), Cellectis Bioresearch S.A.S. (France), Cellectis Bioresearch, Inc. (Delaware) and Ectycell, S.A.S. (France).

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we completed the following internal reorganization :

 

    Ectycell was merged with and into Cellectis Bioresearch, Inc., with Cellectis Bioresearch, Inc. surviving in August 2015 with retroactive effect as at January 1, 2015 for French tax purposes

 

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    Cellectis Bioresearch S.A.S. (France) was merged with and into Cellectis S.A with Cellectis S.A. surviving in December 2015 with retroactive effect as at January 1, 2015 for French tax purposes

 

    Cellectis Bioresearch, Inc. was merged into Cellectis, Inc. in September 2015

As at December 31, 2015, the consolidated companies consist of Cellectis S.A, Cellectis, Inc. and Calyxt, Inc.

 

D. Property, Plants and Equipment

We lease one 3,064 square-meter facility in Paris for administrative and research and development activities. The lease commenced on April 1, 2011 and has a 10-year initial term expiring on April 1, 2021. We also lease a 12,052 square-foot facility in New York, New York for administrative and research and development activities, which commenced on March 30, 2015 and has a 66-month initial term expiring on September 30, 2020. We also lease a 17,485 square-foot facility in New Brighton, Minnesota, which commenced on October 15, 2012 and expires on October 14, 2017. In March 2016, Calyxt acquired an 10-acres parcels in Roseville (MN) to build its headquarters facility. In addition, in March 2016, we entered into a lease agreement for a 26,928 square-foot facility in Montvale, New Jersey.

 

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The following Operating and Financial Review and Prospects should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report. In addition to historical consolidated financial information, this discussion also contains forward-looking statements, based on current expectations and related to future events and our future financial performance, that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Overview

We are a pioneering gene-editing company, employing our core proprietary technologies to develop best-in-class products in the emerging field of immuno-oncology. Our product candidates, based on gene-edited T-cells that express chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs, seek to harness the power of the immune system to target and eradicate cancers. We believe that CAR-based immunotherapy is one of the most promising areas of cancer research, representing a new paradigm for cancer treatment. We are designing next-generation immunotherapies that are based on gene-edited CAR T-cells. Our gene-editing technologies allow us to create allogeneic CAR T-cells, meaning they are derived from healthy donors rather than the patients themselves. We believe that the allogeneic production of CAR T-cells will allow us to develop cost-effective, “off-the-shelf” products and are capable of being stored and distributed worldwide. Our gene-editing expertise also enables us to develop product candidates that feature additional safety and efficacy attributes, including control properties designed to prevent them from attacking healthy tissues, to enable them to tolerate standard oncology treatments, and to equip them to resist mechanisms that inhibit immune-system activity. In addition to our focus on immuno-oncology, we are exploring the use of our gene-editing technologies in other therapeutic applications, as well as to develop healthier food products for a growing population.

We currently conduct our operations through two business segments, Therapeutics and Plants. Our Therapeutics segment is focused on the development of products in the field of immuno-oncology and of novel products outside immuno-oncology to treat other human diseases. Our Plants segment focuses on applying our gene-editing technologies to develop new generation plant products in the field of agricultural biotechnology through its own efforts or through alliances with other companies in the agricultural market.

Since our inception in early 2000, we have devoted substantially all of our financial resources to research and development efforts. Our current research and development focuses primarily on our CAR T-cell immunotherapy product candidates, including preparing to conduct clinical studies of our product candidates, providing general and administrative support for these operations and protecting our intellectual property. In addition, by leveraging our plant-engineering platform and the transformative potential of gene editing, we aim to create food products with consumer health benefits, adaptations for climate change or nutritional enhancements that address the needs of a growing population. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenues from immunotherapy or agricultural biotechnology product sales.

In February 2014, we entered into an alliance with Servier for the development of UCART19 and other product candidates directed at four additional molecular targets. In November 2015, we entered into an amendment to our initial collaboration agreement with Servier, which allowed for an early exercise of Servier’s option with respect to UCART19 and other product candidates. Pursuant to this amendment, Servier has exercised its option to acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to further develop and commercialize UCART19. In addition, Pfizer and Servier have announced that they have entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement to co-develop and commercialize UCART19.

In December 2015, we filed a CTA in the United Kingdom requesting approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial on UCART19 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which, if approved, will be conducted by Servier.

In connection with the entry into the amendment to the collaboration agreement, Servier made an upfront payment of €35.6 million ($38.5 million), excluding taxes. In addition, we may receive up to €895 million ($974 millions) in further potential option exercise fees, development, clinical and sales milestones, in addition to royalties on sales and research and development costs reimbursements.

 

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Our alliance with Pfizer, which commenced in June 2014, addresses the development of other CAR T-cell immunotherapies in the field of oncology. This strategic alliance is potentially worth up to $2.9 billion in payments by Pfizer to us, including an $80 million upfront payment and $2.8 billion in potential clinical and commercial milestone payments. In addition, we invoice research and development costs assigned to our projects in common with Pfizer. Pfizer also purchased 10% of our then-outstanding equity in connection with this collaboration for €25.8 million. We believe that both of these strategic transactions position us to compete in the promising field of immuno-oncology and add additional clinical and financial resources to our programs.

In addition, we have also entered into research and development alliances with each of Weill Cornell Medical College and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Pursuant to these strategic alliances, we will collaborate with these two centers to accelerate the development of our lead product candidates UCART123, UCARTCS1, UCART22 and UCART38 in AML, BPDCN, multiple myeloma, B-cell and T-ALL.

In addition to our cash generated by operations (including payments under our strategic alliances), we have funded our operations primarily through private and public offerings of our equity securities, grant revenues, payments received under intellectual property licenses, and reimbursements of research tax credits. Our ordinary shares have traded on the Alternext market of Euronext in Paris since February 7, 2007. From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014, we received €61.0 million through sales of equity and €73.7 million in payments made to us under our collaboration agreements with Pfizer and Servier. In March 2015, we completed our U.S. initial public offering of 5,500,000 American Depositary Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market for gross proceeds of $228.2 million. In 2015, we also received €46.9 million in payments pursuant to the Pfizer and Servier collaborations.

Financial Operations Overview

We have incurred net losses in nearly each year since our inception. Substantially all of our net losses resulted from costs incurred in connection with our development programs and from selling, general and administrative expenses associated with our operations. As we continue our intensive research and development programs, we expect to continue to incur significant expenses and may again incur operating losses in future periods. We anticipate that such expenses will increase substantially if and as we:

 

    continue the research and development of our immuno-oncology product candidates;

 

    continue the research and development of our agricultural product candidates;

 

    initiate clinical studies for, or additional pre-clinical development of, our immuno-oncology product candidates;

 

    multiply field trials of our agricultural product candidates;

 

    further develop and refine the manufacturing process for our immuno-oncology product candidates;

 

    change or add additional manufacturers or suppliers of biological materials;

 

    seek regulatory and marketing approvals for our product candidates, if any, that successfully complete development;

 

    establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval;

 

    seek to identify and validate additional product candidates;

 

    acquire or in-license other product candidates, technologies, germplasm or other biological material;

 

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    make milestone or other payments under any in-license agreements;

 

    maintain, protect and expand our intellectual property portfolio;

 

    secure manufacturing arrangements for clinical and commercial production;

 

    seek to attract and retain new and existing skilled personnel;

 

    create additional infrastructure to support our operations as a public company; and

 

    experience any delays or encounter issues with any of the above.

We do not expect to generate material revenues from sales of our product candidates unless and until we successfully complete development of, and obtain marketing approval for, one or more of our product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years and is subject to significant uncertainty. Accordingly, we anticipate that we will need to raise additional capital prior to completing clinical development of any of our product candidates. Until such time that we can generate substantial revenues from sales of our product candidates, if ever, we expect to finance our operating activities through a combination of milestone payments received pursuant to our strategic alliances, equity offerings, debt financings, government or other third-party funding and collaborations, and licensing arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all, which would have a negative impact on our financial condition and could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our development programs or commercialization efforts or grant to others rights to develop or market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. Failure to receive additional funding could cause us to cease operations, in part or in full.

Historically, we also operated a Tools and Services segment, whose purpose was to develop and to sell genome engineering tools, engineered cells lines and services to biological research laboratories. The operations of the Tools and Services segment were primarily conducted through the activities of our subsidiaries Cellectis Bioresearch, Ectycell, Cellectis Bioresearch Inc. and Cellectis AB. In light of our current strategic goals, our board of directors decided to initiate a plan to wind down the Tools and Services segment, and, beginning in 2013, we gradually reduced the operations conducted in this segment. Other than the run-off of legacy contracts, following the divestiture of Cellectis AB in August 2014, the Tools and Services segment does not have any operations. In connection with our discontinuation of operations in the Tools and Services segment, we approved redundancy plans, which resulted in the termination of 45 employees throughout 2014.

Our consolidated financial statements for 2013, 2014 and 2015 have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB.

Financial Operations Overview

Revenues and Other Income

Revenues

We currently derive all our revenues from payments pursuant to our collaboration agreements with Pfizer and Servier, patent licensing arrangements, royalties on licensed products or technologies and research and development services. Our collaboration agreements provide for non-refundable upfront payments that we receive upon execution of the relevant agreement, milestone payments that we are entitled to receive when the triggering event has occurred, and royalty payments. The triggering event for a milestone payment may be the receipt of favorable scientific results, regulatory approval, or marketing of products developed pursuant to the agreement. Royalties are based on sales of licensed products or technologies. They are recognized in accordance with the terms of the licensing agreement when sales can be determined reliably and there is reasonable assurance that the receivables from outstanding royalties will be collected.

 

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Our ability to generate product revenues and become profitable depends upon our and our collaborators’ ability to successfully develop and commercialize products. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce our operations.

In addition, from the beginning of 2014, we gradually reduced the operations of our Tools and Services segment. Following the divestiture of Cellectis AB at the end of August 2014, we no longer receive significant revenues from the sale of services and research development contracts.

Other Income

Government Grants

Due to the innovative nature of our product candidate development programs, we have benefited from a certain number of sources of assistance from the French government or local public authorities, intended to finance our research and development efforts or the recruitment of specific personnel. Government grants that offset expenses that we incur for those research programs are recognized as other income in the period in which the expenses that are reimbursable pursuant to the grant have been incurred.

Research Tax Credit

The research tax credit (Crédit d’Impôt Recherche), or CIR, is granted to companies by the French tax authorities in order to encourage them to conduct technical and scientific research. Companies demonstrating that they have research expenditures that meet the required CIR criteria receive a tax credit that may be used for the payment of their income tax due on the fiscal year in which the expenditures were incurred and during the next three fiscal years. If taxes due are not sufficient to cover the full amount of the tax credit at the end of the three-year period, the difference is repaid to us in cash by the French tax authorities. We also satisfy certain criteria that qualify us as a small/middle size company and permit us to request immediate payment of the CIR. The expenditures taken into account for the calculation of the CIR only involve research expenses.

The main characteristics of the CIR are the following:

 

    the CIR results in a cash inflow to us from the tax authorities;

 

    a company’s corporate income tax liability does not limit the amount of the CIR; and

 

    the CIR is not included in the determination of the corporate income tax.

We have concluded that the CIR meets the definition of a government grant as defined in IAS 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance, and that the classification as other income within operating loss in our statement of operations is appropriate.

Operating Expenses and Other Operating Income (Expenses)

Our operating expenses and other operating income (expenses) consist primarily of royalty expenses, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses.

Royalty Expenses

We have entered into several license agreements to obtain access to technology that we use in our product development efforts. Royalty expenses consist of in-licensing costs, which reflect royalties we pay to use rights granted to us. Depending on the contractual provisions, royalty expenses are either proportional to revenues generated by using the patents or fixed annual royalties.

 

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Research and Development Expenses

We engage in substantial research and development efforts to develop innovative CAR T-cell immunotherapy and agricultural product candidates.

Research and development expense consists primarily of:

 

    personnel costs, including salaries, related benefits and share-based compensation, for our employees engaged in scientific research and development functions;

 

    cost of third-party contractors such as contract research organizations, or CROs, and academic institutions involved in pre-clinical or clinical trials that we may conduct, or third-party contractors involved in field trials;

 

    purchases of biological raw materials, real-estate leasing costs as well as conferences and travel costs; and

 

    certain other expenses, such as expenses for use of laboratories and facilities for our research and development activities.

Due to the increased level of efforts towards our R&D activities in order to develop product candidates and work toward clinical phases, in 2015 we started to classify personnel and other costs related to information technology, human resources, business development, legal, intellectual property and general management in R&D expense based on the time that employees spent contributing to R&D activities versus general and administrative activities. This allocation change is effective starting in 2015.

Our research and development efforts are focused on our existing product candidates, including the advancement of our lead product candidate, UCART19, to the filing in 2015 of an application for a CTA in the United Kingdom. We use our employee and infrastructure resources across multiple research and development programs directed toward developing our cell-based platform and for identifying and developing product candidates. We manage certain activities such as pre-clinical research and manufacture of product candidates through our partner institutions or other third-party vendors. Due to the number of ongoing projects and our ability to use resources across several projects, we do not record or maintain information regarding the costs incurred for our research and development programs on a program-specific basis.

Our research and development efforts are central to our business and account for a significant portion of our operating expenses. We expect that our research and development costs will increase in the foreseeable future as we implement our new clinical trials, manufacture pre-commercial clinical trial and pre-clinical study materials, expand our research and development and process development efforts, seek regulatory approvals for our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, access and develop additional technologies, and hire additional personnel to support our research and development efforts. This is because product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. Likewise, in our plant products business, we expect our research and development expenses to increase over the next several years as we develop new agricultural product candidates and advance them through field trials toward commercial proof of concept.

We cannot determine with certainty the duration and completion costs of our future clinical trials of our product candidates or if, when, or to what extent we will generate revenues from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates, or those of our collaborators, that might obtain regulatory approval. We also cannot determine with certainty the duration and completion costs of our future field trials of our agricultural product candidates or if, when, or to what extent we will generate revenues from the commercialization and sale of any of our agricultural product candidates that might obtain regulatory approval. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for any product candidates. The duration, costs and timing of clinical trials and development of our product candidates will depend on a variety of factors, including:

 

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    the scope, rate of progress and expense of our ongoing as well as any additional pre-clinical studies, clinical trials and other research and development activities;

 

    clinical trial and early-stage results;

 

    the terms and timing of regulatory approvals;

the expense of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights;

the ability to market, commercialize and achieve market acceptance for any product candidate that we may develop in the future; and

the scope, rate of progress and expense of our ongoing as well as any additional studies for our agricultural product candidates, field trials and other research and development activities.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses for executive, business development, intellectual property, finance, legal and human resource functions. Administrative expenses also include facility-related costs and service fees, other professional services and recruiting fees.

Due to the increased level of efforts towards our R&D activities in order to develop product candidates and work toward clinical phases, in 2015 we started to classify personnel and other costs related to information technology, human resources, business development, legal, intellectual property and general management in R&D expense based on the time that employees spent contributing to R&D activities versus general and administrative activities. This allocation change is effective starting in 2015.

We anticipate that our selling, general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our headcount to support the expected growth in our research and development activities and the potential commercialization of our product candidates. We also anticipate increased expenses associated with being a public company in the United States, including costs related to audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with U.S. exchange listing and SEC requirements, director and officer insurance premiums, and investor relations costs.

Redundancy Plans

In the second half of 2013, we recognized an expense of €1.9 million in connection with a redundancy plan that included the winding-down of our Tools and Services segment, as well as our decision to discontinue some of our research and development programs. In July 2014 we implemented a second redundancy plan and recognized an expense of €0.5 million. During the year 2014 we made payments of €1.4 million in connection with these redundancy plans.

During the year ended on December 31, 2015, we paid €24 thousand related to the redundancy plans implemented in 2013 and 2014 with respect to Cellectis Bioresearch and Ectycell. €409 thousand were reclassified in Other current liabilities and €18 thousand were recorded in provision for redundancy plans.

Financial Gain (Loss)

Financial revenues consist of interest income and exchange gains associated with transactions in foreign currencies. Financial expense consists of exchange losses associated with transactions in foreign currencies. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into euros at the exchange rates effective at the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are translated into euros using the exchange rate effective at that date. The resulting exchange gains or losses are recorded in the consolidated statements of income as financial revenues or expense. Financial gain (loss) reflects the net impact of financial revenues and financial expenses.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Some of the accounting methods and policies used in preparing our financial statements under IFRS are based on complex and subjective assessments by our management or on estimates based on past experience and assumptions deemed realistic and reasonable based on the circumstances concerned. The actual value of our assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity and of our losses could differ from the value derived from these estimates if conditions changed and these changes had an impact on the assumptions adopted. We believe that the most significant management judgments and assumptions in the preparation of our financial statements are described below. See Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Revenue Recognition

Collaboration Agreements and Licenses

We enter into research collaboration agreements that may consist of non-refundable upfront payments, payments for the sale of rights to technology, milestone payments, and royalties. We invoice researchers employee costs assigned to our projects in common with partners. In addition, we license our technology to third parties, which may be part of the research collaboration agreements.

Non-refundable upfront payments are deferred and recognized as revenue over the period of the collaboration agreement. Sales of technology pursuant to non-cancelable, non-refundable fixed-fee arrangements are recognized when such technology is delivered to the co-contracting party and our exclusive rights to access the technology have stopped.

Milestone payments represent amounts received from our collaborators, the receipt of which is dependent upon the achievement of certain scientific, regulatory, or commercial milestones. We recognize milestone payments when the triggering event has occurred, there are no further contingencies or services to be provided with respect to that event, and the co-contracting party has no right to require refund of payment. The triggering events may be scientific results achieved by us or another party to the arrangement, regulatory approvals, or the marketing of products developed under the arrangement.

Royalty revenues arise from our contractual entitlement to receive a percentage of product sales achieved by co-contracting parties. Royalty revenues are recognized on an accrual basis in accordance with the terms of the collaboration agreement when sales can be determined reliably and there is reasonable assurance that the receivables from outstanding royalties will be collected.

Revenues from licenses are recognized ratably over the period of the license agreements.

Sales of Products and Services

Revenues on sales of products and services are recognized when significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer.

Accumulated costs on product orders in process are recorded in inventories. We also offer research services to customers, which are recognized as revenues when the services are rendered, either on a time and materials basis, or ratably over the contract period for fixed payment arrangements.

Research Tax Credit

The research tax credit (Crédit d’Impôt Recherche), or CIR, is granted to entities by the French tax authorities in order to encourage them to conduct technical and scientific research. We apply for the CIR for research expenditures incurred in each fiscal year and recognize the amount claimed in the line item “Other income” in the same fiscal year. We are required to demonstrate that our research expenditures meet the required CIR criteria in order to qualify for a tax credit. Such criteria can be judgmental and we calculate the credit based on our view of qualifying research expenditures.

 

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Share-Based Compensation

Under the fair value recognition provisions of this guidance, share-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award.

Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the grant date requires judgment. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of share options. The determination of the grant date fair value of options using an option-pricing model is affected by our ordinary share fair value as well as assumptions regarding a number of other complex and subjective variables. These variables include the fair value of our ordinary shares, the expected term of the options, our expected share price volatility, risk-free interest rates, and expected dividends, which are estimated as follows:

 

    Fair value of our ordinary shares. We use the closing sales price per ordinary share as quoted on Alternext market of Euronext in Paris on the grant date for Cellectis grants and valuations reviewed by third parties for Calyxt grants.

 

    Expected term. The expected term represents the period that our share-based awards are expected to be outstanding. As we do not have sufficient historical experience for determining the expected term of the ordinary share option awards granted, we have based our expected term on the simplified method, which represents the average period from vesting to the expiration of the award.

 

    Expected volatility. For Cellectis grants, the expected share price volatility takes into account the Cellectis closing share prices and closing share price of industry peers for the remaining expected term of the ordinary share option grant. For the Calyxt grants, the expected volatility is based on comparables.

 

    Risk-free rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yields of French government securities with maturities similar to the expected term of the options for each option group for Cellectis grants and US Treasury bonds for Calyxt grants.

 

    Dividend yield. We have never declared or paid any cash dividends and do not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, we used an expected dividend yield of zero.

If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model changes significantly, share-based compensation for future awards may differ materially compared with the awards granted previously.

 

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A. Operating Results

The following table sets forth our selected consolidated statement of income data:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013     2014     2015  
     (€, in thousands)  

Revenues and other income

      

Revenues

     5,362        21,627        50,346   

Other income

     7,362        4,826        6,039   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues and other income

     12,724        26,453        56,385   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses and other operating income (expenses)

      

Royalty expenses

     (542     (3,035     (2,475

Research and development expenses

     (17,844     (14,407     (52,410

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (19,034     (13,114     (27,238

Other operating income

     478        —          812   

Redundancy plan

     (1,865     (491     249   

Other operating expenses

     (445     (651     (3,246
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses and other operating income (expenses)

     (39,252     (31,698     (84,309
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (26,528     (5,245     (27,924
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial revenues

     468        7,622        9,240   

Financial expenses

     (780     (527     (1,690
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial gain (loss)

     (312     7,095        7,550   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax

     —          —          —     

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     (26,839     1,850        (20,373

Loss from discontinued operations

     (29,580     (2,822     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     (56,419     (972     (20,373
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to shareholders of Cellectis

     (55,402     20        (20,544

Attributable to non-controlling interests

     (1,017     (992     171   

Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015

Revenues.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      % change  
     2013      2014      2015      2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)               

Revenues

     5,362         21,627         50,346         303.3     132.8

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €21.6 million and €50.3 million, respectively, in revenues. The increase of €28.7 million, or 132.8%, primarily reflects increased revenues of €36.4 million in 2015 under our collaboration agreements with Servier and Pfizer, including revenue of €18.8 million in connection with the amendment to our collaboration agreement with Servier, which was signed on November 18, 2015. This increase in revenues was partially offset by a €5.3 million decrease in revenue from licenses, a €1.3 million decrease in revenue from research and development services and a €1.1 million decrease in revenues from sales of products and services.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €5.4 million and €21.6 million, respectively, in revenues. The increase of €16.3 million, or 303%, reflects increased revenues in 2014 of €9.0 million from Pfizer and €2.9 million from Servier in connection with our respective collaboration agreements and an increase of €4.9 million in license revenues. This increase in revenues was partially offset by a decrease in revenues from the Tools and Services segment associated with the discontinuation of its operations.

 

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Other income.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      % change  
     2013      2014      2015      2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)               

Other income

     7,362         4,826         6,039         -34.4     25.1

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €4.8 million and €6.0 million, respectively, in other income. This increase of €1.2 million, or 25.1%, primarily reflects increases of €1.7 million in research tax credit income, which was offset by a decrease of €0.5 million in income from research subsidies.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €7.4 million and €4.8 million, respectively, in other income. This decrease of €2.6 million, or 34.4%, primarily reflects the discontinuation of €1.7 million in income from research subsidies related to research programs that were terminated in 2013 and 2014.

Royalty expenses.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     % change  
     2013     2014     2015     2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)              

Royalty expenses

     (542     (3,035     (2,475     460.0     -18.5

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €3.0 million and €2.5 million, respectively, in royalty expenses. This decrease of €0.5 million primarily reflects lower payments to existing partners.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €0.5 million and €3.0 million, respectively, in royalty expenses. This increase of €2.5 million is due primarily to increased license and royalty payments associated with our license agreements with Life Technologies and Institut Pasteur.

Research and development expenses.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     % change  
     2013     2014     2015     2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)              

Research and development expenses

     (17,844     (14,407     (52,410     -19.3     263.8

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €14.4 million and €52.4 million, respectively, in research and development expenses. This increase of €38.0 million, or 263.8%, reflects (i) increased expenditures in 2015 for the development of UCART programs toward their entry into Phase 1 clinical trials, (ii) expenses in 2015 related to the opening of our facility in New York, (iii) non-cash stock-based compensation expense of €0.2 million in 2014 and €18.5 million in 2015 and (iv) social charges on stock-options and free share grants of €0.1 million in 2014 and €7.7 million in 2015. Personnel expenses included in research and development expenses increased by €29.1 million

 

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from €6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to €35.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, mainly due to increased non-cash stock-based compensation expense. In addition, purchases and external expenses increased by €8.5 million, from €6.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 to €15.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, due to increased expenses related to innovation and platform development, including payments to third-parties participating in product development, purchases of biological raw materials and expenses associated with the use of laboratories and other facilities. Other expenses, which relate to continuing leasing and other commitments, increased from €1.2 million to €1.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €17.8 million and €14.4 million, respectively, in research and development expenses. This decrease of €3.4 million, or 19.3%, was primarily attributable to a €3.0 million decrease in purchases and external expenses resulting from the winding down of the Tools and Services segment and the discontinuation of its operations (other than the run-off of legacy contracts).

Selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     % change  
     2013     2014     2015     2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)              

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (19,034     (13,114     (27,238     -31.1     107.7

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €13.1 million and €27.2 million, respectively, in selling, general and administrative expenses. The increase of €14.1 million, or 107.7%, primarily reflects an increase of €14.1 million in personnel expenses, from €5.5 million to €19.6 million, attributable, among other things, to (i) €11.6 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense in 2015 from €0.3 million in 2014, and to (ii) €4.5 million of social charges on stock options and free share grants from €0.1 million in 2014. In addition, purchases and external expenses increased by €0.7 million from €5.4 million in 2014 to €6.1 million in 2015, primarily with respect to professional costs associated with our U.S. IPO on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in March 2015. Other expenses decreased from €2.2 million for 2014 to €1.5 million for 2015, a decrease reflecting a grant provision that was booked in 2014.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €19.0 million and €13.1 million, respectively, in selling, general and administrative expenses. The decrease of €5.9 million, or 31.1%, primarily reflects (1) a decrease of personnel expenses of €2.4 million due to headcount reduction, (2) a decrease of €3.1 million in legal fees, as we settled an intellectual property dispute at the end of 2013, and (3) a decrease of €1.7 million related to non-recurring set-up costs incurred in 2013 in connection with the establishment of Scéil, an iPS stem cell entity. These reductions were partially offset by a provision of €1.1 million related to the reimbursement of a research grant.

Other operating income.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      % change  
     2013      2014      2015      2014 vs 2013      2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)                

Other operating income

     478         —           812         n.a         n.a   

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded €0.8 million in other operating income, which included income from (i) the reversal of a subsidy provision, (ii) the reversal of lease incentives deferrals, and (iii) a gain from a settlement with a supplier. We did not record any other operating income for the year ended December 31, 2014.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded €0.5 million in other operating income, which primarily reflected income as a result of the reversal of litigation provisions.

 

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Redundancy plan.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      % change  
     2013     2014     2015      2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)               

Redundancy plan

     (1,865     (491     249         -73.7     -150.7

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €0.5 million in expenses and €0.2 million in net income, respectively, with respect to our redundancy plan. The €0.2 million of net income recorded in 2015 resulted from the reversal of unutilized redundancy plan reserves.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €1.9 million and €0.5 million, respectively, in redundancy plan expenses. The 2013 redundancy plan expense reflected the winding-down of our Tools and Services segment as well as our decision to discontinue some of our research and development programs. The 2014 redundancy plan expense related to the cost of a second redundancy plan implemented in July 2014.

Other operating expenses.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     % change  
     2013     2014     2015     2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)              

Other operating expenses

     (445     (651     (3,246     46.3     398.6

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €0.6 million and €3.2 million, respectively, in other operating expenses. This increase is mainly due to settlements and increases in various reserves.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €0.4 million and €0.6 million, respectively, in other operating expenses.

Financial revenues.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      % change  
     2013      2014      2015      2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)               

Financial revenues

     468         7,622         9,240         1528.6     21.2

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €7.6 million and €9.2 million, respectively, in financial revenues. The increase of €1.6 million, or 21.3%, was mainly attributable to the significant foreign exchange gain for the period ended December 31, 2015, which resulted from the translation of our U.S. Dollar-denominated cash and cash equivalent into Euro at the closing rate for the period, generating an €8.2 million gain compared to a €7.1 million gain in 2014. Additionally, interest income increased from €0.3 million in 2014 to €1.0 million in 2015.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €0.5 million and €7.6 million, respectively, in financial revenues. The increase of €7.1 million, or 1,528.6%, reflects foreign exchange gains on our U.S. Dollar-denominated bank accounts related to the $80.0 million upfront payment from Pfizer received in August 2014. From this date to December 31, 2014, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate versus the Euro increased by approximately 10.4%.

Financial expenses.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     % change  
     2013     2014     2015     2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)              

Financial expenses

     (780     (527     (1,690     -32.4     220.7

 

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During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €0.5 million and €1.7 million, respectively, in financial expenses. The increase of €1.2 million, or 220.7%, was mainly attributable to a foreign exchange loss of €1.5 million in 2015.

Income / loss from continuing operations.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     % change  
     2013     2014      2015     2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)              

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     (26,839     1,850         (20,373     106.9     -1201.3

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €1.9 million in income from continuing operations and a €20.4 million loss from continuing operations, respectively. The decrease of €22.2 million, or 1,201.3%, was primarily related to a €30.1 million increase in non-cash stock-based compensation expense and a €12.2 million increase in social charges on stock options and free share grants, partially offset by an increase of €29.9 million in revenues and other income.

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded a €26.8 million loss from continuing operations and €1.9 million in income from continuing operations, respectively. The improvement of €28.7 million, or 106.9%, resulted from the factors described above with respect to financial revenues and financial expenses.

Loss from discontinued operations.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      % change  
     2013     2014     2015      2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)               

Loss from discontinued operations

     (29,580     (2,822     —           -90.5     n.a   

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €29.6 million and €2.8 million, respectively, in loss from discontinued operations. The decrease of €26.8 million, or 90.5%, primarily reflects an impairment expense that we recognized in connection with the winding-down of our operations in the Tools and Services segment in 2013. The loss from discontinued operations in 2014 primarily was generated by Cellectis AB.

Gain/Loss attributable to non-controlling interests.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      % change  
     2013     2014     2015      2014 vs 2013     2015 vs 2014  
     (€, in thousands)               

Attributable to non-controlling interests

     (1,017     (992     171         -2.5     -117.2

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded €1.0 million in loss attributable to non-controlling interests and €0.2 million in gain attributable to non-controlling interests, respectively. Notably, non-controlling interests for 2015 include 25% of the income of Cellectis Bioresearch and its subsidiaries until our repurchase from “Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations” on May 18, 2015 of its shares, which represented the entirety of this non-controlling interest.

During each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded €1.0 million of loss attributable to non-controlling interests.

Segment Results

Information related to each of our reportable segments is set out below. Segment Revenues and Other income, Research and Development expenses, Selling, General and administrative expenses, Royalties and other operating income and expenses, and Operating profit or loss (without non-cash stock-based expenses) are used by the CODM to measure segment performance. Segment operating profit or loss includes the impact of the operations between separate segments, while the intra-segment operations are eliminated. We do not focus on any asset or liability information by segment or region to measure performance.

 

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There are intersegment transactions between the two reportable segments, including allocations of (i) corporate general and administrative expenses and (ii) research and development expenses to our subsidiaries. These intersegment expenses are priced at cost, plus a mark-up of 4-10%, depending on the nature of the service.

Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015

In connection with our ordinary course annual procedures, the Company identified certain immaterial errors in revenue recognition related to license contracts signed in 2012 and 2013 in our Plants segment. While nonrefundable upfront payments received were fully recognized in revenues at the contract dates, these payments should instead have been recognized over the license periods provided for by the contracts. Adjustments to prior periods are immaterial and therefore have been recorded in the Statement of Consolidated Operations in the year ended December 31, 2015. The cumulative adjustment recorded was €0.8 million at the end of 2015. Had corrections been recorded contemporaneously, Plant segment revenue and other income would have been €0.5 million in 2013, €1.1 million in 2014 and €1.1 million in 2015. The table below shows segment results.

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     € in thousands     € in thousands     € in thousands  
     Plants     Therapeutics     Total
reportable
segments
    Plants     Therapeutics     Total
reportable
segments
    Plants     Therapeutics     Total
reportable
segments
 

Segment revenues and other income

     1,283        13,928        15,211        1,156        27,564        28,720        44        57,141        57,185   

Inter-segment revenues

     —          (599     (599     (91     (1,171     (1,262     —          (800     (800

Revenues with Cellectis AB (discontinued operations)

     —          (1,888     (1,888     —          (1,005     (1,005     —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

External revenues and other income

     1,283        11,441        12,724        1,065        25,388        26,453        44        56,341        56,385   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Research and development expenses

     (1,426     (16,418     (17,844     (922     (13,485     (14,407     (3,200     (49,210     (52,410

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (795     (18,239     (19,034     (822     (12,292     (13,114     (1,666     (25,572     (27,238

Royalties and other operating income and expenses

     (62     (2,312     (2,374     (269     (3,908     (4,177     (245     (4,416     (4,660
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     (2,283     (36,969     (39,252 )     (2,013     (29,685     (31,698 )     (5,112     (79,197     (84,309
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss) before tax

     (1,000     (25,528     (26,528     (948     (4,297     (5,245     (5,068     (22,856     (27,924
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

     (86     (1,762     (1,848     (74     (1,271     (1,345     (89     (1,657     (1,745

Expenses related to share-based payments

     —          (461     (461     —          (548     (548     (1,470     (28,633     (30,103

Impairment losses on non-financial assets

     —          (347     (347     —          (27     (27     —          —          —     

Capital expenditure

     134        499        633        134        221        354        474        3,502        3,977   

Therapeutics segment—2014 vs. 2015

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded external revenues and other income of €25.4 million and €56.3 million, respectively. This €30.1 million increase primarily reflects increased revenues under our collaboration agreements with Servier and Pfizer, including revenue of €18.8 million received in connection with the amendment to our collaboration agreement with Servier, which was signed on November 18, 2015.

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded total operating expenses of €29.7 million and €79.2 million, respectively. This increase of €49.5 million resulted primarily from higher personnel expenses attributable, among other things, to increases in non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, social charges on stock options and free shares grants, and professional costs. The increase also reflects an increase of €35.7 million in research and development expenses, €13.3 million in selling, general and administrative expenses and €0.5 million in royalties and other operating income and expenses, year-over-year.

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded operating loss before tax of €4.3 million and €22.9 million, respectively.

 

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Therapeutics segment—2013 vs. 2014

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded external revenues and other income of €11.4 million and €25.4 million, respectively. This €13.9 million increase primarily reflects revenues under our collaboration agreements with Servier and Pfizer, which were signed in February 2014 and June 2014, respectively.

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded total operating expenses of €37.0 million and €29.7 million, respectively. This decrease of €7.3 million reflects a decrease of €2.9 million in research and development expenses and €5.9 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, year-over-year.

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded operating loss before tax of €25.5 million and €4.3 million, respectively. This decrease of €21.2 million resulted primarily from the increase in revenues and from the winding-down of the Tools and Services segment and from a reduction of administrative expenses, and an increase of €1.6 million in royalties and other income and expenses as a result of lower professional fees and non-recurrence of expenses related to establishment of Scéil operations in 2013.

Plants segment—2014 vs. 2015

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded external revenues and other income of €1.06 million and €44 thousand, respectively, a €1,021 thousand decrease.

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded total operating expenses of €2.0 million and €5.1 million, respectively. This increase of €3.1 million reflects an increase of €2.3 million in research and development expenses and €0.8 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, year-over-year, in each case as a result of increased employee expenses and outsourcing expenses.

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded operating loss before tax of €1.0 million and €5.1 million, respectively. This increase of €4.1 million resulted primarily from the above-mentioned increases in operating expenses.

Plants segment—2013 vs. 2014

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded external revenues and other income of €1.3 million and €1.1 million, respectively a decrease of €0.2 million.

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded total operating expenses of €2.3 million and €2.0 million, respectively. This decrease of €0.3 million primarily reflects a decrease of €0.5 million in research and development expenses, and an increase of €0.2 million in royalties and other operating income and expenses, year-over-year.

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we recorded operating loss before tax of €1.0 million and €0.9 million, respectively.

 

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

Introduction

We have incurred losses and cumulative negative cash flows from operations since our inception in 2000, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for at least the next several years. We expect that our research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to increase and, as a result, we will need additional capital to fund our operations, which we may raise through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, other third-party funding, marketing and distribution arrangements and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements.

 

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We have funded our operations since inception primarily through private and public offerings of our equity securities, grant revenues, payments received under patent licenses, reimbursements of research tax credit claims and payments under our strategic alliances with Pfizer and Servier. Our ordinary shares have been traded on the Alternext market of Euronext in Paris since February 7, 2007 and our ADSs have traded on the Nasdaq Global Market in New York since March 30, 2015.

Key Liquidity Events

 

    2013—We realized cash proceeds of €2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 through the issuance and sale of ordinary shares pursuant to employee and non-employee warrants.

 

    2014—In March 2014, we completed a private placement of 4,000,000 ordinary shares to institutional investors for gross proceeds of €20.5 million. In July 2014, in connection with our collaboration agreement with Pfizer, we issued 2,786,924 ordinary shares, representing 10% of our then-outstanding ordinary shares, to Pfizer for gross proceeds of €25.8 million. In November 2014, we issued shares in connection with the exercise of non-employee warrants for gross proceeds of €13.4 million.

 

    2015—In March 2015, we completed our U.S. initial public offering of ADSs on the Nasdaq for gross of $228 million of gross proceeds, of which we received net proceeds of $209.6 million.

As of December 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of €314.2 million.

Liquidity management

Cash in excess of immediate requirements is invested in accordance with our investment policy, primarily with a view to liquidity and capital preservation. Currently, our funds are held in bank accounts, money market funds and fixed bank deposits primarily in France and is primarily denominated in U.S. Dollars ($283.0 million as of December 31, 2015).

Historical Changes in Cash Flows

The table below summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015:

 

     December 31,  
     2013     2014     2015  
     (€, in thousands)  

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations

     (19,144     42,473        3,236   

Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations

     (459     (1,353     (6,965

Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations

     5,194        57,904        198,802   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     (14,409     99,024        195,073   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2015

We had net cash flows provided by operating activities of continuing operations of €3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of payments received from Servier and, to a lesser extent, Pfizer. In December 2015, we received an upfront payment of €35.6 million in connection with the amendment to our collaboration agreement with Servier. Our cash expenditures during 2015 related to our research and development efforts, including the advancement of UCART19, for which a CTA was filed in the United Kingdom in 2015. Cash outflows for 2015 also include €12.2 million of social charges on free shares and stock options grants.

The net cash flows used in investing activities of continuing operations of €7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily reflects our use of €3.8 million for the acquisition of industrial and laboratory equipment at Cellectis S.A. and Cellectis Inc., and our repurchase for €3.5 million of 25% of the minority shares of Cellectis Bioresearch.

 

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The net cash flows provided by financing activities of continuing operations of €198.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes the net proceeds from our U.S. initial public offering on the Nasdaq Global Market in March 2015.

Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2014

We had net cash flows used in operating activities of continuing operations €19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 versus net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations of €42.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Substantially all of our cash expenditures during these years related to our research and development efforts, including the advancement of the pre-clinical development of UCART19. The increase in cash flows provided by operating activities of continuing operations during 2014 is primarily due to payments received from Servier and Pfizer pursuant to our collaboration agreements.

The net cash flows used in investing activities of continuing operations was €459 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations of €1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. During both years, these amounts include the acquisitions of industrial and laboratory equipment required to conduct our research programs, as well as changes in non-current financial assets and liabilities. For the year ended December 31, 2014, cash provided by investing activities of continuing operations also includes the proceeds from the sale of Cellectis AB.

The net cash flows provided by financing activities of continuing operations were €5.2 million and €57.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. The amount in 2014 includes proceeds from the issuance and sale of ordinary shares to institutional investors in March 2014, to Pfizer in July 2014, and in connection with the exercise of non-employees warrants in November 2014.

