UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
Of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: April 4, 2023
Commission File Number: 001-36891
Cellectis S.A.
(Exact Name of registrant as specified in its charter)
8, rue de la Croix Jarry
75013 Paris, France
+33 1 81 69 16 00
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐
Cellectis S.A.
This report on Form 6-K, excluding the Press Release filed as Exhibit 99.1, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the registration statements of Cellectis S.A. (the Company or Cellectis) on Form F-3 (No. 333-265826) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-204205, 333-214884, 333-222482, 333-227717, 333-258514 and 333-267760), to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed.
Update Regarding Finance Contract and Warrant Agreement with European Investment Bank
On March 30, 2023, the Company and EIB entered into a Subscription Agreement for Warrants to be Issued by Cellectis S.A. (the Warrant Agreement), the execution of which was a condition precedent to the Companys ability to draw amounts under the Finance Contract, and the Company announced the drawdown of the first tranche under the Finance Contract in the amount of 20 million (Tranche A), expected to be disbursed by the EIB in early April 2023.
The disbursement of Tranche A is subject to, among other conditions, the issuance of the specified number of warrants to EIB (Tranche A Warrants), and the satisfaction by a licensee of the Company of a specified clinical milestone, which, as of the date of this report, have been satisfied. In particular, on March 28, 2023, the Company issued 2,799,188 Tranche A Warrants to EIB, representing 5.0% of the Companys outstanding share capital as at their issuance date.
Tranche A will mature six years from the disbursement date and interest on Tranche A shall be paid in kind, shall be capitalized annually by increasing the principal amount of Tranche A, and shall accrue at a rate equal to 8.0% per annum.
The EIB may cancel any undisbursed amount of Tranche A upon the occurrence of, or any event or circumstance that would, with notice or the passage of time constitute, any event of default or mandatory prepayment event. In the event of such a cancellation by the EIB prior to the expiration of a period of three years after disbursement of Tranche A.
Mandatory prepayment events include: (i) any reduction in the total cost of the Companys R&D activities such that the 40.0 million amount of the Finance Contract, together with certain other funds from the European Union, exceeds specified percentages of the aggregate cost of the Companys R&D activities, in which case the prepayment amount shall be the amount by which such limits are exceeded, together with accrued interest and all other accrued and outstanding amounts, (ii) any voluntary prepayment, in whole or in part, by the Company or its subsidiaries has occurred or is likely to occur of any indebtedness or other repayment obligation granted by a party other than the EIB, in which case the prepayment amount shall be proportionate to the prepaid amount of such non-EIB indebtedness, together with accrued interest, (iii) any change of control of the Company or any change in law or regulation that would materially impair the Companys or the guarantors ability to perform under the Finance Contract, in which case the prepayment amount shall be the full outstanding amount, together with accrued interest and all other accrued and outstanding amounts, and (iv) any event that renders performance under the Finance Contract unlawful, in which case the prepayment amount shall be the full outstanding amount, together with accrued interest and all other accrued and outstanding amounts, and the remaining undisbursed portion shall be cancelled. In addition, Tranche A may be voluntarily prepaid by the Company, in whole or in part, upon 30 days notice. Except in connection with a prepayment pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv), all prepayments prior to the expiration of a period of three years after disbursement of Tranche A are subject to a prepayment fee representing a low single-digit percentage of the prepayment amount, which steps down at each anniversary of the applicable disbursement date.
The Finance Contract also includes customary events of default, including: payment defaults; defaults arising from the provision of incorrect, incomplete or misleading representations to the EIB; cross defaults resulting in acceleration or cancellation of any other loan or obligation; cross defaults with respect to any other obligation granted by the EIB or the European Union; the occurrence of any material adverse change; any Tranche A Warrants ceasing to be in full force and effect (other than as a result of exercise), and certain bankruptcy and insolvency events of default. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the EIB may demand immediate repayment by the Company of all or part of the outstanding funds, together with accrued interest, and all other accrued or outstanding amounts under the Finance Contract.
The Warrant Agreement
The Warrant Agreement establishes the terms and conditions of the EIB Warrants.
