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Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders expected to be held [ ], 2022 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC.
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Our Company
ReShape Lifesciences Inc. is a worldwide premier weight-loss solutions company, offering an integrated portfolio of proven products and services that manage and treat obesity and metabolic disease.
Our current portfolio includes the FDA-approved Lap-Band® system, which provides minimally invasive, long-term treatment of obesity and is a safer surgical alternative to more invasive and extreme surgical stapling procedures such as the gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. The recently launched reshapecareTM virtual health coaching program is a novel reimbursed telehealth weight-management program that supports healthy lifestyle changes for all medically managed weight-loss patients, not just the Lap-Band, further expanding our reach and market opportunity. The ReShape MarketplaceTM, an online store, that provides top of the line products with bariatric patients in mind. Our ReShape OptimizeTM supplement options, purchased through the ReShape Marketplace, include multivitamins, probiotics, calcium, vitamin D, protein, and other therapeutic offerings to optimize health. The Obalon® Balloon system, recently acquired in June of 2021, is the first and only swallowable, gas filled, FDA-approved balloon system. The ReShape VestTM system is an investigational (outside the U.S.) minimally invasive, laparoscopically implanted medical device that wraps around the stomach, emulating the gastric volume reduction effect of conventional weight-loss surgery. It is designed to help enable rapid weight loss in obese and morbidly obese patients without permanently changing patient anatomy. The Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation is a technology under development as a new treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. ReShape’s Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation is expected to use bioelectronics to manage blood glucose in treatment of diabetes and individualized 24/7 glucose control. Additional products and accessories from the Company, including calibration tubes, facilitate alternative gastric surgical procedures and ongoing product support for healthcare practitioners and patients (adjustments, etc.).
Our Product Portfolio
Lap-Band System
The Lap-Band system, which we acquired from Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. (“Apollo”) in December 2018, is designed to provide minimally invasive long-term treatment of severe obesity and is an alternative to more invasive surgical stapling procedures such as the gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. The Lap-Band system is an adjustable saline-filled silicone band that is laparoscopically placed around the upper part of the stomach through a small incision, creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach, which slows the passage of food and creates a sensation of fullness. The procedure can normally be performed as an outpatient procedure and patients can go home the day of the procedure without the need for an overnight hospital stay.
The Lap-Band system has been in use in Europe since 1993. It was approved in Australia in 1994 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (“TGA”) and received its CE mark in 1997. The FDA approved the Lap-Band system for use in the United States in 2001. The Lap-Band system has been approved in 21 countries, with more than 1,000,000 Lap-Band systems sold worldwide.
The Lap-Band system has been approved for use in the U.S. for patients with a Body Mass Index (“BMI”) greater than or equal to 40 or a BMI greater than or equal to 30 with one or more obesity-related comorbidity conditions.
The Lap-Band system has been subject to more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and extensive real-world experience. Adjustable gastric banding using the Lap-Band system has been reported to be significantly safer than gastric bypass while statistically producing the same weight loss five years after surgery when accompanied by an appropriate post-operative follow-up and adjustment protocol. Studies have reported sustained resolution or improvement in type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis, hypertension and other pre-existing obesity related comorbidities following gastric banding. The gastric banding surgical procedure is generally reimbursed by most payors and insurance programs that cover bariatric surgery.
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Benefits. Lap-Band system offers the following benefits:
● | Minimally Invasive. The Lap-Band system does not change anatomy and is removable or reversible. |
● | Lifestyle Enhancing. The Lap-Band system helps patients lose weight and live a more comfortable life and potentially reduces co-morbidities from excess weight. |
● | Durable Weight Loss. The Lap-Band system offers a sustainable solution that helps patients achieve long-term success. |
reshapecare
reshapecare is a HIPAA-compliant, virtual coaching program delivered through our innovative app which enhances behavior change through engagement. reshapecare is prescribed by a patient’s physician and may be covered by insurance for up 26 visits per reimbursement year.
The program is based on four established dimensions of successful behavior: change sleep, nutrition, exercise and stress. It is designed to provide flexible structure and support from a live certified health coach in a manner that is simple and practical.
Clinical studies prove that online health coaching leads to higher patient satisfaction, more successful weight loss outcomes, improvements in metabolic health and enhances quality of life. reshapecare is appropriate for all weight loss patients, medical weight loss patients, and pre- and post-surgical bariatric patients.
The program is designed to reshape the patient’s life through better sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Patients get paired with a reshapecare certified health coach who will be with them every step of the way through their journey, including through daily text messaging or live phone or video calls. The web and mobile app make it easy to increase positive actions and awareness by receiving daily educational content, personalized exercise, and progress reports. This program creates an atmosphere of community with social support from peers and by joining group sessions. When it comes to nutrition, patients can utilize an easy-to-follow, personalized nutrition plan with a recipe library and restaurant guide. Tracking your food is as easy as taking a snapshot from your phone and sending it to your coach. Patients can connect their own devices to automatically track sleep, stress, and weight. This real-time health data can be used to optimize the program to get the best possible results.
ReShape Marketplace
ReShape Marketplace is an online store developed with bariatric patients in mind in order to focus on the four dimensions of successful behavior changes. Within the ReShape Marketplace we have ReShape Optimize, which meets all the nutrient needs to stay healthy. The ReShape Marketplace provides the highest quality products for exercising, that can have immediate and long-term health benefits, sleep which plays a vital role in good health and well-being, and stress to effectively manage stress to make your life happier, healthier and more productive.
ReShape has partnered with ProCare Health® to provide premium supplements to optimize health and well-being. ReShape Optimize is a supplemental option which will include multivitamins, probiotics, calcium, vitamin D, protein, and other therapeutic offerings. Our multivitamins utilize easy to absorb ingredients, meet updated ASMBS guidelines, and are made in the USA.
Obalon Balloon System
The Obalon Balloon System consists of a swallowable capsule that contains an inflatable balloon attached to a microcatheter; the Obalon Navigation System console, which is a combination of hardware and software used to dynamically track and display the location of the balloon during placement; the Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser, which is a semi-automated, hand-held inflation device used to inflate the balloon once it is placed; and a disposable canister filled with our proprietary mixture of gas. We continue to explore the compliance requirements, manufacturing viability and quality system controls necessary for re-intorducing the Obalon Balloon System.
Placement of the Obalon balloon typically occurs in less than 15 minutes and can be accomplished in an outpatient setting. To place the Obalon balloon, the patient swallows the capsule, which has the Obalon balloon folded
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inside. No sedation or anesthesia is required. Once swallowed, placement of the capsule is confirmed in the stomach using the Obalon Navigation System. Balloon placement can also be confirmed using x-ray. The microcatheter, which is attached to the Obalon balloon, is then connected to the Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser. The Touch inflation system provides real-time pressure measurements to confirm that the Obalon balloon is both properly placed and able to be correctly inflated in the stomach. A pre-filled canister of gas is inserted into the inflation system and then the gas is discharged to fill the balloon to a volume of 250cc. Once the inflation of the Obalon balloon is confirmed, the microcatheter is detached from the balloon via hydrostatic pressure and is removed through the patient’s mouth. The patient is intended to return two more times over the following 8 to 12 weeks to receive a second and third Obalon balloon, expanding total balloon volume within the stomach to approximately 750cc.
All of the balloons are removed in a single procedure no more than six months after the placement of the initial balloon. The balloons are removed endoscopically under light conscious sedation, using standard commercially available endoscopy tools. The endoscopic procedure to remove the balloons typically requires approximately 15 minutes.
ReShape Vest
The ReShape Vest is an investigational, minimally invasive, laparoscopically implanted medical device being studied for weight loss in morbidly obese adults with a BMI of at least 35. The device wraps around the stomach, emulating the effect of conventional weight loss surgery, and is intended to enable gastric volume reduction. This device is designed to restrict the intake of food and provide the feeling of fullness without cutting or permanently removing portions of the stomach, or bypassing any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The implantation of the device mimics a traditional weight-loss surgery, it is anatomy sparing and may not require vitamin supplementation.
In a small pilot study conducted outside the United States, at 12 months, ReShape Vest patients demonstrated a mean percent excess weight loss of 85% and a mean percent total body weight loss of 30.2%, an average waist circumference reduction of approximately 15 inches, an average drop in HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) of 2.1 points, an average decrease of systolic blood pressure of 13mmHg, and an average increase in HDL “good cholesterol” of 29 mg/dl.