Conditional Advances

We have benefited from multiple conditional advances from BpiFrance, formerly named OSEO Innovation, which do not accrue interest and whose repayments are conditional on the technical and/or commercial success of our products. As of December 31, 2014, we had a total of €3.4 million of outstanding conditional advances. As of December 31, 2015, we had a total of €1.8 million of outstanding conditional advances. We expect them to be repaid before December 2016. For further details of these conditional advances, see Note 13.2 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.

Operating capital requirements

To date, we have not generated any revenues from therapeutic or agricultural product sales. We do not know when, or if, we will generate any revenues from product sales. We do not expect to generate significant revenues from product sales unless and until we obtain regulatory approval of and commercialize one of our current or future product candidates. We anticipate that we will continue to generate losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect the losses to increase as we continue the development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates, and begin to commercialize any approved products. We are subject to all risks incident in the development of new gene therapy products, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. We are also subject to all risks incident in the development of new agricultural products, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. We expect to continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company in the United States. We also anticipate increased expenses related to audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services associated with our public company obligations in the United States and our continued compliance with applicable U.S. exchange listing and SEC requirements. We anticipate that we will need substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations, including for the further development of our existing product candidates and to pursue other development activities related to additional product candidates.

 

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We believe our cash and cash equivalents, our cash flow from operations (including payments we expect to receive pursuant to our collaboration agreements) and government funding of research programs will be sufficient to fund our operations through at least 2018. However, we may require additional capital for the further development of our existing product candidates and may also need to raise additional funds sooner to pursue other development activities related to additional product candidates.

Until we can generate a sufficient amount of revenues from our products, if ever, we expect to finance a portion of future cash needs through public or private equity or debt offerings. Additional capital may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development or commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of additional debt or equity securities, it could result in dilution to our existing shareholders, increased fixed payment obligations and these securities may have rights senior to those of our ordinary shares. If we incur indebtedness, we could become subject to covenants that would restrict our operations and potentially impair our competitiveness, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. Any of these events could significantly harm our business, financial condition and prospects.

Our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement and involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary as a result of a number of factors. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Our future funding requirements, both near and long-term, will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

 

    the initiation, progress, timing, costs and results of pre-clinical and clinical studies for our product candidates;

 

    the initiation, progress, timing, costs and results of field trials for our agricultural product candidates;

 

    the outcome, timing and cost of regulatory approvals by U.S. and non-U.S. regulatory authorities, including the possibility that regulatory authorities will require that we perform more studies than those that we currently expect;

 

    the ability of our product candidates to progress through clinical development successfully;

 

    the ability of our agricultural product candidates to progress through late stage development successfully, including through field trials;

 

    the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights;

 

    our need to expand our research and development activities;

 

    our need and ability to hire additional personnel;

 

    our need to implement additional infrastructure and internal systems, including manufacturing processes for our product candidates;

 

    the effect of competing technological and market developments; and

 

    the cost of establishing sales, marketing and distribution capabilities for any products for which we may receive regulatory approval.

If we cannot expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities because we lack sufficient capital, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

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C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.

Our research and development teams utilize our deep expertise to contribute to the growth of our business. As of December 31, 2015, we had 82 employees engaged in research and development activities. In the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 we spent €17.8 million, €14.4 million and €52.4 million, respectively, on research and development. For a discussion of our research and development activities, see “Item 4.B—Business Overview” and “Item 5.A—Operating Results.”

 

D. Trend Information

For a discussion of trends, see “Item 4.B—Business Overview,” “Item 5.A—Operating Results” and “Item 5.B—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” Other than as disclosed in these sections, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events since December 31, 2014 that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial condition.

 

E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined under Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

 

F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

The following table discloses aggregate information about material contractual obligations and periods in which payments were due as of December 31, 2015. Future events could cause actual payments to differ from these estimates.

 

     Total      Less than 1
year
     1 -
3 years
     3 -
5 years
     More than 5
years
 
Balance as of December 31, 2015    € in thousands  

Finance lease agreements

     146         82         63         —           —     

Conditional advances and subsidies

     3,651         3,651         —           —           —     

Facility lease agreements

     5,863         2,310         2,180         1,374         —     

License agreements

     20,151         1,145         2,308         2,308         14,391   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

     29,811         7,187         4,551         3,682         14,391   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The commitment amounts in the table above are associated with contracts that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum services to be used, fixed, minimum or variable price provisions, and the approximate timing of the actions under the contracts. The table does not include obligations under agreements that we can cancel without a significant penalty. We have collaboration agreements whereby we are obligated to pay royalties and milestones based on future events that are uncertain and therefore they are not included in the table above.

We also provided Letters of Credit to the landlords of our facilities in New York and in New Brighton.

 

G. Safe Harbor

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

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ITEM  6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

 

A. Directors and Senior Management

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors as of March 18, 2016. Unless otherwise stated, the address for our executive officers and directors is 8, rue de la Croix Jarry, 75013 Paris, France.

 

Name

   Age     

Position(s)

Executive Officers:

     

André Choulika, Ph.D.

     51       Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder

Mathieu Simon, M.D.

     59       Director, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

David Sourdive, Ph.D.

     49       Director, Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Co-Founder

Philippe Duchateau, Ph.D.

     53       Chief Scientific Officer

Eric Dutang

     42       Chief Financial Officer

Luc Mathis, Ph.D.

     46       Chief Executive Officer, Calyxt, Inc.

Julia Berretta

     35       Vice President Business Development

Marie-Bleuenn Terrier

     34       General Counsel

Non-Employee Directors:

     

Alain Godard

     70       Director

Pierre Bastid

     61       Director

Laurent Arthaud

     53       Director

Annick Schwebig, M.D.

     65       Director

Jean-Marie Messier

     59       Director

André Choulika, Ph.D., is one of the founders of Cellectis and has been our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since 2000. He has also been President of Calyxt, Inc. since August 2010. From 1997 to 1999, Dr. Choulika worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the Division of Molecular Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he was a pioneer in the analysis and use of meganucleases to modify complex genomes. He has also served on the boards of directors of several biotechnology companies. After receiving his PhD in molecular virology from the University of Paris VI (Pierre et Marie Curie), he completed a research fellowship in the Harvard Medical School Department of Genetics. Dr. Choulika also has management training from the HEC (Challenge +). Based on Dr. Choulika’s deep knowledge of the company and scientific experience, we believe Dr. Choulika has the appropriate set of skills to serve as our chief executive officer and a member of our board of directors.

Mathieu Simon, M.D., has served as a director since June 14, 2013, as Executive Vice-President since 2012 and as Chief Operating Officer since 2013. Dr. Simon was the Director and Chairman of the Board of Cellectis AB from 2013 to 2014 and has been a Director of Ectycell. Prior to joining us, from 2000 to 2010 Dr. Simon was Senior Vice President Head of Global Pharmaceutical Operations at Pierre Fabre SA. From 1994 to 2010, Dr. Simon led several Wyeth subsidiaries as General Manager (including Italy and Belgium). From 1994 to 1997, he served as Group Vice President of Marketing and Clinical Affairs for Wyeth International in Philadelphia, USA. From 2000 and 2010, Dr. Simon was a Director of Wyeth S.p.A., Farmindustria, and Pharma in Italy. Dr. Simon graduated from medical school at the University of Paris in 1982. Dr. Simon today is an advisor at the European Commission D.G. Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020). We believe Dr. Simon’s extensive business and leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry qualifies him to serve as a member of our board of directors.

David Sourdive, Ph.D., is a co-founder of Cellectis and has held the position of Executive Vice President, Corporate Development since 2008. Dr. Sourdive has also been a member of our board of directors since 2000. From 2009 to 2012, he served as President of Ectycell SAS, and since 2012, he has served on its supervisory committee. Since February 2014, Dr. Sourdive has also served on the board of directors of Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences, and since June 2015, he has served on the board of directors of Eukarÿs SAS. He previously

 

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served on the boards of directors of Cellectis AB, Medicen Paris Region and Seine Saint Denis Avenir. From 1998 to 2000, he directed the biotechnologies laboratory of the Centre d’Etudes du Bouchet for the French Ministry of Defense. From 1997 to 1998, Dr. Sourdive worked at one of the leading laboratories in viral immunology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. His work there was focused on immunological T-cell memory. Dr. Sourdive graduated from the École Polytechnique and received his PhD in molecular virology at the Institut Pasteur. He also has management training from the HEC (Challenge +). We believe Dr. Sourdive’s extensive experience in business and the biotechnology industry qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.

Philippe Duchateau, Ph.D., joined Cellectis in 2001 to pioneer the field of genome engineering and has served as Chief Scientific Officer since 2012. After receiving his PhD in 1993 in biochemistry and molecular biology at the Institut Pasteur (Lille, France), he completed a research fellowship from 1993 to 2001 at the University of California, San Francisco (United States) within the Cardiovascular Research Institute. He is co-inventor of numerous patents in the field of nucleases and genome engineering and co-authors on more than 50 scientific publications and co-editor of one book entitled “Site-directed Insertion of Transgenes.” As head of Cellectis’s Research department since 2004, he helped to the development of the Cellectis Technologies.

Eric Dutang joined us as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in May 2015 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2016. Eric began his career as financial auditor with KPMG, first in Paris for five years and then in New York for two years. He worked for listed companies in France and the United States such as Vivendi, Veolia Environnement or Cablevision. He then became a member of the transactions and advisory teams in Paris for seven years where he carried out acquisitions / disposals for listed companies and private equity funds. After serving at KPMG, he worked on international business developments for French public listed groups, including Air Liquide and Thales. Eric holds a Master of Finance and Executive MBA from HEC Paris (France)/Babson Massachusetts (USA).

Luc Mathis, Ph.D., has been Chief Executive Officer of Calyxt, Inc. since 2012. He previously served as Business Development Director of Cellectis from 2006 to 2011. From 2001 to 2005, he was a research scientist at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. After receiving his PhD in developmental biology at the Pasteur Institute in 1997, he completed post-doctoral studies at the California Institute of Technology from 1998 to 2000. Mr. Mathis previously served on the board of directors of the Association Française de Biotechnologies Vegetales and currently serves on the board of directors of the French-American Chamber of Commerce in Minneapolis.

Julia Berretta, Ph.D., joined Cellectis in 2010 in the scientific alliance and business development department. She has served as VP Business Development and Strategic Planning since 2014. Prior to joining Cellectis, she worked as a researcher at the CNRS in Gif-sur-Yvette. Julia Berretta received her Ph.D. in molecular biology from the Université Paris XI, and holds a specialized Master’s Degree in innovation management from Neoma Business School.

Marie-Bleuenn Terrier joined Cellectis as Legal Counsel in 2008, and was appointed General Counsel in 2013. Prior to joining Cellectis, she worked as Legal Counsel for Pfizer from 2004 to 2006, and for Boehringer from 2006 to 2008. Marie-Bleuenn Terrier has also served as Secretary of our board of directors since 2015. She holds a Master’s degree in Law from the Panthéon La Sorbonne University in Paris.

Alain Godard has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2007. Since 2002, Mr. Godard has been a consultant in plant biotechnology and management. He has been the Chief Executive Officer of SARL Godard & Co. and has served on its board of directors since June 2009. He previously served as chairman of the management board of Aventis Cropscience from 1999 to 2001 and served on the executive committee of Aventis Cropscience for the same period. He held several executive positions at Rhône-Poulenc Agrochimie since joining in 1975, and he became CEO of the company in 1991 and chairman and CEO in 1995. Mr. Godard was appointed to the executive committee of the Rhône-Poulenc group in 1997, where he oversaw operations in the field of animal and plant health and the group’s Asia region. In 1999 he was an active player in the merger of Hoechst and Rhône-Poulenc, which resulted in the founding of Aventis. Mr. Godard is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Toulouse. He began his agronomy career in 1967 in Africa as a researcher at the l’Institut de Recherche pour les Huiles et Oléagineux (institute for research on oils and oleaginous plants). We believe Mr. Godard’s leadership and management experience in the plant biotechnology field qualifies him to serve as a member of our board of directors.

 

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Pierre Bastid has served as a member of our board of directors since October 28, 2011. He has been a member of the board of directors of HOUGOU S.A. since May 23, 2011. He also currently serves on the boards of directors of HOUGOU Développement S.A., Louise 342-344 S.A., Crystal Sunrise S.A., Shango S.A., Hebioso S.A., Nepteam S.A.S., La Chartreuse B S.C., Pharnext S.A.S., Batuque Hotelaria e Turismo S.A., Casino Royal S.A. and The Juilliard School. From 2005 to 2011, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Converteam Group S.A.S. (formerly Alstom Power Conversion). From June 2011 to July 2014, he was also a member of board of directors of Zaka S.A. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Bastid served as President and a member of the board of directors of CVT Holding S.A.S. and as President of Financière CVT S.A.S. From 2009 to 2011, he served as President of CMC Kilimanjaro, CMC Everest, CMC Mac Kinley, CMC Elbrouz and CMC K2. He was a Manager at Damballah S.C. from 2011 to 2012. We believe Mr. Bastid’s extensive business experience qualifies him to serve as a member on our board of directors.

Laurent Arthaud has served as a member of our board of directors since October 28, 2011. Mr. Arthaud has been the Managing Director of Life Sciences and Ecotechnologies for Bpifrance Investissement (formerly CDC Enterprises, a subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts) since 2012. He currently serves on the boards of directors of Kurma Life Sciences Partners, TxCell, Adocia and Emertec Gestion. From 2006 to 2012, Mr. Arthaud held the position of Deputy CEO at CDC Entreprises. Since 2009 Mr. Arthaud has also directed InnoBio, an investment fund managed by Bpifrance Investissement as part of the FSI France Investissement program. From 1999 to 2004 he served as Vice President of Aventis Capital, an investment subsidiary of the pharmaceuticals group Aventis, and as President of Pharmavent Partners from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Arthaud is a graduate of the École Polytechnique and the École Nationale de Statistique et d’Administration Économique. We believe Mr. Arthaud’s extensive investment experience in the biotechnology industry qualifies him to serve as a member on our board of directors.

Annick Schwebig, M.D., has served as a member of our board of directors since October 28, 2011. In 2000, she founded the French subsidiary of Actelion, of which she is a Senior Advisor. She formerly served as the General Manager of Actelion from 2000 to 2015. Actelion is a biopharmaceuticals company specializing in innovative treatments to serve unmet medical needs. She is also President of the Biotechnologies Committee within the LEEM (French Pharmaceutical Industry Association’s) since 2000, which coordinates studies on cell therapies and nanomedicine, as well as General Secretary of the Alliance for Research and Innovation in Health Industries (ARIIS). A graduate of the University of Paris medical school, Dr. Schwebig worked as a senior manager at the biopharmaceuticals company Bristol-Myers Squibb for 17 years from 1983 to 2000. We believe Dr. Schwebig’s extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry qualifies her to serve as a member on our board of directors.

Jean-Marie Messier has served as a member of our board of directors since May 18, 2015. He is co-founder and head of Messier Maris & Associés, an international investment banking firm. Mr. Messier has served on the board of directors of Rentabiliweb Group since May 2011. After graduating from the French university, Ecole Polytechnique, Mr. Messier attended the Ecole Nationale d’Administration, which trains civil servants. He became Managing Partner at Lazard Frères in 1988, a position he held for six years. Prior to this, he was responsible for the French Government’s Privatization plan. As such, he privatized companies among which Alcatel, Lagardère, Saint Gobain, Suez and Société Générale, now all part of the top twenty French corporations. Mr. Messier served as President of Vivendi Universal from 1994 to 2002. During these years, he founded the mobile firm Cegetel and turned Vivendi into a conglomerate focused on two core activities: utilities (water, power and transport) and communications (pay TV, telecoms and internet), selling off assets in other areas. Mr. Messier has been managing his own “boutique” since 2003, Messier Maris & Associés, an investment bank headquartered in Paris and New York representing more than 50 professionals.

Investment Agreement

On September 14, 2011, Bpifrance Participations (formerly Fonds Stratégique d’Investissement), Mr. Pierre Bastid, Dr. David Sourdive, Dr. André Choulika and the Company entered into an investment agreement, or the Investment Agreement, in connection with the investment by Bpifrance Participations and Mr. Pierre Bastid each of €25 million in Cellectis. Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, the parties, among other things, undertook to vote, as shareholders and/or as board members, in favor of (a) the appointment of two board members proposed by Bpifrance Participations (Mr. Laurent Arthaud and Dr. Annick Schwebig), (b) the appointment of one board member proposed by Mr. Pierre Bastid (none was appointed). The parties to the Investment Agreement terminated the agreement upon the listing of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global.

 

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Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.

 

B. Compensation

Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers

The aggregate compensation paid and benefits in kind granted by us to our current executive officers and directors, including share-based compensation, for the year ended December 31, 2015, was €2.0 million. The total amount set aside or accrued to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits was €30,282 for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Service Agreements

Mr. Godard, a member of our board of directors, entered into one service agreement with us and provided consultancy services in the area of global development strategy. We paid €35,000 in compensation for those services in fiscal year 2015.

Change of Control Benefits

We seek to balance the potential costs of change of control provisions with the costs that would arise from fear of job loss and other distractions that may result from potential, rumored or actual changes of control. As a result, after careful evaluation of the implications and economics of a change of control plan, on September 4, 2014, our board of directors adopted a change of control plan. As amended on December 11, 2014, the change of control plan provides benefits for our executive officers and several other senior employees of our company.

Pursuant to the change of control plan, the severance package shall be paid if, within the 36-month period following a change of control of our company, one of the following events occurs:

 

    non-renewal or dismissal other than for gross misconduct (faute lourde) of the employees or executives concerned; and

 

    for Drs. Choulika and Sourdive only, resignation as a result of a significant reduction of their duties or compensation.

The severance package shall be equal to 24 months of compensation increased by an amount equal to the maximum target bonus to which the employees or executives concerned may be entitled for the year of their departure (or for Dr. Choulika only, two times such target bonus), or, in the absence of such a target bonus, 1.5 times the last annual bonus paid to them during the 12 months prior to their departure.

The severance package shall be in addition to any legal and conventional severance payments owed to the employees or executives concerned.

A “change of control” is defined by reference to Article L.233-3 of the French Commercial Code, which provides that one or more persons acting alone or in concert are considered to control a company if (1) they have direct or indirect ownership of a majority of the voting rights or a proportion of the voting rights allowing de facto control of the decisions made by the shareholders, provided that such control is presumed if no shareholder holds a greater proportion of the voting rights; or (2) they have the power to appoint or dismiss a majority of the board of directors.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification Matters

Under French law, provisions of By-laws that limit the liability of directors and officers are prohibited. However, French law allows sociétés anonymes to contract for and maintain liability insurance against civil

 

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liabilities incurred by any of their directors and officers involved in a third-party action, provided that they acted in good faith and within their capacities as directors or officers of the company. Criminal liability cannot be indemnified under French law, whether directly by the company or through liability insurance.

We expect to maintain customary liability insurance coverage for our directors and executive officers, including insurance against liability under the Securities Act, and we intend to enter into agreements with our directors and executive officers to provide contractual indemnification. With certain exceptions and subject to limitations on indemnification under French law, these agreements will provide for indemnification for damages and expenses including, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding arising out of his or her actions in that capacity. We believe that this insurance and these agreements are necessary to attract qualified directors and executive officers.

These contractual indemnification agreements may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and executive officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these insurance agreements.

Certain of our non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers or partnerships, be insured against certain liabilities in their capacity as members of our board of directors.

Equity Incentives

We believe that our ability to grant incentive awards is a valuable and necessary compensation tool that allows us to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, provides additional incentives to employees and promotes the success of our business. Due to French corporate law and tax considerations, we have granted several different equity incentive instruments to our directors, executive officers, employees and other service providers. These are:

 

    employee warrants (otherwise known as bons de souscription de parts de créateurs d’entreprise or BSPCE), granted only to employees of Cellectis;

 

    non-employee warrants (otherwise known as bons de souscription d’actions or BSA), granted only to non-employee directors and other service providers not eligible for employee warrants;

 

    restricted, or free, shares (otherwise known as actions gratuites); and

 

    stock options (otherwise knows as options de souscription d’actions).

Our board of directors’ authority to grant these equity incentive instruments and the aggregate amount authorized to be granted under these instruments must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the shares held by our shareholders present, represented or voting by mail at the relevant extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. Such extraordinary general meeting shall determine the aggregate amount of equity incentive instruments to be granted and the period during which such authorization may be used by our board, which cannot exceed 18 months for non-employee warrants and employee warrants and 38 months for stock option and restricted (free) shares, in each case beginning from the date of the applicable shareholders’ approval. The authority of our board to grant equity incentives may be extended or increased only by extraordinary shareholders’ meetings. As a result, we typically request that our shareholders authorize new pools of equity incentive instruments at every annual shareholders’ meeting.

Employee warrants and non-employee warrants are usually granted under similar terms. They expire ten years after the date of grant if not exercised earlier according to their vesting schedule. In general, employee warrants and non-employee warrants no longer continue to vest following termination of the employment, office or service of the holder and all vested shares must be exercised within post-termination exercise periods set forth in the grant documents. In the event of certain changes in our share capital structure, such as a consolidation or share split or dividend, French law and applicable grant documentation provides for appropriate adjustments of the numbers of shares issuable and/or the exercise price of the outstanding warrants.

 

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Employee Warrants (BSPCE)

Employee warrants were granted only to employees of Cellectis who are French tax residents, since these employee warrants carry favorable tax and social security treatment for French tax residents. Similar to stock options, they entitle a holder to exercise the warrant for the underlying vested shares at an exercise price per share determined by our board of directors equal to the higher of (1) the fair market value of an ordinary share on the date of grant and (2) if the company has carried out a capital increase within six months prior to the attribution of employee warrants, the issue price of such capital increase.

Employee warrants may only be issued by growth companies meeting certain criteria. Most significantly, the issuer must have been registered for less than 15 years and 25% of the issuer’s share capital must have been continuously held since the company’s formation by natural persons or by holding companies, of which 75% of such holding company’s share capital is held by natural persons. The calculation of such threshold does not include venture capital mutual investment fund (fonds commun de placement à risques), specialized professional funds (fonds professionnels spécialisés), private equity funds (fonds professionnels de capital investissement), local investment funds (fonds d’investissement de proximité) and innovation-focused mutual funds (fonds commun de placement dans l’innovation).

We are no longer eligible to issue employee warrants since we no longer satisfy the legal conditions necessary to issue such employee warrants.

Our outstanding employee warrants were generally granted (1) either subject to a three-year vesting schedule under which one-third (1/3) of the employee warrants vest upon the first anniversary of grant and one-third (1/3) at the expiration of each year thereafter, subject to continued service, or (2) subject to a five-year vesting schedule under which 40% of the employee warrants vest upon the second anniversary of grant and 20% at the expiration of each year thereafter, subject to continued service. In each case, any warrant which is not exercised before the tenth anniversary of the date of grant will automatically lapse. Some of our employee warrants provide that in the event of a change in control, as defined in the relevant grant documents, unvested warrants will automatically vest in full.

As of December 31, 2015, 154,561 employee warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 160,528 ordinary shares at a weighted average exercise price of €12.92 per share, were outstanding, of which 16,000 employee warrants are held by our directors and executive officers.

Non-Employee Warrants (BSA)

Non-employee warrants are granted by our board of directors to service providers who are not eligible for employee warrants. In addition to any exercise price payable by a holder upon the exercise of any non-employee warrant, non-employee warrants need to be subscribed for at a price at least equal to ten percent (10%) of the price of the underlying ordinary shares, which subscription price is meant to reflect the fair market value of the applicable warrants on the date of grant. There is no legal limitation to the size of the non-employee warrant pool.

Our non-employee warrants are generally granted subject to a two-year vesting, subject to continued service.

Excluding the Trout Warrants, as of December 31, 2015, 504,200 non-employee warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 504,200 ordinary shares at a weighted average exercise price of €31.89 per share, were outstanding, all of which are held by certain of our directors and some of our consultants and exercisable at the date hereof. In addition, on March 14, 2016, 229,361 non-employee warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 229,361 ordinary shares at an exercise price of €26.00 per share, were issued by our board of directors to certain of our directors and consultants.

 

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Free Shares

Under our 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Free Share Plans, we have granted free shares to certain of our employees and officers. Our current plan, the 2015 Free Share Plan, was adopted by our board of directors on May 18, 2015.

Free shares may be granted to any individual employed by us or by any affiliated company. Free shares may also be granted to our Chairman, our general manager and to our deputy general managers. However, no free share may be granted to a beneficiary holding more than 10% of our share capital or to a beneficiary who would hold more than 10% of our share capital as a result of such grant.

Our board of directors has the authority to administer the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Free Share Plans. Subject to the terms of the these Free Share Plans, our board determines the recipients, the dates of grant, the number of free shares to be granted and the terms and conditions of the free shares, including the length of their vesting period (starting on the grant date, during which the beneficiary holds a right to acquire shares for free but has not yet acquired any shares) and holding period (starting when the shares are issued and definitively acquired but may not be transferred by the recipient) within the limits determined by the shareholders. Our shareholders have determined that the vesting period must be at least two years from the date of grant and the holding period must be two years from the end of the vesting period, with no holding period applicable to beneficiaries for whom the vesting period was four years or longer.

The board of directors has the authority to modify awards outstanding under our Free Share Plans, subject to the consent of the beneficiary for any modification adverse to such beneficiary. For example, the board has the authority to release a beneficiary from the continued service condition during the vesting period after the termination of the employment.

The free shares granted under the Free Share Plans will be definitively acquired at the end of the vesting period as set by our board of directors subject to continued service during the vesting period, except if the board releases a given beneficiary from this condition upon termination of his/her employment contract. At the end of the vesting period, the beneficiary will be the owner of the shares. However, the shares may not be sold, transferred or pledged during the holding period. In the event of disability before the end of the vesting period, the free shares shall be definitively acquired by the beneficiary on the date of disability. In the event the beneficiary dies during the vesting period, the free shares shall be definitively acquired at the date of the request of allocation made by his or her beneficiaries in the framework of the inheritance provided that such request is made within six months from the date of death.

 

    450,100 free shares granted in 2015 under the 2015 Free Share Plan will be acquired on May 18, 2017 for the French residents and May 18, 2019 for the Non-French residents subject to the continued service of the beneficiaries, of which 210,000 free shares have been granted to our directors and officers.

Stock Options

On March 24, 2015, our board of directors adopted our 2015 Stock Option Plan, which will expire on April 16, 2018. Stock Options issued pursuant to the 2015 Stock Option Plan provide the holder with the right to purchase a specified number of ordinary shares from the Company at a fixed exercise price payable at the time the Stock Option is exercised, as determined by our board of directors. The 2015 Stock Option Plan generally provides that the exercise price for any Stock Option will be no less than ninety-five percent (95%) of the average selling prices of a share at close of trading on said market quoted during the twenty trading days immediately preceding the day of the board of directors decision to allocate the options. The maximum number of ordinary shares, which may be subject to stock options issued under the 2015 Stock Option Plan is 7,354,930 ordinary shares. Incentive Stock Options and Non-qualified stock options may be granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan.

Stock Options may be granted to any individual employed by us or by any affiliated company. Stock Options may also be granted to our Chairman, our general manager and to our deputy general managers. Incentive Stock Options granted to owners of shares possessing 10% or more of the total voting power in the Company will be subject to limitations on their exercise price and term.

 

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Our board of directors has the authority to administer and interpret the 2015 Stock Option Plan. Subject to the terms of the 2015 Stock Option Plan, our board determines the recipients, the dates of grant, the exercise price of the stock options, the number of stock options to be granted and the terms and conditions of the stock options, including the length of their vesting period. Our board of directors is not required to grant stock options with vesting and exercise terms that are the same for every participant. The term of each stock option granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan will generally be 10 years from the date of grant. Further, Stock Options will generally terminate on the earlier of when the beneficiary ceases to be an employee or the Company or upon certain transactions involving the Company.

The board of directors has the authority to modify awards outstanding under our 2015 Stock Option Plan, subject to the consent of the beneficiary for any modification adverse to such beneficiary. For example, the board has the authority to extend a post-termination exercise period.

Stock Options granted under the 2015 Stock Option plan generally may not be sold, transferred or pledged in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. In the event of disability, unless otherwise resolved by our board of directors, the beneficiary’s right to exercise the vested portion of his or her option generally terminates six months after the last day of such beneficiary’s service, but in any event no later than the expiration of the maximum term of the applicable stock options. In the event the beneficiary dies during the vesting period, then, unless otherwise resolved by our board of directors, the beneficiary’s estate or any recipient by inheritance or bequest may exercise any vested portion within the six months following the date of death, but in any event no later than the expiration of the maximum term of the applicable stock options.

As of the date of this Annual Report:

 

    82,123 free shares granted under the 2012 Free Share Plan vested on September 18, 2014 and are under the holding period of two years, of which 45,981 shares are held by our directors and officers;

 

    60,000 free shares granted under the 2013 Free Share Plan vested on March 19, 2015 and are under the holding period of two years, of which 32,000 free shares are held by our directors and officers;

 

    98,000 free shares granted under the 2014 Free Share Plan will vest on April 10, 2016, subject to the continued service of the beneficiaries, of which 81,000 free shares have been granted to our directors and officers; and

 

    50,000 free shares granted in 2015 under terms and conditions similar to the 2014 Free Share Plan will vest by Mathieu Simon on January 8, 2017, subject to the continued service of the beneficiary, who is an executive officer.

As of the date of this Annual Report, 5,808,232 stock options granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan are outstanding, of which 2,738,530 stock options are held by our directors and executive officers. These amounts include 2,060,602 stock option granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan on March 14, 2016 with an exercise price of $24.89 per ordinary share, 944,121 of which were granted to our directors and executive officers.

Calyxt, Inc.

In December 2014, our subsidiary Calyxt granted options representing a 9.4% interest to a small group of its employees and two of our directors and executive officers, and it reserved an additional 0.6% for further grants. Calyxt made these grants to provide incentives for these employees that are directly linked to the performance of Calyxt, rather than Cellectis as a whole.

In September 2015, our subsidiary Calyxt granted options representing a 4.7% interest to a group of its employees and two of our directors and executive officers.

 

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C. Board Practices

Board Composition

Under French law and our By-laws, our board of directors must be composed of between three and eight members. Within this limit, the number of directors is determined by our shareholders. Directors are elected, re-elected and may be removed at a shareholders’ general meeting with a simple majority vote of our shareholders. Pursuant to our By-laws, our directors are elected for three-year terms. In accordance with French law, our By-laws also provide that our directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the votes of the shareholders present, represented by a proxy or voting by mail at the relevant ordinary shareholders’ meeting, and that any vacancy on our board resulting from the death or resignation of a director, provided there are at least three directors remaining, may be filled by vote of a majority of our directors then in office provided that there has been no shareholders meeting since such death or resignation. Directors chosen or appointed to fill a vacancy shall be elected by the board for the remaining duration of the current term of the replaced director. The appointment must then be ratified at the next shareholders’ general meeting. In the event the board would be composed of less than three directors as a result of a vacancy, the remaining directors shall immediately convene a shareholders’ general meeting to elect one or several new directors so there are at least three directors serving on the board, in accordance with French law.

We currently have eight directors. The following table sets forth the names of our directors, the years of their initial appointment as directors and the expiration dates of their current term.

 

Name

   Current Position    Year of Initial
Appointment
   Term
Expiration Year

André Choulika, Ph.D.

   Chairman    2000    2018

Mathieu Simon, M.D.

   Director    2013    2016

David Sourdive, Ph.D.

   Director    2000    2018

Alain Godard

   Director    2007    2018

Pierre Bastid

   Director    2011    2017

Laurent Arthaud

   Director    2011    2017

Annick Schwebig, M.D.

   Director    2011    2017

Jean-Marie Messier

   Director    2015    2018

Director Independence

As a foreign private issuer, under the listing requirements and rules of Nasdaq, we are not required to have independent directors on our board of directors, except with respect to our audit and finance committee, for which the Nasdaq listing requirements permit specified phase-in schedules.

Our board of directors has determined that, applying the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq listing standards, all of our directors, except Drs. Choulika, Sourdive and Simon, qualify as “independent directors.” In making such determination, our board considered the relationships that each non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining the director’s independence, including the number of ordinary shares beneficially owned by the director and his or her affiliated entities.

Role of the Board in Risk Oversight

Our board of directors is primarily responsible for the oversight of our risk management activities and has delegated to the audit and finance committee the responsibility to assist our board in this task. While our board oversees our risk management, our management is responsible for day-to-day risk management processes. We believe this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks we face. Our board expects our management to consider risk and risk management in each business decision, to proactively develop and monitor risk management strategies and processes for day-to-day activities and to effectively implement risk management strategies adopted by the board.

 

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Corporate Governance Practices

As a French société anonyme, we are subject to various corporate governance requirements under French law. In addition, as a foreign private issuer listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, we will be subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, the Nasdaq Global Market’s listing standards provide that foreign private issuers are permitted to follow home country corporate governance practices in lieu of the Nasdaq rules, with certain exceptions. Certain corporate governance practices in France may differ significantly from corporate governance listing standards. For example, neither the corporate laws of France nor our By-laws require that (i) a majority of our directors be independent, (ii) our compensation committee include only independent directors, or (iii) our independent directors hold regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present. Other than as set forth below, we currently intend to comply with the corporate governance listing standards of Nasdaq to the extent possible under French law. However, we may choose to change such practices to follow home country practice in the future.

Although we are a foreign private issuer, we are required to comply with Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, relating to audit committee composition and responsibilities. Rule 10A-3 provides that the audit committee must have direct responsibility for the nomination, compensation and choice of our auditors, as well as control over the performance of their duties, management of complaints made, and selection of consultants. Under Rule 10A-3, if the laws of a foreign private issuer’s home country require that any such matter be approved by the board of directors or the shareholders of the Company, the audit committee’s responsibilities or powers with respect to such matter may instead be advisory. Under French law, the audit committee may only have an advisory role and appointment of our statutory auditors, in particular, must be decided by our shareholders at our annual meeting.

In addition, Nasdaq rules require that a listed company specify that the quorum for any meeting of the holders of share capital be at least 33  13% of the outstanding shares of the company’s common voting stock. We follow our French home country practice, rather than complying with this Nasdaq rule. Consistent with French Law, our By-laws provide that when first convened, general meetings of shareholders may validly convene only if the shareholders present or represented hold at least (1) 20% of the voting shares in the case of an ordinary general meeting or of an extraordinary general meeting where shareholders are voting on a capital increase by capitalization of reserves, profits or share premium, or (2) 25% of the voting shares in the case of any other extraordinary general meeting. If such quorum required by French law is not met, the meeting is adjourned. There is no quorum requirement under French law when an ordinary general meeting or an extraordinary general meeting where shareholders are voting on a capital increase by capitalization of reserves, profits or share premium is reconvened, but the reconvened meeting may consider only questions that were on the agenda of the adjourned meeting. When any other extraordinary general meeting is reconvened, the required quorum under French law is 20% of the shares entitled to vote. If a quorum is not met at a reconvened meeting requiring a quorum, then the meeting may be adjourned for a maximum of two months.

Further, Nasdaq rules require that listed companies have a nominations committee comprised solely of independent directors. We follow our French home country practice rather than complying with this Nasdaq rule.

Finally, Nasdaq rules require shareholder approval when a plan or other equity compensation arrangement is established or materially amended. While the Company may, from time to time, obtain shareholder approval of an equity compensation arrangement in order to obtain advantageous tax treatment or otherwise, as a general matter, we intend to follow our French home country practice, which does not require shareholder approval of such plans or arrangements, rather than complying with this Nasdaq rule.

Board Committees

The board of directors has established an audit and finance committee and a compensation committee, each of which operates pursuant to a separate charter adopted by our board of directors. The board of directors has also established a scientific committee. The composition and functioning of all of our committees will comply with all applicable requirements of the French Commercial Code, the Exchange Act, the Nasdaq Global Market, and the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

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In accordance with French law, committees of our board of directors will only have an advisory role and can only make recommendations to our board of directors. As a result, decisions will be made by our board of directors taking into account non-binding recommendations of the relevant board committee.

Audit and Finance Committee. Our audit and finance committee reviews our internal accounting procedures, consults with and reviews the services provided by our independent registered public accountants and assists our board of directors in its oversight of our corporate accounting and financial reporting. Currently, our audit and finance committee is comprised of three members of the board of directors: Messrs. Bastid, Arthaud, and Messier.

The duties specifically assigned to the audit and finance committee by our board of directors include, but are not limited to:

with regard to our financial statements:

 

    review on a preliminary basis and express its opinion on the draft annual and quarterly financial statements prior to the board of directors officially receiving the financial statements;

 

    examine the critical accounting policies and practices of the Company, including their relevance and consistency used for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and the group’s consolidated financial statements and rectify any failure to comply with these policies and practices;

 

    monitor the scope of consolidation and review, where necessary, any explanations in connection thereto;

 

    interview, when necessary, the statutory auditors, the chairman of the board of directors, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the employees in charge of our internal controls or any other management personnel; these discussions may take place, where required, without the presence of the chairman of our board of directors and the chief executive officer; and

 

    examine—prior to their publication—the draft annual and interim financial statements, the draft annual report and any other draft financial statements (including projected financial statements) prepared for the needs of upcoming material transactions together with the related press releases;

with regard to internal controls:

 

    assess the efficiency and quality of internal control systems and procedures within the group;

 

    examine, with the persons in charge of the internal audit, and, if necessary, outside of the presence of the chairman of the board of directors and the chief executive officer, the contingency and action plans with respect to internal audit, the findings following the implementation of these actions and the recommendations and follow-up actions in connection therewith; and

 

    entrust the internal audit department with any mission which the committee deems necessary;

with regard to external controls:

 

    examine any question relating to the appointment, renewal or dismissal of our statutory auditors and their fees regarding the performance of their control review functions;

 

    oversee the rules relating to the use of the statutory auditors for assignments other than the audit of the financial statements and, more generally, ensure that we comply with the principles guaranteeing the statutory auditors’ independence;

 

    at least annually, review and discuss the information provided by management and the auditors relating to the independence of the audit firm;

 

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    pre-approve any services entrusted to the statutory auditors which is outside of the scope of the annual audit;

 

    review every year with the statutory auditors all fees paid to by the Company and the group to any networks to which the auditors belong, their work plan, their findings and recommendations, as well as actions taken by us following such recommendations;

 

    review and discuss with the statutory auditors their comments on internal controls over financial reporting and any matters that have come to the attention of the statutory auditors that lead them to believe that modification to our disclosures about changes in internal control over financial reporting is necessary for management’s certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

    discuss if necessary any points of disagreement between the statutory auditors and the officers of the Company that may arise within the scope of these operations; and

 

    review and discuss with the statutory auditors the plans for, and the scope of, the annual audit and other examinations; and

with regard to risks:

 

    review on a regular basis the financial situation, the cash position and the material risks and undertakings of the group; and

 

    review the risk management policy and the process implemented to evaluate and manage these risks.

Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee assists our board of directors in reviewing the compensation of our executive officers and directors and makes recommendations in respect thereof. Currently, our compensation committee is comprised of two members of the board of directors: Mr. Godard and Dr. Schwebig. The principal duties and responsibilities of our compensation committee include, but are not limited to:

 

    review the compensation of our employees and managers of the group (fixed and variable compensations, bonus, etc.) and make any recommendation to our board of directors in connection therewith;

 

    review equity incentive plans (non-employee warrants, stock options, restricted (free) shares, etc.) and make recommendations to our board of directors in connection therewith;

 

    make recommendations to our board of directors regarding the compensation, pension and insurance plans, benefits in kind and other various pecuniary rights, of officers, as well as the allocation of equity incentive instruments granted to executive officers and directors of the Company;

 

    evaluate and make recommendations on the compensation policies and programs of executive officers and on the compensation of directors;

 

    recommend the approval, adoption and amendment of all cash- and equity-based incentive compensation plans in which any of our executive officers or directors participate and all other equity-based plans;

 

    review any proposed employment agreement with, and any proposed severance or retention plans or agreements applicable to, any of our executive officers;

 

    review, at least annually, corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers; and

 

    evaluate the performance of the executive officers in light of corporate goals and objectives and recommend compensation levels for these executive officers based on those evaluations and any other factors the compensation committee deems appropriate.