The number of warrants to be issued will be determined as follows: (i) with respect to Tranche A, 2,799,188 Tranche A Warrants, representing 5.0% of the Companys outstanding share capital as indicated above; (ii) with respect to a second tranche of 15.0 million (Tranche B), (a) if the sum of cash injections through the issuance of new ordinary shares or other securities subordinated to the Finance Contract and upfront and milestone payments in connection with existing or new partnerships between October 31, 2022 and the Tranche B disbursement exceeds 42,500,000, an aggregate number of warrants equal to 15,000,000 divided by the product of the average price of the ordinary shares for the five trading days prior to issuance (the 5-Day AP) multiplied by 4.0 and (b) otherwise, an aggregate number of warrants equal to 15,000,000 divided by the product of the 5-Day AP multiplied by 3.75; and (iii) with respect to a third tranche of 5.0 million (Tranche C), (a) if the sum of cash injections through the issuance of new ordinary shares or other securities subordinated to the Finance Contract and upfront and milestone payments in connection with existing or new partnerships between October 31, 2022 and the Tranche C disbursement exceeds 70,000,000, an aggregate number of warrants equal to 5,000,000 divided by product of the 5-Day AP multiplied by 4.75; and (b) otherwise, an aggregate number of warrants equal to 5,000,000 divided by the product of the 5-Day AP multiplied by 4.25.
The EIB Warrants will have an exercise price per share equal to 1.92, corresponding to 99% of the weighted average price per share of Cellectis over the last 3 trading days prior to their issuance. Each EIB Warrant will entitle its holder to one ordinary share of the Company in exchange for the exercise price, subject to all applicable adjustments. The EIB Warrants with respect to Tranche B and Tranche C are only issuable if the Company elects to drawdown such tranches.
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The EIB Warrants expire on the twentieth anniversary of their issuance date at which time they will be automatically deemed null and void. Any outstanding EIB Warrants will become exercisable upon the earliest to occur of (i) a change of control event, (ii) the maturity date of Tranche A, (iii) a public take-over bid approved by the Companys board of directors, (iv) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Cellectis and its subsidiaries, (v) a debt repayment eventi.e., any mandatory repayment pursuant to the Finance Contract or any voluntary payment of more than 75% of any Tranchein respect of one or more Tranches, or (vi) the receipt of a written demand for repayment from EIB in connection with an event of default under the Finance Contract (each an Exercise Event).
Following any Exercise Event and until expiration of the applicable EIB Warrants, the EIB may exercise a put option by which the EIB may request the Company to repurchase all or part of such then-exercisable EIB Warrants. The exercise of such put options would be at the fair market value of the EIB Warrants, subject to a cap equal to the aggregate principal amount disbursed by EIB pursuant to the Finance Contract, reduced by certain repaid amounts, at the time of exercise of the put option.
Furthermore, in the case of any public take-over bid from a third party or a sale of all outstanding shares of the Company to any person or group of persons acting in concert, in the context of a group of specified Company shareholders acting in concert, the Company shall be entitled to repurchase all, but not less than all, of the EIB Warrants at a price equal to the greater of (a) 0.3 times the amount disbursed under the Finance Contract divided by the aggregate number of EIB Warrants issued (reduced by the number of exercised EIB Warrants) and (b) the fair market value of the EIB Warrants.
The Company has also a right of first refusal to repurchase the EIB Warrants that are offered for sale to a third party under the same terms and conditions of such third partys offer, provided that such right of first refusal do not apply if the contemplated sale occurs within the scope of a public take-over bid by a third-party.
Subject to the right of first refusal and compliance with applicable securities laws, the EIB Warrants may be transferred following an Exercise Event, to certain affiliates of EIB, or otherwise with the prior written approval of the Company.
The Warrant Agreement provides for customary anti-dilution adjustments in connection with changes to the structure of the Companys share capital.
In connection with the Warrant Agreement, the Company agreed to certain customary affirmative and negative undertakings. The negative undertakings include: restrictions on certain dispositions of assets by the Company and its subsidiaries and restrictions on the Company and its subsidiaries making specified restricted payments, including loan repayments, dividends and share repurchases.
The Warrant Agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties by the Company and is governed by French law.
The description of the terms and conditions of the Finance Contract and the Warrant Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified by reference in their entirety by reference to the terms of the Finance Contract, a copy of which is attached to the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2023 (the Form 20-F). Additional details regarding the Finance Contract are included in the Form 20-F.