Benefits. The ReShape Vest, once approved for sale, would offer an additional weight loss solution that emulates the effect of conventional weight loss surgery through a procedure that is minimally invasive and anatomy sparing. The ReShape Vest potentially offers the following benefits:
● | Minimizes Changes to Normal Anatomy. The ReShape Vest emulates the effects of conventional weight-loss surgery without stapling, cutting or removing any portion of the stomach. |
● | Permanent Physical Restriction of the Stomach. The stomach has the capacity to expand over time through overeating. The ReShape Vest provides physical restriction that maintains the reshaped stomach at a consistent size, as long as the device remains in the patient. |
● | Removable/Reversible. The ReShape Vest is designed to be removed laparoscopically, permitting the removal of the device at a later time, if that is desired. |
● | Allows Normal Ingestion and Digestion of Foods Found in a Typical, Healthy Diet. The ReShape Vest leaves the digestive anatomy largely unaltered, hence patients are able to maintain a more consistent nutritional balance compared with conventional bariatric surgical approaches. This feature allows patients to affect positive changes in their eating behavior in a non-forced and potentially more consistent way. |
Evaluation of the ReShape Vest has been underway in a pivotal clinical investigation with a planned 95-subject enrollment in Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain and The Netherlands. Enrollment had been completed in Spain shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic affected Spain and the rest of Europe. This pandemic has impacted our ability to complete enrollment in the remaining countries and impeded clinical follow up with enrolled patients of the Spanish site. Considering the unpredictability of and efforts to control this pandemic through 2021 and the beginning of 2022, we are continuing to work with identified clinical sites to determine when we will resume enrollment and subsequent filing for CE certification.
Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation Device
The ReShape Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation is a technology under development as a new treatment for
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type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It combines ReShape Lifesciences’ proprietary Vagus Nerve Block (vBloc) technology platform in combination with Vagus nerve stimulation. This new dual Vagus nerve neuromodulation selectively modulates vagal block and stimulation to the liver and pancreas to manage blood glucose. ReShape’s Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation is expected to use bioelectronics to manage blood glucose in treatment of diabetes and individualized 24/7 glucose control. The goal is to reduce costs of treatment and complications that arise from poorly controlled blood glucose and non-compliance to T2DM medication.
ReShape’s Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation technology is in preclinical development. It has demonstrated effectiveness and has been well tolerated through experiments in diabetic swine utilizing Phase I funding from an NIH Small Business Innovation Research Grant.
Our Strategic Focus
Develop and Commercialize a Differentiated Portfolio of Products/Therapies
ReShape Lifesciences Inc. is the premier physician-led weight-loss and metabolic health-solutions company, offering an integrated portfolio of proven products and services that manage and treat obesity and metabolic disease. An overarching strategy for our company is to develop and commercialize products, programs and services portfolio that is differentiated from our competition by offering transformative technologies that consists of a selection of patient-friendly, non-anatomy changing, lifestyle enhancing products, programs and services that provide alternatives to more invasive bariatric surgeries, and help patients achieve healthy, durable weight loss. Current offerings include the Lap-Band system and accessories, reshapecare virtual coaching program, the recently launched ReShape Marketplace, an online collection of quality wellness products, including ReShape Optimize, a collection of premium supplements to help patients achieve their health goals. The FDA approved Obalon Balloon System, which has been off the market since March 2020 and was acquired in connection with the Obalon merger in June of 2021, and has not yet been re-introduced to the marketplace. Once approved for commercial use, we believe the ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation will further enhance our multiple compelling and differentiated medical devices offerings. We believe that we are well positioned for the existing market and can serve more of the overweight and obese population with our solutions and thereby help expand the addressable market for obesity.
Drive the Adoption of Our Portfolio through Obesity Therapy Experts and Patient Ambassadors
Our clinical development strategy is to collaborate closely with regulatory bodies, healthcare providers, obesity therapy lifestyle experts and others involved in the obesity management process, patients and their advocates and scientific experts. We have established relationships with physicians, obesity therapy experts, patient advocates, media experts and other market drivers we believe will provide important support towards promoting patient awareness and gaining widespread adoption of the Lap-Band, its accessories, reshapecare, ReShape Marketplace, ReShape Optimize and the re-introduction of the Obalon Balloon System. Additionally, with these relationships, when approved, we believe we will be able to expand the awareness of the ReShape Vest and the Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation technology to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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Expand and Protect Our Intellectual Property Position
We believe that our issued patents and our patent applications encompass a broad platform of therapies focused on obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other gastrointestinal disorders. We intend to continue to pursue further intellectual property protection through U.S. and foreign patent applications.
Alternative Weight Loss Solutions
Reshapecare is an effective, convenient virtual health coaching program that is reimbursed by most insurance companies and works in partnership with physicians to help patients set and achieve their health and wellness goals. Through board certified coaches, it provides a weight-loss solution through behavioral changes, improving the patients’ sleep, nutrition, exercise and stress. reshapecare is appropriate for all weight loss patients, medical weight loss patients, and pre- and post-surgical bariatric patients.
We believe that we will be able to offer distinct weight loss treatment solutions that may be selected by the physician depending on the severity of the patient’s BMI or condition. Together, the Lap-Band, reshapecare and potential internal or external pipeline products can provide a minimally invasive continuum of care, independently or in combination, for bariatric surgery or medically managed weight loss patients and their care providers.
Our Market
The Obesity and Metabolic Disease Epidemic
Obesity is a disease that has been increasing at an alarming rate with significant medical repercussions and associated economic costs. The World Health Organization (“WHO”) currently estimates that more than 2.5 billion adults, approximately 30% of the global population, are considered overweight or obese. This number has a projected increase to 50% by 2030. The global economic impact of obesity is approximately $2.0 trillion, or approximately 2.8% of global GDP. Healthcare costs for severely or morbidly obese adults are 81% higher than for healthy weight adults and obesity is responsible for 5% of deaths worldwide. We believe our products and programs and product candidates could address a $1.64 billion per year and growing global surgical device market. The Bariatric Surgical Device market is projected to be a $2.8 billion worldwide market ($1.8 billion in the U.S.) by 2025.
We believe that this epidemic will continue to grow worldwide given dietary trends in developed nations that favor highly processed sugars, larger meals and fattier foods, as well as increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Despite the growing obesity rate, increasing public interest in the obesity epidemic and significant medical repercussions and economic costs associated with obesity, there continues to be a significant unmet need for effective treatments.
The United States Market
Obesity has been identified by the U.S. Surgeon General as the fastest growing cause of disease and death in the United States, and according to a 2014 McKinsey Report is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Currently, it is estimated that approximately 160 million American adults are overweight or obese, 74 million American adults are overweight, 78 million American adults are obese or severely obese, and 24 million American adults are morbidly obese. It is estimated that if obesity rates stay consistent, 51% of the U.S. population will be obese by 2030. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost 80% of adults with a BMI above 30 have comorbidity, and almost 40% have two or more of these comorbidities. According to The Obesity Society and the CDC, obesity is associated with many significant weight-related comorbidities including Type 2 diabetes, high blood-pressure, sleep apnea, certain cancers, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis and stroke. According to the American Cancer Society, 572,000 Americans die of cancer each year, over one-third of which are linked to excess body weight, poor nutrition and/or physical inactivity. Over 75% of hypertension cases are directly linked to obesity, and more than 90% of the approximately 28 million U.S. adults with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity.
Currently, medical costs associated with obesity in the U.S. are estimated to be up to $210.0 billion per year and nearly 21% of medical costs in the U.S. can be attributed to obesity. Approximately $1.5 billion was spent in 2015 alone in the U.S. on approximately 200,000 bariatric surgical procedures to treat obesity. By 2025, it is estimated that up to $3.8 billion will be spent in the U.S. on approximately 800,000 bariatric surgical procedures to treat obesity. Researchers estimate that if obesity trends continue, obesity-related medical costs could rise by another $44-$66 billion each year in
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the U.S. by 2030. The medical costs paid by third-party payers for people who are obese were $2,741 per year, or 42% higher than those of people who are normal weight and the average cost to employers is $6,627 to $8,067 per year per obese employee (BMI of 35 to 40 and higher).
Current Treatment Options and Their Limitations
We believe existing bariatric surgery and endoscopic procedural options for the treatment of obesity have seen limited adoption to date, with approximately 1% of the obese population qualifying for treatment actually seeking treatment, due to patient concerns and potential side effects including permanently altered anatomy and morbidity.
The principal treatment alternatives available today for obesity include:
● | Behavioral modification. Behavioral modification, which includes diet and exercise, is an important component in the treatment of obesity; however, most obese patients find it difficult to achieve and maintain significant weight loss with a regimen of diet and exercise alone. |
● | Pharmaceutical therapy. Pharmaceutical therapies often represent a first option in the treatment of obese patients but carry significant safety risks and may present troublesome side effects and compliance issues. |
● | Bariatric Surgery and Endoscopic Procedures. In more severe cases of obesity, patients may pursue more aggressive surgical treatment options such as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. These procedures promote weight loss by surgically restricting the stomach’s capacity and outlet size. While largely effective, these procedures generally result in major lifestyle changes, including dietary restrictions and food intolerances, and they may present substantial side effects and carry short- and long-term safety and side effect risks that have limited their adoption. |
Our Research and Development
Current R&D Focus
We have an experienced research and development team, including clinical, regulatory affairs and quality assurance, comprised of scientists and mechanical engineers with significant clinical knowledge and expertise. Our research and development efforts are focused in the following major areas:
● | supporting the current Lap-Band system; |
● | expanding and improving on the Lap-Band portfolio; |
● | gaining clinical evidence to the efficacy of the ReShape Vest; |
● | exploring various business models for the Oballon Balloon System; |
● | testing and developing the Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation device; and |
● | suction and calibration tubing line for gastric and bariatric surgeries. |
We have spent a portion of our capital resources on research and development. Our research and development expenses were $2.5 million in 2021 and $3.5 million in 2020.