 

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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or the Code of Conduct, that is applicable to all of our employees, executive officers and directors. The Code of Conduct is available on our website at www.cellectis.com. Our board of directors will be responsible for overseeing the Code of Conduct and will be required to approve any waivers of the Code of Conduct for employees, executive officers and directors. We expect that any amendments to the Code of Conduct, or any waivers of its requirements, will be disclosed on our website.

 

D. Employees

As of December 31, 2015, we had 116 employees, 110 of whom are full-time, 39 of whom hold Ph.D. or M.D. degrees, 86 of whom were engaged in research and development activities and 30 of whom were engaged in business development, legal, finance, information systems, facilities, human resources or administrative support. As of December 31, 2015, 79 of our employees were located in France and 37 of our employees were located in the United States. None of our employees is subject to a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

 

E. Share Ownership

For information regarding the share ownership of our directors and executive officers, see “Item 6.B—Compensation” and “Item 7.A—Major Shareholders.”

 

ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

A. Major Shareholders.

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of February 29, 2016 for:

 

    each beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares;

 

    each of our directors and executive officers; and

 

    all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities and include ordinary shares that can be acquired within 60 days of February 29, 2016. The percentage ownership information shown in the table is based upon 35,178,614 ordinary shares outstanding as of February 29, 2016.

Except as otherwise indicated, all of the shares reflected in the table are ordinary shares and all persons listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws. The information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose.

In computing the number of ordinary shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we deemed outstanding ordinary shares subject to options and warrants held by that person that are immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2016. We did not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Beneficial ownership representing less than 1% is denoted with an asterisk (*). The information in the table below is based on information known to us or ascertained by us from public filings made by the shareholders in France. Except as otherwise indicated in the table below, addresses of the directors, executive officers and named beneficial owners are in care of Cellectis, 8, rue de la Croix Jarry, 75013 Paris, France.

 

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Name of Beneficial Owner

   Ordinary Shares Beneficially
Owned
 
     Number      Percentage  

5% Shareholders:

     

Bpifrance Participations

     2,879,500         8.19

Pfizer, Inc. (1)

     2,786,924         7.92

Fidelity Management & Research Company

     3,510,861         9.99

Directors and Executive Officers:

     

André Choulika, Ph.D (2)

     1,075,867         3.06

Mathieu Simon, M.D (3).

     145,761         *   

David Sourdive, Ph.D. (4)

     1,039,912         2.96

Philippe Duchateau, Ph.D. (5)

     49,202         *   

Eric Dutang

        *   

Luc Mathis, Ph.D. (6)

     26,272         *   

Julia Berretta (7)

     25,585         *   

Marie-Bleuenn Terrier (8)

     27,905         *   

Alain Godard (9)

     38,215         *   

Pierre Bastid (10)

     3,315,610         9.43

Laurent Arthaud

        *   

Annick Schwebig, M.D. (11)

     11,940         *   

Jean-Marie Messier (9)

     16,667         *   

All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)

     5,772,936         16.41

 

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than one per cent.
(1) The address of Pfizer, Inc. is 235 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10017. Shares beneficially owned by Pfizer, Inc. were acquired by Pfizer OTC B.V. on July 31, 2014 in the context of a share capital increase in connection with the Research and Collaboration Agreement between Pfizer Inc. and Cellectis S.A., dated June 17, 2014.
(2) Includes 54,793 ordinary shares that Mr. Choulika has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan.
(3) Includes 43,836 ordinary shares that Mr. Simon has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan.
(4) Includes 43,836 ordinary shares that Mr. Sourdive has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan. Includes 725,451 shares held by Viveoo SARL.
(5) The ordinary shares shown include 8,000 ordinary shares that Dr. Duchateau has the right to acquire pursuant to employee warrants and 32,877 ordinary shares that Dr. Duchateau has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan.
(6) The ordinary shares shown include 8,000 ordinary shares that Mr. Mathis has the right to acquire pursuant to employee warrants and 1,925 ordinary shares that Mr. Mathis has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan.
(7) Includes 21,917 ordinary shares that Mrs. Berretta has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan.
(8) Includes 21,917 ordinary shares that Mrs. Terrier has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options granted under the 2015 Stock Option Plan.
(9) The ordinary shares include 16,667 Non-employee warrants, which are exercisable on March 27, 2015.
(10) The ordinary shares include 16,667 Non-employee warrants, which are exercisable on March 27, 2015. Includes 3,315,610 shares held by Zaka S.A.
(11) The ordinary shares include 10,000 Non-employee warrants, which are exercisable on March 27, 2015.

The significant changes in the percentage ownership held by our principal shareholders since January 1, 2013 are as a result of the transactions described in our prospectus dated March 26, 2015, filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b), under the heading “Related Party Transactions—Transactions with Our Principal Shareholders, Directors and Executive Officers” and the dilution resulting from our public offering.

None of our principal shareholders has voting rights different than our other shareholders.

As of February 29, 2016, assuming that all of our ordinary shares represented by ADSs are held by residents of the United States, we estimate that approximately 43.3% of our outstanding ordinary shares were held in the United States by 81 holders of record.

 

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B. Related Party Transactions

Since January 1, 2012, we have engaged in the following transactions with our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 5% of our outstanding voting securities and their affiliates, which we refer to as our related-parties.

Transactions with Our Principal Shareholders, Directors and Executive Officers

We paid license royalties of €255 thousand, €1.7 million and €1.1 million to Institut Pasteur, a former shareholder of Cellectis, in fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively

Pfizer purchased 10% of our then-outstanding ordinary shares on July 31, 2014. Revenues from Pfizer for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were €250 thousand, €9.2 million and €23.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, Pfizer had a 7.94% ownership in Cellectis and the outstanding receivables were €1.929 million.

Conditional advances and subsidies

Bpifrance, which is a shareholder of Cellectis, has granted us conditional advances and subsidies. See Note 13 of our audited consolidated financial statements.

Investment Agreement

On September 14, 2011, Bpifrance Participations (formerly Fonds Stratégique d’Investissement), Mr. Pierre Bastid, Dr. David Sourdive, Dr. André Choulika and the Company entered into an investment agreement, or the Investment Agreement, in connection with the investment by Bpifrance Participations and Mr. Pierre Bastid each of €25 million in Cellectis. Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, the parties, among other things, undertook to vote, as shareholders and/or as board members, in favor of (a) the appointment of two board members proposed by Bpifrance Participations (Mr. Laurent Arthaud and Dr. Annick Schwebig), (b) the appointment of one board member proposed by Mr. Pierre Bastid (none was appointed). The parties to the Investment Agreement terminated the agreement upon the listing of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global.

Agreements with Our Directors and Executive Officers

Director and Executive Officer Compensation

See “Item 6.B—Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers” for information regarding compensation of directors and executive officers

Equity Awards

Since January 1, 2015, we have granted equity awards to certain of our directors and executive officers.

 

    On January 8, 2015, we granted 50,000 free shares to Mathieu Simon;

 

    On May 18, 2015, we issued 210,000 free shares to certain of our Executive Officers;

 

    On March 24, 2015, we issued 884,409 stock options to certain of our Executive Officers;

 

    On September 8, 2015, we issued 910,000 stock options to certain of our Executive Officers;

 

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    On March 27, 2015, we issued 200,000 non-employee warrants (BSA) to certain of our Directors;

 

    On September 8, 2015, we issued 200,000 non-employee warrants (BSA) to our Directors;

 

    On March 14, 2016, we granted 944,121 stock options to certain of our Directors and Executive Officers; and

 

    On March 14, 2016, we issued 200,875 non-employee warrants (BSA) to our Directors.

See “Item. 7A—Major Shareholders” for information regarding equity awards to certain of our executive officers.

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. See “Item. 6B—Limitations on Liability and Indemnification Matters.”

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Related-Party Transactions Policy

We have adopted a related-party transaction policy that sets forth our procedures for the identification, review, consideration and approval or ratification of related-party transactions. The policy became effective immediately upon the completion of our initial public offering. For purposes of our policy only, a related-party transaction is a transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which we and any related parties are, were or will be participants, which are not (1) in the ordinary course of business, (2) at arms’ length and (3) in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee or director are not covered by this policy. For purposes of this policy, a related party is any executive officer, director (or nominee for director) or beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of any class of our voting securities, including any of their respective immediate family members and any entity owned or controlled by such persons.

Under the policy, related-party transactions must be reported to us by all related parties. If a transaction has been identified as a related-party transaction, our management must present information regarding the related-party transaction to our board of directors for review, consideration and approval. Certain transactions may be presented to the Audit and Finance Committee, which will determine whether the transaction is a related-party transaction, in which case the related-party transaction will be submitted to our board of directors. The presentation will include a description of, among other things, the material facts, the interests in the transaction, direct and indirect, of the related parties, the benefits to us of the transaction and whether the transaction is on terms that are comparable to the terms available to or from, as the case may be, an unrelated third-party or to or from employees generally. In addition, under our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, our employees and directors have an affirmative responsibility to disclose any transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest. In considering related-party transactions, our board, or to the extent permitted by applicable law an independent committee of our board, will take into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:

 

    the benefits and perceived benefits to us;

 

    the opportunity costs of alternative transactions;

 

    the materiality and character of the related party’s interest;

 

    the actual or apparent conflict of interest of the related party; and

 

    the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from employees generally.

 

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The policy requires that, in determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related-party transaction, our board of directors, or if permitted by applicable law an independent committee of our board, must consider, in light of known circumstances, whether the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, our best interests and those of our shareholders, as our board, or if permitted by applicable law an independent committee of our board, determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

 

D. Interests of Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

Our consolidated financial statements are appended at the end of this Annual Report starting at page F-1, and form a part hereof.

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal proceedings relating to claims arising out of our operations. We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business or our cash flows. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

Dividend Distribution

Approval of Dividends. Pursuant to French law, our board of directors may propose a dividend and/or reserve distribution for approval by the shareholders at the annual ordinary general meeting.

Upon recommendation of our board of directors, our shareholders may decide to allocate all or part of any distributable profits to special or general reserves, to carry them forward to the next fiscal year as retained earnings or to allocate them to the shareholders as dividends. However, dividends may not be distributed when as a result of such distribution our net assets are or would become lower than the amount of the share capital plus the amount of the legal reserves which, under French law, may not be distributed to shareholders (the amount of our share capital plus the amount of our legal and other reserves which may not be distributed was equal to €1.8 million on December 31, 2015).

Our board of directors may distribute interim dividends after the end of the fiscal year but before the approval of the financial statements for the relevant fiscal year when the interim balance sheet, established during such year and certified by an auditor, reflects that we have earned distributable profits since the close of the last financial year, after recognizing the necessary depreciation and provisions and after deducting prior losses, if any, and the sums to be allocated to reserves, as required by law or the By-laws, and including any retained earnings. The amount of such interim dividends may not exceed the amount of the profit so defined.

Pursuant to recently passed legislation, if a dividend is declared we may be required to pay a dividend tax in an amount equal to 3% of the aggregate dividend paid by us.

Distribution of Dividends. Dividends are distributed to shareholders proportionally to their shareholding interests. In the case of interim dividends, distributions are made to shareholders on the date set by our board of directors during the meeting in which the distribution of interim dividends is approved. The actual dividend payment date is decided by the shareholders at an ordinary general shareholders’ meeting or by our board in the absence of such a decision by the shareholders. Shareholders that own shares on the actual payment date are entitled to the dividend.

Dividends may be paid in cash or, if the shareholders’ meeting so decides, in kind, provided that all the shareholders receive a whole number of assets of the same nature paid in lieu of cash. Our By-laws provide that, subject to a decision of the shareholders’ meeting taken by ordinary resolution, each shareholder may be given the choice to receive his dividend in cash or in shares.

 

B. Significant Changes

Calyxt, Inc. announced on March 1, 2016 that it closed on the purchase of a 10-acre parcel in the St. Paul suburb of Roseville to build its new headquarters facility. The new facility, which should be operational around mid-2017, will be comprised of a 35,000 square-foot office and lab building, with greenhouses and outdoor research plots.

On March 16, 2016, Cellectis S.A. announced jointly with MabQuest SA (a biotech company focused on the development of antibody-based therapeutic interventions) that the companies have entered into a research collaboration and license agreement pertaining to the development of a new class of monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1. The action of these PD-1 antibodies is to promote the recovery of T-cells from exhaustion through a new mechanism of action, which does not block the PD-1-PD-L1 interaction. Cellectis plans to use these PD-1 antagonist antibodies in combination therapy with its gene-edited UCART candidate products as well as a single-agent or in combination with other already approved immunotherapy drugs.

The agreement includes a collaboration phase funded by Cellectis whereby Cellectis and MabQuest will jointly pursue preclinical research on several candidate antibodies; and a clinical development and commercialization phase of the best selected antibodies which will be led by Cellectis. It also includes an exclusive option which, if exercised, would grant Cellectis worldwide exclusive rights over the family of PD-1 antagonist antibodies developed under the collaboration for all fields, and further potential derivatives of these antibodies.

 

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ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

 

A. Offer and Listing Details

Our ADS have been listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “CLLS” since March 24, 2015. Prior to that date, there was no public trading market for ADSs. Our ordinary shares have been trading on Alternext market of Euronext Paris under the symbol “ALCLS” since February 7, 2007. Prior to that date, there was no public trading market for ADSs or our ordinary shares. Our initial public offering in March 2015 was priced at $41.50 per ADS on March 24, 2015. The following tables set forth for the periods indicated the reported high and low sale prices per ADS on Nasdaq in U.S. dollars and per ordinary share on Alternext in euros.

Nasdaq

 

Period

   High      Low  

Annual

     

2015 (beginning March 24, 2015)

   $ 47.66       $ 23.67   

Quarterly

     

First Quarter 2015 (beginning March 24, 2015)

   $ 41.50       $ 34.58   

Second Quarter 2015

   $ 47.66       $ 30.65   

Third Quarter 2015

   $ 39.78       $ 25.71   

Fourth Quarter 2015

   $ 42.14       $ 23.67   

First Quarter 2016 (through March 18, 2016)

   $ 30.16       $ 18.77   

Monthly

     

September 2015

   $ 33.97       $ 25.71   

October 2015

   $ 27.55       $ 23.67   

November 2015

   $ 42.14       $ 31.34   

December 2015

   $ 33.60       $ 26.95   

January 2016

   $ 30.16       $ 21.99   

February 2016

   $ 23.81       $ 18.77   

March 2016 (through March 18, 2016)

   $ 27.17       $ 24.53   

Alternext

 

Period

   High      Low  

Annual

     

2011

   9.30       5.65   

2012

   8.24       4.80   

2013

   7.70       2.19   

2014

   14.00       2.40   

2015

   40.90       13.26   

Quarterly

     

First Quarter 2014

   7.16       2.40   

Second Quarter 2014

   13.50       4.73   

Third Quarter 2014

   14.00       10.54   

Fourth Quarter 2014

   12.90       8.98   

First Quarter 2015

   40.00       13.26   

Second Quarter 2015

   40.90       27.76   

Third Quarter 2015

   37.00       23.67   

Fourth Quarter 2015

   40.90       21.20   

First Quarter 2016 (through March 18, 2016)

   27.74       16.85   

Monthly

     

September 2015

   29.60       23.67   

 

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October 2015

   24.60       21.20   

November 2015

   40.90       26.69   

December 2015

   30.85       25.05   

January 2016

   27.74       19.42   

February 2016

   22.10       16.85   

March 2016 (through March 18, 2016)

   24.39       22.01   

 

B. Plan of Distribution

Not applicable.

 

C. Markets

The ADS have been listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “CLLS” since March 24, 2015 and our ordinary shares have been listed on the Alternext under the symbol “ALCLS” since February 7, 2007.

 

D. Selling Shareholders

Not applicable.

 

E. Dilution

Not applicable.

 

F. Expenses of the Issue

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

A. Share Capital

Not applicable.

 

B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

The information set forth in our prospectus dated March 24, 2015, filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b), under the headings “Description of Share Capital—Key Provisions of our By-Laws and French Law Affecting our Ordinary Shares,” “Limitations Affecting Shareholders of a French Company” and “Differences in Corporate Law” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

C. Material Contracts

We entered into an underwriting agreement among Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Jefferies LLC, as representatives of the underwriters, on March 24, 2015, with respect to the ADSs sold in our initial public offering. We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. For additional information on our material contracts, please see Item 4 and Item 6 of this Annual Report.

 

D. Exchange Controls

Under current French foreign exchange control regulations there are no limitations on the amount of cash payments that we may remit to residents of foreign countries. Laws and regulations concerning foreign exchange controls do, however, require that all payments or transfers of funds made by a French resident to a non-resident such as dividend payments be handled by an accredited intermediary. All registered banks and substantially all credit institutions in France are accredited intermediaries.

 

E. Taxation

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of ADSs. This summary does not address any aspect of U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as U.S. federal estate and gift tax laws, or state, local or non-U.S. tax laws, and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the U.S. tax considerations that may be relevant to particular holders.

YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF ADSs IN YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION.

The discussion applies to you only if you hold the ADSs as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, for investment). This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a special class of holders subject to special tax rules, including:

 

    a broker;

 

    a dealer in securities, commodities or foreign currencies;

 

    a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings;

 

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    a bank or other financial institution;

 

    a tax-exempt organization;

 

    an insurance company;

 

    a regulated investment company;

 

    an investor who is a U.S. expatriate, former U.S. citizen or former long term resident of the United States;

 

    a mutual fund;

 

    an individual retirement or other tax-deferred account;

 

    a holder liable for alternative minimum tax;

 

    a holder that actually or constructively owns 10% or more, by voting power, of our voting stock;

 

    a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

    a holder that holds ADSs as part of a straddle, hedging, constructive sale, conversion or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or

 

    a U.S. holder whose functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar.

This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or (the Code), existing and proposed income tax regulations issued under the Code, legislative history, and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all as of the date of this Annual Report. All of the foregoing are subject to change at any time, and any change could be retroactive and could affect the accuracy of this discussion. In addition, the application and interpretation of certain aspects of the passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, rules, referred to below, require the issuance of regulations which in many instances have not been promulgated and which may have retroactive effect. There can be no assurance that any of these regulations will be enacted or promulgated, and if so, the form they will take or the effect that they may have on this discussion. This discussion is not binding on the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, or the courts. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS with respect to the positions and issues discussed herein, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a different position concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the ADSs or that any such position would not be sustained.

You are a “U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of ADSs and you are:

 

    a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

    a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

    an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

    a trust if (1) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In addition, this discussion is limited to U.S. holders who are not resident in France for purposes of the Income Tax Treaty between the United States and France.

If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of the ADSs, the U.S. tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will

 

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depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A holder of the ADSs that is a partnership and partners in such a partnership should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of ADSs.

A “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of ADSs that is neither a U.S. holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Generally, holders of ADSs should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as holding the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs. Accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognized upon an exchange of ordinary shares for ADSs or an exchange of ADSs for ordinary shares. The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holder of an ADS and the issuer of the security underlying the ADS may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits for U.S. holders of ADSs. Accordingly, the credibility of foreign taxes, if any, as described below, could be affected by actions taken by intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holder of an ADS and the company.

PFIC Considerations

The Code provides special rules regarding certain distributions received by U.S. persons with respect to, and sales, exchanges and other dispositions, including pledges, of, shares of stock (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs) in a PFIC. A non-U.S. corporation will be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year in which either: (1) at least 75 percent of its gross income is “passive income” or (2) at least 50 percent of its gross assets during the taxable year (based on the average of the fair market values of the assets determined at the end of each quarterly period) are “passive assets,” which generally means that they produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, gains from commodities and securities transactions, and gains from assets that produce passive income. In determining whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC, a pro rata portion of the income and assets of each corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, at least a 25% interest (by value) is taken into account.

Although not free from doubt, we believe that we were a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the 2015 taxable year, but our PFIC status must be determined annually and therefore may be subject to change. Because this determination is made annually at the end of each taxable year and is dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the amount and nature of our income, as well as on the market valuation of our assets and our spending schedule for our cash balances, and because certain aspects of the PFIC rules are not entirely certain, there can be no assurance that we are or are not a PFIC or that the IRS will agree with our conclusion regarding our PFIC status. If we are not a PFIC during any taxable year in which you hold ADSs, then the remainder of the discussion under “Taxation—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” outside of this “PFIC Considerations” portion may be relevant to you.

A U.S. holder that holds ADSs during any taxable year in which we qualify as a PFIC is subject to special tax rules with respect to (a) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the ADSs and (b) any “excess distribution” by the corporation to the holder, unless the holder elects to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund,” or QEF, or makes a “mark-to-market” election, each as discussed below. An “excess distribution” is that portion of a distribution with respect to ADSs that exceeds 125% of the annual average of such distributions over the preceding three-year period or, if shorter, the U.S. holder’s holding period for its ADSs. Excess distributions and gains on the sale, exchange or other disposition of ADSs of a corporation which was a PFIC at any time during the U.S. holder’s holding period are allocated ratably to each day of the U.S. holder’s holding period. Amounts allocated to the taxable year in which the disposition occurs and amounts allocated to any period in the shareholder’s holding period before the first day of the first taxable year that the corporation was a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income (rather than capital gain) earned in the taxable year of the disposition. Amounts allocated to each of the other taxable years in the U.S. holder’s holding period are not included in gross income for the year of the disposition, but are subject to the highest ordinary income tax rates in effect for individuals or corporations, as applicable, for each such year and the interest charge generally applicable to income tax deficiencies will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each year. The tax liability for amounts allocated to years before the year of disposition or “excess distribution” cannot be offset by any net operating losses for such years, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the ADSs cannot be treated as capital, even if a U.S. holder held such ADSs as capital assets.

 

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If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder holds ADSs, then we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to the holder for all succeeding years during which such holder holds ADSs, even if we no longer satisfy either the passive income or passive asset tests described above, unless the U.S. holder terminates this deemed PFIC status by making a “deemed sale” election. If such election is made, a U.S. holder will be deemed to have sold the ADSs at their fair market value on the last day of the last taxable year for which we were a PFIC, and any gain from such deemed sale would be subject to the excess distribution rules as described above. After the deemed sale election, the ADSs with respect to which the deemed sale election was made will not be treated as shares in a PFIC unless we subsequently become a PFIC.

The excess distribution rules may be avoided if a U.S. holder makes a QEF election effective beginning with the first taxable year in the holder’s holding period in which we are treated as a PFIC with respect to such holder. A U.S. holder that makes a QEF election with respect to a PFIC is required to include in income its pro rata share of the PFIC’s ordinary earnings and net capital gain as ordinary income and capital gain, respectively, subject to a separate election to defer payment of taxes, which deferral is subject to an interest charge.

In general, a U.S. holder makes a QEF election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 to a timely filed (taking into account any extensions) U.S. federal income tax return for the year beginning with which the QEF election is to be effective. In certain circumstances, a U.S. holder may be able to make a retroactive QEF election. A QEF election can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. In order for a U.S. holder to make a valid QEF election, the corporation must annually provide or make available to the holder certain information. We have prepared the PFIC statement and we will provide upon request from the U.S. holders who wish to make a QEF election.

As an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. holder may make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to its ADSs if the ADSs meet certain minimum trading requirements, as described below. If a U.S. holder makes a valid mark-to-market election for the first taxable year in which such holder holds (or is deemed to hold) ADSs in a corporation and for which such corporation is determined to be a PFIC, such holder generally will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above in respect of its ADSs. Instead, a U.S. holder that makes a mark-to-market election will be required to include in income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ADSs that the holder owns as of the close of the taxable year over the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ADSs. The U.S. holder will be entitled to a deduction for the excess, if any, of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ADSs over the fair market value of the ADSs as of the close of the taxable year; provided, however, that the deduction will be limited to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to the ADSs included by the U.S. holder under the election for prior taxable years. The U.S. holder’s basis in the ADSs will be adjusted to reflect the amounts included or deducted pursuant to the election. Amounts included in income pursuant to a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the ADSs, will be treated as ordinary income. The deductible portion of any mark-to-market loss, as well as loss on a sale, exchange or other disposition of ADSs to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed net mark-to-market gains previously included in income, will be treated as ordinary loss. If a U.S. holder makes a valid mark-to-market election, any distributions made by us would generally be subject to the rules discussed below under “—Taxation of Dividends,” except the lower rate applicable to qualified dividend income would not apply. If we cease to be a PFIC when a U.S. holder has a mark-to-market election in effect, gain or loss realized by a U.S. holder on the sale of our ADSs will be a capital gain or loss and taxed in the manner described below under “—Taxation of Sale, Exchange or other Disposition of ADSs.”

The mark-to-market election applies to the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years, unless the ADSs cease to meet applicable trading requirements (described below) or the IRS consents to its revocation. The excess distribution rules generally do not apply to a U.S. holder for taxable years for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. If we are a PFIC for any year in which the U.S. holder owns ADSs but before a mark-to-market election is made, the interest charge rules described above will apply to any mark-to-market gain recognized in the year the election is made.

A mark-to-mark election is available only if the ADSs are considered “marketable” for these purposes. ADSs will be marketable if they are regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the SEC (such as the Nasdaq Global Market) or on a non-U.S. exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. For these purposes,

 

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ADSs will be considered regularly traded during any calendar year during which more than a de minimis quantity of the ADSs is traded on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. Any trades that have as their principal purpose meeting this requirement will be disregarded. Each U.S. holder should ask its own tax advisor whether a mark-to-market election is available or desirable.

If we are a PFIC for any year in which a U.S. holder holds ADSs, such U.S. holder must generally file an IRS Form 8621 annually. A U.S. holder must also provide such other information as may be required by the U.S. Treasury Department if the U.S. holder (1) receives certain direct or indirect distributions from a PFIC, (2) recognizes gain on a direct or indirect disposition of ADSs, or (3) makes certain elections (including a QEF election or a mark-to-market election) reportable on IRS Form 8621.

Under attribution rules, if we are a PFIC, U.S. holders of our ADSs will be deemed to own their proportionate shares of any of our subsidiaries that are PFICs. It is possible that one or more of our subsidiaries is or will become a PFIC. Such determination is made annually at the end of each taxable year and is dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the amount and nature of a subsidiary’s income, as well as the market valuation and nature of a subsidiary’s assets. In such case, assuming a U.S. holder does not receive from such subsidiary the information that the U.S. holder needs to make a QEF election with respect to such a subsidiary, a U.S. holder generally will be deemed to own a portion of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC and may incur liability for a deferred tax and interest charge if we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, or the U.S. holder otherwise is deemed to have disposed of an interest in, the lower-tier PFIC, even though the U.S. holder has not received the proceeds of those distributions or dispositions directly. There is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC, or that we will cause the lower-tier PFIC to provide the required information for a U.S. holder to make or maintain a QEF election with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. In addition, a mark-to-market election generally would not be available with respect to such a lower-tier PFIC and, consequently, if you make a mark-to-market election with respect to our ADSs, you could be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to income of lower-tier PFICs the value of which already had been taken into account indirectly via mark-to-market adjustments. U.S. holders are advised to consult with their tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.

U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to our status as a PFIC, and, if we are treated as a PFIC, as to the effect on them of, and the reporting requirements with respect to, the PFIC rules and the desirability of making, and the availability of, either a QEF election or a mark-to-market election with respect to our ADSs.

Taxation of Dividends

U.S. Holders. Subject to the PFIC rules described above under “—PFIC Considerations,” if you are a U.S. holder, you must include in your gross income the gross amount of any distributions of cash or property (other than certain pro rata distributions of ADSs) with respect to ADSs, to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. holder must include the dividend as ordinary income at the time of actual or constructive receipt. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your basis in the ADSs and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such ADSs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we do not intend to maintain calculations of our earnings and profits as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, distributions generally will be reported as dividend income for U.S. information reporting purposes. The dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to U.S. corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations.

Subject to the PFIC rules described above under “—PFIC Considerations,” dividends paid by a non-U.S. corporation generally will be taxed at the preferential tax rates applicable to long-term capital gain of non-corporate taxpayers if (a) such non-U.S. corporation is eligible for the benefits of certain U.S. treaties or the dividend is paid by such non-U.S. corporation with respect to stock that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, (b) the U.S. holder receiving such dividend is an individual, estate, or trust, (c) such dividend is paid on shares that have been held by such U.S. holder for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the “ex-dividend date,” and (d) we are not a PFIC in the year of the dividend or the immediately preceding year. If the requirements of the immediately preceding paragraph are not satisfied, a dividend paid by a non-U.S.

 

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corporation to a U.S. holder, including a U.S. holder that is an individual, estate, or trust, generally will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates (and not at the preferential tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains). As discussed above “PFIC Considerations,” although not free from doubt, we believe that we were a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the 2015 taxable year. The dividend rules are complex, and each U.S. holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the dividend rules.

Dividends received generally will be income from non-U.S. sources, which may be relevant in calculating your U.S. foreign tax credit limitation. Such non-U.S. source income generally will be “passive category income,” or in certain cases “general category income”, which is treated separately from other types of income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to you. The rules with respect to the foreign tax credit are complex and involve the application of rules that depend upon a U.S. holder’s particular circumstances. You should consult your own tax advisor to determine the foreign tax credit implications of owning the ADSs.

Non-U.S. Holders. Dividends paid to non-U.S. holders generally will not be subject to U.S. income tax unless the dividends are “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States, and the dividends are attributable to a permanent establishment (or in the case of an individual, a fixed place of business) that you maintain in the United States if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting you to U.S. taxation on a net income basis. In such cases you generally will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. holder (other than with respect to the Medicare Tax described below). If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, “effectively connected” dividends may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.

Taxation of Sale, Exchange or other Disposition of ADSs

U.S. Holders. Subject to the PFIC rules described above under “—PFIC Considerations,” if you are a U.S. holder and you sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of your ADSs, you generally will recognize capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the value of the amount realized and your tax basis in your ADSs. Gain or loss recognized on such a sale, exchange or other disposition of ADSs generally will be long-term capital gain if the U.S. holder has held the ADSs for more than one year. Long-term capital gains of U.S. holders who are individuals (as well as certain trusts and estates) are generally taxed at preferential rates. The gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes, unless it is attributable to an office or other fixed place of business outside the United States and certain other conditions are met. Your ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations. As discussed above under “—PFIC Considerations,” although not free from doubt, we believe that we were a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the 2015 taxable year.

Non-U.S. Holders. If you are a non-U.S. holder, you will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of your ADSs unless:

 

    the gain is “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment (or in the case of an individual, a fixed place of business) that you maintain in the United States if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting you to U.S. taxation on a net income basis; or

 

    you are an individual, you are present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of such sale, exchange or other disposition and certain other conditions are met.

In the first case, the non-U.S. holder will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. holder (other than with respect to the Medicare Tax described below). In the second case, the non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on the amount by which such non-U.S. holder’s U.S.—source capital gains exceed such non-U.S.—source capital losses.

If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, “effectively connected” gains that you recognize may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.

 

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Medicare Tax

Certain U.S. holders who are individuals, estates or trusts are required to pay a 3.8% Medicare surtax on all or part of that holder’s “net investment income”, which includes, among other items, dividends on, and capital gains from the sale or other taxable disposition of, the ADSs, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this surtax on their ownership and disposition of the ADSs.

Information with Respect to Foreign Financial Assets

In addition, a U.S. holder that is an individual (and, under proposed regulations, an entity that meets certain requirements), may be subject to certain reporting obligations with respect to ADSs if the aggregate value of these and certain other “specified foreign financial assets” exceeds $50,000. If required, this disclosure is made by filing IRS Form 8938 with the IRS. Significant penalties can apply if U.S. holders are required to make this disclosure and fail to do so. In addition, a U.S. holder should consider the possible obligation to file a Form TD F 90-22.1—Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts Report as a result of holding ADSs. U.S. holders are thus encouraged to consult their U.S. tax advisors with respect to these and other reporting requirements that may apply to their acquisition of ADSs.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to distributions made on our ADSs within the United States to a non-corporate U.S. holder and to the proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of ADSs by a non-corporate U.S. holder to or through a U.S. office of a broker. Payments made (and sales or other dispositions effected at an office) outside the U.S. will be subject to information reporting in limited circumstances.

In addition, backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax may apply to such amounts if the U.S. holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number (or otherwise establishes, in the manner provided by law, an exemption from backup withholding) or to report dividends required to be shown on the U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax returns.

Backup withholding is not an additional income tax, and the amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. holder will be allowed as credit against the U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided that the appropriate returns are filed.

A non-U.S. holder generally may eliminate the requirement for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status to the payor, under penalties of perjury, on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable. You should consult your own tax advisor as to the qualifications for exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining the exemption.

The foregoing does not purport to be a complete analysis of the potential tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of the ADSs. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular tax considerations applicable to them relating to the ownership and disposition of the ADSs, including the applicability of the U.S. federal, state and local tax laws or non-tax laws, foreign tax laws, and any changes in applicable tax laws and any pending or proposed legislation or regulations.

Material French Income Tax Considerations

The following describes the material French income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of purchasing, owning and disposing of the ADSs and, unless otherwise noted, this discussion is the opinion of Jones Day, our French tax counsel, insofar as it relates to matters of French tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters.

This discussion does not purport to be a complete analysis or listing of all potential tax effects of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our securities to any particular investor, and does not discuss tax

 

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considerations that arise from rules of general application or that are generally assumed to be known by investors. All of the following is subject to change. Such changes could apply retroactively and could affect the consequences described below.

In 2011, France introduced a comprehensive set of new tax rules applicable to French assets that are held by or in foreign trusts. These rules, among other things, provide for the inclusion of trust assets in the settlor’s net assets for purpose of applying the French wealth tax, for the application of French gift and death duties to French assets held in trust, for a specific tax on capital on the French assets of foreign trusts not already subject to the French wealth tax and for a number of French tax reporting and disclosure obligations. The following discussion does not address the French tax consequences applicable to securities (including ADSs) held in trusts. If securities are held in trust, the grantor, trustee and beneficiary are urged to consult their own tax adviser regarding the specific tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of securities.

The description of the French income tax and wealth tax consequences set forth below is based on the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital of August 31, 1994 which came into force on December 30, 1995 (as amended by any subsequent protocols, including the protocol of January 13, 2009), and the tax guidelines issued by the French tax authorities in force as of the date of this Annual Report, or the Treaty.

For the purposes of this discussion, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of securities that is (1) an individual who is a U.S. citizen or resident for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (2) a U.S. domestic corporation or certain other entities created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, including the District of Colombia, or (3) otherwise subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of securities.

If a partnership holds securities, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If a U.S. Holder is a partner in a partnership that holds securities, such holder is urged to consult its own tax adviser regarding the specific tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of securities.

This discussion applies only to investors that hold our securities as capital assets that have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, that are entitled to Treaty benefits under the “Limitation on Benefits” provision contained in the Treaty, and whose ownership of the securities is not effectively connected to a permanent establishment or a fixed base in France. Certain U.S. Holders (including, but not limited to, U.S. expatriates, partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, banks, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons who acquired the securities pursuant to the exercise of employee share options or otherwise as compensation, persons that own (directly, indirectly or by attribution) 5% or more of our voting stock or 5% or more of our outstanding share capital, dealers in securities or currencies, persons that elect to mark their securities to market for U.S. federal income tax purposes and persons holding securities as a position in a synthetic security, straddle or conversion transaction) may be subject to special rules not discussed below.

U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of securities in light of their particular circumstances, especially with regard to the “Limitations on Benefits” provision.

Estate and Gift Taxes and Transfer Taxes

In general, a transfer of securities by gift or by reason of death of a U.S. Holder that would otherwise be subject to French gift or inheritance tax, respectively, will not be subject to such French tax by reason of the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Estates, Inheritances and Gifts, dated November 24, 1978, unless the donor or the transferor is domiciled in France at the time of making the gift or at the time of his or her death, or the securities were used in, or held for use in, the conduct of a business through a permanent establishment or a fixed base in France.

 

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Financial Transactions Tax

Pursuant to Article 235 ter ZD of the French Tax Code (Code général des impôts), or the FTC, purchases of certain securities issued by a French company, including ordinary shares and ADSs, which are listed on a regulated market of the EU or an exchange market formally acknowledged by the AMF (in each case within the meaning of the French Monetary and Financial Code, or the FMFC) are subject in France to a 0.2% tax on financial transactions, or the TFT, provided inter alia that the issuer’s market capitalization exceeds 1 billion euros as of December 1 of the year preceding the taxation year.

A list of relevant French companies whose market capitalization exceeds €1.0 billion as of December 1 of the year preceding the taxation year used to be published annually by the French State. It is now published by the French tax authorities, and could be amended at any time. Pursuant to Regulations BOI-ANNX-000467-20151221 issued on December 21, 2015, Cellectis is currently not included in such list. Please note that such list may be updated from time to time, or may not be published anymore in the future.

As a result, neither the ADSs nor the ordinary shares are currently within the scope of the TFT.

Purchases of Cellectis’s securities may however become subject to the TFT if Cellectis’s market capitalization exceeds €1.0 billion.

Registration Duties

In the case where the TFT is not applicable, (1) transfers of shares issued by a French company which are listed on a regulated or organized market within the meaning of the FMFC are subject to uncapped registration duties at the rate of 0.1% if the transfer is evidenced by a written statement (acte) executed either in France or outside France, whereas (2) transfers of shares issued by a French company which are not listed on a regulated or organized market within the meaning of the FMFC are subject to uncapped registration duties at the rate of 0.1% notwithstanding the existence of a written statement (acte).

As ordinary shares of Cellectis are listed on Alternext, which is an organized market within the meaning of the FMFC, their transfer should be subject to uncapped registration duties at the rate of 0.1% subject to the existence of a written agreement (acte).

Although the official guidelines published by the French tax authorities are silent on this point, ADSs should remain outside of the scope of the aforementioned 0.1% registration duties.

Wealth Tax

The French wealth tax (impôt de solidarité sur la fortune) applies only to individuals and does not generally apply to securities held by a U.S. resident, as defined pursuant to the provisions of the Treaty, provided that such U.S. Holder does not own directly or indirectly more than 25% of the issuer’s financial rights.

Taxation of Dividends

Dividends paid by a French corporation to non-residents of France are generally subject to French withholding tax at a rate of 30%. Dividends paid by a French corporation in a non-cooperative State or territory, as defined in Article 238-0 A of the FTC, will generally be subject to French withholding tax at a rate of 75%. However, eligible U.S. Holders entitled to Treaty benefits under the “Limitation on Benefits” provision contained in the Treaty who are U.S. residents, as defined pursuant to the provisions of the Treaty, will not be subject to this 30% or 75% withholding tax rate, but may be subject to the withholding tax at a reduced rate (as described below).

Under the Treaty, the rate of French withholding tax on dividends paid to an eligible U.S. Holder who is a U.S. resident as defined pursuant to the provisions of the Treaty and whose ownership of the ADSs is not effectively connected with a permanent establishment or fixed base that such U.S. Holder has in France, is generally reduced to 15%, or to 5% if such U.S. Holder is a corporation and owns directly or indirectly at least 10% of the share capital of the issuer; such U.S. Holder may claim a refund from the French tax authorities of the amount withheld in excess of the Treaty rates of 15% or 5%, if any.

 

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For U.S. Holders that are not individuals but are U.S. residents, as defined pursuant to the provisions of the Treaty, the requirements for eligibility for Treaty benefits, including the reduced 5% or 15% withholding tax rates contained in the “Limitation on Benefits” provision of the Treaty, are complicated, and certain technical changes were made to these requirements by the protocol of January 13, 2009. U.S. Holders are advised to consult their own tax advisers regarding their eligibility for Treaty benefits in light of their own particular circumstances.