The issuance of the Warrants is, and the issuance of ordinary shares of the Company upon exercise of the Warrants will be, made in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S under the Securities Act.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit | Title | |
99.1 | Press Release dated April 4, 2023 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CELLECTIS S.A | ||||||
(Registrant) | ||||||
Date: April 4, 2023 | ||||||
By: | /s/ André Choulika | |||||
Name: | André Choulika | |||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
Cellectis enters into warrant agreement with the European Investment Bank related to credit facility agreement and announces the drawdown of the first tranche of 20 million
New York, NY April 4, 2023 Cellectis (Euronext Growth: ALCLS NASDAQ: CLLS) (the Company), a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene-editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies today announced that the Company entered into the warrant agreement (the Warrant Agreement) and finalized the related ancillary documents required under the credit facility with the European Investment Bank (EIB) (the Finance Contract) for up to 40 million previously announced on December 28, 2022. The Company also announced the drawdown of the first tranche of 20 million (Tranche A) under the Finance Contract, expected to be disbursed by the EIB in early April 2023. The Company plans to use the proceeds of Tranche A towards the development of its pipeline of allogeneic CAR T-cell product candidates: UCART22, UCART20x22, UCART123 and UCARTCS1.
The disbursement of Tranche A is subject to, among other conditions, (i) the issuance of a specified number of warrants to the benefit of EIB (the Tranche A Warrants) and (ii) the completion of certain clinical development milestone by a Cellectis licensee, and, as of the date of this press release, each of (i) and (ii) has been satisfied. In particular, on March 28, 2023, the Company issued 2,799,188 Tranche A Warrants to EIB, in accordance with the terms of the 11th resolution of the shareholders meeting held on June 28, 2022 and articles L. 228-91 and seq. of the French Commercial Code, representing 5.0% of the Companys outstanding share capital as at their issuance date. The exercise price of the Tranche A Warrants is equal to 1.92, corresponding to 99% of the volume-weighted average price of the Companys ordinary shares over the last 3 trading days preceding the decision of the board of directors of the Company to issue the Tranche A Warrants.
Tranche A will mature six years from its disbursement date. Interest on Tranche A shall be paid in kind, shall be capitalized annually by increasing the principal amount of Tranche A, and shall accrue at a rate equal to 8% per annum.
Prepayment events under the Finance Contract: Tranche A may, in certain circumstances, be prepaid, in whole or in part, for a prepayment fee, either at the election of the Company or as a result of EIBs demand following certain prepayment events, including a change of control or change in senior management of the Company.
Subject to certain terms and conditions, upon the occurrence of customary events of default (e.g., payment default, misrepresentations in representations included in the Finance Contract, and cross defaults, among others), EIB may demand immediate repayment by the Company of all or part of the outstanding amount and/or cancel the undisbursed tranches.
Terms and Conditions of the EIB Warrants: As described above, in connection with the Finance Contract, the Company agreed to issue warrants to EIB as a condition to the funding of each tranche under the Finance Contract.
The number of warrants to be issued to EIB under the Finance Contract (the EIB Warrants) is or will be determined as follows: (i) with respect to Tranche A, 2,799,188 Tranche A Warrants representing 5.0% of the Companys outstanding share capital as indicated above; (ii) with respect to a second tranche of 15 million (Tranche B), (a) if the sum of cash injections through the issuance of new ordinary shares or other securities subordinated to the Finance Contract and upfront and milestone payments in connection with existing or new partnerships between October 31, 2022 and the Tranche B disbursement exceeds 42,500,000, an aggregate number of warrants equal to 15,000,000 divided by the product of the average price of the Companys ordinary shares over the five trading days before the issuance date (the 5-Day AP) multiplied by 4.0 and (b) otherwise, an aggregate number of warrants equal to 15,000,000 divided by the product of the 5-Day AP multiplied by 3.75; and (iii) with respect to a third tranche of 5 million (Tranche C), (a) if the sum of cash injections through the issuance of new ordinary shares or other securities subordinated to the Finance Contract and upfront and milestone payments in connection with existing or new partnerships between October 31, 2022 and the Tranche C disbursement exceeds 70,000,000, an aggregate number of warrants equal to 5,000,000 divided by product of the 5-Day AP multiplied by 4.75; and (b) otherwise, an aggregate number of warrants equal to 5,000,000 divided by the product of the 5-Day AP multiplied by 4.25.
Each EIB Warrant will entitle EIB to one ordinary share of the Company in exchange for the exercise price (subject to applicable adjustments and anti-dilution provisions). The EIB Warrants will have an exercise price per share equal to 99% of the weighted average price per share of the Company over the last three trading days prior to their issuance. The EIB Warrants with respect to Tranche B and Tranche C are only issuable if the Company elects to drawdown such tranches.