Our Competition
The market for obesity treatments is competitive, subject to technological change and significantly affected by new product development. Our primary competition in the obesity treatment market is currently from bariatric surgical and endoscopic procedures.
Our Lap-Band system competes, and we expect that our Obalon Balloon System and ReShape Vest system will compete, with surgical and endoscopic obesity procedures, including gastric bypass, gastric balloons, sleeve gastrectomy and the endoscopic sleeve. These current surgical procedures are performed in less than 1% of all eligible obese patients today. Outside of the Obalon Balloon System which we recently acquired, other current manufacturers of gastric balloon and suturing products that are approved in the United States include Apollo (ORBERA Intragastric Balloon System and OverStitch Endoscopic Suturing System) and Spatz Medical.
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In June 2016, Aspire Bariatrics, Inc. received FDA approval for the Aspire Assist® System, an endoscopic alternative to weight loss surgery for people with moderate to severe obesity. We are also aware that GI Dynamics, Inc. has received approvals in various international countries to sell its EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner.
We also compete against the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals that are directed at treating obesity and the 99% of obese patients eligible for surgery that are not willing to pursue a surgical option. We are aware of a number of drugs that are approved for long-term treatment of obesity in the United States: Orlistat, marketed by Roche as Xenical and GlaxoSmithKline as Alli, Belviq marketed by Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Qsymia, marketed by VIVUS, Inc. and Contrave, marketed by Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. In addition, we are aware of a pivotal trial for GELESIS100 that is being conducted by Gelesis, Inc.
In addition to competition from surgical obesity procedures, we compete with several private early-stage companies developing neurostimulation devices for application to the gastric region and related nerves for the treatment of obesity. Further, we know of two intragastric balloon companies in the U.S., Spatz Medical, which received FDA approval of the Spatz3 Adjustable Balloon in October of 2021, and Allurion Technology’s Elipse Balloon, which is in either clinical trials or working toward clinical trials in the U.S. These companies may prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. They also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and subject registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies and technology licenses complementary to our programs or advantageous to our business.
We believe that the principal competitive factors in our market include:
● | acceptance by healthcare professionals, patients and payers; |
● | published rates of safety and efficacy; |
● | reliability and high-quality performance; |
● | effectiveness at controlling comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension; |
● | invasiveness and the inherent reversibility of the procedure or device; |
● | cost and average selling price of products and relative rates of reimbursement; |
● | effective marketing, training, education, sales and distribution; |
● | regulatory and reimbursement expertise; |
● | technological leadership and superiority; and |
● | speed of product innovation and time to market. |
Many of our competitors are larger than we are, and they may enjoy several competitive advantages over us, including:
● | stronger name recognition; |
● | existing relations with healthcare professionals, customers and third-party payers; |
● | established distribution networks; |
● | significant experience in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals, obtaining reimbursement and marketing approved products; and |
● | greater financial and human resources. |
As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to compete effectively against these companies or their products.
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Market Opportunity
Given the limitations of behavioral modification, pharmaceutical therapy and traditional bariatric surgical approaches, we believe there is a substantial need for patient-friendly, safer, effective and durable solutions that:
● | provide proven, long-term weight loss; |
● | preserve normal anatomy; |
● | are adjustable in an office setting for individual patient needs and long term efficacy; |
● | are “non-punitive” in that they support continued ingestion and digestion of foods and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals found in a typical, healthy diet while allowing the user to modify his or her eating behavior appropriately without inducing punitive physical restrictions that physically force a limitation of food intake; |
● | diminish undesirable side-effects; |
● | facilitate outpatient surgical procedures; |
● | minimize the risks of re-operations, malnutrition and mortality; |
● | reduce the natural hunger drive of patients; and |
● | are reversible, if necessary or desired, while preserving anatomy. |
Our Intellectual Property
In order to remain competitive, we must develop and maintain protection of the proprietary aspects of our technologies. We rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, trade secret laws and confidentiality and invention assignment agreements to protect our intellectual property rights. Our patent applications may not result in issued patents and our patents may not be sufficiently broad to protect our technology. Any patents issued to us may be challenged by third parties as being invalid or unenforceable, or third parties may independently develop similar or competing technology that does not infringe our patents. The laws of certain foreign countries do not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.
Lap-Band
As of December 31, 2021, we had 50 total patents, 28 U.S. and 22 foreign, related to our Lap-Band system. The international patents and patent applications are in regions including Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom,
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Mexico, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Poland, Australia, and South Korea. The issued patents expire between the years 2022 and 2031.
We also have 48 total U.S. and international trademarks for the Lap-Band brand name.
ReShape Vest
As of December 31, 2021, we had four granted U.S. patents and four granted foreign patents in China, Israel, Canada and Australia related to our ReShape Vest and 6 pending patents in the U.S. and foreign countries. The patents expire between the years 2028 and 2038.
We also have U.S. and international trademark applications for the ReShape Vest brand name.
Obalon
As of December 31, 2021, we had 34 granted U.S. patents and 89 granted foreign patents related to our Obalon portfolio and 37 pending patents in the U.S. and foreign countries. The patents expire between the years 2028 and 2031.
reshapecare
As of December 31, 2021, we had eight U.S. trademarks related to the reshapecare covering, tradename, logo, electronic pedometers and electronic day planners for tracking food, body weight, pre-recorded nutritional and fitness; as well as nutritional and medical counseling and services. ReShape Marketplace has one trademark related to the online retail store and ReShape Optimize has one trademark related to the multi-vitamins.
Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation Device
As of December 31, 2021, we had 28 U.S. patents issued and pending and 20 foreign patents issued and pending. In addition, we have filed a trademark application for Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation. The USPTO Examiner is reviewing the application and provided the Company with a disclaimer being required for “Neuromodulation”, as this a standard requirement for words that are in the standard vernacular.
Sales and Distribution
We market directly to patients but sell the Lap-Band program to select qualified surgical centers throughout the U.S. and internationally having patients that would like to treat obesity and its comorbidities. The centers then perform the Lap-Band procedure and are most-commonly reimbursed by leading insurance providers in the U.S. and government health services in many areas outside the U.S. Alternatively, surgical centers can offer the Lap-Band as a cash-pay procedure. Our sales representatives are supported by field based experts who provide training, technical support, and other support services at various medical centers. Our sales representatives help implement consumer marketing programs and provide surgical centers and certified surgeons with educational patient materials.
In order to support our Lap-Band sales efforts, we have nine regionally based team members to support the U.S. market. During the fourth quarter of 2021, we launched a national advertising campaign for our flagship product, the Lap-Band. This is the Company’s first mainstream mass-market advertising campaign in the U.S. The national television spots are being aired in outlets such as HGTV, TLC, Bravo, Oxygen and more, with print advertisements running in People Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, US Weekly and other select publications nationwide. These coordinated media efforts are intended to reach people struggling with maintaining a healthy weight and to educate them on the advantages and accessibility of the Lap-Band procedure compared to other treatment options, including diets and more aggressive gastric stapling procedures. Another goal of the campaign is to help people understand that the Lap-Band offers unique benefits for a variety of obese patients, including those with lower BMI and women who may become pregnant.
During 2021, our international sales efforts were through a combination of agent and distributor sales channels, with a focus on top Lap-Band customers in Australia, the Middle East, Canada and select countries in Europe.
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Our Manufacturers and Suppliers
To date, all of the materials and components for our products, as well as any related outside services, are procured from qualified suppliers and contract manufacturers in accordance with our proprietary specifications. All of our key manufacturers and suppliers have experience working with commercial implantable device systems, are ISO certified and are regularly audited by various regulatory agencies including the FDA. Our key manufacturers and suppliers have a demonstrated record of compliance with international regulatory requirements. In July 2021 we announced that we had completed our Lap-Band manufacturing transition from Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. to a Massachusetts-based contract manufacturer.
Given that we rely on third-party manufacturers and suppliers for the production of our products, our ability to increase production going forward will depend upon the experience, certification levels and large-scale production capabilities of our suppliers and manufacturers. Qualified suppliers and contract manufacturers have been and will continue to be selected to supply products on a commercial scale according to our proprietary specifications. Our FDA approval process requires us to name and obtain approval for the suppliers of key components of the Lap-Band system.