Dividends paid to an eligible U.S. Holder may immediately be subject to the reduced rates of 5% or 15% provided that such holder establishes before the date of payment that it is a U.S. resident under the Treaty by completing and providing the depositary with a treaty form (Form 5000). Dividends paid to a U.S. Holder that has not filed the Form 5000 before the dividend payment date will be subject to French withholding tax at the rate of 30%, or 75% if paid in a non-cooperative State or territory (as defined in Article 238-0 A of the FTC), and then reduced at a later date to 5% or 15%, provided that such holder duly completes and provides the French tax authorities with the treaty forms Form 5000 and Form 5001 before December 31 of the second calendar year following the year during which the dividend is paid.

Certain qualifying pension funds and certain other tax-exempt entities are subject to the same general filing requirements as other U.S. Holders except that they may have to supply additional documentation evidencing their entitlement to these benefits.

Form 5000 and Form 5001, together with appropriate instructions, will be provided by the depositary to all U.S. Holders registered with the depositary. The depositary will arrange for the filing with the French tax authorities of all such forms properly completed and executed by U.S. Holders of ADSs and returned to the depositary in sufficient time so that they may be filed with the French tax authorities before the distribution in order to obtain immediately a reduced withholding tax rate.

Tax on Sale or Other Disposition

In general, under the Treaty, a U.S. Holder who is a U.S. resident for purposes of the Treaty will not be subject to French tax on any capital gain from the redemption (other than redemption proceeds characterized as dividends under French domestic tax law or administrative guidelines), sale or exchange of ADSs unless the ADSs form part of the business property of a permanent establishment or fixed base that the U.S. Holder has in France.

Special rules apply to U.S. Holders who are residents of more than one country.

 

F. Dividends and Paying Agents

Not applicable.

 

G. Statement by Experts

Not applicable.

 

H. Documents on Display

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers and under those requirements file reports with the SEC. Those reports may be inspected without charge at the locations described below. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act related to the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our 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 United States companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. Nevertheless, we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission an Annual Report containing financial

 

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statements that have been examined and reported on, with and opinion expressed by an independent registered public accounting firm, and we submit quarterly interim consolidated financial data to the SEC under cover of the SEC’s Form 6-K.

We maintain a corporate website at www.cellectis.com. We intend to post our Annual Report on our website promptly following it being filed with the SEC. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute a part of this Annual Report. We have included our website address in this Annual Report solely as an inactive textual reference.

You may also review a copy of this Annual Report, including exhibits and any schedule filed herewith, and obtain copies of such materials at prescribed rates, at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room in Room 1580, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, such as Cellectis, that file electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

With respect to references made in this Annual Report to any contract or other document of Cellectis, such references are not necessarily complete and you should refer to the exhibits attached or incorporated by reference to this Annual Report for copies of the actual contract or document.

 

I. Subsidiary Information

Not applicable

 

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ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

We seek to engage in prudent management of our cash and cash equivalents, mainly cash on hand and common financial instruments (typically short- and mid-term deposits). Furthermore, the interest rate risk related to cash, cash equivalents and common financial instruments is not significant based on the quality of the financial institutions with which we work.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We derive a significant portion of our revenues, including payments under our collaboration agreement with Pfizer in U.S. dollars. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2015, we have been significantly expanding our activities in the United States, but there continues to be a currency mismatch in our cash flows since most of our expenses remain denominated primarily in Euros. If the average value of the U.S. Dollar had been 10% higher relative to the euro during 2015, our net income would have increased by €0.2 million. Our exposure to currencies other than the U.S. dollar is negligible.

Our financial condition and results of operations are measured and recorded in the relevant local base currency and then translated each month into Euros for inclusion in our consolidated financial statements. We translate balance sheet amounts at the exchange rates in effect on the date of the balance sheet, while income and cash flow items are translated at the average rate of exchange in effect for the relevant period.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, our revenues denominated in U.S. dollars notably related to Servier and Pfizer collaboration agreements and revenues from our Plants segment. Our cash and cash equivalents denominated in U.S dollars amounted to $283 million as at December 31, 2015.

We have not adopted a hedging mechanism to protect our business activity against fluctuations in exchange rates. As a result, we recorded financial revenue of €9.2 million and financial expense of €1.7 million in 2015, which reflects the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our U.S. dollar cash and cash equivalent accounts. We are currently evaluating a potential hedging policy that, if adopted, could mitigate a portion of the risk associated with foreign exchange rate movements. We cannot rule out the possibility that a significant increase in our business, particularly in the United States, may result in greater exposure to exchange rate risk. We would then consider adopting an appropriate policy for hedging against these risks.

Inflation Risk

We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. If our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases. Our inability or failure to do so could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

 

A. Debt Securities

Not applicable.

 

B. Warrants and Rights

Not applicable.

 

C. Other Securities

Not applicable.

 

D. American Depositary Shares

Citibank, N.A., as depositary for our ADSs, registers and delivers ADSs. Each ADS represents one ordinary share (or a right to receive one-half of one ordinary share) deposited with Citibank International Limited, located at EGSP 186, 1 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 Ireland or any successor, as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary in respect of the depositary facility. The depositary’s corporate trust office at which the ADSs will be administered is located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013.

A deposit agreement among us, the depositary and the ADS holders sets out the ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs. A copy of the Agreement is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to this Annual Report.

Fees and Charges

As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following fees under the terms of the depositary agreement:

 

Service      Fees

•    Issuance of ADSs upon deposit of shares (excluding issuance as a result of distributions of shares)

     Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS issued

•    Cancellation of ADSs

     Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS canceled

•    Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (i.e., sale of rights and other entitlements)

     Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held

•    Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (1) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (2) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs

     Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held

•    Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (i.e., spin-off shares)

     Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held

•    ADS Services

     Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary

As an ADS holder you will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary and certain taxes and governmental charges such as:

 

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    taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;

 

    the registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of ordinary shares on the share register and applicable to transfers of ordinary shares to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;

 

    certain cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses;

 

    the expenses and charges incurred by the depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;

 

    the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with the compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to ordinary shares, ADSs and ADRs; and

 

    the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary, the custodian, or any nominee in connection with the servicing or delivery of deposited property.

ADS fees and charges payable upon (1) deposit of ordinary shares against issuance of ADSs and (2) surrender of ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of ordinary shares are charged to the person to whom the ADSs are delivered (in the case of ADS issuances) and to the person who delivers the ADS, for cancellation (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the depositary into DTC or presented to the depositary via DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participant(s) receiving the ADSs or the DTC participant(s) surrendering the ADSs for cancellation, as the case may be, on behalf of the beneficial owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC participant(s) to the account(s) of the applicable beneficial owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC participant(s) as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are charged to the holders as of the applicable ADS record date. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (1) distributions other than cash and (2) the ADS service fee, holders as of the ADS record date will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made to holders of ADSs. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC and the DTC participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the beneficial owners for whom they hold ADSs.

In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder. Certain ADS fees and charges (such as the ADS service fee) may become payable shortly after the closing of the ADS offering.

Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. You will receive prior notice of such changes. The depositary may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary agree from time to time.

Depositary Payments for 2015

From time to time, the Depositary may make payments to us to reimburse and/or share revenue from the fees collected from ADS holders, or waive fees and expenses for services provided, generally relating to costs and expenses arising out of establishment and maintenance of the ADS program. In performing its duties under the deposit agreement, the Depositary may use brokers, dealers or other service providers that are affiliates of the Depositary and that may earn or share fees or commissions.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, Citibank, N.A., as Depositary, had made no reimbursements to the Company.

 

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Part II

 

ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

Initial Public Offering

In March 2015, we sold 5,500,000 ADSs, each representing one ordinary share, nominal value €0.05, in our initial public offering at a price of $41.50 per ADS, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $228.3 million. We incurred aggregate underwriting discounts of approximately $16.0 million and expenses of approximately $2.7 million, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately $209.6 million. No payments were made directly or indirectly to any director, officer, general partner of ours or to their associates, persons owning ten percent or more of any class of our equity securities, or to any of our affiliates. The offering commenced on March 24, 2015 and did not terminate before all of the securities registered in the registration statement were sold. The effective date of the registration statement, File No. 333-202205, for our initial public offering was March 24, 2015. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Jefferies LLC, Piper Jaffray & Co., Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Trout Capital LLC acted as underwriters of the initial public offering.

A portion of the net proceeds from our initial public offering was used for general corporate purposes in connection with the development of our current proprietary immuno-oncology product candidates, for further research and development regarding cell attributes and to develop our manufacturing processes and cell engineering technologies, to pursue new human therapeutics outside of oncology and to advance our agricultural biotechnology business. The balance is held in cash and cash equivalents and is intended to also be used for general corporate purposes. None of the net proceeds of our initial public offering were paid directly or indirectly to any director, officer, general partner of ours or to their associates, persons owning ten percent or more of any class of our equity securities, or to any of our affiliates.

 

ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Our chief executive officer (principal executive officer) and chief financial officer (principal financial officer), after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2015, have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer (principal executive officer) and chief financial officer (principal financial officer), to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.

This Annual Report does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of the company’s registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly public companies.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 15T. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 16. RESERVED

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Jean-Marie Messier, Mr. Pierre Bastid and Mr. Laurent Arthaud are audit and finance committee financial experts as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and have the requisite financial sophistication under the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market. Mr. Jean-Marie Messier, Mr. Pierre Bastid and Mr. Laurent Arthaud are independent as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and under the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or the Code of Conduct, that is applicable to all of our employees, executive officers and directors. Following the completion of our initial public offering, the Code of Conduct became available on our website at www.cellectis.com. Our board of directors is responsible for overseeing the Code of Conduct and is required to approve any waivers of the Code of Conduct for employees, executive officers and directors. We expect that any amendments to the Code of Conduct, or any waivers of its requirements, will be disclosed on our website.

 

ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Ernst & Young et Autres, or Ernst & Young, has served as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2014 and 2015. Our accountants billed the following fees to us for professional services in each of those fiscal years:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2015      2014  
     (€, in thousands)  

Audit Fees

     563         550   

Audit-Related Fees

     0         0   

Tax Fees

     0         0   

Other Fees

     375         0   

Total

     938         550   

“Audit Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for the audit of our annual financial statements. This category also includes services that generally the independent accountant provides, such as consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC. In 2015, “Audit Fees” also include fees billed for assurance and related services regarding our initial public offering.

“Audit-Related Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and are not reported under Audit Fees.

“Tax Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning related services.

“Other Fees” relate to services provided with respect to our registration statement for our initial public offering.

There were no “Audit Related Fees,” “Tax Fees” either billed or paid during 2014 or 2015.

 

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Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy

The audit and finance committee has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation of and overseeing the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. In recognition of this responsibility, the audit and finance committee has adopted a policy governing the pre-approval of all audit and permitted non-audit services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm to ensure that the provision of such services does not impair the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence from us and our management. Unless a type of service to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm has received general pre-approval from the audit and finance committee, it requires specific pre-approval by the audit and finance committee. The payment for any proposed services in excess of pre-approved cost levels requires specific pre-approval by the audit and finance committee. All audit and non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm in 2015 were pre-approved by the audit and finance committee.

Pursuant to its pre-approval policy, the audit and finance committee may delegate its authority to pre-approve services to the chairperson of the audit and finance committee. The decisions of the chairperson to grant pre-approvals must be presented to the full audit and finance committee at its next scheduled meeting. The audit and finance committee may not delegate its responsibilities to pre-approve services to the management.

The audit and finance committee has considered the non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young as described above and believes that they are compatible with maintaining Ernst & Young’s independence as our independent registered public accounting firm.

 

ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

As a French société anonyme, we are subject to various corporate governance requirements under French law. In addition, as a foreign private issuer listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, we will be subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, the Nasdaq Global Market’s listing standards provide that foreign private issuers are permitted to follow home country corporate governance practices in lieu of the Nasdaq rules, with certain exceptions. Certain corporate governance practices in France may differ significantly from corporate governance listing standards. For example, neither the corporate laws of France nor our By-laws require that (i) a majority of our directors be independent, (ii) our compensation committee include only independent directors, or (iii) our independent directors hold regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present. Other than as set forth below, we currently intend to comply with the corporate governance listing standards of Nasdaq to the extent possible under French law. However, we may choose to change such practices to follow home country practice in the future.

Although we are a foreign private issuer, we are required to comply with Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, relating to audit committee composition and responsibilities. Rule 10A-3 provides that the audit committee must have direct responsibility for the nomination, compensation and choice of our auditors, as well as control over the

 

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performance of their duties, management of complaints made, and selection of consultants. Under Rule 10A-3, if the laws of a foreign private issuer’s home country require that any such matter be approved by the board of directors or the shareholders of the Company, the audit committee’s responsibilities or powers with respect to such matter may instead be advisory. Under French law, the audit committee may only have an advisory role and appointment of our statutory auditors, in particular, must be decided by our shareholders at our annual meeting.

In addition, Nasdaq rules require that a listed company specify that the quorum for any meeting of the holders of share capital be at least 33  13% of the outstanding shares of the company’s common voting stock. We intend to follow our French home country practice, rather than complying with this Nasdaq rule. Consistent with French Law, our By-laws provide that when first convened, general meetings of shareholders may validly convene only if the shareholders present or represented hold at least (1) 20% of the voting shares in the case of an ordinary general meeting or of an extraordinary general meeting where shareholders are voting on a capital increase by capitalization of reserves, profits or share premium, or (2) 25% of the voting shares in the case of any other extraordinary general meeting. If such quorum required by French law is not met, the meeting is adjourned. There is no quorum requirement under French law when an ordinary general meeting or an extraordinary general meeting where shareholders are voting on a capital increase by capitalization of reserves, profits or share premium is reconvened, but the reconvened meeting may consider only questions that were on the agenda of the adjourned meeting. When any other extraordinary general meeting is reconvened, the required quorum under French law is 20% of the shares entitled to vote. If a quorum is not met at a reconvened meeting requiring a quorum, then the meeting may be adjourned for a maximum of two months. See the section of the prospectus filed with the Commission on March 26, 2015 titled “Description of Share Capital—Key Provisions of Our By-laws and French Law Affecting Our Ordinary Shares.”

Further, Nasdaq rules require that listed companies have a nominations committee comprised solely of independent directors. We intend to follow our French home country practice, as described under “—Board Composition,” rather than complying with this Nasdaq rule.

Board Committees

The board of directors has established an audit and finance committee and a compensation committee, each of which operates pursuant to a separate charter adopted by our board of directors. The board of directors has also established a scientific committee. The composition and functioning of all of our committees will comply with all applicable requirements of the French Commercial Code, the Exchange Act, the Nasdaq Global Market, and the rules and regulations of the SEC.

In accordance with French law, committees of our board of directors will only have an advisory role and can only make recommendations to our board of directors. As a result, decisions will be made by our board of directors taking into account non-binding recommendations of the relevant board committee.

Audit and Finance Committee. Our audit and finance committee reviews our internal accounting procedures, consults with and reviews the services provided by our independent registered public accountants and assists our board of directors in its oversight of our corporate accounting and financial reporting. Currently, our audit and finance committee is comprised of three members of the board of directors: Messrs. Bastid, Arthaud and Messier.

The duties specifically assigned to the audit and finance committee by our board of directors include, but are not limited to:

 

    with regard to our financial statements:

 

    review on a preliminary basis and express its opinion on the draft annual and quarterly financial statements prior to the board of directors officially receiving the financial statements;

 

    examine the critical accounting policies and practices of the Company, including their relevance and consistency used for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and the group’s consolidated financial statements and rectify any failure to comply with these policies and practices;

 

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    monitor the scope of consolidation and review, where necessary, any explanations in connection thereto;

 

    interview, when necessary, the statutory auditors, the chairman of the board of directors, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the employees in charge of our internal controls or any other management personnel; these discussions may take place, where required, without the presence of the chairman of our board of directors and the chief executive officer; and

 

    examine—prior to their publication—the draft annual and interim financial statements, the draft annual report and any other draft financial statements (including projected financial statements) prepared for the needs of upcoming material transactions together with the related press releases;

 

    with regard to internal controls:

 

    assess the efficiency and quality of internal control systems and procedures within the group;

 

    examine, with the persons in charge of the internal audit, and, if necessary, outside of the presence of the chairman of the board of directors and the chief executive officer, the contingency and action plans with respect to internal audit, the findings following the implementation of these actions and the recommendations and follow-up actions in connection therewith; and

 

    entrust the internal audit department with any mission which the committee deems necessary;

 

    with regard to external controls:

 

    examine any question relating to the appointment, renewal or dismissal of our statutory auditors and their fees regarding the performance of their control review functions;

 

    oversee the rules relating to the use of the statutory auditors for assignments other than the audit of the financial statements and, more generally, ensure that we comply with the principles guaranteeing the statutory auditors’ independence;

 

    at least annually, review and discuss the information provided by management and the auditors relating to the independence of the audit firm;

 

    pre-approve any services entrusted to the statutory auditors which is outside of the scope of the annual audit;

 

    review every year with the statutory auditors all fees paid to by the Company and the group to any networks to which the auditors belong, their work plan, their findings and recommendations, as well as actions taken by us following such recommendations;

 

    review and discuss with the statutory auditors their comments on internal controls over financial reporting and any matters that have come to the attention of the statutory auditors that lead them to believe that modification to our disclosures about changes in internal control over financial reporting is necessary for management’s certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

    discuss if necessary any points of disagreement between the statutory auditors and the officers of the Company that may arise within the scope of these operations; and

 

    review and discuss with the statutory auditors the plans for, and the scope of, the annual audit and other examinations; and

 

    with regard to risks:

 

    review on a regular basis the financial situation, the cash position and the material risks and undertakings of the group; and

 

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    review the risk management policy and the process implemented to evaluate and manage these risks.

Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee assists our board of directors in reviewing the compensation of our executive officers and directors and makes recommendations in respect thereof. Currently, our compensation committee is comprised of two members of the board of directors: Mr. Godard and Dr. Schwebig. The principal duties and responsibilities of our compensation committee include, but are not limited to:

 

    review the compensation of our employees and managers of the group (fixed and variable compensations, bonus, etc.) and make any recommendation to our board of directors in connection therewith;

 

    review equity incentive plans (non-employee warrants, stock options, restricted (free) shares, etc.) and make recommendations to our board of directors in connection therewith;

 

    make recommendations to our board of directors regarding the compensation, pension and insurance plans, benefits in kind and other various pecuniary rights, of officers, as well as the allocation of equity incentive instruments granted to executive officers and directors of the Company;

 

    evaluate and make recommendations on the compensation policies and programs of executive officers and on the compensation of directors;

 

    recommend the approval, adoption and amendment of all cash- and equity-based incentive compensation plans in which any of our executive officers or directors participate and all other equity-based plans;

 

    review any proposed employment agreement with, and any proposed severance or retention plans or agreements applicable to, any of our executive officers;

 

    review, at least annually, corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers; and

 

    evaluate the performance of the executive officers in light of corporate goals and objectives and recommend compensation levels for these executive officers based on those evaluations and any other factors the compensation committee deems appropriate.

 

ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

See pages F-1 through F-46 of this Annual Report.

 

ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 19. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report:

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  

Schedule/
Form

  

File Number

    

Exhibit

  

File Date

1.1#    By-laws (status) of the registrant (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       3.1    March 10, 2015
2.1#    Form of Deposit Agreement    F-1      333-202205       4.1    March 10, 2015
2.2#    Form of American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 2.1)    F-1      333-202205       Included
in 4.1
   March 10, 2015
4.1#*    Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated June 19, 2000 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.1    March 12, 2015
4.1.1#    Amendment No. 1 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated December 20, 2002 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.1.1    March 12, 2015
4.1.2#*    Amendment No. 2 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated September 8, 2003 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.1.2    March 12, 2015
4.1.3#    Amendment No. 3 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated February 26, 2008    F-1      333-202205       10.1.3    March 12, 2015
4.1.4#    Amendment No. 4 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated April 11, 2013 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.1.4    March 12, 2015
4.2#*    Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated October 19, 2000 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.2    March 12, 2015
4.2.1#*    Amendment No. 1 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated September 8, 2003 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.2.1    March 12, 2015
4.2.2#*    Amendment No. 2 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated June 24, 2004 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.2.2    March 12, 2015
4.2.3#*    Amendment No. 3 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated August 24, 2005 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.2.3    March 12, 2015

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  

Schedule/
Form

  

File Number

  

Exhibit

  

File Date

4.2.4#*    Amendment No. 4 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated December 27, 2007 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.2.4    March 12, 2015
4.3#*    Patent License Agreement #C-00061905 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated June 19, 2000 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.3    March 12, 2015
4.3.1#*    Amendment No. 1 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061905 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated September 8, 2003 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.3.1    March 12, 2015
4.4#*    Research and Collaboration Agreement between Pfizer Inc. and Cellectis S.A., dated June 17, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.4    March 12, 2015
4.5#*    Research, Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement, among Les Laboratoires Servier SAS, Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier SAS and Cellectis S.A., dated February 17, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.5    March 12, 2015
4.5.1*    Amendment to the Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement, among Les Laboratoires Servier SAS, Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier SAS and Cellectis S.A., dated November 18, 2015             Filed Herewith
4.6#*    Exclusive Patent License Agreement between Regents of the University of Minnesota and Cellectis S.A., dated January 10, 2011    F-1    333-202205    10.6    March 12, 2015
4.6.1#*    First Amendment to the Exclusive Patent License Agreement between Regents of the University of Minnesota and Cellectis S.A., dated May 24, 2012    F-1    333-202205    10.6.1    March 12, 2015
4.6.2#*    Second Amendment to the Exclusive Patent License Agreement between Regents of the University of Minnesota and Cellectis S.A., dated April 1, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.6.2    March 12, 2015
4.7#*    Patent & Technology License Agreement between Ohio State Innovation Foundation and Cellectis S.A., dated October 23, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.7    March 12, 2015
4.8#    Warrants Issue Agreement between Cellectis S.A. and Kepler Capital Markets SA, dated December 20, 2012 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.8    March 10, 2015
4.8.1#    First Amendment to Warrants Issue Agreement between Cellectis S.A. and Kepler Capital Markets SA, dated June 6, 2013 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.8.1    March 10, 2015
4.8.2#    Second Amendment to Warrants Issue Agreement between Cellectis S.A. and Kepler Capital Markets SA, dated October 7, 2013 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.8.2    March 10, 2015
4.9#    Warrant Agreement between Cellectis S.A. and Trout Capital LLC, dated March 24, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.9    March 10, 2015
4.10†#    Change of Control Plan, effective as of September 4, 2014 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.10    March 10, 2015

 

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Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  

Schedule/
Form

  

File Number

  

Exhibit

  

File Date

4.11†#    Summary of BSA Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.11    March 10, 2015
4.12†#    Summary of BSPCE Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.12    March 10, 2015
4.13†#    2012 Free Share Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.13    March 10, 2015
4.14†#    2013 Free Share Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.14    March 10, 2015
4.15†#    2014 Free Share Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.15    March 10, 2015
4.16†    2015 Free Share Plan             Filed Herewith
4.17†    2015 Stock Option Plan             Filed Herewith
8.1    List of subsidiaries of the registrant             Filed Herewith
12.1   

Certificate of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-

14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

            Filed Herewith
12.2    Certification by the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002             Filed Herewith
13.1    Certification by the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002             Filed Herewith
13.2    Certification by the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002             Filed Herewith
15.1    Consent of Ernst & Young et Autres             Filed Herewith

 

Indicates a management contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
# Indicates a document previously filed with the Commission.
* Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 

173


Table of Contents

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015:

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Statements of Consolidated Financial Position as of December 31, 2014 and 2015

     F-3   

Statements of Consolidated Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015

     F-4   

Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015

     F-5   

Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015

     F-6   

Statements of Consolidated Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December  31, 2013, 2014 and 2015

     F-7   

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-8   

 

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Cellectis S.A.

We have audited the accompanying statements of consolidated financial position of Cellectis S.A. as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statements of consolidated operations, consolidated comprehensive loss, consolidated cash flows, and consolidated changes in shareholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Cellectis S.A. at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Ernst & Young et Autres

/s/ Franck Sebag

Paris-La Défense

March 21, 2016

 

F-2


Table of Contents

Cellectis S.A.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31

€ in thousands

 

          Year Ended December 31,  
     Notes    2014     2015  
ASSETS        

Non-current assets

       

Intangible assets

   7      1,026        956   

Property, plant, and equipment

   8      2,610        5,043   

Other non-current financial assets

        1,977        845   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-current assets

        5,613        6,844   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current assets

       

Inventories and accumulated costs on orders in process

   9      135        158   

Trade receivables

   10.1      5,881        6,035   

Subsidies receivables

   10.2      8,170        9,102   

Other current assets

   10.3      5,468        4,685   

Cash and cash equivalents

   11      112,347        314,238   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

        132,001        334,218   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

        137,614        341,062   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES        

Shareholders’ equity

       

Share capital

   12.1      1,472        1,759   

Premiums related to the share capital

        192,842        420,682   

Treasury share reserve

   12.4      (251     (184

Currency translation adjustment

        (762     (1,631

Retained earnings

        (132,536     (137,188

Net income (loss)

        20        (20,544
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity—Group Share

        60,786        262,894   

Non-controlling interests

   12.3      (1,259     725   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

        59,527        263,619   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

       

Non-current financial debt

   13      2,824        66   

Non-current provisions

   15      398        437   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-current liabilities

        3,222        503   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current liabilities

       

Current financial debt

   13      862        1,921   

Trade payables

        9,802        6,611   

Deferred revenues and deferred income

   14      59,492        54,758   

Current provisions

        1,415        953   

Other current liabilities

   16      3,294        12,697   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

        74,865        76,940   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

        137,614        341,062   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Cellectis S.A.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS

For the year ended December 31

€ in thousands, except per share amounts

 

          Year Ended December 31,  
     Notes    2013     2014     2015  

Revenues and other income

         

Revenues

   18      5,362        21,627        50,346   

Other income

   18      7,362        4,826        6,039   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues and other income

        12,724        26,453        56,385   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses and other operating income (expenses)

         

Royalty expenses

        (542     (3,035     (2,475

Research and development expenses

   19      (17,844     (14,407     (52,410

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   19      (19,034     (13,114     (27,238

Other operating income

        478        —          812   

Redundancy plan

   15      (1,865     (491     249   

Other operating expenses

        (445     (651     (3,246
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses and other operating income (expenses)

        (39,252     (31,698     (84,309
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

        (26,528     (5,245     (27,924
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial revenues

   21      468        7,622        9,240   

Financial expenses

   21      (780     (527     (1,690
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial gain (loss)

        (312     7,095        7,550   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax

   22      —          —          —     

Income (loss) from continuing operations

        (26,839     1,850        (20,373

Loss from discontinued operations

   23      (29,580     (2,822     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

        (56,419     (972     (20,373
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to shareholders of Cellectis

        (55,402     20        (20,544

Attributable to non-controlling interests

        (1,017     (992     171   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic / Diluted earnings per share attributable to shareholders of Cellectis

   26      (2.68     0.00        (0.60
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings from continuing operations per share ( € /share)

        (1.25     0.11        (0.60

Basic earnings from discontinued operations per share ( € /share)

        (1.43     (0.11     —     

Diluted earnings from continuing operations per share ( € /share)

        (1.25     0.11        (0.60

Diluted earnings from discontinued operations per share ( € /share)

        (1.43     (0.11     —     

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

F-4


Table of Contents

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

For the year ended December 31

€ in thousands

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013     2014     2015  

Net income (loss)

     (56,419     (972     (20,373
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Actuarial gains and losses

     70        121        (14
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified subsequently to income or loss

     70        121        (14
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Currency translation adjustment

     (621     (1,653     (921
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss that will be reclassified subsequently to income or loss

     (621     (1,653     (921
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive income (loss)

     (56,970     (2,504     (21,308
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to shareholders of Cellectis

     (55,960     (1,468     (21,427

Attributable to non-controlling interests

     (1,010     (1,036     119   

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

F-5


Table of Contents

Cellectis S.A.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

For the year ended December 31

€ in thousands

 

          Year Ended December 31,  
     Notes    2013     2014     2015  

Cash flows from operating activities

         

Net loss for the period

        (56,419     (972     (20,373
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss for the period of discontinued operations

        (29,580     (2,822     —     

Net (loss) income for the period of continuing operations

        (26,839     1,850        (20,373

Reconciliation of net loss and of the cash used for operating activities

         

Adjustments for

         

Amortization and depreciation

        2,255        1,372        1,745   

Movements in valuation allowances of working capital

        (71     —          —     

Net loss on disposals

        —          (24     (10

Net finance expenses (revenue)

        312        (7,095     (7,550

Expenses related to share-based payments

        461        548        30,103   

Provisions

        2,075        (959     (251

Other non-cash items

        —          (303     —     

Interest (paid) / received

        (13     305        964   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating cash flows before change in working capital

        (21,820     (4,306     4,628   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in inventories

        291        97        (23

Decrease (increase) in trade receivables and other current assets

        2,963        (6,971     1,143   

Decrease (increase) in subsidies receivables

        (47     (2,317     (612

(Decrease) increase in trade payables and other current liabilities

        (1,662     1,643        2,669   

(Decrease) increase in deferred income

        1,131        54,326        (4,569
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in working capital

        2,676        46,779        (1,392
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations

        (19,144     42,473        3,236   

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations

        291        (748     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

        (18,853     41,725        3,236   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investment activities

         

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

        —          38        100   

Sale (Acquisition) of subsidiaries net of cash disposed of

        —          505        (2,850

Acquisition of intangible assets

   5      (63     (7     (87

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

   5      (570     (347     (3,890

Net change in non-current financial assets

        174        (1,542     (238

Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations

        (459     (1,353     (6,965

Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations

        (79     —       
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities

        (538     (1,353     (6,965
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

         

Increase in share capital net of transaction costs

        5,818        58,775        199,299   

Increase in borrowings

        496        —          —     

Decrease in borrowings

        (880     (1,032     (564

Treasury shares

        (240     161        67   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by financing activities of continuing operations

        5,194        57,904        198,802   

Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities of discontinued operations

        —          —          —     

Net cash flows provided by financing activities

        5,194        57,904        198,802   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Decrease) increase in cash

        (14,197     98,276        195,073   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

        21,808        7,559        112,347   

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

        (52     6,511        6,818   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash from discontinued operations

        1,290        —          —     

Cash from continuing operations

        6,269        112,347        314,238   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

   11      7,559        112,347        314,238   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

F-6


Table of Contents

Cellectis S.A.

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For the year ended December 31

(€ in thousands, except share data)

 

            Share Capital
Ordinary Shares
                             Equity              
            Number of
shares
     Amount      Premiums      Treasury
shares
    Currency
translation
adjustment
    Retained
earnings
(deficit)
    Income
(Loss)
    attributable to
shareholders
of Cellectis
    Non controlling
interests
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 

As of January 1, 2013

        20,477,024         1,024         131,159         (172     1,449        (57,575     (23,033     52,852        596        53,448   

Net Loss

        —           —           —           —          —          —          (55,402     (55,402     (1,017     (56,419

Other comprehensive income (loss)

        —           —           —           —          (621     63          (559     7        (552
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

        —           —           —           —          (621     63        (55,402     (55,960     (1,010     (56,971

Allocation of prior period loss

        —           —           —           —          —          (23,033     23,033        —          —          —     

Equity suscribed by NCI

     12.3         —           —           —           —          —          —          —          —          3,500        3,500   

Operation between shareholders

     12.3         —           —           —           —          —          3,309        —          3,309        (3,309     —     

Treasury shares

     12.4         —           —           —           (240     —            —          (240     —          (240

Exercise of share warrants and employee warrants

     12.2         605,296         30         2,288         —          —          —          —          2,318        —          2,318   

Share based compensation

        —           —           461         —          —          —          —          461        —          461   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2013

        21,082,320         1,054         133,908         (412     828        (77,236     (55,402     2,740        (223     2,517   

Net Loss

        —           —           —           —          —          —          20        20        (992     (972

Other comprehensive income (loss)

        —           —           —             (1,590     102          (1,488     (44     (1,532
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

        —           —           —           —          (1,590     102        20        (1,468     (1,036     (2,504

Allocation of prior period loss

        —           —           —           —          —          (55,402     55,402        —          —          —     

Capital Increase

     12.1         6,869,047         343         45,086         —          —          —          —          45,429          45,429   

Treasury shares

     12.4         —           —           —           161        —          —          —          161        —          161   

Exercise of share warrants and employee warrants

     12.2         1,495,354         75         13,301         —          —          —          —          13,376        —          13,376   

Share based compensation

        —           —           548         —          —          —          —          548        —          548   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2014

        29,446,721         1,472         192,842         (251     (762     (132,536     20        60,786        (1,259     59,527   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Loss

        —           —           —           —          —          —          (20,544     (20,544     171        (20,373

Other comprehensive income (loss)

        —           —           —           —          (869     (14     —          (883     (51     (935
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

        —           —           —           —          (869     (14     (20,544     (21,427     119        (21,308

Allocation of prior period loss

        —           —           —           —          —          20        (20     —          —          —     

Capital Increase

     12.1         5,500,000         275         194,382         —          —          (3     —          194,655        —          194,655   

Purchase of non-controlling interests

     12.3         —           —           —           —          —          (4,653     —          (4,653     1,153        (3,500

Treasury shares

     12.4         —           —           —           67        —          —          —          67        —          67   

Exercise of share warrants and employee warrants

     12.2         231,893         12         4,066         —          —          (3     —          4,075        —          4,075   

Share based compensation

        —           —           29,392         —          —          —          —          29,392        711        30,103   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2015

        35,178,614         1,759         420,682         (184     (1,632     (137,188     (20,544     262,894        725        263,619   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

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CELLECTIS S.A.

NOTE TO THE CONSOLDIATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2015

Note 1. The Company

Cellectis S.A. (hereinafter “Cellectis” or “we”) is a limited liability company (“société anonyme”) registered and domiciled in Paris, France. We are a gene-editing company, employing our core proprietary technologies to develop products in the emerging field of immuno-oncology. Our product candidates, based on gene-edited T-cells that express chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs, seek to harness the power of the immune system to target and eradicate cancers. Our gene-editing technologies allow us to create allogeneic CAR T-cells, meaning they are derived from healthy donors rather than the patients themselves. In addition to our focus on immuno-oncology, we are exploring the use of our gene-editing technologies in other therapeutic applications, as well as to develop healthier food products for a growing population.

As at 31 December 2015, the Group includes Cellectis S.A, Cellectis Inc and Calyxt, Inc.

The Group completed the following internal reorganization which had no impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

    Ectycell was merged into, and absorbed by Cellectis Bioresearch in August 2015 with retroactive effect as at 1 January 2015 for French tax purposes;

 

    Cellectis Bioresearch was merged into, and absorbed by Cellectis S.A in December 2015 with retroactive effect as at 1 January 2015 for French tax purposes;

 

    Cellectis Bioresearch Inc. was merged into Cellectis Inc. in September 2015.

Our 2014 annual Consolidated Financial Statements included the operations of Cellectis S.A.; our two French subsidiaries, Cellectis Bioresearch and Ectycell; our two U.S. subsidiaries, Calyxt (previously Cellectis Plant Sciences Inc.) and Cellectis Bioresearch Inc.; and our former Swedish subsidiary, Cellectis AB.

Note 2. Basis of presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), whose application is mandatory for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2015. Comparative figures are presented for December 31, 2013.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost measurement basis except for certain assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value in accordance with IFRS.

These Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were approved by our Board of Directors on March 14, 2016.

IFRS include International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), International Accounting Standards (“the IAS”), as well as the interpretations issued by the Standards Interpretation Committee (“the SIC”), and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”). The significant accounting methods used to prepare the Consolidated Financial Statements are described below.

2.1 Application of new or amended standards or new amendments

The following pronouncements and related amendments have been adopted by us from January 1, 2015 but had no significant impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

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    Amendments to IAS 19 Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions.

 

    The Annual Improvements to IFRSs for the 2010-2012 Cycle.

 

    The Annual Improvements to IFRSs for the 2011-2013 Cycle.

2.2 Standards, interpretations and amendments issued but not yet effective

The following pronouncements and related amendments are applicable for annual accounting periods beginning after January 1, 2016. We do not anticipate that the adoption of these pronouncements and amendments will have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

    The Annual Improvements to IFRSs for the 2012-2014 Cycle.

 

    IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers establishes a comprehensive framework for determining whether, how much and when revenue is recognized. It replaces existing revenue recognition guidance, including IAS 18 Revenue. IFRS 15 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are assessing the potential impact on our consolidated financial statements resulting from the application of IFRS 15.

In January 2016, the IASB issued IFRS 16 (Leases), which is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. This new standard aligns the accounting treatment of operating leases with that already applied to finance leases (i.e. recognition in the balance sheet of future lease payments and the associated rights of use).

The accounting policies and measurement principles adopted for the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 are the same as those used as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Note 3. Summary of significant accounting policies

3.1 Use of estimates and judgments

In preparing the financial statements, management makes judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

Information on the main uncertainties regarding estimates, assumptions and judgments made when applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements is included in the following notes:

 

    Note 3.15, Note 3.16, Note 3.17 and Note 18—Revenues and other income.

 

    Note 3.13 and Notes 19 and 20—Share-based payments.

3.2 Consolidation

We control all the legal entities included in the consolidation. An investor controls an investee when the investor is exposed to variable returns from its involvement with the investee, and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Control requires power, exposure to variability of returns and a linkage between the two.

 

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To have power, the investor needs to have existing rights that give it the current ability to direct the relevant activities that significantly affect the investee’s returns.

In order to ascertain control, potential voting rights which are substantial are taken into consideration.

Controlled entities are consolidated until the date that control ceases.

Non-controlling shareholders hold a 24.5% interest in Cellectis Bioresearch, Cellectis Bioresearch Inc. and Ectycell as of December 31, 2013 and 2014 (see Note 12.3). From May 18, 2015, Cellectis SA hold 100% interest in Cellectis Bioresearch.

Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated when preparing the consolidated financial statements.

3.3 Foreign currency

Foreign currency transactions

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into the respective functional currencies at the exchange rates effective at the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rate effective at that date.

The resulting exchange gains or losses are recorded in the statements of consolidated operations in financial gain (loss).

Foreign currency translation

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations having a functional currency different from the euro are translated into euros at the closing exchange rate. The income and expenses of foreign operations are translated into euros at the exchange rates effective at the transaction dates or, in practice, using the average exchange rate for the reporting period unless this method cannot be applied due to significant exchange rate fluctuations.

Gains and losses arising from currency translation are recognized in other comprehensive loss. When a foreign operation is partly or fully divested, the associated share of gains and losses recognized in the currency translation reserve is transferred to the statement of consolidated operations.

3.4 Presentation currency

All financial information (unless indicated otherwise) is presented in thousands of euros (€).

3.5 Financial assets and liabilities

Receivables

Trade and other receivables are recorded at fair value, which is the nominal value of invoices unless payment terms require a material adjustment for the time value discounting effect at market interest rates. Trade receivables are subsequently measured at amortized cost. A valuation allowance for trade receivables is recognized if their recoverable amount is less than their carrying amount.

Receivables are classified as current assets, except for those with a maturity exceeding 12 months after the reporting date.

 

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Financial debt

We initially recognize financial liabilities on the transaction date, which is the date that we become a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

We derecognize financial liabilities when our contractual obligations are discharged, canceled or expire.

Financial liabilities comprise of trade and other payables, finance leases and conditional advances.

Financial liabilities are valued at amortized cost. The amount of interest recognized in financial expenses is calculated by applying the financial liability’s effective interest rate to its carrying amount. Any difference between the expense calculated using the effective interest rate and the actual interest payment impacts the value at which the financial liability is recognized.

3.6 Share capital

Share capital comprises ordinary shares and shares with double voting rights (see Note 12.1) classified in equity. Costs directly attributable to the issue of ordinary shares or share options are recognized as a reduction in equity. Repurchased own shares are classified as treasury shares and deducted from equity.

3.7 Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recognized at acquisition cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Acquisition cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset.

Depreciation is expensed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. If components of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for separately.

The estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

•    Office furniture

   10 years

•    Laboratory equipment

   3-10 years

•    Leasehold equipment

   6 years

•    Office equipment

   5 years

•    IT equipment

   3 years

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted, if appropriate.

Any gain or loss on disposal of an item of property, plants and equipment is determined by comparing the proceeds from disposal with the carrying amount of the item. The net amount is recognized in the statement of consolidated operations under the line item “Other operating income” or “Other operating expenses.”

3.8 Leases

Payments made under operating leases are expensed on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Lease incentives received are recognized as an integral part of the total lease expense, over the term of the lease.

If, according to the terms of a lease, it appears that substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership are transferred from the lessor to the lessee, the associated leased assets are initially recognized as an asset at the lower of their fair value and the present value of the minimum lease payments and subsequently depreciated or impaired, as necessary. The associated financial obligations are reported in the line item “Non-current financial debt” and “Current financial debt.”

 

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3.9 Intangible assets

Capitalization of development expenses

In accordance with IAS 38 Intangible Assets, development expenses are recorded as intangible assets only if all the following criteria are met:

 

    technical feasibility necessary for the completion of the development project;

 

    intention on our part to complete the project and to utilize it;

 

    capacity to utilize the intangible asset;

 

    proof of the probability of future economic benefits associated with the asset;

 

    availability of the technical, financial, and other resources for completing the project; and

 

    reliable evaluation of the development expenses.

Since some of these criteria were not fulfilled, we did not capitalize any development costs.

Other intangible assets

The other intangible assets we acquired with definite useful lives are recognized at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment. All expenditures are expensed when incurred. Amortization expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the intangible assets. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

    Software: from 1 year to 3 years;

 

    Patents: amortized from acquisition on the period ending when legal protection expires, ranging from 10 years to 20 years.

3.10 Impairment of tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill

Amortizable intangible assets and depreciable tangible assets are tested for impairment when there is an indicator of impairment. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least once per year. Impairment tests involve comparing the carrying amount of cash-generating units with their recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of (i) its fair value less costs to sell and (ii) its value in use. If the recoverable amount of any asset is below its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized to reduce the carrying amount to the recoverable amount.

3.11 Inventories

Consumables (representing pharmaceutical and chemical products) are measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is determined using the weighted average cost method.

3.12 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash commitments rather than for the purpose of investment or for other purposes. They are readily convertible into a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. Cash and cash equivalents include cash, bank accounts, money market funds and fixed bank deposits that meet the definition of a cash equivalent. Cash equivalents are fair valued at the end of each reporting period.

 

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3.13 Employee benefits

Provisions for retirement and other benefits

Our defined benefit obligations, and their cost, are determined using the projected unit credit method.

The method consists in measuring the obligation based on a projected end-of-career salary and vested rights at the measurement date, according to the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, corporate agreements and applicable law.

Actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations are specific to each country and each benefit plan. The discount rate used is the yield at the reporting date on AA credit-rated bonds with maturity dates that approximate the expected payments for our obligations.

Actuarial gains or losses are recognized in the statement of comprehensive loss for the year in which they occur.

Other long-term employee benefits

Our net obligation for long-term employee benefits other than retirement plans is equal to the value of employees’ future benefits vested in exchange for services rendered in the current and prior periods. The benefits are discounted and the fair value of any plan assets is deducted.

The obligation is measured using the projected unit credit method. The discount rate is the same as the one used for the provisions for retirement and other benefits. Actuarial gains or losses are recognized in profit or loss for the year in which they occur.

Termination benefits

Termination benefits are recognized as a liability and expense at the earlier of the following dates:

 

    When the entity can no longer withdraw the offer of those benefits; and

 

    When the entity recognizes costs for a restructuring that is within the scope of IAS 37 Provisions and involves the payment of termination benefits.

Short-term employee benefits

A liability is recognized for the amount expected to be paid under short-term cash bonus or profit-sharing plans if we have a present legal or constructive obligation to pay the amount as a result of past service provided by the employee, and the obligation can be estimated reliably.

Share-based payments

The grant-date fair value of share warrants, employee warrants, stock options and free shares granted to employees is recognized as a payroll expense with a corresponding increase in equity, over the vesting period. The amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of awards for which the related service conditions are expected to be met.

The fair values of share warrants, employee warrants and stock options granted to employees are measured using the Black-Scholes model. Measurement inputs include share price on the measurement date, the exercise price of the instrument, expected volatility, expected maturity of the instruments, expected dividends, and the risk-free interest rate (based on Government bonds). Service and performance conditions attached to the transactions are not taken into account in determining fair value.

 

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3.14 Provisions

A provision is recognized if, as a result of a past event, we have a present legal or constructive obligation that can be estimated reliably, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation.

The amount recognized as a provision is the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date.

3.15 Revenues

Collaboration agreements and licenses

We enter into research collaboration agreements that may consist of non-refundable upfront payments, payments for the sale of rights to technology, milestone payments, royalties and research and development cost reimbursements. In addition, we license our technology to third parties, which may be part of the research collaboration agreements.

Non-refundable upfront payments are deferred and recognized as revenue over the period of the collaboration agreement. Sales of technology pursuant to non-cancelable, non-refundable fixed-fee arrangements are recognized when such technology is delivered to the co-contracting party and our exclusive rights to access the technology have stopped.

Milestone payments represent amounts received from our collaborators, the receipt of which is dependent upon the achievement of certain scientific, regulatory, or commercial milestones. We recognize milestone payments when the triggering event has occurred, there are no further contingencies or services to be provided with respect to that event, and the co-contracting party has no right to require refund of payment. The triggering event may be scientific results achieved by us or another party to the arrangement, regulatory approvals, or the marketing of products developed under the arrangement.

Royalty revenues arise from our contractual entitlement to receive a percentage of product sales achieved by co-contracting parties. As we have no products approved for sale, we have not received any royalty revenue to date. Royalty revenues, if earned, will be recognized on an accrual basis in accordance with the terms of the collaboration agreement when sales can be determined reliably and there is reasonable assurance that the receivables from outstanding royalties will be collected.

Revenues from licenses are recognized ratably over the period of the license agreements.

Sales of products and services

Revenues on sales of products and services are recognized when significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer. Accumulated costs on product orders in process are recorded in inventories. We also offer research services to customers, which are recognized as revenues when the services are rendered, either on a time and materials basis, or ratably over the contract period for fixed payment arrangements.

3.16 Research tax credit

The Research Tax Credit (Crédit d’Impôt Recherche, or “CIR”) is granted to entities by the French tax authorities in order to encourage them to conduct technical and scientific research. Entities that demonstrate that their research expenditures meet the required CIR criteria receive a tax credit that may be used for the payment of their income tax due for the fiscal year in which the expenditures were incurred, as well as in the next three years. If taxes due are not sufficient to cover the full amount of tax credit at the end of the three-year period, the difference is repaid in cash to the entity by the authorities. If a company meets certain criteria in terms of sales, headcount or assets to be considered a small/middle size company, immediate payment of the Research Tax Credit can be requested. Cellectis S.A. and its French subsidiaries meet such criteria.

 

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We apply for CIR for research expenditures incurred in each fiscal year and recognize the amount claimed in the line item “Other income” in the same fiscal year. Research tax credit is subject to audit of tax authorities.

3.17 Other government grants

We receive government grants for advanced research programs we conduct alone or in connection with other unrelated entities. This government aid is provided for and managed by French state-owned entities, and specifically “Banque Publique d’Investissement” (“Bpifrance”), formerly named OSEO Innovation.

We, alone or with other unrelated entities, enter into multi-year contractual arrangements for the financing of a specific research program. This arrangement may consist of subsidies only, conditional advances only or both subsidies and conditional advances. Subsidies and conditional advances are paid in fixed installments at predetermined contractual dates, subject generally to milestones based on progress of the research and documentation.

Subsidies received are non-refundable. Conditional advances received are subject to nil or low interest rate depending on contractual provisions. If and when the research program has generated an amount of revenues equal to or higher than the amount set forth in the original contract, contractual repayment is required. In addition, if we decide to stop the research program, the conditional advance may be repayable.

Subsidies that relate to expenses we incur for those research programs are recognized in the line item “Other income” in the period in which the expenses subject to the subsidy have been incurred.

For conditional advances, and in accordance with IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance, the advantage resulting from nil or low interest rate as compared to a market interest rate is considered and accounted for as a government grant. A financial liability is recognized for proceeds received from the conditional advance less the grant, and interest expense is subsequently imputed at market interest rate.

Subsidies and the grant portion of conditional advances received in advance of expenses of the research program are accounted in the line item “Deferred income” in the statements of financial position, and then, as the research expenses are incurred, transferred to the line item “Other income” in the statement of consolidated operations.

3.18 Classification of operating expenses

Royalty expenses include costs from license agreements that we entered to obtain access to technology that we use in our product development efforts. Depending on the contractual provisions, expenses are based either on a percentage of revenue generated by using the patents or on fixed annual royalties.

Research and development expenses include employee-related costs, lab supplies and facility costs, as well as fees paid to non-employees and entities to conduct research and development activities on our behalf. They also include expenses associated with obtaining patents.

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses for executive, business development, intellectual property, finance, legal and human resource functions. Administrative expenses also include facility-related costs and service fees, other professional services, recruiting fees and expenses associated with maintaining patents.

3.19 Income tax

Income tax (expense or income) comprises current tax expense (income) and deferred tax expense (income).

Deferred taxes are recognized for all the temporary differences arising from the difference between the tax basis and the accounting basis of assets and liabilities. Tax losses that can be carried forward or backward may also be recognized as deferred tax assets. Tax rates that have been enacted as of the closing date are utilized to determine deferred tax.

 

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Deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is likely that future profits will be sufficient to recover them. We have not recorded net deferred tax assets in the statements of financial position.

3.20 Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing profit attributable to our ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, adjusted to take into account the impact of treasury shares.

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting profit attributable to ordinary shareholders and the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, for the effects of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares (stock-options, free shares, share warrants, employee warrants).

3.21 Discontinued operations

In accordance with IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, the assets and liabilities of entities held for sale are presented separately. From the date of classification as “assets held for sale”, depreciation on the relevant assets ceases. Net profit or loss from discontinued activities is presented as a separate line item in the statement of operations. Consequently, the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements relating to the statement of operations refer solely to continuing operations. A discontinued operation is a component of a company with independent cash flows. It is a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations that has been disposed of or is held for sale.

3.22 Statements of cash flows

We present our consolidated statements of cash flows using the indirect method. The statements of consolidated cash flows have been prepared using flows of continuing operations. Net operating, investing and financing cash flows from discontinued operations are related to Cellectis AB.

Note 4. Financial risks management

We have exposure to the following risks arising from financial instruments:

Foreign exchange risk

A portion of our revenue is generated in currencies other than euro. Although Cellectis’ strategy is to favor the euro as our transaction currency when signing contracts, some agreements have been signed in US dollars (primarily our agreement with Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”), and a part of the agreement with Servier). As of December 31, 2015, 17% of our cash and cash equivalents were denominated in euros.

Since we do not use hedging instruments, we are exposed to fluctuations in EUR/USD exchange rates.

Liquidity risk

Our financial debt consists of government conditional advances for our research projects and finance lease liabilities. For conditional advances, reimbursement of the principal is subject to the commercial success of the related research project.

We have incurred losses and cumulative negative cash flows from operations since our inception in 2000, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for at least the next several years. As of December 31, 2015, we held €314.2 million in cash and cash equivalents.

 

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Interest rate risk

To date, we are only liable for governmental conditional advances with either no interest or interest at a fixed, generally below market rate. Consequently, we are not significantly exposed to fluctuations in interest rates for our liabilities.

Our investment strategy is conservative and based exclusively on liquid and capital-guaranteed investments.

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of our financial loss if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument defaults on its contract commitments. We are exposed to credit risk due to our trade receivables, subsidies receivables and cash equivalents.

Our policy is to manage our risk by dealing with third parties with good credit standards.

Note 5. Reportable segments

Reportable segments are identified as components of an enterprise that have discrete financial information available for evaluation by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), for purposes of performance assessment and resource allocation.

Cellectis’ CODM is composed of:

 

    The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer;

 

    The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer;

 

    The Executive Vice President Corporate Development;

 

    The Chief Scientific Officer;

 

    The Chief Financial Officer;

 

    The Vice President Business Development;

 

    The General Counsel; and

 

    The Chief Executive Officer of Calyxt, Inc.

We view our operations and manage our business in two operating and reportable segments that are engaged in the following activities:

 

    Therapeutics: This segment is focused on the development of products in the field of immuno-oncology and of novel therapies outside immuno-oncology to treat other human diseases. This approach is based on our gene editing and Chimeric Antigen Receptors (“CARs”) technologies. All these activities are supported by Cellectis S.A. and Cellectis Inc. Our holding activity is included in the Therapeutics segment which also comprises research and development, management and support functions. The Therapeutics segment also includes the amounts associated with our former Tools and Services segment.

 

    Plants: This segment is focused on applying our gene-editing technologies to develop new-generation plant products in the field of agricultural biotechnology through our own efforts or through alliances with other companies in the agricultural market. It corresponds to the activity of our U.S.-based subsidiary, Calyxt Inc., which is based in New Brighton, Minnesota.

 

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Following the sale of Cellectis AB in August 2014, the Tools and Services segment is managed as a discontinued activity, and the segment information has been retrospectively restated to present two operating and reporting segments: Therapeutics (which includes “Tools and Services” activities through the date of disposal of Cellectis AB) and Plants.

The operations of Cellectis S.A., the parent company, are presented entirely in the Therapeutics segment.

There are intersegment transactions between the two reportable segments, including allocation of corporate general and administrative expenses by Cellectis S.A. to its subsidiaries and allocation of research and development expenses to the reportable segments.

These inter-segment transactions are generally priced based on provisions of service agreements signed between our legal entities, according to which services are to be allocated at cost plus a mark-up of between 4% and 10%, depending on the nature of the service. According to a cash pooling agreement signed with subsidiaries, interests are allocated/paid to segments at 12-month Euribor plus 5%.

Information related to each reportable segment is set out below. Segment Revenues and other income, Research and Development expenses, Selling General and Administrative expenses, and Royalties and Other Operating income and expenses, and Operating profit or loss (without non-cash stock-based expense) are used by the CODM to measure performance. The CODM does not review any asset or liability information by segment or by region. The operating profit or loss includes the impact of the operations between segments while the intra-segment operations are eliminated.

The Company has identified immaterial errors in revenue recognition related to license contracts signed in 2012 and 2013 in the Plants segment. Nonrefundable upfront payments received were fully recognized in revenues at the contract dates while they should have been recognized over the license periods. Adjustments to prior periods are immaterial and therefore have been recorded in the Statement of Consolidated Operations in the year ended December 31, 2015. The cumulative adjustment recorded on deferred revenue was €0.8 million at the end of 2015. Had corrections been recorded contemporaneously, Plant segment revenue and other income would have been €0.5 million in 2013, €1.1 million in 2014 and €1.1 million in 2015. The table below shows segments results.

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     € in thousands     € in thousands     € in thousands  
   Plants     Therapeutics     Total
reportable
segments
    Plants     Therapeutics     Total
reportable
segments
    Plants     Therapeutics     Total
reportable
segments
 

Segment revenues and other income

     1,283        13,928        15,211        1,156        27,564        28,720        44        57,141        57,185   

Inter-segment revenues

     —          (599     (599     (91     (1,171     (1,262     —          (800     (800

Revenues with Cellectis AB (discontinued operations)

     —          (1,888     (1,888     —          (1,005     (1,005     —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

External revenues and other income

     1,283        11,441        12,724        1,065        25,388        26,453        44        56,341        56,385   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Research and development expenses

     (1,426     (16,418     (17,844     (922     (13,485     (14,407     (3,200     (49,210     (52,410

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (795     (18,239     (19,034     (822     (12,292     (13,114     (1,666     (25,572     (27,238

Royalties and other operating income and expenses

     (62     (2,312     (2,374     (269     (3,908     (4,177     (245     (4,416     (4,660
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     (2,283     (36,969     (39,252     (2,013     (29,685     (31,698     (5,112     (79,197     (84,309
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss) before tax

     (1,000     (25,528     (26,528     (948     (4,297     (5,245     (5,068     (22,856     (27,924
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

     (86     (1,762     (1,848     (74     (1,271     (1,345     (89     (1,657     (1,745

Expenses related to share-based payments

     —          (461     (461     —          (548     (548     (1,470     (28,633     (30,103

Impairment losses on non-financial assets

     —          (347     (347     —          (27     (27     —          —          —     

Capital expenditure

     134        499        633        134        221        354        474        3,502        3,977   

Entity-wide disclosures:

Revenues from external customers by products and services and by country of origin for fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015 are given in Note 18.

 

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In 2015, two clients represent more than 10% of the total revenue from continuing operations in 2015: Client A with 49% and Client B with 47%.

In 2014, three clients represent more than 10% of the total revenue from continuing operations in 2014: Client B with 42.7%, Client C with 19.4% and Client A with 14.2%.

No customer represented more than 10% of total revenue from continuing operations in 2013.

Note 6. Impairment tests

The cash-generating units (“CGUs”) defined by the Company correspond to the operating/reportable segments: Therapeutics and Plants.

2013

The only CGU that included goodwill was Tools and Services (now merged into the Therapeutics segment) to which, at the end of 2013, 100% of the goodwill resulting from the acquisition of Cellectis AB was allocated. This CGU has been tested for impairment for the period ending and December 31, 2013 as described in note 3.10.

In 2013, the recoverable value of Tools and Services CGU has been determined on the basis of its fair value less costs to sell because of the decision to sell Cellectis AB and discontinue the activity in this segment. The fair value less costs to sell has been determined on the basis of the outcome from first negotiations related to the disposal of the segment Tools and Services.

The carrying value exceeded the fair value of Tools and Services CGU and resulted in impairment of goodwill of €26.8 million and property, plant and equipment of €0.3 million. The impact related to the impairment of the goodwill is classified in discontinued operations, on the basis of the relative fair value of the components of the segment Tools and Services, whereas the impairment of property, plant and equipment is included in the operating profit/loss of continuing operations since it corresponds to the tangible assets of Cellectis Bioresearch and Ectycell.

The net book value of the intangible and tangible assets of the Tools and Services segment after impairment is as follows as of December 31, 2013:

 

     12/31/2013  
     Basis for
impairment
test
     Impairment /
Depreciation
     Net value  
            € in thousands         

Goodwill

     27,860        (26,764      1,096   

Intangible assets

     2,373         —           2,373   

Tangible assets

     761        (347      414   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     30,994        (27,111      3,883   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

2014

The remaining goodwill of Cellectis AB was written off in 2014 based on its final sale price. We did not identify indicators that any intangible or tangible asset was impaired at the end of December 31, 2014.

2015

No indicator of impairment has been identified for any intangible or tangible assets in either of the CGUs at the end of December 31, 2015.

 

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Note 7. Intangible assets

 

     Goodwill     Licences and
Patents
    Other
intangibles
    Total  
     € in thousands  

Net book value as at 01/01/2013

     28,759        1,255        2,680        32,694   

Change in scope

     —          —          —          —     

Additions to intangible assets

     —          62        —          62   

Disposal of intangible assets

     —          —          —          —     

Amortization expense

     (26,764     (163     (224     (27,151

Translation adjustments

     (899     —          (79     (978
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value as at 12/31/2013

     1,096        1,154        2,377        4,627   

Gross value at end of period

     27,860        1,917        2,852        32,629   

Accumulated depreciation and impairment at end of period

     (26,764     (763     (475     (28,002

Net book value as at 01/01/2014

     1,096        1,154        2,377        4,627   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in scope

     (1,059     —          (2,152     (3,211

Additions to intangible assets

     —          11        —          11   

Disposal of intangible assets

     —          —          —          —     

Amortization expense

     —          (139     (148     (287

Translation adjustments

     (37     —          (77     (114
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value as at 12/31/2014

     —          1,026        —          1,026   

Gross value at end of period

     —          1,928        —          1,928   

Accumulated depreciation and impairment at end of period

     —          (902     —          (902

Net book value as at 01/01/2015

     —          1,026        —          1,026   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in scope

     —          —          —          —     

Additions to intangible assets

     —          87        —          87   

Disposal of intangible assets

     —          —          —          —     

Amortization expense

     —          (157     —          (157

Translation adjustments

     —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value as at 12/31/2015

     —          956        —          956   

Gross value at end of period

     —          2,015        —          2,015   

Accumulated depreciation and impairment at end of period

     —          (1,059     —          (1,059

The column ‘Change in scope’ corresponds to the removal of Cellectis AB from the scope of consolidation following its sale in August 2014.

 

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Note 8. Property, plant and equipment

 

     Buildings     Technical
equipments
    Fixtures,
fittings and
other
equipments
    Total  
     € in thousands  

Net book value as at 01/01/2013

     1,782        3,643       59        5,484  

Change in scope

     —          —          —          —     

Additions to tangible assets

     169        356       46        571  

Disposal of tangible assets

     —          —          —          —     

Depreciation expense

     (388     (1,711 )     (43     (2,142 )

Translation adjustments

     (44     —          —          (44
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value as at 12/31/2013

     1,519        2,288       62        3,869  

Gross value at end of period

     2,381        9,741        411        12,533   

Accumulated depreciation and impairment at end of period

     (818     (7,497 )     (349     (8,664 )

Net book value as at 01/01/2014

     1,563        2,244        62        3,869   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in scope

     —          (325     —          (325

Additions to tangible assets

     —          337       7        344  

Disposal of tangible assets

     —          (6     —          (6

Depreciation expense

     (397     (879 )     (28     (1,304 )

Translation adjustments

     —          33        —          33   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value as at 12/31/2014

     1,166        1,403       41        2,610  

Gross value at end of period

     2,381        8,552        418        11,351   

Accumulated depreciation and impairment at end of period

     (1,215     (7,150 )     (377     (8,742 )

Net book value as at 01/01/2015

     1,166        1,403        41        2,610   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in scope

     —          —          —          —     

Additions to tangible assets

     1,331        2,224       483        4,038  

Disposal of tangible assets

     —          (106     —          (106

Depreciation expense

     (614     (922 )     (52     (1,587 )

Reclassification

     —          (17     18        1   

Translation adjustments

     20        61       7        88  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value as at 12/31/2015

     1,903        2,643       497        5,043  

Gross value at end of period

     3,734        10,716        953        15,403   

Accumulated depreciation and impairment at end of period

     (1,831     (8,074 )     (456     (10,361 )

The column ‘Change in scope’ corresponds to the removal of Cellectis AB from the scope of consolidation following its sale in August 2014.

Increases are related to leasehold improvements in our new U.S. headquarters and in R&D equipment in both the United States and France.

No assets have been pledged as security for financial liabilities. There is no restriction on title of property, plant and equipment, except for assets recognized under finance lease agreements.

 

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Finance lease

 

     As of December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Gross

     5,247         5,377   

Accumulated depreciation

     (4,417      (4,893
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net

     829         484   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The finance leases relate mainly to laboratory equipment and IT equipment.

Note 9. Inventories and accumulated costs on orders in process

 

     As of
December 31,
 
     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Raw materials and consumables

     135        158   

Accumulated costs on orders in process

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Inventories and accumulated costs on orders in process

     135        158   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated costs on orders in process corresponded to products developed by the Tools and Services segment. Since it was abandoned in 2014, there are no accumulated costs on orders in process as of December 31, 2014 and 2015.

Note 10. Trade receivables and other current assets

10.1 Trade receivables

 

     As of
December 31,
 
     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Trade receivables

     5,932        6,266   

Valuation allowance

     (51      (231
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net value of trade receivables

     5,881        6,035   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

All trade receivables have payment terms of less than one year.

As of December 31, 2014, non-current trade receivables of € 1.4 million are classified in the line item “Other non-current financial assets.” which was not the case as at 31 December 2015 since this receivable will be paid off by June 2016.

 

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10.2 Subsidies receivables

 

     As of December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Research tax credit

     7,052         8,227   

Other subsidies

     2,224         1,981   

Valuation allowance for other subsidies

     (1,106      (1,106
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     8,170         9,102   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Government grants to Cellectis related to research and development expenses for research programs are recognized as “Subsidies receivables” in the period in which the expenses subject to the subsidy have been incurred, provided there is a reasonable assurance that we will comply with conditions attached to the subsidy and that the subsidy will be received.

The valuation allowance for other subsidies corresponds to the CellMill grant. Due to the uncertainty related to the collection of this subsidy, it was fully reserved in 2014. Note that in 2011 and 2012, we entered into a subsidy agreement for a research program named “CellMill” for a total amount of €11.0 million with five different local, regional and national agencies. The received subsidies are non-refundable. However, for some of them, the contract stipulated that the funds would have to be repaid if we moved out of the location where the research activities on CellMill were performed (Evry, Essonne). For several reasons, including termination of the partnership by our research partner, we had to close this site in the beginning of 2014, and repaid the undue amount in 2015.

Research tax credit as at 31 December 2015 includes €3.1 million related to the 2014 research tax credits and €5.1 million related to the 2015 research tax credits.

10.3 Other current assets

 

     As of December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

VAT receivables

     2,101        461   

Prepaid expenses and other prepayments

     1,902         3,778   

Other current assets

     1,464        446   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     5,468        4,685   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other prepayments include primarily advances to our sub-contractors on research and development activities.

 

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Note 11. Cash and cash equivalents

 

     As of December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Cash and bank accounts

     94,680        283,877   

Money market funds

     667         11,361   

Fixed bank deposits

     17,000        19,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash and cash equivalent as reported in statement of financial position

     112,347         314,238   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The revaluation of our cash accounts denominated in U.S. dollars at December 31, 2015 generated an unrealized foreign exchange gain of €6.1 million.

 

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12. Capital

12.1 Share capital issued

 

Nature of the Transactions

   Share Capital      Share premium      Number of shares      Nominal value  
     € in thousands      in €  

Balance as of January 1, 2013

     1,024         131,159         20,477,024         0.05   

Capital increase by issuance of ordinary shares (BSA and BSPCE)

     —          3         296     

Capital increase by issuance of ordinary shares (BSA Kepler)

     30         2,285         605,000      

Share based compensation

        461         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2013

     1,054         133,908         21,082,320         0.05   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Nature of the Transactions

   Share Capital      Share premium      Number of shares      Nominal value  
     € in thousands      in €  

Balance as of January 1, 2014

     1,054         133,908         21,082,320         0.05   

Capital increase by issuance of common shares

     200        19,446         4,000,000     

Capital increase by issuance of ordinary shares (Pfizer)

     139         25,640         2,786,924      

Capital increase by issuance of ordinary shares (BSA & Free shares)

     79        13,301         1,577,477     

Share based compensation

        548         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2014

     1,472        192,842         29,446,721        0.05   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Nature of the Transactions

   Share Capital      Share premium      Number of shares      Nominal value  
     € in thousands      in €  

Balance as of January 1, 2015

     1,472         192,842         29,446,721         0.05   

Capital increase by issuance of common shares (IPO Nasdaq)

     275        194,382         5,500,000     

Capital increase by issuance of ordinary shares (BSA & Free shares)

     12         4,066         231,893      

Share based compensation

        29,392         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2015

     1,759         420,682         35,178,614         0.05   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital evolution in 2015

 

    On March 30, 2015, we issued 5,500,000 ordinary shares in the form of American Depositary Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market for gross proceeds of €211.5 million. In connection with this issuance, €16.9 million in fees were deducted from the share premium.

 

    During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2015, we issued 101,893 ordinary shares related to the conversion of warrants, 70,000 ordinary shares related to stock options’s exercises and 60,000 ordinary shares corresponding to free shares granted in 2013.

Capital evolution in 2014

 

    On March 19, 2014, we entered into an agreement with Trout Capital LLC to act as placement agent to provide financial advisory services in connection with a private placement of our ordinary shares to “qualified institutional buyers” or “institutional accredited investors.” On March 24, 2014, we issued 4,000,000 ordinary shares in the private placement for net proceeds of €20.5 million. Fees paid to Trout Capital LLC amounted to €965 thousand, including the fair value of €174 thousand of the 50,000 non-employee warrants issued on March 27, 2014 and €791 thousand in cash. Such fees were deducted from the share premium.

 

    On July 31, 2014, we issued 2,786,924 ordinary shares in the context of a share capital increase to the benefit of Pfizer OTC B.V. for a total subscription amount of €25.8 million.

 

    On September 29, 2014, the vesting period for 82,123 free shares expired and such shares were issued accordingly.

 

    On November 13, 2014, we issued 1,495,357 ordinary shares in connection with the exercise of non-employees warrants for a total subscription of €13.4 million.

 

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Capital evolution in 2013

 

    April 29, 2013: capital increase of €38 by issuing 761 shares with a nominal value of 5 cents each, resulting from the exercise of share warrants (“BSA” or “Bon de Souscription d’Action”).

 

    September 19, 2013: capital increase of €15 by issuing 293 shares with a nominal value of 5 cents each, resulting from the exercise of BSA.

 

    In December 2012, following a decision of the General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 22, 2012, we issued 2,000,000 BSA to Kepler Capital Markets and Kepler Corporate Finance (“Kepler”). Upon Cellectis’ request and at any time during years 2013, 2014 and 2015, Kepler must exercise the requested amount of warrants. Each warrant gives Kepler a right to purchase one share with a discount of 10% to the share market price at the date of exercise. Under this contract, four drawings have been made between July and October 2013 resulting in the issuance of 605,000 new shares for a net proceeds of €2.3 million.

BSA 2011:

On October 28, 2011, using the delegation of authority granted by the General Assembly held the same day, we issued 12,195,113 warrants (Bon de Souscription d’Actions or “BSA”) to the existing shareholders with a ratio of one BSA for one share. October 28, 2014 was the closing date for the exercise of the “BSA 2011.” Pursuant to the terms of the plan, we issued 1,470,836 ordinary shares for gross proceeds of €13.2 million.

Voting rights:

After a shareholder continuously holds ordinary shares for two years, each ordinary share held by such shareholder is entitled to two votes.

 

    At December 31, 2013, we had 21,082,320 ordinary shares outstanding of which 4,576,704 had a double voting right.

 

    At December 31, 2014, we had 29,446,721 ordinary shares outstanding of which 8,762,458 had a double voting right.

 

    At December 31, 2015, we had 35,178,614 ordinary shares outstanding of which 7,470,898 had a double voting right.

Otherwise, our ordinary shares are not entitled to any preferential voting right or restriction.

12.2 Share warrants and employee warrants

Share warrants and employee warrants consist of Bon de Souscription d’Action (“BSAs”) which are granted to our board members and consultants.

Holders of vested stock options and warrants are entitled to subscribe to a capital increase of Cellectis at predetermined exercise price.

 

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Date

   Type    Number of
awards
issued as of
12/31/2015
     Number of
awards
voided/vested
as of 12/31/2015
     Number of
awards
outstanding as
of 12/31/2015
     Maximum
of shares to
be issued
     Strike price per
share in euros
 

07/20/2007

   BSPCE C      228,767         95,775        132,992         138,125        13.75   

02/28/2008

   BSPCE D      1,867         0        1,867         1,939         6.16   

07/27/2010

   BSPCE E      59,108         39,406        19,702         20,464         7.97   

09/18/2012

   Free shares      102,099         99,123         2,976         2,976     

03/19/2013

   Free shares      102,000         92,000        10,000         10,000     

03/24/2014

   BSA      50,000         0         50,000         50,000        6.00   

04/10/2014

   Free shares      100,000         2,000        98,000         98,000     

01/08/2015

   Free shares      50,000         0         50,000         50,000     

03/24/2015

   Stock Options      1,907,297         91,967        1,815,330         1,815,330        38.45   

03/27/2015

   BSA      180,000         0         180,000         180,000        38.45   

05/18/2015

   BSA      50,000         0        50,000         50,000        29.58   

05/18/2015

   Free shares      450,400         300         450,100         450,100     

09/08/2015

   BSA      274,200         0        274,200         274,200        28.01   

09/08/2015

   Stock Options      1,982,300         50,000         1,932,300         1,932,300        27.55   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
   Total      5,538,038         470,572        5,067,466         5,073,434     
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

    In September 2015, our subsidiary Calyxt Inc. granted options in Calyxt Inc. representing a 4.7% interest of that subsidiary if fully exercised to a small group of its employees, directors and executive officers. The compensation expense for 2015 amounted to €0.5 million (see Note 20.5).

 

    In December 2014, our subsidiary Calyxt Inc. granted options in Calyxt Inc. representing a 9.4% interest of that subsidiary if fully exercised to a small group of its employees and two of our directors and executive officers, and it reserved an additional 0.6% for further grants. Calyxt Inc. made these grants to provide incentives for these employees that are directly linked to the performance of Calyxt Inc., rather than Cellectis as a whole. The compensation expense for 2015 amounted to €0.2 million (see Note 20.5).

12.3 Non-controlling interests

On December 19, 2013, Cellectis S.A. contributed its 75% investment in Ectycell to Cellectis Bioresearch, and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations contributed €3.5 million to Cellectis Bioresearch. As a result, Ectycell became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cellectis Bioresearch, of which, in turn, Cellectis owns 75.5% and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations owns 24.5%. This transaction was accounted for as an equity transaction between us and the non-controlling interest, resulting in the transfer of a 24.5% of the consolidated equity of Cellectis Bioresearch to a non-controlling interest for an amount of €3.3 million.

On May 18, 2015, Cellectis S.A. repurchased the Cellectis Bioresearch shares held by Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations for €3.5 million. Thereafter, no non-controlling interest has been recorded.

The following table summarizes the information relating to each of our subsidiaries that reported non-controlling interest (“NCI”):

 

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     ECTYCELL      CELLECTIS
BIORESEARCH
     CELLECTIS
BIORESEARCH Inc.
 
     2014     2015      2014     2015      2014     2015  
     € in thousands  

Revenue

     33       —           1,093       327         416       (32

Net Profit (Loss)

     (2,771     228         (1,547     2,062         269        58   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Profit (Loss) attributable to NCI

     (679 )     56         (379 )     60         66       55   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

     17           61        1         (258     (196

Total comprehensive income

     (2,754 )     228         (1,486 )     2,063         11       (138
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income attributable to NCI

     (675 )     56         (364 )     60         3       (10
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current assets

     (706 )     —           3,015       —           (2,081 )     —     

Non-current assets

     33        —           —          —           —          —     

Current liabilities

     (2,796 )     —           (915 )     —           2       —     

Non-current liabilities

     (941 )     —           (750 )     —           —         —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets

     (4,410 )     —           1,349       —           (2,078 )     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets attributable to NCI

     (2,110 )     —           1,360       —           (509 )     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

12.4 Treasury shares

In 2008, Cellectis executed a liquidity contract with Natixis Securities (“Natixis”). This contract entitles Natixis to transact on Euronext, on our behalf, in order to enhance the liquidity of transactions and regularity of quotation of our ordinary shares, in an independent way, without hindering the functioning of the market or misleading investors.

The initial advance payment made to Natixis Securities for the purpose of making transactions under this contract was €0.4 million. €0.2 million are classified in treasury shares and the balance is presented in the line item “Other non-current financial assets” in the statements of consolidated financial position.

 

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Note 13. Financial liabilities

13.1 Non-current / Current financial debt

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Conditional advances

     2,768        —     

Finance leases

     48         64   

Other

     8        2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-current financial debt

     2,824         66   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Conditional advances

     596        1,839   

Finance leases

     266         82   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current financial debt

     862        1,921   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

13.2 Conditional advances

 

     OSEO
A0609014Q
    OSEO
I1010002W
    OSEO
ACTIVE
    OSEO
I1107018W
    OSEO
I1010001W
    TOTAL  
     € in thousands  

Opening Balance as of 1/1/2014

     150        504        1,424       248        24        860        3,210   

+ receipts

     —         —          —         300        —          —          300   

- repayments

     —          (284     —          —          —           —          (284

Interest imputed

     —         —          100       —          —          60        160   

Interest adjustment

     —          (220     —          198        —           —          (22
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of 12/31/2014

     150       —          1,524       746        24        920        3,364   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Of which:

               

Non-current portion

     —         —          1,524       300        24        920        2,768   

Current portion

     150        —          —          446        —           —          596   

Opening Balance as of 1/1/2015

     150        —          1,524        746        24         920        3,364   

+ receipts

     —          —          —          —          —           —          —     

- repayments

     (150     —          —          (746     —           —          (896

Interest imputed

     —          —          —          —          —           —          —     

Reallocation to other current liabilities

     —          —          (528     —          47         (148     (629
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of 12/31/2015

     —         —          996       —          71        772        1,839   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Of which:

               

Non-current portion

     —         —          —          —          —          —          —     

Current portion

     —          —          996        —          71         772        1,839   

Conditional advances are made to Cellectis by Bpifrance (formerly named OSEO Innovation) to co-finance research programs including market opportunities. The nominal amount of the advance covering the entire program is contractually fixed at the date of grant, and paid up-front for a portion and in installments depending on achievement of milestones over periods that may cover several years. Interest at below market rates is generally provided in the contracts. Repayment of the advance and interest is contractually required in the event the research program is considered a commercial success. Commercial failure is determined based on the agreement between parties to formally conclude that the research activities will not result in the achievement of commercial success. In such cases, the liability is extinguished.

 

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A financial liability is recognized for proceeds received upfront and when milestones are completed, however as described in Note 3.17 “Other Government Grants”, the advantage resulting from the below market interest rate of the advance is considered as a subsidy, which reduces the amount of the liability and is recognized as a subsidy and accounted for as such. Interest expense is subsequently imputed at a market interest rate and added to the financial liability.

As of December 31, 2015, we have three remaining conditional advances, all of which bear interest.

Since remaining conditional advances could be reimbursed within 12 months, they have been reclassified in Current financial debt at the nominal value.

Events triggering “Adjustment” are discussed below for each advance.

OSEO A0609014Q

The research program is terminated. We repaid €200 thousand in 2013 and reimbursed the remaining balance (€150 thousand) in 2015.

OSEO I1010002W

The research program is CLOSED. We repaid €284 thousand in 2014.

OSEO ACTIVE

On December 10, 2008, we obtained from OSEO a conditional advance of a maximum €2,647 thousand to finance the development of applications in antivirals. We received €1,608 thousand before January 1, 2014, which was discounted due to the below-market interest rate.

In 2015, a portion of the conditional advance (including the discount adjustment) was reclassified to Other current liabilities and has been repaid in 2016.

OSEO I1107018W

On September 1, 2011, Cellectis Bioresearch obtained from OSEO a conditional advance of a maximum €1,578 thousand to finance the development of new in-vitro testing for pharmaceutical development. We received €247 thousand before January 1, 2013, and €300 thousand in 2014.

In 2014, Cellectis informed OSEO that the program will be stopped during 2015. Cellectis believes that it is probable that the amounts received by Cellectis for the portion of the advance received will have to be reimbursed to OSEO in the next two years. However, this is subject to further discussion with OSEO. In 2014, Cellectis increased the discounted value of the advances received to its nominal value, resulting in an adjustment of €198 thousand.

We reimbursed the remaining balance of €746 thousands in 2015.

OSEO I1010001W

On September 1, 2011, we obtained from OSEO two conditional advances to finance the development of iPS-derived cell lines for pharmaceutical testing:

 

    We received €24 thousand and €1,225 thousand on these two advances before January 1, 2014, which were discounted due to the below-market interest rate.

 

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In 2015, a portion of the conditional advance (including the discount adjustment) was reclassified to Other current liabilities and has been repaid in 2016.