The EIB Warrants expire on the twentieth anniversary of their issuance date, at which time such unexercised EIB Warrants will be automatically deemed null and void. Any outstanding EIB Warrant will become exercisable following the earliest to occur of (i) a change of control event, (ii) the maturity date of Tranche A, (iii) a public take-over bid approved by the Companys board of directors, (iv) a sale of all or substantially all of certain assets of Cellectis and its subsidiaries, (v) a debt repayment event (i.e. any mandatory repayment pursuant to the Finance Contract or any voluntary payment more than 75% of any Tranche) in respect of one or more Tranches, , or (vi) the receipt of a written demand for repayment from EB in connection with an event of default under the Finance Agreement (each an Exercise Event).
Following any Exercise Event and until expiration of the applicable EIB Warrants, EIB may exercice a put option by which EIB may require the Company to repurchase all or part of the then-exercisable but not yet exercised EIB Warrants. The exercise of such put option would be at the fair market value of the EIB Warrants, subject to a cap equal to the aggregate principal amount disbursed by EIB pursuant to the Finance Contract at the time of the put option, reduced by certain repaid amounts, at the time of exercice of the put option.
Furthermore, in the case of any public take-over bid from a third party or a sale of all outstanding shares of the Company to any person or group of persons acting in concert, the Company shall, subject to certain conditions including the sale by certain shareholders of all of their shares and other securities, be entitled to repurchase all, but not less than all, of the EIB Warrants, at a price equal to the greater of (a) 0.3 times the amount disbursed by the EIB under the Finance Contract divided by the aggregate number of EIB Warrants issued (reduced by the number of exercised EIB Warrants), and (b) the fair market value of the EIB Warrants.
The Company has a right of first refusal to repurchase the EIB Warrants that are offered for sale to a third party under the same terms and conditions of such third partys offer, provided that such right of first refusal does not apply if the contemplated sale occurs within the scope of a public take-over bid by a third party.
Subject to the right of first refusal and compliance with applicable securities laws, the EIB Warrants may be transferred following an Exercise Event, to certain affiliates of EIB, or otherwise with the prior written approval of the Company.
The Warrant Agreement provides for customary anti-dilution adjustments in connection with changes to the structure of the Companys share capital.
In connection with the Warrant Agreement, the Company agreed to certain customary affirmative and negative undertakings. The negative undertakings include: restrictions on certain dispositions of assets by the Company and its subsidiaries and restrictions on the Company and its subsidiaries making specified restricted payments, including loan repayments, dividends and share repurchases.
The Warrant Agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties by the Company and is governed by French law.
Concomitantly with this press release, the Company filed a report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K, which further describes the Finance Contract and the Warrants Agreement: https://www.cellectis.com/en/investors/sec-filings/.
About Cellectis
Cellectis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene-editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies. Cellectis utilizes an allogeneic approach for CAR-T immunotherapies in oncology, pioneering the concept of off-the-shelf and ready-to-use gene-edited CAR T-cells to treat cancer patients, and a platform to make therapeutic gene editing in hemopoietic stem cells for various diseases. As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with over 22 years of experience and expertise in gene editing, Cellectis is developing life-changing product candidates utilizing TALEN®, its gene editing technology, and PulseAgile, its pioneering electroporation system to harness the power of the immune system in order to treat diseases with unmet medical needs. Cellectis headquarters are in Paris, France, with locations in New York, New York and Raleigh, North Carolina. Cellectis is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (ticker: CLLS) and on Euronext Growth (ticker: ALCLS).
For more information, visit www.cellectis.com. Follow Cellectis on social media: @cellectis, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Forward-looking Statements and Legal Notices
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as anticipate, believe, intend, expect, plan, scheduled, could, may and will, or the negative of these and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements, which are based on our managements current expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements include statements about the satisfaction of additional conditions under the Finance Contract, drawing of Tranches under the Finance Contract, potential future financings and strategic transactions, advancement, timing and progress of clinical trials (including with respect to patient enrollment and follow-up), the issuance of EIB Warrants, and the use of the proceeds of amounts received under the Finance Contract. These forward-looking statements are made in light of information currently available to us and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including with respect to the numerous risks associated with market conditions, and our ability to satisfy the conditions precedent under the Finance Contract. Furthermore, many other important factors, including those described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F and in our annual financial report (including the management report) for the year ended December 31, 2022 and subsequent filings Cellectis makes with the Securities Exchange Commission from time to time, which are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov, as well as other known and unknown risks and uncertainties may adversely affect such forward-looking statements and cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
For further information, please contact:
Media contacts:
Pascalyne Wilson, Director, Communications, +33 (0)7 76 99 14 33, media@cellectis.com
Investor Relations contact:
Arthur Stril, Chief Business Officer, +1 (347) 809 5980, investors@cellectis.com
Ashley R. Robinson, LifeSci Advisors, +1 617 430 7577