Many of our parts are custom designed and require custom tooling and, as a result, we may not be able to quickly qualify and establish additional or replacement suppliers for the components of our products. Any new approvals of vendors required by the FDA or other regulatory agencies in other international markets for our products as a result of the need to qualify or obtain alternate vendors for any of our components would delay our ability to sell and market our products and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We believe that our current manufacturing and supply arrangements will be adequate to continue our ongoing commercial sales and our ongoing and planned clinical trials. In order to produce our products in the quantities we anticipate to meet future market demand, we will need our manufacturers and suppliers to increase, or scale up, manufacturing production and supply arrangements by a significant factor over the current level of production. There are technical challenges to scaling up manufacturing capacity and developing commercial-scale manufacturing facilities that may require the investment of substantial additional funds by our manufacturers and suppliers and hiring and retaining additional management and technical personnel who have the necessary experience. If our manufacturers or suppliers are unable to do so, we may not be able to meet the requirements to expand the launch of the product in the United States or launch the product internationally or to meet future demand, if at all. We may also represent only a small portion of our suppliers’ or manufacturers’ business and if they become capacity constrained, they may choose to allocate their available resources to other customers that represent a larger portion of their business. If we are unable to obtain a sufficient supply of our product, our revenue, business and financial prospects would be adversely affected.
Government Regulations
Our products and operations are subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by the FDA and other federal, state and local authorities, as well as foreign regulatory authorities. The FDA regulates, among other things, the research, development, testing, design, manufacturing, approval, labeling, storage, recordkeeping, advertising, promotion and marketing, distribution, post approval monitoring and reporting and import and export of medical devices in the United States to assure the safety and effectiveness of medical products for their intended use. The Federal Trade Commission also regulates the advertising of our products in the United States. Further, we are subject to laws directed at preventing fraud and abuse, which subject our sales and marketing, training and other practices to government scrutiny.
Regulatory system for medical devices in the United States
Unless an exemption applies, each new or significantly modified medical device we seek to commercially distribute in the United States will require either a premarket notification to the FDA requesting permission for commercial distribution under Section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or FFDCA, also referred to as a 510(k) clearance, or approval from the FDA of a PMA application. Both the 510(k) clearance and PMA processes can be resource intensive, expensive, and lengthy, and require payment of significant user fees, unless an exemption is available.
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Device Classification
Under the FFDCA, medical devices are classified into one of three classes—Class I, Class II or Class III—depending on the degree of risk associated with each medical device and the extent of control needed to provide reasonable assurances with respect to safety and effectiveness.
Class I includes devices with the lowest risk to the patient and are those for which safety and effectiveness can be reasonably assured by adherence to a set of FDA regulations, referred to as the General Controls for Medical Devices, which require compliance with the applicable portions of the Quality System Regulations, or QSR, facility registration and product listing, reporting of adverse events and malfunctions, and appropriate, truthful and non-misleading labeling and promotional materials. Some Class I devices, also called Class I reserved devices, also require premarket clearance by the FDA through the 510(k) premarket notification process described below. Most Class I products are exempt from the premarket notification requirements.
Class II devices are those that are subject to the General Controls, and special controls as deemed necessary by the FDA to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device. These special controls can include performance standards, patient registries, FDA guidance documents and post-market surveillance. Most Class II devices are subject to premarket review and clearance by the FDA. Premarket review and clearance by the FDA for Class II devices is accomplished through the 510(k) premarket notification process.
Class III devices include devices deemed by the FDA to pose the greatest risk such as life-supporting or life-sustaining devices, or implantable devices, in addition to those deemed novel and not substantially equivalent following the 510(k) process. The safety and effectiveness of Class III devices cannot be reasonably assured solely by the General Controls and Special Controls described above. Therefore, these devices are subject to the PMA application process, which is generally more costly and time consuming than the 510(k) process. Through the PMA application process, the applicant must submit data and information demonstrating reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use to the FDA’s satisfaction. Accordingly, a PMA application typically includes, but is not limited to, extensive technical information regarding device design and development, pre-clinical and clinical trial data, manufacturing information, labeling and financial disclosure information for the clinical investigators in device studies. The PMA application must provide valid scientific evidence that demonstrates to the FDA’s satisfaction a reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use.
The Investigational Device Process
In the United States, absent certain limited exceptions, human clinical trials intended to support medical device clearance or approval require an IDE application. Some types of studies considered to present “non-significant risk” are deemed to have an approved IDE once certain requirements are addressed, and IRB approval is obtained. If the device presents a “significant risk” to human health, as defined by the FDA, the sponsor must submit an IDE application to the FDA and obtain IDE approval prior to commencing the human clinical trials. The IDE application must be supported by appropriate data, such as animal and laboratory testing results, showing that it is safe to test the device in humans and that the testing protocol is scientifically sound. The IDE application must be approved in advance by the FDA for a specified number of subjects. Generally, clinical trials for a significant risk device may begin once the IDE application is approved by the FDA and the study protocol and informed consent are approved by appropriate institutional review boards at the clinical trial sites. There can be no assurance that submission of an IDE will result in the ability to commence clinical trials, and although the FDA’s approval of an IDE allows clinical testing to go forward for a specified number of subjects, it does not bind the FDA to accept the results of the trial as sufficient to prove the product’s safety and efficacy, even if the trial meets its intended success criteria.
All clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s IDE regulations that govern investigational device labeling, prohibit promotion and specify an array of recordkeeping, reporting and monitoring responsibilities of study sponsors and study investigators. Clinical trials must further comply with the FDA’s good clinical practice regulations for institutional review board approval and for informed consent and other human subject protections. Required records and reports are subject to inspection by the FDA. The results of clinical testing may be unfavorable, or, even if the intended safety and efficacy success criteria are achieved, may not be considered sufficient for the FDA to grant marketing approval or clearance of a product.
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The 510(k) Approval Process
Under the 510(k) process, the manufacturer must submit to the FDA a premarket notification, demonstrating that the device is “substantially equivalent,” as defined in the statute, to a legally marketed predicate device.
A predicate device is a legally marketed device that is not subject to premarket approval, i.e., a device that was legally marketed prior to May 28, 1976 (pre-amendments device) and for which a PMA is not required, a device that has been reclassified from Class III to Class II or I, or a device that was previously found substantially equivalent through the 510(k) process. To be “substantially equivalent,” the proposed device must have the same intended use as the predicate device, and either have the same technological characteristics as the predicate device or have different technological characteristics and not raise different questions of safety or effectiveness than the predicate device. Clinical data is sometimes required to support substantial equivalence.
After a 510(k) premarket notification is submitted, the FDA determines whether to accept it for substantive review. If it lacks necessary information for substantive review, the FDA will refuse to accept the 510(k) notification. If it is accepted for filing, the FDA begins a substantive review. By statute, the FDA is required to complete its review of a 510(k) notification within 90 days of receiving the 510(k) notification. As a practical matter, clearance often takes longer, and clearance is never assured. Although many 510(k) premarket notifications are cleared without clinical data, the FDA may require further information, including clinical data, to make a determination regarding substantial equivalence, which may significantly prolong the review process. If the FDA agrees that the device is substantially equivalent, it will grant clearance to commercially market the device.
If the FDA determines that the device is not “substantially equivalent” to a predicate device, or if the device is automatically classified into Class III, the device sponsor must then fulfill the much more rigorous premarketing requirements of the PMA approval process, or seek reclassification of the device through the de novo process. A manufacturer can also submit a petition for direct de novo review if the manufacturer is unable to identify an appropriate predicate device and the new device or new use of the device presents a moderate or low risk.
After a device receives 510(k) clearance, any modification that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute a new or major change in its intended use, will require a new 510(k) clearance or, depending on the modification, could require a PMA application or de novo classification. The FDA requires each manufacturer to determine whether the proposed change requires submission of a 510(k) or a PMA in the first instance, but the FDA can review any such decision and disagree with a manufacturer’s determination. Many minor modifications are accomplished by a letter-to-file in which the manufacture documents the change in an internal letter-to-file. The letter-to-file is in lieu of submitting a new 510(k) to obtain clearance for such change. The FDA can always review these letters to file in an inspection. If the FDA disagrees with a manufacturer’s determination regarding whether a new premarket submission is required for the modification of an existing device, the FDA can require the manufacturer to cease marketing and/or recall the modified device until 510(k) clearance or approval of a PMA application is obtained. In addition, in these circumstances, the FDA can impose significant regulatory fines or penalties for failure to submit the requisite PMA application(s).
The PMA Approval Process
Following receipt of a PMA application, the FDA conducts an administrative review to determine whether the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review. If it is not, the agency will refuse to file the PMA. If it is, the FDA will accept the application for filing and begin the review. The FDA, by statute and by regulation, has 180 days to review a filed PMA application, although the review of an application more often occurs over a significantly longer period. During this review period, the FDA may request additional information or clarification of information already provided, and the FDA may issue a major deficiency letter to the applicant, requesting the applicant’s response to deficiencies communicated by the FDA. The FDA considers a PMA or PMA supplement to have been voluntarily withdrawn if an applicant fails to respond to an FDA request for information (e.g., major deficiency letter) within a total of 360 days. Before approving or denying a PMA, an FDA advisory committee may review the PMA at a public meeting and provide the FDA with the committee’s recommendation on whether the FDA should approve the submission, approve it with specific conditions, or not approve it. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions.