13.3 Due dates of the financial liabilities

 

     Gross
Amount
     Less than
One Year
     One to Five
Years
     More than
Five Years
 
Balance as of December 31, 2014    € in thousands  

Conditional advances

     3,364        596         968        1,800   

Finance leases

     314         266         48         —     

Other

     8        —           8        —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

     3,686         862         1,024         1,800   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Gross
Amount
     Less than
One Year
     One to Five
Years
     More than
Five Years
 
Balance as of December 31, 2015    € in thousands  

Conditional advances

     1,839        1,839         —          —     

Finance leases

     146         82         64         —     

Other

     2        —           2        —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

     1,986         1,921         66         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 14. Deferred revenues and deferred income

 

     As of December 31,  
     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Deferred revenues

     57,995        54,422   

Lease incentive

     632         336   

Deferred income—subsidies

     865        —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     59,492        54,758   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred revenues

Up-front payments received on research and license agreements are deferred until services are rendered. In 2013, up-front payments were obtained for new contracts in the Plants segment. For 2014 and 2015, most of the deferred revenues corresponds to upfront payments for the collaboration agreements with Servier and Pfizer.

Lease incentive

In November 2011, when we entered into an operating lease agreement for our headquarters in Paris (BioPark), we received a lease incentive of €1,100 thousand from the lessor, which is deferred and amortized over 6 years lease term. This amount is booked as a reduction in operating lease expenses.

 

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Deferred income—subsidies

Up-front payments received on subsidies are deferred until we perform related research activities. As of December 31, 2015, the deferred revenue has been recognized in revenue or reclassified to “other current liabilities” when programs stopped.

Note 15. Provisions

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     01/01/2013      Additions      Amounts used
during the year
    Reversals     Change in scope     12/31/2013  
     € in thousands  

Pension

     513        9         —         (85     —         437   

Litigation

     272         590         (272     —          —          589   

Redundancy plan

     —          1,865         —         —          —         1,865   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     785        2,464         (272 )     (85     —         2,891   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current provisions

     785        9         (272 )     (85     —         437   

Current provisions

     —           2,454         —          —          —          2,454   
     Year Ended December 31,  
     01/01/2014      Additions      Amounts used
during the year
    Reversals     Change in scope     12/31/2014  
     € in thousands  

Pension

     437        82         —         (121     —         398   

Litigation

     589         483         (101     (24     (247     700   

Redundancy plan 2013

     1,865        —           (1,133 )     (210     —         522   

Redundancy plan 2014

     —          491         (298 )     —          —         193   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     2,891        1,056         (1,532 )      (355     (247 )     1,813   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current provisions

     437        82         —         (121     —         398   

Current provisions

     2,454        974         (1,532     (234     (247 )     1,415   
     Year Ended December 31,  
     01/01/2015      Additions      Amounts used
during the year
    Reversals     Change in
scope/Reclassifi
cation/CTA/OCI
    12/31/2015  
     € in thousands  

Pension

     398        54         —         —          (15 )     437   

Litigation

     700         654         (391     (41     —          922   

Redundancy plan 2013

     522        8         (15 )     (166     (346 )     4   

Redundancy plan 2014

     193        10         (9 )     (104     (63 )     27   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,813        726         (415 )     (311     (424 )     1,390   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current provisions

     398        54         —         —          (15 )     437   

Current provisions

     1,415        672         (415 )     (311     (409 )     953   

In 2013, we implemented a redundancy plan at Cellectis S.A., Cellectis Bioresearch and Ectycell. The Works Council received a detailed document announcing the plan before December 31, 2013 and a provision of €1,865 thousand was recognized at December 31, 2013. The provision comprised termination benefit payments amounting to €1,256 thousand and other restructuring activities to which we are committed for an aggregate amount of €609 thousand. In 2014 we made payments of €1,133 thousand, of which €959 thousand related to termination benefits and €174 thousand related to other costs. In addition, we decreased the provision for the 2013 plan by €210 thousand as of December 31, 2014.

In 2014, we implemented a second redundancy plan at Cellectis Bioresearch and Ectycell, for an amount of €491 thousand. The provision comprises termination benefit payments amounting to €183 thousand and other restructuring activities to which we are committed for an aggregate amount of €308 thousand. During 2014, we made payments of €298 thousand relating to termination benefits.

In 2015, we paid €24 thousand related to the redundancy plans implemented in 2013 and 2014 and reclassified €409 thousand of redundancy provision in “Other current liabilities”.

 

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In addition, as of December 31, 2015, litigation provisions are notably attributable to the termination of a supplier contract, litigation with employees and employee termination settlements.

Commitments for compensation payable to employees upon their retirement

France

In France, pension funds are generally financed by employer and employee contributions and are accounted for as defined contribution plans, with the employer contributions recognized as expense as incurred. There are no actuarial liabilities in connection with these plans. Expenses recorded in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 amounted to €0.7 million, €0.6 million and €0.7 million, respectively.

French law also requires payment of a lump sum retirement indemnity to employees based on years of service and annual compensation at retirement. Benefits do not vest prior to retirement. We are paying this defined benefit plan. It is calculated as the present value of estimated future benefits to be paid, applying the projected unit credit method whereby each period of service is seen as giving rise to an additional unit of benefit entitlement, each unit being measured separately to build up the final.

As part of the estimation of the retirement indemnity to employee, the following assumptions were used for all categories of employees:

 

     2014     2015  

% social security contributions

     45     45

Salary increases

     2     2

Discount rate

     1.5     2

Terms of retirement

     voluntary retirement   

Retirement age

     65 years old        65 years old   

The discount rates are based on the market yield at the end of the reporting period on high quality corporate bonds.

The following table shows reconciliation from the opening balances to the closing balances for net defined benefit liability and its components.

 

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     € in thousands  

As of January 1, 2013

     (513

Current service cost

     (64

Past service cost

     85   

Interest cost

     (15

Actuarial gains and losses

     70   
  

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2013

     (437

Current service cost

     (71

Past service cost

     —     

Interest cost

     (11

Actuarial gains and losses

     121   
  

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2014

     (398
  

 

 

 

Current service cost

     (49

Past service cost

     —     

Interest cost

     (6

Actuarial gains and losses

     (14

Reclassification/CTA

     29   
  

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2015

     (437
  

 

 

 

Past service cost results from the redundancy plan we adopted in 2013.

Sweden

The employees of Cellectis AB benefit from a special pension arrangement which is a salary for pension scheme.

The obligation of Cellectis AB was recognized as a liability and the policy was recognized as an asset for the same amount. This asset and this liability amounted to €1,075 thousand as of December 31, 2013 and were offset in the balance sheets. This asset and obligation were transferred with the sale of Cellectis AB, in 2014.

United States of America

There is no defined benefit plan for Cellectis S.A.’s subsidiaries located in the United States.

Note 16. Other current liabilities

 

     2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

VAT Payables

     294         6,314   

Accruals for personnel related expenses

     628        3,958   

Other

     2,372        2,425   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,294        12,697   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

At December 31, 2015, VAT payables were mainly due to invoicing to Servier related collaboration programs. Accruals for personnel are related to annual bonuses, vacations accruals and social expenses on redundancy plans. Other is mainly explained by subsidies.

 

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At December 31, 2014, €1,880 thousand in other current liabilities correspond to a provision for subsidies received from OSEO for the program CellMill. Following an agreement with local authorities, the reimbursement made in 2015 amounted to €0.99 million and €0.69 million was recognized in Other revenues.

Note 17. Financial instruments recognized in the statement of financial position and related effect on the income statement

The following table shows the carrying amounts and fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities. It does not include fair value information for financial assets and financial liabilities not measured at fair value if the carrying amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value.

 

2014

   Book value on
the statement
of financial
position
     Fair value
through profit
and loss
     Loans and
receivables
     Receivables and
Debts at
amortized cost
     Fair Value  
     € in thousands  

Financial assets

     —          —           —          —           —     

Long-term financial assets

     1,977         —           1,977         —           1,977   

Trade receivables and subsidies receivables

     14,051        —           —          14,051         14,051   

Cash and cash equivalents

     112,347         112,347         —           —           112,347   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial assets

     128,375        112,347         1,977        14,051         128,375   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial liabilities

     —          —           —          —           —     

Non-current financial debt

     2,824         —           —           2,824         2,824   

Current borrowings

     862        —           —          862         862   

Trade payables , deferred revenues and deferred income, other current liabilities

     72,588         —           —           72,588         72,588   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

     76,274        —           —          76,274         76,274   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

2015

   Book value on
the statement
of financial
position
     Fair value
through profit
and loss
     Loans      Receivables and
Debts at
amortized cost
     Fair Value  
     € in thousands  

Financial assets

     —          —           —          —           —     

Long-term financial assets

     844         —           844         —           844   

Trade receivables and subsidies receivables

     15,137        —           —          15,137         15,137   

Cash and cash equivalents

     314,238         314,238         —           —           314,238   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial assets

     330,219        314,238         844        15,137         330,219   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial liabilities

     —          —           —          —           —     

Non-current financial debt

     66         —           —           66         66   

Current borrowings

     1,921        —           —          1,921         1,921   

Trade payables , deferred revenues and deferred income, other current liabilities

     74,065         —           —           74,065         74,065   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

     76,052        —           —          76,052         76,052   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Note 18. Revenues and other income

Revenues by country of origin and other income

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

From France

     2,958        20,146         50,303   

From USA

     2,404         1,481         44   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Revenues

     5,362        21,627         50,346   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Research tax credit

     3,755        3,330         5,039   

Other subsidies

     3,607         1,496         1,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other income

     7,362        4,826         6,039   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues and other income

     12,724        26,453         56,385   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Revenues from France come from Cellectis S.A., Cellectis Bioresearch S.A.S. and Ectycell, S.A.S.

Revenues from USA come from Calyxt, Inc. and Cellectis Bioresearch, Inc.

 

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Revenues by nature

 

     Year ended December 31, 2013  
     Therapeutics      Plants      Total  
     € in thousands  

Products & services

     1,435        —           1,435   

R&D services

     236        1,283         1,519   

Licences

     2,408        —           2,408   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     4,079         1,283         5,362   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Year ended December 31, 2014  
     Therapeutics      Plants      Total  
     € in thousands  

Products & services

     1,161        —           1,161   

R&D services

     254        1,065         1,319   

Licences

     7,268        —           7,268   

Collaboration agreements

     11,879        —           11,879   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     20,562        1,065         21,627   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Year ended December 31, 2015  
     Therapeutics      Plants      Total  
     € in thousands  

Products & services

     43        —           43   

R&D services

     —           44         44   

Licences

     1,972        —           1,972   

Collaboration agreements

     48,288        —           48,288   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     50,303        44         50,346   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The increase in revenues of the Therapeutics segment is attributable to our entering into two major collaboration agreements signed with Pfizer and Servier during 2014. They generated revenues of €11.8 million in 2014 and €48.3 million in 2015 including the amendment signed with Servier on November 18, 2015, which generated revenues of €18.8 million.

 

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Note 19. Operating expenses

 

     Year ended December 31,  
Research and development expenses    2013      2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Personnel expenses

     (5,977 )      (6,392      (35,455

Purchases and external expenses

     (9,795      (6,834      (15,249

Amortization of intangible assets

     (277 )      (143      (157

Other

     (1,796      (1,038      (1,549
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total research and development expenses

     (17,844 )      (14,407      (52,410
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Year ended December 31,  
Selling, general and administrative expenses    2013      2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Personnel expenses

     (7,889 )      (5,483      (19,588

Purchases and external expenses

     (11,090      (5,401      (6,097

Other

     (55 )      (2,229      (1,552
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total selling, general and administrative expenses

     (19,034 )      (13,114      (27,238
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Personnel expenses

Personnel expenses are as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Wages and salaries

     (13,405 )      (11,327      (24,940

Share-based payments

     (461      (548      (30,103
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     (13,866 )      (11,875      (55,043
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Wages and salaries for 2015 include €12.2 million of social contribution taxes related to stock options and free share grants.

Note 20. Share-based payments

Share warrants and employee warrants consist of Bon de Souscription d’Action (“BSAs”) and Bon de Souscription de Parts de Créateur d’Entreprise (“BSPCEs”) which are granted to our employees.

Under these programs, holders of vested options are entitled to subscribe to a capital increase of Cellectis at predetermined exercise price.

The following table provides the impact related to these programs in the statement of consolidated operations per fiscal year.

 

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€ in thousands    BSPCE E      Free
shares
2012
     Free
shares
2013
     Free
shares
2014
     Free
shares
2015
     Stock
Options
2015
     BSA 2015      Stock
option
calyxt
     Total  

Share-based payment expense 2015

     —           4         62         301         4,271         22,715         2,038         712         30,103   

Share-based payment expense 2014

     —           146         183         219         —           —           —           —           548   

Share-based payment expense 2013

     21         226         214         —           —           —           —           —           461   

The key terms and conditions related to these BSAs and BSPCEs are provided in the Notes 20.1 to 20.5.

20.1 BSPCE E

Date of grant: July 27, 2010

The BSPCEs were vested before January 1, 2012 up to 19,702 BSPCEs and vested for post January 1, 2012 on the basis of the following vesting schedule:

 

    Up to 19,702 BSPCE on July 27, 2012

 

    Up to 19,704 BSPCE on July 27, 2013

 

Date of grant (Board of Directors)

   07/27/2010     07/27/2010     07/27/2010  

Vesting period (years)

     1       2        3   

Plan expiration date

     07/27/2020       07/27/2020        07/27/2020   

Number of BSPCE granted

     19,702       19,702        19,704   

Share entitlement per BSPCE

     1       1        1   

Exercise price

     8.28       8.28        8.28   

Valuation method used

     Black and Scholes   

Grant date share fair value

     8.28       8.28        8.28   

Expected volatility

     54 %     54     54

Average life of BSPCE

     5.5       6        6.5   

Discount rate

     3.14 %     3.14     3.14

Expected dividends

     0 %     0     0

Performance conditions

     NA        NA        NA   

Fair value per BSPCE

     5.52       5.52        5.52   

20.2 Free shares

The free shares are subject to a two-year vesting period for French employees and four years for foreign citizens.

Details of Free shares

 

Date of grant (Board of Directors)

   09/18/2012     03/19/2013     03/19/2014     01/08/2015     05/18/2015     05/18/2015  

Vesting period (years)

     2       2        2       2       2       4   

Number of Free shares granted

     102,099       102,000        100,000        50,000        426,300        24,100   

Share entitlement per Free share

     1       1        1       1       1       1   

Grant date share fair value

     5.37       6.86        6.16        19.1        28.17        28.17   

Expected dividends

     0 %     0     0 %     0 %     0 %     0

Performance conditions

     n.a        n.a        n.a        n.a        n.a        n.a   

 

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20.3 Cellectis Stock options

The stock options are subject to a two-year vesting period for French employees and four years for foreign citizens.

Details of Stock options

 

Date of grant (Board of Directors)

   03/24/2015     09/08/2015  

Vesting period

     Graded        Graded   

Plan expiration date

     03/24/2025        09/08/2025   

Number of options granted

     1,892,300        1,982,300   

Share entitlement per options

     1        1   

Exercise price

     38.45        27.55   

Valuation method used

     Black-Scholes        Black-Scholes   

Grant date share fair value

     40.00        28.59   

Expected volatility

     59.8     59.9

Average life of options

     6.11        6.11   

Discount rate

     0.16     0.42

Expected dividends

     0     0

Performance conditions

     n.a        n.a   

Fair value per options

     22.02        15.86   

20.4 Cellectis Warrants

Details of Warrants

 

Date of grant (Board of Directors)

   03/27/2015     03/27/2015     05/18/2015     09/08/2015  

Vesting period

     Graded        Graded        Graded        Graded   

Plan expiration date

     03/27/2025        03/27/2025        05/18/2025        09/08/2025   

Number of BSA granted

     130,000        50,000        50,000        274,200   

Share entitlement per warrant

     1        1        1        1   

Exercise price

     38.45        38.45        29.58        28.01   

Valuation method used

     Black-Scholes        Black-Scholes        Black-Scholes        Black-Scholes   

Grant date share fair value

     32.15        28.17        28.17        28.59   

Expected volatility

     59     59     59     60

Average life of warrant

     6.0        5.8        6.0        6.0   

Discount rate

     0.42     0.94     0.94     0.43

Expected dividends

     0     0     0     0

Performance conditions

     n.a        n.a        n.a        n.a   

Fair value per warrant

     13.95        11.10        13.51        14.24   

20.5 Calyxt options

The key terms and conditions related to these options are provided in the table below.

 

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In US Dollars    Employees (a)     Managers (b)        

Date of grant (Board of Directors)

   12/03/2014     12/03/2014     09/08/2015 (c)  

Vesting period

     Graded        Graded        Graded   

Plan expiration date

     12/03/2024        12/03/2024        09/08/2025   

Number of options granted

     290       650       465   

Share entitlement per options

     1        1        1   

Exercise price

     910       910       5,349   

Valuation method used

     Black-Scholes        Black-Scholes        Black-Scholes   

Grant date share fair value

     910.00       910.00       5349.00   

Expected volatility

     48.0     48.0     54.3

Average life of options

     6.16       6.04       5.53   

Discount rate

     1.74     1.74     1.65

Expected dividends

     0 %     0 %     0

Performance conditions

     Trigger event     Trigger event     Trigger event

Fair value per options

     436       432       2,677   

 

* These plans require an IPO or a triggering event either as a vesting condition or for exercisability. If the condition is expected to occur during the service period, then it is a non-market performance condition.

 

(a) the option shall vest as follows for employees

 

    25% of the total number of shares on April 10, 2015;

 

    6.25% of the total number of shares on the last day of each calendar quarter beginning from third quarter of 2015 (or 12.5% of the total number of shares on the last day of each calendar quarter beginning after a triggering event or initial public offering);

 

    25% at the date of a triggering event or initial public offering.

 

(b) the option shall vest as follows for managers

 

    20% of the total number of shares on January 3, 2015;

 

    20% of the total number of shares on April 10, 2015;

 

    5% of the total number of shares on the last day of each calendar quarter beginning from third quarter of 2015 (or 10% of the total number of shares on the last day of each calendar quarter beginning after a triggering event or initial public offering);

 

    25% at the date of a triggering event or initial public offering.

 

(c) the options issued on September 8, 2015 shall vest as follows:

 

    20% of the total Number of Shares on 8 September 2015;

 

    20% of the total Number of Shares on 8 September 2016; and

 

    5% of the Total Number of Shares on the last day of each calendar quarter beginning from the fourth quarter of 2016;

 

    25% at the date of a triggering event or initial public offering.

The vested portion of such options shall only become exercisable in the event that a triggering event or initial public offering occurs prior to the expiration date, in which case, an additional 25% of the total number of shares shall immediately vest. The total of vested options cannot exceed 100% of the number of options initially granted. A triggering event is designed as any transaction that would result in Cellectis losing control of Calyxt Inc..

 

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Note 21. Financial revenues and expenses

 

     Year end December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Financial revenues

        

Interest income

     316         316         986   

Foreign exchange gain

     152        7,143         8,196   

Other financial revenues

     —           163         59   

Total financial revenues

     468        7,622         9,240   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial expenses

        

Interest expenses

     (198      (113      (1

Interest expenses for finance lease

     (96 )      (48      (20

Foreign exchange loss

     (454      (113      (1,664

Other financial expenses

     (32 )      (253      (6

Total financial expenses

     (780      (527      (1,690
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     (312 )      7,095         7,550   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Foreign exchange gain is primarily attributable to the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on our U.S. dollar denominated bank accounts.

Note 22. Income tax

22.1 Tax proof

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     € in thousands  

Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations

     (26,840 )     1,850        (20,373

Theoretical group tax rate

     34.43     34.43     34.43
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Theoretical tax benefit (expense)

     9,241       (637     7,014   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase/decrease in tax benefit arising from:

      

Permanent differences

     (1,263 )     2,433        5,792   

Research tax credit

     1,293        1,146        1,736   

Share-based compensation

     (159 )     (189     (10,364

Non recognition of deferred tax assets related to tax losses and temporary differences

     (8,599     (2,755     (4,170

Impairment of assets

     (120 )     (9     —     

Other differences

     (394     11        (8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax expense

     —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     0     0     0

 

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22.2 Deferred tax assets and liabilities

 

     As of December 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     € in thousands  

Credits and net operating loss carryforwards

     24,946         21,158         34,646   

Pension commitments

     76        56        150   

Leases

     (111      (77      (116

Technology costs of Cellectis AB

     (522      —           —     

Conditional advances

     (65 )      (27 )      —     

Impairment of assets

     67         71         15   

Other

     412        119        260   

Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets

     (24,803      (21,300      (34,956
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2015, we have tax loss carryforwards for our French entities totaling €77.5 million (€109.1 million as of December 31, 2014 and €113.1 million as of December, 2013). Such carryforwards can be offset against future taxable profit within a limit of €1.0 million per year, plus 50% of the profit exceeding this limit. Remaining unused losses will continue to be carried forward indefinitely.

The tax loss carry forwards for our U.S. entities totaled €19.9 million as of December 31, 2015 (€8.7 million as of December 31, 2014 and €6.9 million as of December 31, 2013).

Note 23. Discontinued operations

23.1 Total revenues and other income and loss from discontinued operations

The following data shows the revenues, the losses and the impairment of Cellectis AB, which was sold in August 2014.

For 2014, the loss from the activities of discontinued operations combines the operating loss of Cellectis AB and the result of its sale.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013      2014  
     € in thousands  

Total revenues and other income from discontinued operations

     3,832         2,057   

Loss from the activities of discontinued operations

     (2,793 )      (727

Impairment of goodwill

     (26,764      —     

Loss on the disposal of Cellectis AB

     —           (2,095
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

     (29,580 )      (2,822
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Included in loss on disposal of Cellectis AB is €(1,096) thousand related to impairment of goodwill and €608 thousand relating to the recycling of the currency translation adjustment from the comprehensive income.

 

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23.2 Statement of financial position of discontinued operations

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013  
     € in thousands  

ASSETS

  

Non-current assets

  

Goodwill

     1,096   

Intangible assets

     2,372   

Property, plant, and equipment

     414   

Other non-current assets

     —     

Total non-current assets

     3,882   
  

 

 

 

Current assets

  

Inventories and accumulated costs on orders in process

     135   

Trade receivables

     235   

VAT Receivables

     283   

Other current assets

     231   

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,290   
  

 

 

 

Total current assets

     2,174   
  

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

     6,056   
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Current liabilities

  

Trade payables

     475   

Other current liabilities

     1,939   
  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     2,414   
  

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

     2,414   
  

 

 

 

Note 24. Commitments

Obligations under the terms of the operating leases

The amount of future rents under non-cancellable leases is as follows:

 

     12/31/2013      12/31/2014      12/31/2015  
     € in thousands  

Less than One Year

     1,442        1,278        2,310   

One to Five Years

     3,368         1,598         3,554   

More than Five Years

     —          —          —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     4,810         2,876         5,863   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Obligations under the terms of license agreements

We have entered into various license agreements with third parties that subject us to certain fixed license fees, as well as fees based on future events, such as research and sales milestones. Total fixed fees under these arrangements are €20.2 million as of December 31, 2015 (€19 million as of December 31, 2014).

Note 25. Related parties

Key management personnel remuneration

Key management personnel include members of the Board of Directors and the CODM as described in Note 5.

 

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Short-term employee benefits paid to key management personnel totaled to €1.1 million in the fiscal year 2013, to €1.3 million in the fiscal year 2014 and to €2.0 million in the fiscal year 2015.

On September 4, 2014, the Board of Directors adopted a change of control plan which applies notably to the members of the CODM. This plan defines the conditions under which a severance package will be paid after a change of control of our company. Key management personnel employment agreements include a termination indemnity or additional post-employment compensation.

Key management personnel received an aggregate of 2,434,410 securities in share-based remuneration (free shares, warrants and stock options) over the year ended December 31, 2015. The associated non-cash stock-based compensation expense of €14.8 million was recognized for 2015.

Other transactions with related parties

Mr. Godard, a member of the Board of Directors, entered into two service agreements with us and provided consultancy services in the area of (i) global development strategy and (ii) specific development of agricultural biotechnology activities. Compensation paid for those services in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 amounted to €32 thousand, €32 thousand and €35 thousand respectively. No balances were outstanding at the end of each fiscal year. As of December 31, 2015, Mr. Godard held 100,000 non-employee warrants that could be exercised to obtain 50,000 shares at a strike price of €38.45 for 50,000 warrants and €28.01 for the other half.

Institut Pasteur is a former shareholder of Cellectis S.A and former observer of the Board of Directors. We paid license royalties of €255 thousand, €1.7 million and €1.1 million to Institut Pasteur in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively. Cellectis Bioresearch sold products to Institut Pasteur in the year ended December 31, 2013 for an amount of €7 thousand. The outstanding receivables were €236 thousand as of December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2014 and 2015, we had neither receivables nor payables with Institut Pasteur.

Pfizer acquired a 10% ownership in Cellectis on July 31, 2014. The revenues booked for Pfizer in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 amount to €250 thousand, €9.2 million and €23.8 million respectively. As of December 31, 2015, the outstanding receivables were €1.9 million and Pfizer had a 7.94% ownership in Cellectis.

Bpifrance is a shareholder of Cellectis S.A. and “Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations” (“CDC”) was a shareholder of Cellectis Bioresearch. OSEO, which is the former name of Bpifrance and is indirectly related to CDC, granted conditional advances and subsidies to us, as described in Note 13.2. On May 18, 2015, we signed with the “Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations” a contract for our repurchase of its participation in Cellectis Bioresearch., which represented 25% of the total shares thereof for an amount of €3.5 million. At the time of the merger with Cellectis S.A., Cellectis S.A. was the sole stockholder of Cellectis Bioresearch.

 

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Note 26. Earnings per share

 

     December 31,  
     2013     2014     2015  

Net profit (loss) attributable to shareholders of Cellectis (€ in thousands)

     (55,402 )     20        (20,544

Adjusted weighted average number of outstanding shares

     20,653,912        26,071,709        34,149,908   

Adjusted weighted average number of outstanding shares, net of effects of dilutive potential ordinary shares

     20,653,912       26,192,652        34,522,910   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic / Diluted earnings per share (€ / share)

     (2.68 )     0.00        (0.60
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings from continuing operations per share ( € /share)

     (1.25     0.11        (0.60

Basic earnings from discontinued operations per share ( € /share)

     (1.43 )     (0.11     —     

Diluted earnings from continuing operations per share ( € /share)

     (1.25     0.11        (0.60

Diluted earnings from discontinued operations per share ( € /share)

     (1.43 )     (0.11     —     

Note 27. Subsequent event

Calyxt, Inc. announced on March 1, 2016 that it closed on the purchase of a 10-acre parcel in the St. Paul suburb of Roseville to build its new headquarters facility. The new facility, which should be operational around mid-2017, will consist of a 35,000 square-foot office and lab building, with greenhouses and outdoor research plots.

On March 16, 2016, Cellectis S.A. announced jointly with MabQuest SA (a biotech company focused on the development of antibody-based therapeutic interventions) that the companies have entered into a research collaboration and license agreement pertaining to the development of a new class of monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1. The action of these PD-1 antibodies is to promote the recovery of T-cells from exhaustion through a new mechanism of action, which does not block the PD-1-PD-L1 interaction. Cellectis plans to use these PD-1 antagonist antibodies in combination therapy with its gene-edited UCART candidate products as well as a single-agent or in combination with other already approved immunotherapy drugs.

The agreement includes a collaboration phase funded by Cellectis whereby Cellectis and MabQuest will jointly pursue preclinical research on several candidate antibodies; and a clinical development and commercialization phase of the best selected antibodies which will be led by Cellectis. It also includes an exclusive option which, if exercised, would grant Cellectis worldwide exclusive rights over the family of PD-1 antagonist antibodies developed under the collaboration for all fields, and further potential derivatives of these antibodies.

 

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

    CELLECTIS S.A.
   

/s/ André Choulika

    By:   André Choulika
    Title:   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 21, 2016


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  

Schedule/
Form

  

File Number

    

Exhibit

  

File Date

1.1#    By-laws (status) of the registrant (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       3.1    March 10, 2015
2.1#    Form of Deposit Agreement    F-1      333-202205       4.1    March 10, 2015
2.2#    Form of American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 2.1)    F-1      333-202205       Included
in 4.1
   March 10, 2015
4.1#*    Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated June 19, 2000 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.1    March 12, 2015
4.1.1#    Amendment No. 1 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated December 20, 2002 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.1.1    March 12, 2015
4.1.2#*    Amendment No. 2 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated September 8, 2003 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.1.2    March 12, 2015
4.1.3#    Amendment No. 3 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated February 26, 2008    F-1      333-202205       10.1.3    March 12, 2015
4.1.4#    Amendment No. 4 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061901 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated April 11, 2013 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.1.4    March 12, 2015
4.2#*    Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated October 19, 2000 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.2    March 12, 2015
4.2.1#*    Amendment No. 1 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated September 8, 2003 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.2.1    March 12, 2015
4.2.2#*    Amendment No. 2 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated June 24, 2004 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.2.2    March 12, 2015
4.2.3#*    Amendment No. 3 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated August 24, 2005 (English translation)    F-1      333-202205       10.2.3    March 12, 2015


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  

Schedule/
Form

  

File Number

  

Exhibit

  

File Date

4.2.4#*    Amendment No. 4 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061906 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated December 27, 2007 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.2.4    March 12, 2015
4.3#*    Patent License Agreement #C-00061905 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated June 19, 2000 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.3    March 12, 2015
4.3.1#*    Amendment No. 1 to Patent License Agreement #C-00061905 between L’Institut Pasteur and Cellectis S.A., dated September 8, 2003 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.3.1    March 12, 2015
4.4#*    Research and Collaboration Agreement between Pfizer Inc. and Cellectis S.A., dated June 17, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.4    March 12, 2015
4.5#*    Research, Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement, among Les Laboratoires Servier SAS, Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier SAS and Cellectis S.A., dated February 17, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.5    March 12, 2015
4.5.1*    Amendment to the Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement, among Les Laboratoires Servier SAS, Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier SAS and Cellectis S.A., dated November 18, 2015             Filed Herewith
4.6#*    Exclusive Patent License Agreement between Regents of the University of Minnesota and Cellectis S.A., dated January 10, 2011    F-1    333-202205    10.6    March 12, 2015
4.6.1#*    First Amendment to the Exclusive Patent License Agreement between Regents of the University of Minnesota and Cellectis S.A., dated May 24, 2012    F-1    333-202205    10.6.1    March 12, 2015
4.6.2#*    Second Amendment to the Exclusive Patent License Agreement between Regents of the University of Minnesota and Cellectis S.A., dated April 1, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.6.2    March 12, 2015
4.7#*    Patent & Technology License Agreement between Ohio State Innovation Foundation and Cellectis S.A., dated October 23, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.7    March 12, 2015
4.8#    Warrants Issue Agreement between Cellectis S.A. and Kepler Capital Markets SA, dated December 20, 2012 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.8    March 10, 2015
4.8.1#    First Amendment to Warrants Issue Agreement between Cellectis S.A. and Kepler Capital Markets SA, dated June 6, 2013 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.8.1    March 10, 2015
4.8.2#    Second Amendment to Warrants Issue Agreement between Cellectis S.A. and Kepler Capital Markets SA, dated October 7, 2013 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.8.2    March 10, 2015
4.9#    Warrant Agreement between Cellectis S.A. and Trout Capital LLC, dated March 24, 2014    F-1    333-202205    10.9    March 10, 2015
4.10†#    Change of Control Plan, effective as of September 4, 2014 (English translation)    F-1    333-202205    10.10    March 10, 2015


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  

Schedule/
Form

  

File Number

  

Exhibit

  

File Date

4.11†#    Summary of BSA Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.11    March 10, 2015
4.12†#    Summary of BSPCE Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.12    March 10, 2015
4.13†#    2012 Free Share Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.13    March 10, 2015
4.14†#    2013 Free Share Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.14    March 10, 2015
4.15†#    2014 Free Share Plan    F-1    333-202205    10.15    March 10, 2015
4.16†    2015 Free Share Plan             Filed Herewith
4.17†    2015 Stock Option Plan             Filed Herewith
8.1    List of subsidiaries of the registrant             Filed Herewith
12.1   

Certificate of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-

14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

            Filed Herewith
12.2    Certification by the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002             Filed Herewith
13.1    Certification by the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002             Filed Herewith
13.2    Certification by the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002             Filed Herewith
15.1    Consent of Ernst & Young et Autres             Filed Herewith

 

Indicates a management contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
# Indicates a document previously filed with the Commission.
* Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
EX-4.5.1

CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED BY CELLECTIS S.A.—CONFIDENTIAL PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED AND HAVE BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.

Amendment to the Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement

This Amendment to the Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement shall become effective as of the 18th of November 2015 (hereinafter the “Effective Date”) by and between Les Laboratoires Servier, a corporation incorporated under the laws of France having a principal place of business at 50 rue Carnot, 92150 Suresnes, France (“LLS”) and lnstitut de Recherches lnternationales Servier, a corporation incorporated under the laws of France having its principal place of business at 50 rue Carnot, 92 150 Suresnes, France (“IRIS”) (LLS and IRIS being together referred to as “Servier”), and Cellectis SA, a company incorporated under the laws of France having a principal place of business, at 8, rue de la Croix Jarry, 75013 Paris, France (“Cellectis”). Cellectis and Servier are individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively, as the “Parties.”

 

I. CONTEXT

Servier and Cellectis share a common objective consisting in the strategic optimization of the global development of the Cellectis CAR technology on the targets identified as per the terms of that certain Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement effective as of February 7, 2014 entered into between the parties thereto (the “Agreement”). Unless otherwise specifically provided in this amendment (the “Amendment”), capitalized terms shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

Servier contemplates entering into an exclusive sub-license agreement with a third party partner (the “US Partner”) for the development and commercialization of UCART19 Products and UCART [***] Products in the United States of America and its territories and possessions (the “US Sublicense”).

Servier and Cellectis are willing to amend the Agreement with respect to UCART19 Candidate Products and UCART [***] Candidate Products in order to (i) include terms and conditions for development of additional UCART19 Candidate Products and [***] Candidate Products, (ii) allow an early exercise of the Option to License by Servier, as per the terms of article 6.2 of the Agreement, for the first UCART19 Candidate Product Developed by Cellectis under the Agreement (the “UCART19 Product V1”), and (iii) allow an early exercise of the Option to License by Servier, as per the terms of article 6.2 of the Agreement, for UCART [***] Candidate Products and additional UCART19 Candidate Products upon achievement of their first validated GMP batch and subject to the validation by Servier of the corresponding IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package. For the avoidance of doubt, should Servier not validate an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package, as appropriate, or not exercise the corresponding Option to License, then the terms of the article 4.1 (c) of the Agreement shall apply to the corresponding Candidate Product.

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

     1   

SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION

  


For purposes of this Amendment, “IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package” shall mean: [***].

 

II. AMENDMENT ENTRY INTO FORCE

The Amendment shall enter into force as of the Effective Date.

The Parties hereby agree to issue, within four days following the Effective Date, with the US Partner the joint press release relating to the transactions contemplated herein attached as Exhibit B.

 

III GRANT OF RIGHTS

 

  a) Subject to the entry into force of the Amendment, Cellectis hereby grants to Servier a license for the UCART19 Product as per the terms of the Agreement, except for the TAL nuclease Cellectis Patents for which the license grant is:

 

  (i) subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, Cellectis grants to Servier, on a country by country basis, the right to use the TAL nucleases engineered by Cellectis pursuant to this Agreement to develop the UCART19 Product V1 until the filing of the corresponding IND or IMPD (or foreign equivalent);

 

  (ii) after the IND or IMPD filing, subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, Cellectis grants to Servier, on a country by country basis, an exclusive license on the TAL nuclease Cellectis Patent, to use the TAL nucleases engineered by Cellectis to make, have made, use, have used, sell, have sold, offer for sale, have offered for sale, import, have imported, and otherwise exploit the UCART19 Product V1, with the right to grant sublicense as provided in the Agreement.

 

  b) Subject to the entry into force of the Amendment, and (i) upon achievement of its first validated GMP batch and (ii) subject to the validation by Servier of the corresponding IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package and exercise of the corresponding Option to License, Cellectis will grant to Servier a license on a Product by Product basis for the additional UCART19 Candidate Products and UCART [***] Candidate Products (as identified in the Development Plan attached hereto as Exhibit C) as per the terms of the Agreement, except for the TAL nuclease Cellectis Patents for which the license grant will be the same as the rights granted to Servier under section (a) (i) and (ii) of this Article 3 of the Amendment.

 

IV. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER / TRANSFER OF KNOW-HOW

1. With respect to UCART19 Product, Cellectis shall regularly inform Servier in advance of each material step of [***] and promptly notify Servier of any difficulties or delays as well as of Cellectis’ reasonable efforts to mitigate such difficulties or delays. Cellectis shall respond to any reasonable request from Servier in connection with performance of such [***].

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

     2   

SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION

  


Prior to the entry into force of this Amendment, Cellectis has provided to Servier (i) [***] (the “CMO Terms”). [***].

2. Article 5.2 paragraph 2 shall be modified as follow:

 

replace “Servier may elect at any time before entering into the first Phase II studies (or during the performance of the Phase II studies) to have the manufacture of the Products transferred by Cellectis or its designee, at Servier’s costs, to a Contract Manufacturing Organization selected by Servier and reasonably acceptable to Cellectis” by “Servier may elect at any time before entering into the first Phase II studies but after the exercise of the corresponding Option to License for any Product, to have the manufacture of such Products transferred by Cellectis or its designee, at Servier’s costs, to Servier, its US Partner or its Designee reasonably acceptable to Cellectis”.

For sake of clarity, Cellectis (or its designee, under Cellectis’ responsibility) shall use diligent efforts to perform the technology transfer to Servier, its US Partner or its Designee necessary for Servier to conduct the manufacturing of each Product. Such technology transfer will be made on a Product-by-Product basis (provided that once such technology transfer has been made for a Product, it is deemed to be made for any subsequent Products, Follow-on Products and Backup Products directed against the same Target to the extent that in such case and if the manufacturing of such subsequent Product, Follow-on Products and Backup Products requires additional technology transfer due to subsequent changes, Cellectis shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide reasonable support to Servier, its US Partner or its Designee with respect to such technology transfer), and will start at Cellectis’ discretion within [***] following:

 

  (i) election by Servier to have the manufacture of the Products transferred by Cellectis or its designee, at Servier’s costs, to Servier or its Designee. ;

 

  (ii) sending by Servier to Cellectis of a written waiver of Servier’s rights under Section 5.2 paragraph 1 to request Cellectis to manufacture or have manufactured such Product and subsequent Product, Follow-on and Backup Product directed against the same Target (under conditions specified above) until the end of Phase II, such waiver will nonetheless be effective only once the technology transfer will be successfully and timely completed.

Upon request of Servier and subject to (ii) above, Cellectis shall initiate the technology transfer for manufacture of UCART19 Product V1 to Servier or its Designee during [***].

 

V. OPTIONS EXERCISE

 

A. UCART19 Product

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

     3   

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1. Concurrently with the entry into force of the Amendment, Servier does hereby exercise its Option to License the UCART19 Product V1, according to the terms of the Agreement and this Amendment, and Cellectis does hereby acknowledge the exercise of such Option to License. The payments by Servier under Section VI.1 (a) of the Amendment shall be made in accordance with the terms provided therein.

2. Without prejudice of Sections 3.5 and 4.2 (c) of the Agreement and subject to the availability of UCART19 Product V1 in sufficient quantities and the obtention of the necessary authorizations to conduct the below mentioned Phases I clinical trials, Servier commits to conduct or have conducted in [***] for UCART19 V1, provided that (i) Servier shall use commercially reasonable efforts to start in [***] the [***], and (ii) the pediatric Phase I clinical trial shall be conducted at Great Ormond Street Hospital (London, UK).

Notwithstanding the exercise of the Option to License by Servier, Cellectis will perform, in its own name and in consultation with Servier, the filing of the Clinical Trial Applications in the [***] for the first Phases I of UCART19 V1, and will use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to perform such filings no later [***]. For sake of clarity, Cellectis will be entitled to make any press release on such filings pursuant to Section 8.6 of the Agreement provided, however, that (i) Cellectis will provide Servier with any such draft press release within five (5) days prior to its public disclosure and (ii) Servier’s right to make comments on any such draft press release shall be limited to two (2) days following receipt of the corresponding draft from Cellectis. Following the filing of the Clinical Trial Application referred to above, the responsibility to conduct the Phase I studies related to the UCART19 Product V1 will be transferred to Servier or its Designee, which shall then become the sponsor of such Phase 1 studies. Cellectis will cooperate with Servier in connection with such transfer as provided in Section 5.1 of the Agreement.