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Prior to approval of a PMA, the FDA may conduct inspections of the clinical trial data and clinical trial sites, as well as inspections of the manufacturing facility and processes. Overall, the FDA review of a PMA application generally takes between one and three years, but may take significantly longer. The FDA can delay, limit or deny approval of a PMA application for many reasons, including:
● | device may not be shown safe or effective to the FDA’s satisfaction; |
● | data from pre-clinical studies and/or clinical trials may be found unreliable or insufficient to support approval; |
● | the manufacturing process or facilities may not meet applicable requirements, and; |
● | changes in FDA approval policies or adoption of new regulations may require additional data. |
If the FDA evaluation of a PMA is favorable, the FDA will issue either an approval letter, or an approvable letter, the latter of which usually contains several conditions that must be met in order to secure final approval of the PMA. When and if those conditions have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the FDA, the agency will issue a PMA approval letter authorizing commercial marketing of the device, subject to the conditions of approval and the limitations established in the approval letter. If the FDA’s evaluation of a PMA application or manufacturing facilities is not favorable, the FDA will deny approval of the PMA or issue a not approvable letter. The FDA also may determine that additional tests or clinical trials are necessary, in which case the PMA approval may be delayed for several months or years while the trials are conducted and data is submitted in an amendment to the PMA, or the PMA is withdrawn and resubmitted when the data are available. The PMA process can be expensive, uncertain and lengthy and several devices for which the FDA approval has been sought by other companies have never been approved by the FDA for marketing.
New PMA applications or PMA supplements are required for modification to the manufacturing process, equipment or facility, quality control procedures, sterilization, packaging, expiration date, labeling, device specifications, ingredients, materials or design of a device that has been approved through the PMA process. PMA supplements often require submission of the same type of information as an initial PMA application, except that the supplement is limited to information needed to support any changes from the device covered by the approved PMA application and may or may not require as extensive technical or clinical data or the convening of an advisory panel, depending on the nature of the proposed change.
In approving a PMA application, as a condition of approval, the FDA may also require some form of post-approval study or post-market surveillance, whereby the applicant conducts a follow-up study or follows certain patient groups for several years and makes periodic reports to the FDA on the clinical status of those patients when necessary to protect the public health or to provide additional or longer-term safety and effectiveness data for the device. The FDA may also require post-market surveillance for certain devices cleared under a 510(k) notification, such as implants or life-supporting or life-sustaining devices used outside a device user facility. The FDA may also approve a PMA application with other post-approval conditions intended to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device, such as, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion, sale, distribution and use. Our vBloc, Lap-Band System and Intragastric balloons, including the Obalon Balloon System, Obalon Navigation System and Dispenser are considered Class III medical devices. In order to support a PMA application, the FDA required the company to conduct rigorous and expensive trials, one of which was a double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled study. We will be required to file new PMA applications or PMA supplement applications for modifications to our PMA-approved Lap-Band System, Obalon Balloon System and Obalon Navigation System and Dispenser or any of their respective components, including modifications to our manufacturing processes, device labeling and device design, based on the findings of post-approval studies.
Pervasive and Continuing FDA Regulation
After the FDA permits a device to enter commercial distribution, numerous regulatory requirements continue to apply. These include:
● | The FDA’s QSR, which requires manufacturers, including third party manufacturers, to follow stringent design, testing, production, control, supplier/contractor selection, complaint handling, documentation and other quality assurance procedures during all aspects of the manufacturing process; |
● | labeling regulations, unique device identification requirements and FDA prohibitions against the promotion of products for uncleared, unapproved or off label uses; |
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● | advertising and promotion requirements; |
● | restrictions on sale, distribution or use of a device; |
● | PMA annual reporting requirements; |
● | PMA approval of product modifications; |
● | PMA approval of product |
● | Medical device reporting, or MDR, regulations, which require that manufacturers report to the FDA if their device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur; |
● | medical device correction and removal reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers report to the FDA field corrections and product recalls or removals if undertaken to reduce a risk to health posed by the device or to remedy a violation of the FDCA that may present a risk to health; |
● | recall requirements, including a mandatory recall if there is a reasonable probability that the device would cause serious adverse health consequences or death; |
● | an order of repair, replacement or refund; |
● | device tracking requirements; and |
● | post-market surveillance regulations, which apply when necessary to protect the public health or to provide additional safety and effectiveness data for the device. |
Since February 2017, the FDA has issued three separate letters to healthcare providers warning of serious adverse events, including deaths, which are specific to liquid-filled intragastric balloons. We are aware of the filing of additional reports of serious adverse events, including deaths, associated with liquid-filled balloons since the issuance of the FDA letters to healthcare providers. While the advisory letters were specific to liquid-filled intragastric balloons and not the Obalon gas-filled balloons, these letters could create negative perceptions of the entire gastric balloon category which may cause negative consequences for us including requiring additional warnings, precautions and/or contraindications in the labeling than originally required, delaying or denying approval of our future products, or possible review or withdrawal of our current approval. Since Obalon Therapeutics began selling in United States in January 2017—before the merger – Obalon Therapeutics has reported adverse events relating to patient injuries associated with use of the Obalon balloon in the FDA’s MAUDE database.
The FDA has broad post-market and regulatory enforcement powers. Medical device manufacturers are subject to unannounced inspections by the FDA and other state, local and foreign regulatory authorities to assess compliance with the QSR and other applicable regulations, and these inspections may include the manufacturing facilities of any suppliers.
Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in enforcement action by the FDA, which may include any of the following sanctions:
● | warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties; |
● | unanticipated expenditures, repair, replacement, refunds, recall or seizure of our products; |
● | operating restrictions, partial suspension or total shutdown of production; |
● | the FDA’s refusal of our requests for 510(k) clearance or premarket approval of new products, new intended uses or modifications to existing products; |
● | FDA’s refusal to issue certificates to foreign governments needed to export products for sale in other countries; |
● | withdrawing 510(k) clearance or premarket approvals that have already been granted; and |
● | criminal prosecution. |
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Regulatory System for Medical Devices in Europe
The European Union (“EU”) consists of member states residing in the European Union and has a coordinated system for the authorization of medical devices. As of May 26, 2021, the European Union has adopted Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. The Medical Device Regulation 2017/745, or EU MDR repeals Directive 93/42/EEC, which concerns medical devices, and Directive 90/385/EEC, which concerns active implantable medical devices, as of 26 May 2021. The EU allows a transition period from Directive 93/42/EEC and Directive 90/385/EEC to Regulation (EU) 2017/745, that will end 26 May 2024.
The EU MDR aims to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market as regards medical devices, taking as a base a high level of protection of health for patients and users, and considering the small- and medium-sized enterprises that are active in this sector. At the same time, this Regulation sets high standards of quality and safety for medical devices in order to meet common safety concerns as regards such products. Both objectives are being pursued simultaneously and are inseparably linked whilst one not being secondary to the other. As regards Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), this Regulation harmonises the rules for the placing on the market and putting into service of medical devices and their accessories on the Union market thus allowing them to benefit from the principle of free movement of goods. As regards Article 168(4)(c) TFEU, this Regulation sets high standards of quality and safety for medical devices by ensuring, among other things, that data generated in clinical investigations are reliable and robust and that the safety of the subjects participating in a clinical investigation is protected.
The system of regulating medical devices operates by way of a certification for each medical device. Each certificated device is marked with CE mark which shows that the device has a Certificat de Conformité. There are national bodies known as Competent Authorities in each member state which oversee the implementation of the EUMDR within their jurisdiction. The means for achieving the requirements for CE mark varies according to the nature of the device. Devices are classified in accordance with their perceived risks, similarly to the U.S. system. The class of a product determines the requirements to be fulfilled before CE mark can be placed on a product, known as a conformity assessment. Conformity assessments for our products have carried out as required by the MDD. Each member state can appoint Notified Bodies within its jurisdiction. If a Notified Body of one member state has issued a Certificat de Conformité, the device can be sold throughout the European Union without further conformance tests being required in other member states.
Per MDD 93/42/EEC on Medical Devices, Annex II excluding Section 4, the Lap-Band System is considered a Class IIb device and few of the system’s components are considered Class IIa devices. The vBloc, was never commercialized in the EU. The Obalon Balloon System, when delivered with a cellulose-based capsule was considered a Class IIb product under MDD. Prior to the merger, Obalon Therapeutics’ management believed the Obalon Navigation System and the Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser are Class I products not requiring Notified Body approval. Obalon Therapeutics’ Medical Device Marketing Authorization under the MDD expired on May 14, 2020. Obalon Therapeutics allowed the Obalon balloon CE-mark to expire and did not renew its agreement with its Notified Body. Prior to the June 16, 2021 merger, Obalon Therapeutics did not apply for a CE-mark for the Obalon Navigation System and Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser. ReShape Lifesciences will conduct a conformity assessment of the Obalon Balloon System, Obalon Navigation System and Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser vis-à-vis the EU MDR requirements and determine their classification.
Regulatory frameworks for medical devices in certain countries in Asia Pacific and the Middle East
Australia
As of September 30, 2021, the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), lists ReShape Lifesciences as the legal manufacturer of the Lap-Band system and accessories in Australia. Previously, Apollo Endosurgery was listed as the legal manufacturer of the Lap-Band system and accessories in Australia.