Servier shall regularly inform Cellectis of the progress of the Studies and respond to any reasonable request from Cellectis in connection with the performance of [***] Phase 1 study. With respect to [***] Phase 1 study, Servier will copy Cellectis [***] and will provide Cellectis on an ongoing basis with [***] will provide Cellectis through the JRDC members [***]. The information obligation contained in the preceding sentence shall also apply with respect to other UCART19 Products, Follow-on Products or Backup Products (including UCART19 V2) and the UCART [***] Products, Follow-on Products or Backup Products (including the [***] Products) if and when the corresponding Option to License is exercised by Servier pursuant to the Agreement. Servier will provide to Cellectis the [***]. Cellectis may communicate material results related to UCART19 Product V1 (including without limitation such intermediate results) as well as on any compassionate uses of UCART 19, subject to Servier’s prior prompt written approval as to the form and content of such communication, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

3. The exercise of the Option to License for the UCART19 Product V1 shall not relieve either Party’s obligation regarding the development of such UCART19 Product V1, and the payments related thereto, and in particular:

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

     4   

SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION

  


  (i) Section 5.1 of the Agreement, to the extent necessary for Servier to conduct its activities as contemplated in this Amendment.

In particular, Cellectis shall provide Servier with the relevant documentation in Cellectis’ possession reasonably necessary for Servier to conduct the Phases 1 of UCART19;

 

  (ii) the supply by Cellectis, at its own costs, of the clinical supplies of UCART19 Product V1 to Servier for the first Phase 1 [***] study which is limited to amounts necessary [***]:

 

    [***]

 

    [***]

 

    [***]

 

  (iii) subject to the specific conditions set forth below, the payment by Servier of the royalties and milestones under Sections 6.3(a) to (g), 6.4, and 6.5 of the Agreement; and

 

  (iv) the supply by Cellectis, at Servier’s costs, of the clinical supplies of UCART19 Product V1 for the Phase 1 [***] study.

 

  (v) if requested by Servier, Cellectis shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to develop one or more additional UCART19 Candidate Products. The related Option to License shall be exercisable as of:

 

  (a) the validation by Servier of the corresponding IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package submitted by Cellectis (provided that upon reception by Servier of an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package for a Candidate Product, Servier shall have [***] to validate or not the IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package), and

 

  (b) the provision of the first validated GMP batch for such Candidate Product.

The provisions of Section 4.1 of the Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis. For the avoidance of doubt, should Servier not validate an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package, as appropriate, or does not exercise the corresponding Option to License within the timelines described in Section 4.1 (b), then the terms of the article 4.1 (c) of the Agreement shall apply to the corresponding Candidate Product.

Cellectis acknowledges and agrees that Servier has requested the development by Cellectis of the second UCART19 Product (the “UCART19 V2”) as set forth in the Development Plans on Exhibit C hereto. Cellectis agrees to generate data up

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

     5   

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to an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package for such UCART19 V2 in accordance with and on the timelines set forth in Exhibit C. The Parties further acknowledge and agree that Servier and its US Partner may conduct research and development work on UCART19 V2 before the exercise of the Option to License. UCART19 V2 shall be treated as a Follow-On Product, unless the development of the lead UCART19 Product is ceased prior to the Commercialization stage, in which case such UCART19 V2 will become a lead product and the subsequent milestones for such product shall be payable at 100% instead of 50%. Additional UCART19 Product(s) will either be treated as new Pre-Candidate Product(s), new Candidate Product(s), Follow-on Product(s) or Back-up Product(s), as per Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of the Agreement.

4. Article 3.1 of the Agreement shall be amended in its entirety as follows:

3.1 Development of UCART 19 Product

Subject to Article 5.2 relating to Manufacturing aspects, Servier shall be responsible for conducting the Development of each UCART19 Product after the exercise of the Option to License. Upon Servier’s request, Cellectis shall make reasonable efforts to assist Servier in the conduct of the part of the Development of the UCART19 Product towards the completion of the first Phase 1.”

 

B. UCART [***] Products

1. The Option to License with respect to each UCART [***] Candidate Product shall be exercisable as of:

 

  (a) the validation by Servier of the IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package submitted by Cellectis (provided that upon reception by Servier of an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package for a Candidate Product, Servier shall have [***], to validate or not the IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package), and

 

  (b) the provision of the first validated GMP batch.

The provisions of Section 4.1 of the Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis. For the avoidance of doubt, should Servier not validate an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package, as appropriate, or does not exercise the corresponding Option to License within the timelines described in Section 4.1 (b), then the terms of the article 4.1 (c) of the Agreement shall apply to the corresponding Candidate Product.

2. Cellectis will use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to initially generate data up to an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package for [***] UCART [***] Candidate Product(s) pursuant to the Development Plan attached as Exhibit C. For the sake of clarity, Cellectis would not be responsible for the filing of the IND and/or the IMPD (or any other foreign equivalent), which shall be filed by Servier or its Designee.

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

     6   

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3. The exercise of the Option to License for [***] UCART [***] Candidate Product shall not relieve either Party’s obligation regarding the development of such UCART [***] Candidate Product, and the payments related thereto, and in particular:

 

  (i) Section 5.1 of the Agreement, to the extent necessary for Servier to conduct its activities as contemplated in this Amendment;

 

  (ii) its development by Cellectis until completion and delivery to Servier of an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package for one or more UCART [***] Candidate Products. In this respect, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Servier’s intent is to request an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package for [***] UCART [***] Products, [***]. In the event Servier decides to exercise its Option to License on such [***] UCART [***] Products, the [***] UCART [***] Product shall be treated as a new Product and the subsequent milestones for such Product shall be payable at 100%;

 

  (iii) subject to the specific conditions set forth below, the payments by Servier to Cellectis of the milestone “[***]” corresponding to a milestone payment of [***], and any and all milestones and royalties under Sections 6.3 (b) to (g), 6.4 and 6.5 of the Agreement;

 

  (iv) Cellectis shall continue to be responsible, at Servier costs, for the supply to Servier of UCART [***] Products for use in the first Phase 1 study, as contemplated in the Development Plan attached hereto as Exhibit C.

4. Article 3.3 of the Agreement shall be amended as follows:

“3.3. Development of the Pre-Candidate Product(s) and Candidate Products up to IND/IMPD Enabling Data Package.

Following identification and selection of each Pre-Candidate Product and Candidate Product, Cellectis shall be responsible for conducting the Development activities of the corresponding Pre-Candidate Product and Candidate Product until completion and delivery by Cellectis to Servier of an IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package, in accordance with the corresponding Development Plan as defined by the JRDC and validated by the JSC. Servier and Cellectis shall cooperate closely in such Development. For sake of clarity, for any Development of a Pre-Candidate Product and Candidate Product not initially planned in the Development Plan, the Parties shall meet in order to define the technical and financial conditions for such additional Development. For any Development of a UCART 19 or UCART [***] Pre-Candidate Product and Candidate Product not initially planned in the Development Plan attached hereto as Exhibit C, the Parties shall meet in order to define the technical and financial conditions for such additional Development”.

5. In Article 4.1 (b) of the Agreement, for UCART19 Candidate Products and UCART [***] Candidate Products, the reference to “Phase 1 Data Package” shall be replaced by “IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package”.

 

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6. The Parties further acknowledge and agree that Servier and its US Partner may conduct research work on UCART [***] Pre-Candidate Products and UCART [***] Candidate Products before the exercise of the Option to License, provided that all intellectual property generated in connection therewith that is owned by Servier and/or its US Partner specifically and solely related to the UCART [***] Pre-Candidate Products and/or the UCART [***] Candidate Products will form part of the Servier IP to be licensed to Cellectis in the absence of exercise of the Option to License pursuant to Section 4.1 (c) of the Agreement. Servier and/or its US Partner which is responsible for the filing of such intellectual property shall cooperate as regards the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of all such patent rights worldwide and shall in particular inform and discuss with Cellectis in due time the patent strategy and of any material correspondence received and draft correspondence to be exchanged with the patent offices. Servier or its US Partner which is responsible for the filing of such intellectual property shall take into good faith consideration any Cellectis’ proposal or comment. Cellectis will, and Servier or its US Partner will no longer, be responsible for preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of all such patent rights if such patent rights are licensed to Cellectis in the absence of exercise of the Option to License pursuant to Section 4.1 (c) of the Agreement.

Should Servier or its US Partner develop any improvement to the Platform Patents (as defined in Section VII.A.1. of this Amendment) that is generated in the performance of the activities conducted pursuant to V.B.6 above, Servier will grant to Cellectis a worldwide, fully paid-up, royalty free, sublicensable, co-exclusive (together with Servier and its sublicensees (including the US Partner) for the performance of their rights and obligations under the Agreement and the US Sublicense) license under such improvement to make, have made, use, have used, sell, have sold, offer for sale, have offered for sale, import, have imported and otherwise exploit and commercialize products and process.

Servier shall cause its US Partner to comply with the provisions of this section V.B.6.

 

VI. SPECIFIC FINANCIAL TERMS ON UCART19 and UCART [***] CANDIDATE PRODUCT

 

1. Payments

 

  a) Upfront Payments. Upon entry into force of this Amendment, Servier shall pay to Cellectis the following amounts within [***] of receipt of the corresponding invoice:

 

    [***];

 

    [***];

 

    [***];

 

    [***].

 

  b) Milestones:

 

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    All Milestones Payments due under article 6.3 (a) to (e) of the Agreement for the first UCART19 Product will be fully due by Servier to Cellectis upon achievement of the corresponding Milestone events in accordance with the Agreement;

 

    The milestone “[***]” corresponding to a milestone payment of [***], and all Milestone Payments due under article 6.3 (e) of the Agreement for the [***] Product will be fully due by Servier to Cellectis upon achievement of the corresponding Milestone events in accordance with the Agreement;

 

    The milestone “[***]” corresponding to a milestone payment of [***], and all Milestone Payments due under article 6.3 (e) of the Agreement applicable to Follow-on Products for the second UCART19 Product will be fully due by Servier to Cellectis upon achievement of the corresponding Milestone events in accordance with the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the first between UCART19 Product V1 and UCART19 V2 that reach the applicable milestones under article 6.3 (e) shall bear 100% of such milestone payments and the second shall bear 50% of such milestone payments;

 

    The milestone “[***]” corresponding to a milestone payment of [***], and all Milestone Payments due under article 6.3 (e) of the Agreement for the [***] Product will be fully due by Servier to Cellectis upon achievement of the corresponding Milestone events in accordance with the Agreement ;

 

    An additional milestone of [***] US dollars ([***]) will be fully due by Servier to Cellectis upon achievement of the milestone “[***]”, for the [***] Product;

 

    An additional milestone of [***] will be fully due by Servier to Cellectis upon achievement of the milestone “[***]” for the first UCART 19 Product;

 

    For sake of clarity, any and all payments due under 6.4 and 6.5 are due for UCART19 Products and Follow-on Products and [***] Products;

 

    Payments due under article 6.3 (g) of the Agreement as amended below for UCART19 Products and Follow-on Products and [***] Products will be fully due by Servier to Cellectis subject to payment by the US Partner to Servier.

 

  c) Reimbursement of costs incurred by Cellectis:

 

   

In consideration of the work performed by Cellectis relating to the development of the [***] Candidate Products and the second UCART19 Candidate Product up to the final delivery of the IND/IMPD Enabling Data Package, Servier will pay Cellectis on a full time equivalent basis (the FTE rate of which will be [***] with respect to [***], upon submission of a quarterly invoice together with all supporting documentation with respect to the costs incurred. The FTE rate shall be adjusted annually on each

 

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anniversary date of the Amendment by an amount equal to the percentage increase for the last quarter preceding such anniversary date of the [***]. The costs incurred by Cellectis relating to the development of the [***] Candidate Product for the “[***]” from the achievement of the last milestone paid by Servier related to the [***] Candidate Product up to the effective date of this Amendment amount to [***] in the aggregate and shall be payable by Servier to Cellectis within [***] of receipt by Servier of the corresponding invoice.

 

    In consideration of the work performed by Cellectis relating to the filing of the Clinical Trial Applications for UCART19 V1, up to the transfer of the sponsorship as provided in Section V.A.2 of this Amendment, Servier will reimburse Cellectis the costs incurred by Cellectis [***].

 

    As a consequence:

the milestone payment due under article 6.3 (a) of the Agreement for the second UCART19 Candidate Products and the [***] UCART [***] Candidate Products shall no longer apply and will not be due by Servier to Cellectis upon achievement of the corresponding Milestone events, except for the milestone “[***]” that continue to apply to such Candidate Products and;

 

  d) Article 6.3 (g) of the Agreement shall be modified to the extent it relates to UCART19 Products and [***] Products so that the words “[***]” shall be replaced by “until [***] on a Product by Product basis”.

 

VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

A. Intellectual Property and Patent Rights Cooperation

1. Article 7.2 (a) shall be revised and completed as follows:

Cellectis’ responsibilities pursuant to Section 7.2 (a) shall continue to apply provided that with respect to Patents within the Cellectis Patents that cover specifically and solely a Candidate Product or a Product (“Product Patents”), Cellectis remains solely responsible for preparing, filing, prosecuting, and maintaining Product Patents aiming to cover a Pre-Candidate Product, Candidate Product and/or Product in [***] (“Initial Countries”) at its own costs up to the exercise of the Option to License for the corresponding Candidate Product. For clarity, Cellectis would seek for patent validation for Pre-Candidate Products and Candidate Products in [***].

Before the exercise of the Option to License, should Servier wish to have the patent protection of Product Patents extended in territories other than the Initial Countries (the “Additional Countries”), it shall inform Cellectis of its wish, by providing a written notice at least [***] in advance of the deadline for filing in such Additional Countries, a list of the

 

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Additional Countries. Cellectis will then seek patent protection for such requested Additional Countries, provided that Servier shall reimburse Cellectis any reasonable costs and expenses (including patent attorney costs) incurred by Cellectis in connection with such extension. Cellectis shall further regularly inform Servier in due time with respect to the prosecution actions (including office actions or official actions from patent offices of such Additional Countries) and any required action in connection with the maintenance of such Cellectis Patents in the Initial Countries and Additional Countries.

After exercise of the Option to License, with respect to Product Patents, Servier shall have the first right and responsibility at its own cost for preparing, filing, prosecuting and maintaining all such Patents, provided that Servier shall copy Cellectis on any material correspondence with its intellectual property counsel and consult Cellectis for any draft correspondence to be exchanged with patent offices. If Servier intends to cease prosecuting any such Patents, it shall inform Cellectis with sufficient advance notice to allow Cellectis to take over such prosecution if Cellectis so wishes. Servier shall not take any actions which can materially affect the scope, the validity and enforceability of the Product Patents, without Cellectis’ prior written consent.

For sake of clarity, Cellectis remains fully responsible for the Cellectis Patents that does not cover specifically and solely a Pre-Candidate or a Candidate Product (“Platform Patents”), provided that Cellectis shall regularly inform Servier in due time with respect to the prosecution actions (including office actions or official actions from worldwide patent offices) and any required action in connection with the maintenance of such Platform Patents.

2. A section 7.2 (d) shall be added as follows:

“7.2 (d) The Parties shall cooperate as regards the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of the Product Patents worldwide. The filing Party shall in particular inform the other Party in due time about the patent and about material correspondence received and draft correspondence exchanged with the patent offices.

Each Party shall take into good faith consideration any other Party’s proposal or comment related to Product Patents.”

 

B. Representation and Warranties

[***].

 

C. Definitions

A new definition of “Designee” is included to read as follows:

Designee” shall mean a corporation or other entity that is employed by, under contract to, or in partnership with Servier or an Affiliate thereof, to Develop and/or Commercialize Products in the Territory.

 

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For clarification purposes, Article 1.6, and 1.44 shall be modified as follows:

1.6. “Candidate Product” means a product developed by Cellectis as per the Agreement, consisting in an allogeneic anti-tumor adoptive T-cell expressing a single chain chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directed against a particular Target including specific Attributes selected by Servier according to Section 3.2 (c). Except for section 6.3, Candidate Product also applies to a Backup Product and/or a Follow-on Product in case of application of Section 3.4.

1.44. “Pre-Candidate Product” means a product developed by Cellectis as per the Agreement, consisting in an allogeneic anti-tumor adoptive T-cell expressing a single chain chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directed against a particular Target including specific Attributes.

 

D. US Sublicense

Upon Cellectis’ request, Servier shall provide to Cellectis a redacted version of the part of the US Sublicense containing the development milestones payable, on a Product by Product basis, to Servier by the US Partner until [***].

In case of termination of the Agreement for Servier breach pursuant to Article 11.2.1 of the Agreement, and at the US Partner’s request, Cellectis agrees to enter into good faith negotiations for a direct license to the US Partner with respect to UCART19 and [***] Candidate Products or Products on terms substantially similar in scope and grant; provided that (i) the US Sublicense was properly granted in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) the US Partner was in compliance with the terms of such US Sublicense and the applicable provisions of this Agreement.

 

E. Servier Diligence

Article 4.2(c) of the Agreement shall be amended as follows:

“(c) Servier Diligence. Upon Servier’s exercise of the Option to License for a given Product, Servier will use, and will ensure that its Affiliates, Sublicensees and subcontractors use Commercially Reasonable Efforts in Developing and/or Commercializing the corresponding Product (defined for the purposes hereof as the lead Product, its Follow-On Product(s) and its Backup Product (s) taken as a whole) in the Targeted Territory. For sake of clarity, UCART 19 Product V1 shall be treated as a lead Product and UCART19 V2 shall be treated as a Follow-On Product of UCART19 Product V1 for the purposes of this Article 4.2(c). For further clarity, the [***] Products shall be treated as [***] lead Products to the extent such Products [***]. The words “in accordance with Section 4.2(c)” shall be added at the end of the first sentence of Section 3.5 and the word “Product” in Section 3.5 shall be interpreted similarly as in Section 4.2(c).

 

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F. Use of data by Cellectis

Cellectis shall have the right to use or have used all the data generated by Cellectis or its subcontractors in the course of the development of the Product Candidates and Products for the development of its own products.

 

G. No other revisions

Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the other provisions of this Agreement remain unchanged and continue in full force and effect.

To the extent that the provisions of this Amendment conflict with what is set forth in the Agreement, the provisions of this Amendment shall take precedence. All disputes arising out of or in connection with this Amendment, unless otherwise specified in the Agreement, shall be resolved in accordance with the principles set forth in article 13.2 of the Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Amendment to the Product Development, Option, License and Commercialization Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

Made in Suresnes, on November 18th, 2015

 

For Cellectis SA

    For Les Laboratoires Servier

By:

 

/s/ André Choulika

    By:  

/s/ Christian Bazantay

Name:

 

Andre CHOULIKA

    Name:   Christian BAZANTAY

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

    Title:   Proxy
      By:  

/s/ Eric Falcand

     

Name:

  Eric FALCAND
     

Title:

  Proxy

 

For Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier
By:  

/s/ Emmanuel Canet

Name:

  Dr Emmanuel CANET

Title:

  President of R&D

 

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EXHIBIT A

IND or IMPD Enabling Data Package

[***]

 

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

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EXHIBIT B

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Servier Exercises Exclusive Worldwide Licensing Option with Cellectis for UCART19, an Allogeneic CAR-T Cell Therapy for Hematological Malignancies

Servier Also Enters Into Exclusive Global License and Collaboration Agreement with Pfizer to Co-Develop and Commercialize Therapy

NEW YORK & SURESNES, France—November 18, 2015:

Cellectis (Alternext:ALCLS; Nasdaq:CLLS) and Servier today announced that they signed an amendment to their existing collaboration agreement from February 2014 especially for UCART19, a TALEN® gene-edited allogeneic Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) immunotherapy. Under this amendment, Servier early exercises its option to acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to further develop and commercialize UCART19, which is about to enter Phase 1 development for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

In addition, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and Servier have entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement to co-develop and commercialize UCART19. Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer and Servier will work together on a joint clinical development program for UCART19 and share development costs. Pfizer will be responsible for potential commercialization of UCART19 in the United States, and Servier will retain marketing rights in countries outside the United States. Pfizer’s collaboration with Servier on UCART19 is distinct from the collaboration with Cellectis that Pfizer announced in June 2014, which did not include UCART19.

UCART19 utilizes Cellectis’ proprietary, allogeneic approach to develop CAR-T therapies that engineer T-cells from non-patient donors for use in multiple patients. This is different from autologous approaches, which engineer a patient’s own T-cells.

Cellectis will receive from Servier a payment of $38.2 million upon signature. In addition, Cellectis is eligible for over $300 million of milestone payments, R&D financing, and royalties on sales from Servier, based on annual net sales of commercialized products. Financial terms for the Servier agreement with Pfizer were not disclosed.

“Servier’s early option exercise is a strong recognition of the potential value of UCART19 for patients, as the first allogeneic CAR-T therapy expected to move into clinical development that utilizes Cellectis’ TALEN® gene editing technologies,” said Dr. André Choulika, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Cellectis. “Cellectis aims to provide cancer patients with highly innovative best-in-class allogeneic CAR-T therapies across all geographies, and we are proud to collaborate on this license agreement with Servier and Pfizer to foster access for patients.”

“The partnership between Pfizer and Servier is a major step in the development of UCART19 and our ambition to provide innovative drugs for patients in oncology, as it has been envisioned by Servier’s president, Olivier Laureau,” said Emmanuel Canet, M.D., president, Research and Development at Servier.

“This collaboration on the development of the UCART19 asset builds on Pfizer’s position in the CAR-T space and our growing portfolio of investigational immuno-oncology assets, which is a major priority for our oncology business,” said Mikael Dolsten, M.D., Ph.D., president, Worldwide Research and Development at Pfizer. “This work with Servier and Cellectis underscores our companies’ shared commitment to developing unique cancer therapies that may benefit patients around the world.”

 

     15   
  


About Cellectis

Cellectis is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing immunotherapies based on gene-edited CAR T-cells (UCART). The company’s mission is to develop a new generation of cancer therapies based on engineered T-cells. Cellectis capitalizes on its 15 years of expertise in genome engineering - based on its flagship TALEN® products and meganucleases and pioneering electroporation PulseAgile technology - to create a new generation of immunotherapies. CAR technologies are designed to target surface antigens expressed on cells. Using its life science-focused, pioneering genome-engineering technologies, Cellectis’ goal is to create innovative products in multiple fields and with various target markets. Cellectis is listed on the Nasdaq market (ticker: CLLS) and on the NYSE Alternext market (ticker: ALCLS). To find out more about us, visit our website: www.cellectis.com.

Talking about gene editing? We do it.

TALEN® is a registered trademark owned by the Cellectis Group.

About Servier

Servier is an independent French-based pharmaceutical company with a strong international presence in 145 countries. It employs more than 21,000 people.

Its development is driven by the pursuit of innovation in the therapeutic areas of cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, central nervous system, psychiatric, bone, muscle and joint diseases.

In 2014, the company recorded a turnover of 4 billion euros.

28% of this turnover was reinvested in Research and Development.

www.servier.com.

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world™

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world’s best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.

 

     16   
  


PFIZER DISCLOSURE NOTICE

The information contained in this release is as of November 19, 2015. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about UCART19 and a license and collaboration agreement between Pfizer and Servier to co-develop and commercialize UCART19, including their potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical study commencement and completion dates as well as the possibility of unfavorable study results; whether and when drug applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for UCART19; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on the assessment by such regulatory authorities of the benefit–risk profile suggested by the totality of the efficacy and safety information submitted; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of UCART19; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.

CELLECTIS DISCLAIMER

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management.

This release contains forward-looking information about UCART19 and a license and collaboration agreement between Cellectis and Servier, including their potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the risk of not obtaining regulatory approval to commence clinical trials on our UCART product candidates, the risk that our collaboration with Servier and with Pfizer will not continue or will not be successful, and the risk that any one or more product candidates will not be successfully developed and commercialized.

You should read the Company’s Prospectus, including the Risk Factors set forth therein and the exhibits thereto, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

 

     17   
  


CONTACT:

For Cellectis:

Cellectis Media:

Jennifer Moore, 917-580-1088

VP Communications

media@cellectis.com

or

KCSA Strategic Communications

Caitlin Kasunich, 212-896-1241

ckasunich@kcsa.com

or

Dixon Moretz, 212-896-1251

dmoretz@kcsa.com

or

Cellectis Investor Relations:

Simon Harnest, 646-385-9008

VP Finance and Investor Relations

simon.harnest@cellectis.com

or

For Servier:

Servier Communication Department, +33 1 5572 6037

presse@servier.fr

or

For Pfizer:

Pfizer Media:

Sally Beatty, 347-330-7867

Pfizer Global Media Relations

Sally.Beatty@pfizer.com

or

Lisa O’Neill, +44 7929 339 560

Pfizer Media Relations, Europe, Middle East, Africa

Lisa.O’Neill@pfizer.com

or

Pfizer Investor Contact:

Ryan Crowe, 215-260-0914

Ryan.Crowe@pfizer.com

 

     18   
  


EXHIBIT C

Development Plans

[***]

 

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

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EXHIBIT D

[***]

 

 

[***] CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND

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EX-4.16

Exhibit 4.16

 

 

CELLECTIS

FREE SHARE 2015 PLAN

 

 

Approved by the Board of Directors on May 18, 2015


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.    IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FREE SHARE PLAN    1
2.    DEFINITIONS    1
3.    PURPOSE    2
4.    BENEFICIARIES    2
5.    NOTICE OF THE ALLOCATION OF THE SHARES    3
6.    ACQUISITION PERIOD    3
   6.1.     Principle    3
   6.2     Internal mobility    4
   6.3     Disability    4
   6.4     Decease    4
   6.5     Retirement    4
7.    HOLDING PERIOD    4
   7.1     Principle    4
   7.2     Specific situations    5
8.    CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SHARES    5
9.    DELIVERY AND HOLDING OF THE SHARES    5
10.    INTERMEDIARY OPERATIONS    6
11.    ADJUSTMENT    6
12.    AMENDMENT TO THE 2015 PLAN    6
   12.1     Principle    6
   12.2     Notice of the amendments    7
13.    TAX AND SOCIAL RULES    7
14.    MISCELLANEOUS    7
   14.1     Rights in relation to the capacity of employee    7
   14.2     Applicable law - Jurisdiction    7
   14.3     Provisions Applicable to Beneficiaries Located outside of France    7


1. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FREE SHARE PLAN

Pursuant to decisions dated February 16, 2015, the shareholders’ general meeting of Cellectis, a French société anonyme whose registered office is located at 8 rue de la Croix Jarry, 75013 Paris and whose identification number is 428 859 052 R.C.S. Paris (hereafter referred to as the “Company”) authorized the Board of Directors to allocate free shares of the Company to the benefit of employees of the Company or to certain categories of such employees, and/or to the benefit of its corporate officers who meet the conditions set forth by Article L. 225-197-1 II of the French commercial code, as well as to the benefit of employees of companies or economic interest groups whose share capital or voting rights are held, directly or indirectly, for more than ten per cent (10%) by the Company at the date of allocation of said shares.

The Board of Directors decided on May 18, 2015, pursuant to the authorization of the shareholders’ general meeting dated February 16, 2015 and after approval of the Compensation Committee, to allocate a total of 450,400 free shares of the Company to the benefit of eligible employees and approved the present free share plan stating the conditions and criteria for the allocation of such shares (hereafter referred to as the “2015 Plan”).

 

2. DEFINITIONS

Under the present 2015 Plan, the following terms and expressions starting with a capital letter shall have the following meaning and may be used indifferently in the singular or in the plural form:

 

“Acquisition Date”    refers to the date when the free Shares have been definitely acquired by the relevant Beneficiary;
“Acquisition Period”    refers to the two (2) year period starting on the Allocation Date and ending on the Acquisition Date, being specified that the Board of Directors may decide to extend this period so that its duration be equal to four (4) years for certain Beneficiaries who are not French tax resident, as stated in the corresponding Allocation Letter;
“Allocation”    refers to the decision of the Board of Directors dated May 18, 2015 to allocate free Shares to a given Beneficiary. This Allocation constitutes a right to be granted Shares at the end of the Acquisition Period subject to the compliance with the conditions and criteria set forth by the present 2015 Plan;
“Allocation Date”    refers to the date when the Board of Directors decided to allocate free Shares under the 2015 Plan, i.e. May 18, 2015;
“Allocation Letter”    refers to the letter which inform a given Beneficiary of the allocation of free Shares, as stated in Article 5 of the 2015 Plan;
“Beneficiaries”    refers to the person(s) for whose benefit the Board of Directors decided an Allocation of Shares as well as, as the case may be, his or her heirs;
“Bylaws”    refers to the bylaws of the Company in force at the date referred to;

 

1


“Disability”    refers to the disability of a Beneficiary corresponding to the second or third of the categories provided by Article L. 341-4 of the French social security code;
“Group”    refers to the Company and to all the companies and groups related to the Company in the meaning of Article L. 225-197-2 of the French commercial code;
“Holding Period”    refers to the two (2) year period starting on the Acquisition Date, being specified no Holding Period will be applicable to the Beneficiaries for whom the duration of the Acquisition Period is equal to four (4) years as from the Allocation Date, as stated in the corresponding Allocation Letter;
“Presence”    refers to the presence of the Beneficiary in his or her capacity of employee and/or corporate officer of the Company or of any of the companies of the Group;
“Shares”    refers to the shares issued or which will be issued by the Company in representation of its share capital;
“Trading Day”    refers to the working days when Euronext proceeds to the listing of shares on the Alternext market of Euronext in Paris other than days when the listings end prior to the usual closing hour.

 

3. PURPOSE

The purpose of the 2015 Plan is to set forth the conditions and criteria for the allocation of free Shares under the 2015 Plan, pursuant to Articles L. 225-197-1 et seq. of the French commercial code and to the authorization granted by the shareholders’ general meeting of the Company dated February 16, 2015.

 

4. BENEFICIARIES

Pursuant to the authorization of the shareholders’ general meeting dated February 16, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the list of Beneficiaries among its employees and the employees of companies in which it holds, directly or indirectly, at least ten per cent (10%) of the share capital and voting rights, together with the indication of the number of free Shares allocated to each of them.

 

2


5. NOTICE OF THE ALLOCATION OF THE SHARES

The notice of the Allocation of Shares to the Beneficiaries shall be made pursuant to an Allocation Letter sent by the Board of Directors or by any other person selected by the Board of Directors, by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt or delivered in person with acknowledgement of receipt, together with a copy of the present 2015 Plan, indicating the number of Shares allocated to the Beneficiary, the Acquisition Period and the Holding Period.

The Beneficiary shall acknowledge receipt of the Allocation Letter and of the 2015 Plan by sending signed copies of these documents within two (2) months from the date of receipt, the documents being deemed to be received on the first date of presentation, in the absence of which the Allocation shall be null and void for this Beneficiary.

The fact that a person may benefit from the 2015 Plan does not imply that he or she shall benefit from any other plan that may be implemented thereafter.

 

6. ACQUISITION PERIOD

 

6.1. Principle

The free Shares allocated under the 2015 Plan shall be definitively acquired by the Beneficiaries at the end of the Acquisition Period, provided that the following condition precedent is met:

 

    continued Presence of the Beneficiary during the Acquisition Period, in the absence of which he or she will not be entitled to acquire Shares on the date when this condition is no longer met;

being specified that the Board of Directors shall be entitled to release a given Beneficiary from the condition set forth above for all or part of the Shares granted.

Further, should the Beneficiary be at the same time an employee and a corporate officer of the same company or of two companies of the Group, the loss of one of these capacities shall not result in the loss of the right to acquire the free Shares allocated under the 2015 Plan at the end of the Acquisition Period.

Pursuant to Article L. 225-197-3 of the French commercial code, the Beneficiaries hold a claim against the Company which is personal and may not be transferred until the end of the Acquisition Period.

During the Acquisition Period, the Beneficiaries will not own the free Shares and will not be shareholders of the Company. As a consequence, they will not hold any rights attached to the Shares.

 

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6.2 Internal mobility

In the event of transfer or temporary assignment of the Beneficiary within a company of the Group, implying (i) the termination of the initial employment agreement and the entering into of a new employment agreement or of a position as corporate officer, and/or (ii) a resignation of the Beneficiary from his or her position as corporate officer and the acceptance of a new position of corporate officer or the entering into of a new employment agreement in one of such companies, the Beneficiary shall retain his or her right to be allocated free Shares at the end of the Acquisition Period.

 

6.3 Disability

In the event of Disability before the end of the Acquisition Period, the free Shares shall be definitively acquired by the Beneficiary on the date of Disability.

For participants subject to tax in the US, the date of such disability shall be the date such disability is incurred and in all cases such shares shall be delivered by March 15th of the year following the year in which such disability is incurred.

 

6.4 Decease

In the event of decease of the Beneficiary during the Acquisition Period, the free Shares shall be definitively acquired at the date of the request of allocation made by his or her beneficiaries in the framework of the inheritance.

The request for allocation of the Shares shall be made within six (6) months from the date of the decease in compliance with Article L. 225-197-3 of the French commercial code.

 

6.5 Retirement

In the event of the retirement of a given Beneficiary during the Acquisition Period, the Board of Directors of the Company may decide that the condition set forth in article 6.1 above shall be deemed to be met for all or part of the Shares granted upon the date of such retirement.

 

7. HOLDING PERIOD

 

7.1 Principle

During the Holding Period, if any, the Beneficiaries concerned will be the owner of the free Shares allocated under the 2015 Plan and will be shareholders of the Company. As a consequence, they will benefit from all the rights attached to the capacity of shareholder of the Company.

However, the free Shares shall not be available during the Holding Period and the Beneficiaries may not transfer or pledge the Shares, by any means, or convert them into the bearer form.

At the end of the Holding Period, the Shares will be fully available, subject to the provisions of the following paragraph.

 

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At the end of the Holding Period, if the Company’s shares are listed on a regulated market, the free Shares allocated under the 2015 Plan may not be transferred during the “black-out” periods set forth in Article L. 225-197-1 of the French commercial code, i.e., as currently provided:

 

    within ten (10) Trading Days before and three (3) Trading Days after the date on which the consolidated accounts, or failing that, the annual accounts, are published;

 

    during the period between the date on which the Company’s management bodies have knowledge of information which, were it to be published, could have a significant impact on the price of the Shares, and the date falling ten (10) Trading Days after the date on which the said information is published.

 

7.2 Specific situations

Notwithstanding the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 7.1 above, the free Shares allocated to the Beneficiaries referred to at Article 6.3 above or to the beneficiaries of the deceased Beneficiary referred to at Article 6.4 above may be freely transferred as from the date of their final allocation.

 

8. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SHARES

The Shares definitively allocated shall be, at the Company’s choice, new ordinary shares to be issued by the Company or existing Shares acquired by the Company.

As from the Acquisition Date, they shall be subject to all the provisions of the Bylaws.

They shall be assimilated to existing ordinary shares of the Company and shall benefit from the same rights as from the Acquisition Date.

 

9. DELIVERY AND HOLDING OF THE SHARES

At the end of the Acquisition Period, the Company shall deliver to the Beneficiary the free Shares allocated under the 2015 Plan provided that the conditions and criteria for such allocation provided by Articles 5 and 6 above are met.

If the Acquisition Date is not a working day, the delivery of the Shares shall be completed the first working day following the end of the Acquisition Period.

The Shares that may be acquired under the 2015 Plan will be held, during the Holding Period (if any), under the nominative form (nominatif pur) in an individual account opened in the name of the relevant Beneficiary at Société Générale Securities Services with a mention that they cannot be transferred. At the end of the Holding Period (or the end of the Acquisition Period if there is no Holding Period), the Shares will have to remain under the nominative form (nominatif pur) at Société Générale Securities Services until the time they are transferred to make sure that the restrictions set forth in the last paragraph of Article 7.1 above are complied with. The conversion of the shares in another form (bearer form or nominatif administré) is not allowed under the rules of the 2015 Plan.

 

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In the event that, as a consequence of the allocation of free Shares under the 2015 Plan, the Company or any of the companies of the Group shall be compelled to pay taxes, social costs or any other social security taxes or contributions on behalf of the Beneficiary, the Company retains the right to postpone or to forbid the delivery of the Shares on the Acquisition Date until the relevant Beneficiary has paid to the Company or to the relevant company of the Group the amount corresponding to these taxes, social costs, or social security taxes or contributions.

 

10. INTERMEDIARY OPERATIONS

In the event of exchange without equalization payment (soulte) resulting from an operation of merger or spin-off completed in compliance with the applicable regulations during the Acquisition Period or the Holding Period, the companies taking part in the operation shall substitute to the Company and the provisions of the present 2015 Plan, and notably the durations of the Acquisition Period and of the Holding Period shall apply to the allocation rights and to the shares received in compliance with Article L. 225-197-1 III of the French commercial code.

The same shall apply in the event of a public offering operation, of a division or a grouping of shares completed in compliance with the application regulations during the Holding Period.

 

11. ADJUSTMENT

Should the Company proceed, during the Acquisition Period, to an amortization, to a share capital reduction, to a change in the allocation of its profits, to an allocation of free shares to all the shareholders, to a capitalization of reserves, profits or issuance premiums, to an allocation of reserves or to an issuance of equity securities or giving right to the allocation of equity securities including a preferential subscription right reserved to the shareholders, the maximum number of Shares allocated under the 2015 Plan may be adjusted in order to take into account said operation by application, mutatis mutandis, of the terms of adjustment provided by the law for the beneficiaries of stock options.

Each Beneficiary shall be informed of the practical terms of the adjustment and of its consequences on the Allocation of Shares he or she benefited from, being specified that the free Shares allocated pursuant to this adjustment shall be governed by the present 2015 Plan.

 

12. AMENDMENT TO THE 2015 PLAN

 

12.1 Principle

The present 2015 Plan may be amended by the Board of Directors upon authorization of the Supervisory Board of the Company, being specified that the amendments shall be subject to the written consent of the Beneficiaries if it results in a decrease in the rights of said Beneficiaries.

The new provisions shall apply to the Beneficiaries of the Shares during the Acquisition Period on the date of the decision to amend the 2015 Plan taken by the Board of Directors, or the written consent of the Beneficiary, if required.

 

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12.2 Notice of the amendments

The amendments to the 2015 Plan shall be notified to the relevant Beneficiaries, by all means, including by internal mail, by simple letter or with acknowledgement of receipt, by fax or by e-mail.

 

13. TAX AND SOCIAL RULES

The Beneficiary shall bear all taxes and mandatory costs which he or she must bear pursuant to the applicable law in relation to the allocation of free Shares, on the due date of said taxes or costs.

Each Beneficiary shall verify and carry out, as the case may be, the declaratory obligations he or she must comply with in relation to the allocation of the free Shares.

 

14. MISCELLANEOUS

 

14.1 Rights in relation to the capacity of employee

No provisions of the present 2015 Plan shall be construed as granting to the Beneficiary a right to have his or her employment agreement with the Company or any of the companies of the Group maintained, or limiting the right of the Company or any of the companies of the Group to terminate or amend the terms and conditions of the employment agreement of the Beneficiary.

 

14.2 Applicable law - Jurisdiction

The present 2015 Plan is subject to French law. Any dispute relating to its validity, its construction or its performance shall be decided by the competent courts of the French Republic.

 

14.3 Provisions Applicable to Beneficiaries Located outside of France

The attached Appendix applies to Beneficiaries located outside of France.

 

Reserved to the Beneficiary:

Mr/Ms                              declares having read all the provisions of the 2015 Plan and Appendix, as applicable, and expressly acknowledges that these provisions apply to him/her.