Middle East
Unlike Europe, while the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, jurisdictions often work together to purchase certain medical products in a coordinated fashion for government hospitals, there is not a coordinated system for the
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authorization of medical devices. Most GCC jurisdictions require that the official registered distributor of a product be wholly owned by nationals of that particular GCC jurisdiction.
ReShape distributes the Lap-Band System and accessories in the Middle East through a distributor. Product is shipped to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Obalon Therapeutics ceased distribution of the Obalon System, the Obalon Navigation System and the Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser in the Middle East prior to the June 16, 2021, merger.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or KSA
The most pertinent regulation is the Interim Regulation for Medical Devices, issued by the Saudi Food & Drug Authority, or SFDA, Board of Directors’ Decree number 1-8-1429 dated approximately December 27, 2008, and the implementing regulations of the same. The SFDA is an independent regulatory body that is responsible for the authorization of medical devices, and current guidelines are generally based on pre-existing approval in one of the five founding member nations of the Global Harmonization Task Force, or GHTF, which are Australia, Canada, United States, European Union and Japan. There are no overt requirements for the provision of safety and effectiveness data in the form of clinical trials or other studies, but these would likely come as a part of the approvals described above that are used as a basis to support approval within the KSA. The SFDA reserves its rights to require its own independent clinical trials as it deems necessary or appropriate. Regulatory authorization is required for all medical devices, regardless of device class. A potential exception to this requirement is for medical devices that were designed and constructed by local health care facility and staff for internal use. Similar to the United States, the SFDA requires post market surveillance to ensure safety and quality. This program is meant to be conducted by the Authorized Representative. With respect to the use of medical devices, it is the responsibility of the health care institution to inform the manufacturer and the SFDA of any adverse events associated with this use.
As of June 8, 2021, the SFDA has approved the Medical Device Market Authorization, or MDMA application and the listing of ReShape Lifesciences as the legal manufacturer of the Lap-Band system and accessories in KSA. Previously, Apollo Endosurgery was listed as the legal manufacturer of the Lap-Band system and accessories in KSA.
United Arab Emirates, or UAE
The most pertinent regulation is UAE Federal Law No. 4 of 1983 for the Pharmaceutical Profession and Institutions and to Medical Device Regulations. There are many similarities between the SFDA and the Registration and Drug Control Department that is run out of the Ministry of Health & Prevention of the UAE. Applications for registration of medical devices in the UAE are done with the UAE Ministry of Health Registration & Drug Control Department and must include data on effectiveness in addition to safety (a nod to the requirements of the FDA). The UAE body has its own device classification system that is most closely related to that used by the European Union, defined as class 1, low risk; class 2, medium risk but nonimplantable; class 3, medium risk but implantable; and class 4, high risk.
Brexit
The UK Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA is responsible for regulating medical devices in Great Britain. The MHRA plans changes to the UK’s Medical Devices Regulations 2002 as part of a broader transition away from European Union legal and regulatory systems.
In addition, the Trade Deal between the UK and the EU generally provides for cooperation and exchange of information between the parties in the areas of product safety and compliance, including market surveillance, enforcement activities and measures, standardization related activities, exchanges of officials, and coordinated product recalls. As such, processes for compliance and reporting should reflect requirements from regulatory authorities.
CE Marks issued by EU-recognized notified bodies will continue to be valid in for medical devices placed on the Great Britain market – England, Scotland, and Wales until June 30, 2023. Until that date, MHRA accepts the CE Marking and requires registering active implantable medical devices, Class III medical devices, Class IIb implantable medical devices and IVD List A devices by May 1, 2021. After June 30, 2023, this period, the UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) marking will be mandatory. In Northern Island, CE Marking issued by EU-recognized notified bodies will continue to be valid until current CE cert under Medical Device Directive (MDD) expires, after which date,
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CE marking needs to be approved under EU Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR). ReShape Lifesciences is compliant with the registration requirements and is registered in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Additionally, the EU no longer recognizes conformity assessment activities performed by UK notified bodies for medical devices placed on the market since January 1, 2021. Notified bodies must be located in a European Union member state, or territory where there is a mutual recognition agreement, or MRA; there is currently no such MRA. The new legislation may create an extra hurdle for manufacturers and thereby limit the availability and/or increase prices of our medical devices in the UK.
Our Products
The ReShape Lifesciences’ Lap-Band system, the Obalon Balloon System, Obalon Navigation system and Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser, and their respective components are medical devices that required a PMA submission form and approval by the FDA for commercial use in the United States. ReShape Lifesciences’ vBloc neuromodulation system, which was approved by the FDA for treating obesity is no longer commercialized.
The FDA approved ReShape Lifesciences’ vBloc in January of 2015. In September 2018, ReShape Lifesciences made a financial decision to stop the manufacturing and commercialization of the vBloc product line. This business decision was not related to the safety or efficacy of the device. On January 27, 2021, the FDA accepted a PMA amendment to formally withdraw the vBloc PMA. On February 2, 2021, the FDA accepted the PMA amendment for the ReCharge Post Approval Study closure and the study status was marked “Completed” on the FDA Post-Approval Studies webpage. On March 4, 2021, the FDA accepted the PMA amendment for the ReNew Post Approval Study termination and the study status was marked “Terminated” on the FDA Post-Approval Studies webpage. ReShape continues to comply with post-market surveillance requirements of the vBloc such as medical device reporting.
FDA approved the Lap-Band system in 2001. The Lap-Band system was approved for use in the U.S. for patients with a BMI greater than or equal to 40 or a BMI greater than or equal to 30 with one or more obesity-related comorbidity conditions.
The Lap-Band system was CE marked in 1997. The method of assessing conformity with applicable regulatory requirements varies depending on the class of the device, but for our Lap-Band system, the method involved a combination issuance of declaration of conformity by the manufacturer of the safety and performance of the device, and a third-party assessment by a Notified Body of the design of the device and of our quality system. A Notified Body is a private commercial entity that is designated by the national government of a member state as being competent to make independent judgments about whether a product complies with applicable regulatory requirements. The assessment included, among other things, a clinical evaluation of the conformity of the device with applicable regulatory requirements. We use BSI as the Notified Body for our CE marking approval process.
Continued compliance with CE marking requirements is enforced through periodic facility inspections by the Notified Body, which may be unannounced. Because we rely on contract manufacturing sites and service providers, these additional sites may also be subject to these Notified Body inspections.
The Obalon Balloon System was approved in January 2017 and the Obalon Navigation system and Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser were approved on December 20, 2018. All of the above-listed devices were approved with post-approval conditions intended to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these devices. ReShape Lifesciences assumed and complies with all post market requirements for the Lap-Band system, the Obalon Navigation system, and Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser.
The ReShape Vest with weight loss indication will be considered a Class III Long Term Implantable product by the FDA requiring the PMA submission. A pivotal trial for the ReShape Vest will likely include a few hundred patients implanted and monitored up to three years. Other implantable devices for the treatment of obesity relied on twelve-month endpoints for the PMA submission with annual follow-up visits up to five years and we expect the pivotal trial for the ReShape Vest to be similar. A U.S. pivotal trial requires FDA Investigational Device Exemption (“IDE”) submission and approval.
Since the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed most of the economy in the European Union. This resulted in many different challenges ranging from notified bodies that were no longer able to perform audits, to manufacturers that were forced to increase their production beyond their existing capabilities or forced to stop their
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production all together. The original date of application of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical device (MDR) was May 26, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the date of application for MDR was postponed to May 26, 2021. The Company will continue to implement changes across our quality systems to become compliant with the new MDR.
Clinical Trials
Obalon Balloon SMART Pivotal Trial
Obalon published the results of their pivotal SMART trial. The Obalon Balloon System has demonstrated clinically meaningful weight loss with durable results. The Obalon treatment group lost, on average, approximately twice as much body weight as patients in the sham-control group, with an average of 15.1 pounds of weight loss, resulting in an average 6.9% reduction in total body weight and an average 2.4 point decrease in BMI. In the study, 66.7% of patients lost at least 5% of their total body weight and the study showed statistically significant improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors, including fasting glucose, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. Patients in the treatment group were followed for 48 weeks and showed, on average, that 89.5% of the weight loss achieved during the initial 24-week balloon treatment period was maintained at 48 weeks, or 24 weeks after the balloons were removed.
Obalon Balloon Post-Approval Study (PAS)
The PAS is a prospective, single arm, observational, sequentially enrolling, open label multi-center study. The Obalon PAS is a 1-year study that includes 6-month of Obalon Balloon therapy in conjunction of a weight loss behavior modification, or WLBM program and 6-months of continued WLBM program after balloon removal. The primary study objective is to assess the continued safety and performance of the Obalon Balloon System in commercial settings. Enrollment and follow-up activities were completed. ReShape Lifesciences continues complying with post approval requirements.
Post-Approval Study - Obalon Navigation-Touch System (NTS)
To help assure the continued safety and effectiveness of the Obalon Navigation System, the FDA has required a post-approval study as a condition of approval under 21 CFR 814.82(a)(2). As part of PMA approval, Obalon management agreed with the FDA to conduct a post-approval prospective, observational, open-label, multi-center study designed to capture additional safety and effectiveness data of the Obalon balloon administration with NTS, prior to merger with ReShape LifeSciences. The study is a single cohort group that includes patients who commercially purchased the Obalon Balloon System at clinics and hospitals that use NTS and have consented to have their data collected to support this study. All activities related to post-administration management, weight loss and removal of the balloons are conducted in accordance with the commercial Obalon Balloon System device labeling and are not collected in this study; this study focuses on balloon administrations only. The study will evaluate approximately 4,000 balloon administrations in approximately 1,400 subjects at up to 40 clinical sites in the United States.
Patient enrollment for this study began in December 2019. On June 26, 2020, Obalon and the FDA had a call to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the company and cessation of commercial distribution of product since March 2020. Therefore, continued enrollment of the post-market study was put on hold and has been on hold since. The study enrolled 32 patients from one site as of March 9, 2020 before it was suspended. The other two participating sites have received IRB approvals but have not enrolled their first patient. ReShape Lifesciences will communicate with the FDA if commercial distribution of product resumes and coordinate resumption of this PAS.
Endure II Trial - Investigation Study of Reshape Vest
The Endure II trial commenced in March 2019 at one clinical site. Enrollment of patients at this site was completed in January 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Europe. Study initiations at other clinical sites were put on hold due to logistical limitations such as travel bans to certain European countries that prevented us from conducting site initiations and on-site case support. Additionally, unforeseeable lockdowns prevented enrolled trial subjects from completing some scheduled in-person follow-up visits. This reality has constrained our ability to complete the clinical trial.
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We have engaged and continue to engage third parties to advise on and perform certain clinical studies and related activities, typically with assistance from our team. These third parties can include contract research organizations, academic institutions, consultants, advisors, scientists, clinicians, and other collaborators.
In order to complete a clinical trial, we are required to enroll enough patients to conduct the trial after obtaining each patient’s informed consent in a form and substance that complies with FDA and/or other regulatory authority requirements as well as state and federal privacy and human subject protection regulations. Many factors could lead to delays or inefficiencies in conducting clinical trials, some of which are discussed under the heading “RISK FACTORS” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Further, we, the FDA, and/or an institutional review board, or IRB in US and/or a Ministry of Health abroad and/or an Ethics Committee in Europe could suspend a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the risks to the trial‘s subjects outweigh the anticipated benefits. Even if a trial is completed, the results of clinical testing may not adequately demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the device or may otherwise not be sufficient to obtain FDA clearance or approval to market the product in the U.S. Same applies abroad where our Notified Body and Ministries of Health may determine that safety and efficacy of the device is not sufficient to obtain clearance or approval to market the product in respective geographies.
Obalon Balloon System
Obalon Balloon favorable safety profile, In the pivotal SMART trial, only one of 336 (0.3%) patients that received the Obalon balloon experienced a serious adverse device event (SADE) and in data presented at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Meeting from the first year of commercial experience, only two of 1,343 (0.14%) patients that received our Obalon balloon experienced a SADE. Historically, the reported rate of SADEs reported to Obalon in commercial use is consistent with that experienced in the pivotal SMART trial or the data from their first year of commercial experience.
In addition, data published and presented from Obalon’s commercial registry demonstrates greater weight loss in the commercial setting as compared to the pivotal clinical study used to support FDA approval. In May 2019, Obalon updated data from their commercial registry to include 1,411 total patients from 143 treatment sites in the United States. In this data set, for those patients receiving three balloons and at least 20 weeks of therapy, the average weight loss was 21.7 pounds, resulting in a 10.2% reduction in total body weight. Of note, 50.7% of patients lost 10% or more total body weight and 77.9% lost 5% or more total body weight.
Obalon Balloon improved patient tolerability and comfort. The Obalon balloon is inflated with a proprietary mix of gas. This creates a light, buoyant balloon that floats at the top of the stomach instead of sinking to the bottom of the stomach like a traditional liquid-filled intragastric balloon. Further, the Obalon Balloon System consists of three separate 250cc balloons placed individually over a three-month period to progressively add volume. We believe these design elements have the potential to improve patient comfort and tolerability of our Obalon balloon.
Obalon Balloon progressive weight loss with durable results. In the pivotal SMART trial, patients in the Obalon treatment group lost, on average, approximately twice as much body weight as patients in the sham-control group. In addition, patients in the Obalon treatment group showed, on average, progressive weight loss over the balloon treatment period, which we believe is attributable to the individual placement of three separate Obalon balloons over the treatment period. Subsequent data analysis at 12 months also showed that, on average, 89.5% of the weight loss was maintained six months after balloon removal. In May 2019, Obalon analyzed data from their commercial registry on 1,411 total patients from 143 treatment sites in the United States. In this data set, for those patients receiving three balloons and at least 20 weeks of therapy, the average weight loss was 21.7 pounds, resulting in a 10.2% reduction in total body weight.
Obalon Balloon simple and convenient placement. The Obalon balloon is placed without anesthesia or an endoscopy through a swallowable capsule that dissolves in the stomach and releases the balloon. These unique features allow patients the flexibility to receive the Obalon balloon discreetly in an outpatient setting. Placement typically occurs in less than fifteen minutes and can be scheduled in the morning before work, during a lunch break or in the evening. Treated patients can return promptly to their normal daily activities. The balloons are removed endoscopically under light, conscious sedation six months after the first balloon placement. Recently approved new products, the Obalon Navigation System and Obalon Touch Inflation Dispenser, are designed to further improve ease of use and convenience of placement.
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Privacy and Security Laws
Medical device companies may be subject to U.S. federal and state and foreign health information privacy, security and data breach notification laws, which may govern the collection, use, disclosure and protection of health-related and other personal information. In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (“HITECH”), and all regulations promulgated thereunder, collectively HIPAA, imposes privacy, security and breach reporting obligations with respect to individually identifiable health information upon ‘‘covered entities’’ (health plans, health care clearinghouses and certain health care providers), and their respective business associates, individuals or entities that create, receive, maintain or transmit protected health information in connection with providing a service for or on behalf of a covered entity. Although we are not a covered entity, we may provide certain services that require the use or disclosure of PHI on behalf of physicians who are covered entities, and we therefore may be considered to be business associates under HIPAA. HIPAA imposes specified requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information. HIPAA mandates the reporting of certain breaches of health information to HHS, affected individuals and if the breach is large enough, the media. Entities that are found to be in violation of HIPAA as the result of a breach of unsecured protected health information or PHI, a complaint about privacy practices or an audit by HHS, may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative fines and penalties and/or additional reporting and oversight obligations if required to enter into a resolution agreement and corrective action plan with HHS to settle allegations of HIPAA non-compliance. HITECH also increased the civil and criminal penalties that may be imposed against covered entities, business associates and possibly other persons, 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 attorney’s fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions.
Even when HIPAA does not apply, according to the Federal Trade Commission or the FTC, failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal information secure constitutes unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C § 45(a). The FTC expects a company’s data security measures to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and complexity of its business, and the cost of available tools to improve security and reduce vulnerabilities. Individually identifiable health information is considered sensitive data that merits stronger safeguards. The FTC’s guidance for appropriately securing consumers’ personal information is similar to what is required by the HIPAA security regulations.
In addition, certain state and non-U.S. laws, such as the European Union General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, some of which are more stringent than HIPAA and many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. Further, ‘‘business associates,’’ defined as independent contractors or agents of covered entities that create, receive, maintain or transmit protected health information in connection with providing a service for or on behalf of a covered entity, are also subject to certain HIPAA privacy and security standards. Failure to comply with these laws, where applicable, can result in the imposition of significant civil and/or criminal penalties and private litigation. For example, California recently enacted legislation, the California Consumer Privacy Act or CCPA, which went into effect January 1, 2020. The CCPA, among other things, creates new data privacy obligations for covered companies and provides new privacy rights to California residents, including the right to opt out of certain disclosures of their information. The CCPA also creates a private right of action with statutory damages for certain data breaches, thereby potentially increasing risks associated with a data breach. Although the law includes limited exceptions, including for PHI maintained by a covered entity or business associate, it may regulate or impact our expected processing of personal information depending on the context. In Europe, the GDPR went into effect in May 2018 and introduces strict requirements for processing the personal data of European Union data subjects. Companies that must comply with the GDPR face increased compliance obligations and risk, including more robust regulatory enforcement of data protection requirements and potential fines for noncompliance of up to €20 million or 4% of the annual global revenues of the noncompliant company, whichever is greater. Moreover, the United Kingdom leaving the EU could also lead to further legislative and regulatory changes. It remains unclear how the United Kingdom data protection laws or regulations will develop in the medium to longer term and how data transfer to the United Kingdom from the EU will be regulated, especially following the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU on January 31, 2020 without a deal. However, the United Kingdom has transposed the GDPR into domestic law with the Data Protection Act 2018, which remains in force following the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU.