Made in                         

On                             

Signature:                                      and initial on each page

 

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APPENDIX

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This Appendix contains additional terms and conditions that will apply to the Beneficiary if he or she resides outside of France. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meanings assigned to them in the 2015 Plan.

NOTIFICATIONS

This Appendix also includes information regarding exchange control and certain other issues of which the Beneficiary should be aware with respect to his or her participation in the 2015 Plan. The information is based on the securities, exchange control and other laws in effect in the respective countries as of May 2015. Such laws are often complex and change frequently. The Company therefore strongly recommends that the Beneficiary not rely on the information in this Appendix as the only source of information relating to the consequences of his or her participation in the 2015 Plan because such information may be outdated when the Beneficiary vests in the Shares and/or sells any Shares issued pursuant to the award.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Taxes. Regardless of any action the Company or Beneficiaries’ Employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, or other Tax-Related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), Beneficiary acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by the Beneficiary is and remains Beneficiary’s responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Share grant, including the grant, vesting of the Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such vesting and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Shares to reduce or eliminate Beneficiary’s liability for Tax-Related Items.

Prior to vesting of the Shares, Beneficiary will pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer, if any. In this regard, Beneficiary authorizes the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by Beneficiary from Beneficiary’s compensation paid to Beneficiary by the Company and/or Employer or from proceeds of the sale of Shares. Alternatively, or in addition, if permissible under local law, the Company may (1) sell or arrange for the sale of Shares that Beneficiary acquires to meet the withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items and/or (2) withhold in Shares, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum withholding amount. Finally, Beneficiary will pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of Beneficiary’s participation in the 2015 Plan or Beneficiary’s acquisition of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to honor the vesting and refuse to deliver the Shares if Beneficiary fails to comply with Beneficiary’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this section.

Nature of Grant. In accepting the grant, Beneficiary acknowledges that:

(a) the 2015 Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the 2015 Plan;

 

8


(b) the grant of the Shares is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Shares, or benefits in lieu of Shares, even if Shares have been granted repeatedly in the past;

(c) all decisions with respect to future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

(d) Beneficiary’s participation in the 2015 Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Employer to terminate Beneficiary’s employment relationship at any time with or without cause unless otherwise required under local law;

(e) Beneficiary is voluntarily participating in the 2015 Plan;

(f) the Shares are an extraordinary item that do not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or the Employer, and which is outside the scope of Beneficiary’s employment contract, if any;

(g) the Shares are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or the Employer;

(h) in the event that Beneficiary is not an employee of the Company, the grant will not be interpreted to form an employment contract or relationship with the Company; and furthermore, the grant will not be interpreted to form an employment contract with the Employer or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company;

(i) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty;

(j) if Beneficiary obtains Shares, the value of those Shares may increase or decrease;

(l) in consideration of the grant, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the award of Shares or diminution in value of the award resulting from termination of Beneficiary’s employment with the Company or the Employer (for any reason whatsoever) and Beneficiary irrevocably releases the Company and the Employer from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing the 2015 Plan, Beneficiary shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived Beneficiary’s entitlement to pursue such claim; and

 

9


(m) unless otherwise decided by the Board of Directors, in the event of termination of Beneficiary’s employment during the acquisition period, Beneficiary’s right to vest in the Shares under the 2015 Plan, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that Beneficiary is no longer actively employed and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under the local law (e.g., active employment would not include a period of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to local law).

Data Privacy. Beneficiary hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Beneficiary’s personal data as described in this document by and among, as applicable, the Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Beneficiary’s participation in the 2015 Plan.

Beneficiary understands that the Company and the Employer may hold certain personal information about Beneficiary, including, but not limited to, Beneficiary’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all awards or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Beneficiary’s favor, for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the 2015 Plan (“Data”).

Beneficiary understands that the recipients of the Data may be located in France or elsewhere (including outside the European Union), and that the recipients’ country may have different data privacy laws and protections than Beneficiary’s country. Beneficiary understands that Beneficiary may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting Beneficiary’s local human resources representative. Beneficiary authorizes the Company and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the 2015 Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing Beneficiary’s participation in the 2015 Plan. Beneficiary understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Beneficiary’s participation in the 2015 Plan. Beneficiary understands that Beneficiary may, at any time, view the Data, request additional information about the storage processing of the Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing Beneficiary’s local human resources representative. Beneficiary understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing Beneficiary’s consent may affect Beneficiary’s ability to participate in the 2015 Plan. For more information on the consequences of Beneficiary’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Beneficiary understands that Beneficiary may contact Beneficiary’s local human resources representative.

Language. If Beneficiary has received this document or any other document related to the 2015 Plan translated into a language other than French and if the translated version is different than the French version, the French version will control.

Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to the 2015 Plan or future awards that may be granted under the 2015 Plan by electronic means or to request Beneficiary’s consent to participate in the 2015 Plan by electronic means. Beneficiary hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the 2015 Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

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Severability. The provisions of this 2015 Plan are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

Country-Specific Provisions

United States

Beneficiary acknowledges that both this award and any Shares are securities, the issuance by the Company of which requires compliance with federal and state securities laws.

Beneficiary acknowledges that these securities are made available to Beneficiary only on the condition that Beneficiary makes the representations contained in this section to the Company.

Beneficiary has made a reasonable investigation of the affairs of the Company sufficient to be well informed as to the rights and the value of these securities.

The 2015 Plan has been drafted with the intent that each payment thereunder is exempt from Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and should be interpreted accordingly. In all cases, the shares will be delivered on or before March 15th of the year following the year in which a substantial risk of forfeiture no longer exists.

The Company makes no representation as to the tax status of the 2015 Plan to the Beneficiary’s who should seek their own tax advice.

Term Changes/Addendum to the 2015 Plan

Section 6.6 (Retirement) of the 2015 Plan does not apply to beneficiaries subject to tax in the United States.

 

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EX-4.17

Exhibit 4.17

CELLECTIS

2015 STOCK OPTION PLAN


SUMMARY

 

     Page  
1. Purposes of the Plan      1   
2. Definitions      1   
3. Shares subject to the Plan      4   
4. Administration of the Plan      4   

(a) procedure

  

(b) powers of the Administrator

  

(c) effects of Administrator’s decisions

  
5. Limitations      5   
6. Term of the Plan      5   
7. Term of the Options      6   
8. Options exercise price and consideration      6   

(a) subscription or purchase price

  

(b) exercise dates

  

(c) form of consideration

  
9. Exercise of Options      7   

(a) procedure for exercise; Shareholders’ rights

  

(b) termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Status as Beneficiary

  

(c) disability of Optionee

  

(d) death of Optionee

  


     Page  
10. Non-transferability of Options      8   
11. Adjustments upon changes      8   

(a) changes in capitalization of the Company

  

(b) dissolution or liquidation of the Company

  

(c) merger or assets sale

  
12. Date of grant      9   
13. Amendment and termination of the Plan      9   

(a) amendment and termination

  

(b) shareholders’ approval

  

(c) effects of amendment or termination

  
14. Conditions upon issuance of shares      10   

(a) legal compliance

  

(b) investment representations

  
15. Liability of the Company      10   
16. Shareholders’ approval      11   
17. Law, jurisdiction      11   

Exhibit - Stock Option Grant Agreement

  

Part I - Notice of stock option grant

  

Part II - Terms and conditions

  

Exercise notice

  


CELLECTIS

2015 STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN

According to the authorization granted by the extraordinary shareholders’ general meeting dated February 16, 2015, the board of directors decided on March 24, 2015, in compliance with the provisions of articles L. 225-177 et seq. of the French Commercial Code, to adopt the 2015 stock option plan of CELLECTIS, the terms and conditions of which are set out below.

The purposes of the Plan are:

 

    to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility;

 

    to provide additional incentive to Beneficiaries; and

 

    to promote the success of the Company’s business.

Options granted under the Plan to U.S. Beneficiaries are intended to be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Statutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant of an Option, and shall comply in all respects with Applicable Laws in order that U.S. Beneficiaries may benefit from available tax advantages.

 

2. DEFINITIONS.

 

(a) Administrator” means the board of directors of the Company which shall administer the Plan in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

 

(b) Affiliated Company” means a company which conforms with the criteria set forth in article L. 225-180 of the French Commercial Code as follows:

 

    companies of which at least ten per cent (10%) of the share capital or voting rights is held directly or indirectly by the Company;

 

    companies which own directly or indirectly at least ten per cent (10%) of the share capital or voting rights of the Company; and

 

    companies of which at least fifty per cent (50%) of the share capital or voting rights is held directly or indirectly by a company which owns directly or indirectly at least fifty percent (50%) of the share capital or voting rights of the Company,

 

(c) Applicable Laws” means for the US the legal requirements relating to the administration of stock option plans under state corporate and securities laws and the Code in force in the United States of America.

 

(d) Beneficiary” means the president of the board of directors (président du conseil d’administration), the general manager (directeur général) and the deputy general managers (directeurs généraux délégués) or, as the case may be, the president and the members of the management board (président et membres du directoire) of the Company as well as any individual employed by the Company or by any Affiliated Company under the terms and conditions of an employment contract, it being specified that a term of office of director of the Company or director of an Affiliated Company (remunerated or not) shall not be deemed to constitute an employment relationship.

 

(e) Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

(f) Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.


(g) Commercial Code” means the French Commercial Code.

 

(h) Company” means CELLECTIS, a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of France.

 

(i) Continuous Status as a Beneficiary” means as regards the president of the board of directors, the general manager, the deputy general manager(s) or, as the case may be, the president and the members of the management board that the term of their office has not been terminated and, as regards an employee that the employment relationship between the Beneficiary and the Company or any Affiliated Company is not terminated. Continuous Status as a Beneficiary shall not be considered terminated in the case of (i) any leave of absence having received a prior approval from the Company or requiring no prior approval under U.S. laws, or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company or any Affiliated Company or the contrary or also from an Affiliated Company to another Affiliated Company. Leaves of absence which must receive a prior approval from the Company for the non-termination of the Continuous Status as a Beneficiary shall include leaves of more than three (3) months for illnesses or conditions about which the employee has advance knowledge, military leave, or any other personal leave. For purposes of U.S. Beneficiaries and Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute contract or Company policies. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, on the 91st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by a U.S. Beneficiary shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for U.S. tax purposes as a Non-Statutory Stock Option.

 

(j) Date of Grant” means the date of the decision of the Board to grant the Options.

 

(k) Disability” means a disability declared further to a medical examination provided for in article L. 4624-21 of the French Labour Code or pursuant to any similar provision applicable to a foreign Affiliated Company.

 

(l) Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(m) Fair Market Value” means the value for one Share as determined in good faith by the Administrator, according to the following provisions, as provided in the Shareholders’ Authorization:

(i) the Board may determine the subscription or purchase price of a share by reference to the closing sales price of one share on such regulated market for the day prior to the day of the decision of the Board to grant the Options. However, the purchase or subscription price shall in no case be less than ninety five per cent (95%) of the average of the closing sales price for a share as quoted on said stock exchange market during the twenty market trading days prior to the day of the Board’s decision to grant the Options,

(ii) for US Beneficaries, the subscription or purchase price shall not be less than the fair market value of the Shares on the Date of Grant, determined as follows (a) if the Shares are listed or quoted for trading on an exchange, the value will be deemed to be the closing or last offer price, as applicable, of the Shares on the principal exchange upon which such securities are traded or quoted on such date, provided, if such date is not a trading day, on the last market trading day prior to such date; and (b) if the Shares are not listed or quoted for trading on an exchange, the fair market value of the Shares as determined by the Board, consistent with the requirements of Sections 422 with respect to Incentive Stock Options, and 409A of the Code with respect to Options not intended to be Incentive Stock Options,

 

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it being specified that, when an Option entitles the holder to purchase shares previously repurchased by the Company, the exercise price, notwithstanding the above provisions and in accordance with applicable law, may not be less than 80% of the average purchase price paid by the Company for all shares so previously repurchased.

This price settled for the subscription or purchase of Shares shall not be modified during the period in which the Option may be exercised. However, if the Company makes one of the operations mentioned in article L. 225-181 of the French Commercial Code, it must take all necessary measures to protect Optionee’s interests in the conditions provided for by article L 228-99 of the French Commercial Code. In case of issuance of securities or of securities granting the Share Capital access, as well as in case of Company’s merger or demerger, the Board may decide, for a limited period of time, to suspend the exercisability of the Options.

 

(n) Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(o) Non-Statutory Stock Option” means an Option which does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(p) Notice of Grant” means a written notice evidencing the main terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. The Notice of Grant is part of the Option Agreement.

 

(q) Option” means an option to purchase or subscribe Shares granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(r) Optionee” means a Beneficiary who holds at least one outstanding Option.

 

(s) Option Agreement” means a written agreement entered into between the Company and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. The Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

(t) Option Exchange Program” means a program whereby outstanding Options are surrendered in exchange for Options with different exercise conditions.

 

(u) Parent” means a “parent corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(v) Plan” means the 2015 Stock Option Plan as approved by the Board on March 24, 2015.

 

(w) Share” means a share of common stock (action ordinaire) of the Company

 

(x) Shareholders’ Authorization” means the authorization given by the shareholders of the Company in the extraordinary general meeting held on February 16, 2015 as increased or amended from time to time by a further general meeting of the shareholders permitting the Board to grant Stock Options.

 

(y) Share Capital” means the issued and paid up capital of the Company.

 

(z) Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

(aa) U.S. Beneficiary” means a Beneficiary of the Company or an Affiliated Company residing in the United States or otherwise subject to United States’ laws, regulations or taxation.

 

(bb) U.S. Optionee” means an Optionee residing in the United States or otherwise subject to United States’ laws, regulations or taxation.

 

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3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan and pursuant to the Shareholders’ Authorization, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and issued under the Plan is equal to 7,354,930 with a par value of EUR 0.50 each, as adjusted in order to take into account any reverse stock split or stock split transaction. For “Incentive Stock Options”, the maximum number of Shares which may be optioned and issued is equal to 7,354,930. The Shares optioned and issued under the Plan may be newly issued Shares, treasury Shares or Shares purchased on the open market.

Should the Option expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unsubscribed Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available again for future grant under the Plan.

 

4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

  (a) Procedure

The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.

 

  (b) Powers of the Administrator.

Subject to the provisions of the Commercial Code, the Shareholders’ Authorization, the Plan, and the Applicable Laws, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

 

  (i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Shares, in accordance with Section 2(m) of the Plan;

 

  (ii) to determine the Beneficiaries to whom Options may be granted hereunder;

 

  (iii) determine whether and to what extent Options are granted hereunder;

 

  (iv) to approve or amend forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

 

  (v) to determine the terms and conditions of any Options granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the date or dates when Options may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Option or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine with the exception of the exercise price; it being specified that the Administrator’s discretion remains subject to the rules and limitations set forth in this Plan and in the Commercial Code;

 

  (vi) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Options granted pursuant to the Plan;

 

  (vii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws;

 

  (viii) to modify or amend each Option (subject to the provisions of Section 13(c) of the Plan), including the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercise period of Options after the termination of the Beneficiarie’s employment agreement or the end of the Beneficiarie’s term of office, longer than is otherwise provided for in the Plan;

 

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  (ix) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Option previously granted by the Administrator;

 

  (x) to implement an Option Exchange Program;

 

  (xi) to determine the rights and restrictions applicable to Options; and

 

  (xii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or appropriate for administering the Plan.

 

  (c) Effects of Administrator’s Decisions.

The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all Optionees.

 

5. LIMITATIONS

(a) In the case of U.S. Beneficiaries, each Option shall be designated in the Notice of Grant either as an “Incentive Stock Option” or as a “Non-Statutory Stock Option”. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Beneficiaries of the Company or a Subsidiary who meet the definition of “employees” under Section 3401(c) of the Code.

Nevertheless, the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan or any other stock option program of the Company (or any Parent or subsidiary of the Company) that become exercisable for the first time in any calendar year shall not exceed U.S. $100,000: to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value of such Shares exceeds U.S. $100,000, the Options covering those Shares the Fair Market Values of which causes the aggregate Fair Market Value of all such Shares to be in excess of U.S. $100,000 shall be treated as Non-Statutory Options. Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the Date of the Grant.

(b) The Options are governed by articles L. 225-177 et seq. of the French Commercial Code. They are not part of the employment agreement or of the term of office which has allowed the Optionee to be granted the Options. Neither do they constitute an element of the Optionee’s remuneration.

Neither the Plan nor any Option shall confer upon an Optionee any right with respect to continuing the Optionee’s employment or his term of office with the Company or any Affiliated Company, nor shall they interfere in any way with the Optionee’s right or the Company’s or Affiliated Company’s right, as the case may be, to terminate such employment or such term of office at any time, with or without cause.

(c) Other than as expressly provided hereunder, no member of the Board or of the supervisory board of the Company (in the event of change of management formula of the Company) or of an equivalent management body of an Affiliated Company shall be as such eligible to receive Options under the Plan.

 

6. TERM OF PLAN

Subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company in accordance with Section 16 of the Plan, the Plan shall be effective and Options may be granted as of March 24, 2015. The Plan has been adopted by the Board on March 24, 2015. Options may be granted hereunder until April 16, 2018. It shall continue in effect until the date of termination of the last Option in force, unless terminated earlier under Section 13 of the Plan.

 

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7. TERM OF OPTIONS

The term of each Option shall be stated in the Notice of Grant as ten (10) years from the Date of Grant, in accordance with the Shareholders’ Authorization or, in case of death or Disability of the Optionee during such 10-year period, six (6) months from the death or Disability of the Optionee in accordance with French law.

 

8. OPTIONS EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION

 

  (a) Subscription or purchase Price

The per Share subscription or purchase price for the Shares to be issued or sold pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Administrator on the basis of the Fair Market Value, provided that:

(i) In the case of an “Incentive Stock Option” granted to a U.S. Beneficiary who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting rights of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company and, to the extent such Beneficiary is permitted by the Commercial Code to receive Option grants, the per Share subscription or purchase price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant as defined in Section 2(m)(ii);

(ii) In the case of a “Non-Statutory Stock Option” or “Incentive Stock Option”, not covered by Section 8(a) above, granted to any U.S. Beneficiary, the per Share subscription or purchase price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant as defined in Section 2(m)(ii).

 

  (b) Exercise Dates

At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator shall fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and shall determine any conditions which must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised. In so doing, the Administrator may specify that an Option may not be exercised until the completion of a service period in the Company or an Affiliated Company.

 

  (c) Form of Consideration

The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued or purchased upon exercise of Options, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator. Such consideration shall consist entirely of an amount in Euro corresponding to the exercise price which shall be paid by wire transfer.

In case the exercise of an Option would lead the Company to be liable for any payment, whether due to fees, taxes or to charges of any nature whatsoever, in place of the Optionee, such Option shall be deemed duly exercised when the full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised is executed by the Optionee and the Optionee provides the Company with either the receipt stating the payment by the Optionee of any such fee, tax or charge, as above described that would otherwise be paid by the Company upon exercise of the Option, in place of the Optionee or, the full payment, under the same conditions, of any amount due upon the exercise of the Option to be borne by the Company.

 

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9. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

 

  (a) Procedure for Exercise; Shareholders’ Rights

Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such dates and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Option Agreement.

An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) written notice of exercise (in accordance with the provisions of the Option Agreement) together with a share subscription or purchase form (bulletin de souscription ou d’achat) duly executed by the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Option Agreement and the Plan.

In case the exercise of an Option would lead the Company to be liable for any payment, whether due to fees, taxes or to charges of any nature whatsoever, in place of the Optionee, such Option shall be deemed duly exercised when the full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised is executed by the Optionee and the Optionee provides the Company with either the receipt stating the payment by the Optionee of any such fee, tax or charge, as above described that would otherwise be paid by the Company upon exercise of the Option, in place of the Optionee or, the full payment, under the same conditions, of any amount due upon the exercise of the Option to be borne by the Company.

Upon exercise of Options, the Shares issued or sold to the Optionee shall be assimilated with all other Shares of the Company of the same class and shall be entitled to dividends once the Shares are issued for the fiscal year during which the Option is exercised.

In the event that a Beneficiary infringes one of the above mentioned commitments, such Beneficiary shall be liable for any consequences resulting from such infringement for the Company and undertakes to indemnify the Company in respect of all amounts payable by the Company in connection with such infringement.

Any granting of Options in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available for purposes of the Plan, by the number of Shares as to which the Option may be exercised.

 

  (b) Termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Status as Beneficiary

Upon termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Status as a Beneficiary, other than upon the Optionee’s death or Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Options, but only within such period of time as is specified in the Notice of Grant, and only for the part of the Options that the Optionee was entitled to exercise at the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Options as set forth in the Notice of Grant). Unless a longer period is specified in the Notice of Grant or otherwise resolved by the Board, an Option shall remain exercisable for three (3) months following the Optionee’s termination of Continuous Status as a Beneficiary. In the case of an “Incentive Stock Option”, such a period cannot exceed three (3) months following the Optionee’s termination of Continuous Status as a Beneficiary. If, at the date of termination, the Optionee is not entitled to exercise all his or her Options, the Shares covered by the unexercisable portion of Options shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise all of his or her Options within the period of time specified herein, the Options shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Options shall revert to the Plan.

 

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  (c) Disability of Optionee

In the event that an Optionee’s Continuous Status as a Beneficiary terminates as a result of the Optionee’s Disability, unless otherwise resolved by the Board, the Optionee may exercise his or her Options at any time within six (6) months from the date of such termination, but only to the extent these Options are exercisable at the time of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Options as set forth in the Notice of Grant). If, at the date of termination, the Optionee is not entitled to exercise all of his or her Options, the Shares covered by the unexercised portion of Options shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise all of his or her Options within the period of time specified herein, the Options shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Options shall revert to the Plan.

 

  (d) Death of Optionee

In the event of the death of an Optionee during the term of the Options, unless otherwise resolved by the Board, the Options may be exercised at any time within six (6) months following the date of death, by the Optionee’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent these Options are exercisable at the time of death. If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not entitled to exercise all of his or her Options, the Shares covered by the unexercised portion of Options shall immediately revert to the Plan. If, after death, the Optionee’s estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Options by bequest or inheritance does not exercise the Options within the period of time specified herein, the Options shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Options shall revert to the Plan.

 

10. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS

An Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned, mortgaged, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

 

11. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, DISSOLUTION

 

  (a) Changes in capitalization

In the event of the carrying out by the Company of any of the financial operations pursuant to article L. 225-181 of the French Commercial Code as follows:

 

    amortization or reduction of the share capital,

 

    amendment of the allocation of profits,

 

    distribution of free shares,

 

    capitalization of reserves, profits or issuance premiums,

 

    the issuance of shares or securities giving right to shares to be subscribed for in cash or by set-off of existing indebtedness offered exclusively to the shareholders;

the Company shall take the required measures to protect the interests of the Optionees in the conditions set forth in article L. 228-99 of the French Commercial Code.

 

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  (b) Dissolution or Liquidation

In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, to the extent that an Option has not been previously exercised, it will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. The Administrator may, in the exercise of its sole discretion in such instances, declare that any Option shall terminate as of a date determined by the Administrator and give each Optionee the right to exercise his or her Options as to Shares for which the Options would not otherwise be exercisable.

 

  (c) Merger or asset sale

Unless otherwise decided by the Board no later than immediately prior to the completion of the relevant Liquidity Event (as defined below):

- in the event of a merger of the Company into another corporation or of the sale by one or several shareholders, acting alone or in concert, of the Company to one or several third parties of a number of Shares resulting in a transfer of more than fifty per cent (50%) of the Shares of the Company to said third parties (a “Liquidity Event”), the Optionee’s right to exercise the Options will be accelerated so that the Optionee may exercise all of them with effect immediately prior to the completion of the relevant Liquidity Event;

- the Options that may be exercised shall have to be exercised no later than immediately prior to the completion of the relevant Liquidity Event, it being specified that the Board shall inform the Optionee of any proposed Liquidity Event at least 15 days prior to the completion thereof; and

- any Options not exercised for any reason on or prior to the date of completion of a Liquidity Event will automatically lapse.

For Incentive Stock Options, all assumptions and substitutions shall be determined in accordance with Sections 422 and 424 of the Code and the regulations promogated thereunder.

 

12. Date of GRANT

12.1. The Date of Grant of an Option shall be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator decides to grant such Option. A notice of the grant shall be provided to each Optionee within a reasonable time after the Date of Grant.

12.2. In the event of any tax liability arising on account of the grant of the Options, the liability to pay such taxes shall be that of the Beneficiary alone.

The Beneficiary shall enter into such agreements of indemnity and execute any and all documents as the Company may specify for this purpose, if so required at the Date of Grant and at any other time at the discretion of the Company, on such terms and conditions as the Company may think fit, for recovery of the tax due, from the Beneficiary.

 

13. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

 

  (a) Amendment and Termination

The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.

 

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  (b) Shareholders’ approval

The Company shall obtain shareholders’ approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws (including the requirements of any exchange or quotation system on which Shares may then be listed or quoted). Such shareholders’ approval, if required, shall be obtained in such a manner and to such a degree as is required by the applicable law, rule or regulation.

 

  (c) Effects of amendment or termination

No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Optionee, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and executed by the Optionee and the Company.

 

14. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES

 

  (a) Legal Compliance

Shares held by a US Beneficiary shall not be sold or issued pursuant to the exercise of Options unless the exercise of such Options, and the issuance or sale and delivery of such Shares shall comply with all relevant provisions of law including, without limitation, the Commercial Code, the “Securities Act” of 1933, as amended, the “Exchange Act”, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, Applicable Laws and the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted.

 

  (b) Investment Representations

As a condition to the exercise of an Option by a US Beneficiary, the Company may require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being subscribed or purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

 

15. LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY

15.1. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by any counsel to the Company to be necessary to the lawful issuance or sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

15.2. The Company and its Affiliated Companies may not be held responsible in any way if the Beneficiary for any reason not attributable to the Company or its Affiliated Companies was not able to exercise the Options or acquire the Shares.

 

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16. SHAREHOLDERS’ APPROVAL

The Plan shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such shareholders’ approval shall be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under the French Commercial Code and Applicable Laws.

 

17. LAW, JURISDICTION

This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of France.

The relevant court of the registered office of the Company shall be exclusively competent to determine any claim or dispute arising in connection herewith.

The grant of Options under this Plan shall entitle the Company to require the Beneficiary to comply with such requirements of law and regulation as may be necessary in the Options of the Company from time to time.

*

*     *     *

 

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Exhibit

CELLECTIS

STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

Part I

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

[Optionee’s Name and Address]

You have been granted Options, each giving the right to subscribe for one ordinary Share of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the 2015 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) and this Option Agreement. Options are governed by articles L. 225-177 and following of the French Commercial Code. They are not part of the Optionee’s employment agreement or of the Optionee’s term of office which has allowed the Optionee to be granted the Options. Neither do they constitute an element of the Optionee’s remuneration. Unless otherwise defined herein, the definitions defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Option Agreement.

 

  Reference number of Grant(1):     

 

  
  Date of Grant(2) :     

 

  
  Vesting Commencement Date(3) :     

 

  
  Exercise Price per Share:      EUR  

 

  
  Total Number of Shares Granted:     

 

  
  Total Exercise Price:      EUR  

 

  
  Type of Options(4) :      [Incentive Stock Option]   
       [Non-Statutory Stock Option]   
  Term/Expiration Date(5) :     

 

  

In case the exercise of an Option, as described under Article 9.(a) of the Plan, would lead the Company to be liable for any payment, whether due to fees, taxes or to charges of any nature whatsoever, in place of the Optionee, such Option shall be deemed duly exercised when the full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised is executed by the Optionee and the Optionee provides the Company with either the receipt stating the payment by the Optionee of any such fee, tax or charge, as above described that would otherwise be paid by the Company upon exercise of the Option, in place of the Optionee or, the full payment, under the same conditions, of any amount due upon the exercise of the Option to be borne by the Company.

In the event that you infringe the above mentioned commitment, you shall be liable for any consequences resulting from such infringement for the Company and undertake to indemnify the Company in respect of all amounts payable by the Company in connection with such infringement.

Validity of the Options :

The Options will be valid as from the Date of Grant.

 

(1) reference number of Grant assigned by the Company, if it so wishes.
(2) date of the Board meeting having allocated the Option.
(3) date chosen by the Board as the Vesting Commencement Date; failing that, Date of Grant.
(4) for U.S. Beneficiaries only.
(5) date of termination of the Option (article 7 of the Plan), which shall not exceed 5 years for an ISO granted to a 10% owner and 10 year for a US Optionee.


Vesting Schedule:

Unless otherwise determined or adapted by the Board, the Options may be exercised by the Optionee on the basis of the following initial vesting schedule subject to the condition precedent that the Optionee shall have previously returned to the Company the documents referred to under section 2. of Part II of the Stock Option Grant Agreement duly initialed and signed:

 

    25% of the Options, i.e. [    ●    ] Options, as from the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, i.e; as from [    ●    ],

 

    then, 6.25% of the Options at the expiration of each quarter (i.e., successive 3-month period) following the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, and

 

    at the latest within ten (10) years as from the Date of Grant or in case of death or Disability of the Optionee during such then (10) year period, six (6) months as from the death or Disability of the Optionee.

The number of Options that could be exercised pursuant to the above vesting schedule will always be rounded down to the nearest full number.

If the Optionee fails to exercise the Options in whole or in part within the said period of ten (10) years (as may be extended to six (6) months from the death or Disability of the Optionee, the Options will lapse automatically.

Termination Period:

Unless otherwise decided by the Board, in case of termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Status as a Beneficiary, the Options exercisable at the time of termination may be exercised for three (3) months after such termination, being specified that all other Options shall automatically expire at the time of termination.

Unless otherwise decided by the Board, upon the death or Disability of the Optionee, the Options may be exercised during a period of six (6) months as provided in the Plan.

Save as provided in the Plan, in no event shall the Options be exercised later than the Term/Expiration Date as provided above. Should the Options expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unsubscribed Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future grant under the Plan.

By his signature and the signature of the Company’s representative below, the Optionee and the Company agree that the Options are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. The Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirely, has had the opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and Option Agreement. The Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan and Option Agreement. The Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.

 

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CELLECTIS

STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

Part II

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Grant of Options.

1.1. The Administrator of the Company hereby grants to the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant attached as Part I of this Agreement (the “Optionee”), [    ●    ] options (the “Options”) to subscribe the number of ordinary Shares, as set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Exercise Price”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.

If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option, this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code although the Company makes no representation as to the tax status of the Option. However, if this Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, to the extent that it exceeds the U.S.$ 100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d) the excess shall be treated as a Non-Statutory Stock Option

1.2. An Option will be valid as from the Date of Grant.

1.3. In the event of any tax liability arising on account of the Grant of the Options, the liability to pay such taxes shall be that of the Beneficiary alone. The Beneficiary shall enter into such agreements of indemnity and execute any and all documents as the Company may specify for this purpose, if so required at the time of the Grant and at any other time at the discretion of the Company, on such terms and conditions as the Company may think fit, for recovery of the tax due, from the Beneficiary.

2. Exercise of Options

(a) Right to Exercise. An Option is exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, subject to the condition precedent that the Optionee shall have previously returned to the Company, by electronic delivery under the conditions set forth in Article 10 below:

- Part I and Part II of the Stock Option Grant Agreement (Exhibit), duly initialed (all pages but for the signature page) and signed (signature page).

In the event of Optionee’s death, Disability or other termination of Optionee’s Continuous Status as a Beneficiary, the exercisability of an Option is governed by the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.

(b) Method of Exercise. An Option is exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice, in the form attached hereto (the “Exercise Notice”) stating the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be signed by the Optionee and shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the Company or its designated representative or by facsimile message to be immediately confirmed by certified mail to the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares. An Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the proof of payment of such aggregate Exercise Price.

 

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No Share shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless such issuance and exercise complies with all relevant provisions of law as set out under Section 14(a) of the Plan.

Upon exercise of an Option, the Shares issued to the Optionee shall be assimilated with all other Shares of the Company and shall be entitled to dividends for the fiscal year in course during which the Option is exercised.

3. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be made by wire transfer with the execution of the corresponding exchange contract.

Where the exercise of an Option would lead the Company to be liable for any payment, whether due to fees, taxes or to charges of any nature whatsoever, in place of the Optionee, such Option shall be deemed duly exercised when (a) the full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised is executed by the Optionee and (b) the Optionee provides the Company with either (i) the receipt stating the payment by the Optionee of any such fee, tax or charge, as above described that would otherwise be paid by the Company upon exercise of the Option, in place of the Optionee or, (ii) the full payment, under the same conditions, of any amount due upon the exercise of the Option to be borne by the Company.

The Company and its Affiliated Companies may not be held responsible in any way if the Beneficiary for any reason not attributable to the Company or its Affiliated Companies was not able to exercise the Option or purchase the Shares. The payment for the purchase of the shares shall be made by the Optionee under his/her own responsibility according to these Terms and Conditions.

4. Non-Transferability of Option. An Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

5. Term of Options. Subject as provided in the Plan, an Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.

6. Entire Agreement - Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This agreement is governed by the laws of the Republic of France.

Any claim or dispute arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the court competent for the place of the registered office of the Company.

7. Tax Obligations. Regardless of any action the Company or Optionee’s employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), Optionee acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by Optionee is and remains Optionee’s responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Option grant, including the grant, vesting or exercise of the Option, the subsequent sale of shares of Share Capital acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Option to reduce or eliminate Optionee’s liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

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Prior to exercise of the Option, Optionee will pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer, if any. In this regard, Optionee authorizes the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by Optionee from Optionee’s compensation paid to Optionee by the Company and/or Employer or from proceeds of the sale of Shares. Alternatively, or in addition, if permissible under local law, the Company may sell or arrange for the sale of Shares that Optionee acquires to meet the withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items. Finally, Optionee will pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of Optionee’s participation in the Plan or Optionee’s purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Options if Optionee fails to comply with Optionee’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this section.

8. Nature of Grant. In accepting the grant, Optionee acknowledges that:

(a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement;

(b) the grant of the Option is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of options, or benefits in lieu of options, even if options have been granted repeatedly in the past;

(c) all decisions with respect to future option grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

(d) Optionee’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Employer to terminate Optionee’s employment relationship at any time with or without cause;

(e) Optionee is voluntarily participating in the Plan;

(f) the Option is an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or the Employer, and which is outside the scope of Optionee’s employment contract, if any;

(g) the Option is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or the Employer;

(h) the Option grant will not be interpreted to form an employment contract with the Company, the Employer or any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Company;

(i) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty;

(j) if the underlying Shares do not increase in value, the Option will have no value;

(k) if Optionee exercises Optionee’s Option and obtains Shares, the value of those Shares acquired upon exercise may increase or decrease in value, even below the exercise price;

(l) in consideration of the grant of the Option, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Option or diminution in value of the Option or Shares purchased through exercise of the Option resulting from termination of Optionee’s employment the Company or the Employer (for any reason whatsoever) and Optionee irrevocably releases the Company and the Employer from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing this Agreement, Optionee shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived Optionee’s entitlement to pursue such claim; and

 

- 16 -


(m) in the event of termination of Optionee’s employment, Optionee’s right to receive the Option and vest in the Option under the Plan, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that Optionee receives notice of termination regardless of when such termination is effective; furthermore, in the event of termination of employment, Optionee’s right to exercise the Option after termination of employment, if any, will be measured by the date on which the Optionee receives notice of termination; the Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Optionee is no longer actively employed for purposes of Optionee’s Option grant. In addition, any period of notice or compensation in lieu of such notice, that is given or ought to have been given under any contract, statute, common law or civil law shall be excluded.

9. Data Privacy. Optionee hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Optionee’s personal data as described in this document by and among, as applicable, the Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Optionee’s participation in the Plan.

Optionee understands that the Company and the Employer may hold certain personal information about Optionee, including, but not limited to, Optionee’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares of stock or directorships held in the Company, details of all options or any other entitlement to shares of stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Optionee’s favor, for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan (“Data”).

Optionee understands that the recipients of the Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than Optionee’s country. Optionee understands that Optionee may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting Optionee’s local human resources representative. Optionee authorizes the Company and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing Optionee’s participation in the Plan. Optionee understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Optionee’s participation in the Plan. Optionee understands that Optionee may, at any time, view the Data, request additional information about the storage processing of the Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing Optionee’s local human resources representative. Optionee understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing Optionee’s consent may affect Optionee’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of Optionee’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Optionee understands that Optionee may contact Optionee’s local human resources representative.

10. Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to the Option and participation in the Plan or future options that may be granted under the Plan by electronic means or to request Optionee’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Optionee hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

- 17 -


11. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

 

OPTIONEE:       CELLECTIS

 

      By:   

 

Signature         

 

      Title:   

 

Print Name         

 

        
Residence Address         

 

        

 

- 18 -


CELLECTIS

Société Anonyme having a share capital of EUR.[            ]

Registered office : [            ]

[                ] R.C.S. [            ]

2015 STOCK OPTION PLAN

EXERCISE NOTICE

(Share subscription form)

 

CELLECTIS   
[                ]   
[                ]   
France    [                                ], [    ]
Attention: [                                ]   

1. Exercise of Options. Effective as of today,                     ,     , the undersigned (“Optionee”) hereby elects to subscribe                     (            ) ordinary shares (the “Shares”) of the Share Capital of CELLECTIS (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) adopted by the board on March 24, 2015 and the Stock Option Agreement dated                     ,     (the “Option Agreement”). The subscription price for the Shares shall be EUR.             , as required by the Option Agreement.

2. Delivery of Payment. Optionee herewith delivers to the Company the full subscription price for the Shares.

3. Representations of Optionee. The Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has received, read and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

4. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company) of the Shares, the Optionee shall have, as an Optionee, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, except those the Optionee may have as a shareholder of the Company. No adjustment will be made for rights in respect of which the record date is prior to the issuance date for the Shares, except as provided in Section 11 of the Plan.

5. Tax consultation. The Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Optionee’s subscription or disposition of the Shares. Optionee represents that Optionee has consulted with any tax consultants Optionee deems advisable in connection with the subscription or disposition of the Shares. The Optionee is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

6. Entire Agreement - Governing Law. The Plan and Option Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. This Exercise Notice, the Plan and the Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This agreement is governed by the laws of the Republic of France.

*

*    *

 

- 19 -


This Exercise notice is delivered in two originals copies, one of which shall be returned

to the Optionee.

 

Submitted by:         

Accepted by:

OPTIONEE (*)         

CELLECTIS

 

        

 

Signature         

Signature

 

         Its:   

 

Print Name            
Address:            

 

           

 

(*) The signature of the Optionee must be preceded by the following manuscript mention “accepted for formal and irrevocable subscription of [                ] ordinary Shares”.

 

- 20 -

EX-8.1

Exhibit 8.1

Subsidiaries of Cellectis S.A.

 

Name of Subsidiary

 

State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation

Cellectis, Inc.

  Delaware

Calyxt, Inc.

  Delaware
EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

Certification by the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to

Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a)

as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, André Choulika, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Cellectis S.A.;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The Company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:

 

  (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b) [Reserved]

 

  (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The Company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 21, 2016

 

/s/ André Choulika
Name: André Choulika
Title: Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
EX-12.2

Exhibit 12.2

Certification by the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to

Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a)

as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Eric Dutang, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Cellectis S.A.;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The Company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:

 

  (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b) [Reserved]

 

  (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The Company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 21, 2016

 

/s/ Eric Dutang
Name: Eric Dutang
Title: Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
EX-13.1

EXHIBIT 13.1

Certification by the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Cellectis S.A. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, André Choulika, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: March 21, 2016

/s/ André Choulika

Name: André Choulika
Title: Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-13.2

EXHIBIT 13.2

Certification by the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Cellectis S.A. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Eric Dutang, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: March 21, 2016

/s/ Eric Dutang

Name: Eric Dutang
Title: Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-15.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-204205) of Cellectis S.A. of our report dated March 21, 2016, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Cellectis S.A., included in this Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Ernst & Young et Autres

/s/ Franck Sebag

Paris La Defense, France

March 21, 2016