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Anti-Kickback Statutes
The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits persons from (among other things) knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce the referral of an individual, or the recommending, furnishing or arranging for a good or service, for which payment may be made under a federal healthcare program such as Medicare or Medicaid.
Courts have interpreted the Anti-Kickback Statute quite broadly, holding that the statute will be violated if even one purpose of a payment – though not its sole or primary purpose – is to induce an act prohibited by the statute with a willful intent to act improperly. The statute prohibits many arrangements and practices that are otherwise lawful in businesses outside of the healthcare industry. Prosecutors may infer intent from the surrounding circumstances and, because courts have interpreted the statute to be violated if even one purpose of a payment is to induce the purchase of items or services paid for by federal healthcare programs, prosecutors have broad discretion in choosing arrangements to prosecute under the statute. There are statutory exceptions and regulatory “safe harbors” available to protect certain appropriately structured arrangements that otherwise would implicate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Those who structure their business arrangements to satisfy all of the criteria of a safe harbor are protected from liability under the statute.
Penalties for violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute are severe and may include, in addition to the fines and jail time described above, penalties imposed under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law, or the CMP Law, including exclusion from participation in Federal healthcare programs, civil monetary penalties for each improper act, and damages of up to three times the amount of remuneration at issue (regardless of whether some of the remuneration was for a lawful purpose). Because we do not anticipate that the Obalon Balloon System will be reimbursed by any federal healthcare program, we do not believe that we will be subject to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
Many states have adopted laws similar to the Anti-Kickback Statute, however, and some of these state prohibitions apply to arrangements involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by any source, and not only by Medicare, Medicaid or another federal healthcare program. These state laws do not always have the same exceptions or safe harbors of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The business may be subject to some of these laws.
Government officials have focused recent enforcement efforts on the marketing of healthcare services and products, among other activities, and have brought cases against companies, and certain individual sales, marketing and executive personnel, for allegedly offering unlawful inducements to potential or existing customers in an attempt to procure their business.
False Claims Laws
The federal False Claims Act imposes liability on any individual or entity that, among other things, knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment by a federal healthcare program. The qui tam or “whistleblower” provisions of the False Claims Act allow a private individual to bring actions on behalf of the federal government alleging that the defendant has violated the False Claims Act and to share in any monetary recovery. In recent years, the number of lawsuits brought against healthcare industry participants by private individuals has increased dramatically.
When an entity is determined to have violated the False Claims Act, it may be required to pay up to three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties for each separate instance of false claim. As part of any settlement, the government may ask the entity to enter into a corporate integrity agreement, which imposes certain compliance, certification and reporting obligations. There are many potential bases for liability under the False Claims Act. Liability arises, primarily, when an entity knowingly submits, or causes another to submit, a false claim for reimbursement to the federal government. The federal government has used the False Claims Act to assert liability on the basis of inadequate care, kickbacks and other improper referrals, and the provision of inaccurate reimbursement coding advice, in addition to the more predictable allegations as to misrepresentations with respect to the services rendered. In addition, companies have been sued under the False Claims Act in connection with the off-label promotion of products.
Various states have also enacted false claims laws that are analogous to the federal False Claims Act. Many of these state laws apply to claims submitted to any third-party payor and are not limited to claims submitted to a federal healthcare program.
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Transparency Laws
The federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act, or the Sunshine Act, which was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or the PPACA, generally requires certain manufacturers of a drug, device, biologic or other medical supply that is covered by Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and applicable group purchasing organizations to report on an annual basis: (i) certain payments and other transfers of value given to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors), certain other health care professionals beginning in 2022, and teaching hospitals and (ii) any ownership or investment interest that physicians, or their immediate family members, have in their company. The payments required to be reported include the cost of meals provided to a physician, travel reimbursements and other transfers of value, including those provided as part of contracted services such as speaker programs, advisory boards, consultation services and clinical trial services. Under the statute, the federal government makes reported information available to the public. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements can result in significant civil monetary penalties, with additional penalties for the knowing failure to report. Additionally, there are criminal penalties if an entity intentionally makes false statements in the reports.
There has been a recent trend of separate state regulation of payments and transfers of value by manufacturers of medical devices to healthcare professionals and entities, however, and some state transparency laws apply more broadly than does the federal Sunshine Act. Our business may be subject to some of these state laws.
State Corporate Practice of Medicine, Fee-Splitting Prohibitions, and Licensure Requirements
Other regulatory oversight includes, but is not limited to, the corporate practice of medicine, fee-splitting prohibitions, and licensure and scope of practice limitations for physicians and other healthcare professionals. Some states have enacted laws and regulations limiting the extent to which physicians and certain other healthcare professionals may be employed by non-physicians or general business corporations, and the scope and provisions of corporate practice of medicines laws and regulations vary by state. These laws are intended to prevent interference in the medical decision-making process by anyone who is not a licensed physician. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties. In addition, various state laws also generally prohibit the sharing or splitting professional fees with lay entities or persons. The specific restrictions with respect to enforcement of the corporate practice of medicine and fee-splitting laws varies from state to state. Violations of these laws could require us to restructure our operations and arrangements and may result in penalties or other adverse action.
Moreover, each state defines the scope of practice of physicians and other healthcare professionals through legislation and through their respective licensing boards, and we will need to comply with laws related to the physician supervision of services and scope of practice requirements. Activities that qualify as professional misconduct under state law may subject our personnel to sanctions or may even result in loss of their license and could, possibly, subject us to sanctions as well. Some state boards of medicine impose reciprocal discipline, that is, if a physician is disciplined for having committed professional misconduct in one state where he or she is licensed, another state where he or she is also licensed may impose the same discipline even though the conduct occurred in another state.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, prohibits U.S. businesses and their representatives from offering to pay, paying, promising to pay or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official in order to influence any act or decision of the foreign official in his or her official capacity or to secure any other improper advantage in order to obtain or retain business. The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are listed in the United States to comply with accounting provisions requiring us to maintain books and records, which in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the corporation, including international subsidiaries, if any, and to devise and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements. The scope of the FCPA includes interactions with certain healthcare professionals in many countries.
International Laws
In Europe, and throughout the world, other countries have enacted anti-bribery laws and/or regulations similar to the FCPA. Violations of any of these anti-bribery laws, or allegations of such violations, could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and reputation.
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There are also international privacy laws that impose restrictions on the access, use, and disclosure of health information. All of these laws may impact our business. Our failure to comply with these privacy laws or significant changes in the laws restricting our ability to obtain required patient information could significantly impact our business and our future business plans.
U.S. Healthcare Reform
Changes in healthcare policy could increase our costs and subject us to additional regulatory requirements that may interrupt commercialization of our products. By way of example, ACA substantially changed the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers, and significantly impacted the medical device industry.
There will continue to be proposals by legislators at both the federal and state levels, regulators and third-party payors to reduce costs while expanding individual healthcare benefits. Certain of these changes could impose additional limitations on the prices we will be able to charge and/or patients’ willingness to pay for our products. While in general it is too early to predict what effect, if any, ACA and its implementation, or any future healthcare reform legislation or policies will have on our business, current and future healthcare reform legislation and policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Employees
As of December 31, 2021, we had 47 employees, all of which were full-time. All of these employees are located in the U.S.
From time to time we also employ independent contractors, consultants and temporary employees to support our operations. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. We have never experienced a work stoppage and believe that our relations with our employees are good.
Information About our Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of March 1, 2022:
Name |
| Age |
| Position |
Barton P. Bandy |
| 61 |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
Thomas Stankovich |
| 61 |
| Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Barton P. Bandy has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since April 1, 2019. Mr. Bandy has extensive leadership experience in health care and specifically in the obesity and bariatric space. Most recently, Mr. Bandy was President and Chief Executive Officer of BroadSpot Imaging Corporation, a developer of medical devices for eye care, since April 2017. From April 2013 to August 2016, Mr. Bandy was President of Wellness at Alphaeon Corporation, where he was responsible for business development, commercial activities, strategy and acquisition integration. He previously spent 10 years as the senior executive leading the Inamed and Allergan Health Divisions through the launch, growth and transition of the Lap-Band.
Thomas Stankovich has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 30, 2019. Mr. Stankovich has extensive leadership experiences as the CFO for multiple public and private healthcare companies. Prior to joining ReShape, Mr. Stankovich spent nine years as the Global Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MP Biomedicals, a life science and molecular biology-diagnostics company. Prior to MP Biomedicals, Mr. Stankovich served as Chief Financial Officer at Response Genetics where he successfully led the company through their initial public offering. Additionally, Mr. Stankovich served as Chief Financial Officer for Ribapham Inc., where he also led the company through their initial public offering, which at the time became the second largest ever initial public offering in the biotechnology sector. Mr. Stankovich also held the Chief Financial Officer position at ICN International which later changed its name to Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
Our Corporate Information
We were incorporated under the laws of Delaware on January 2, 2008. On June 15, 2021, we completed a merger with ReShape Lifesciences Inc. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary of Obalon with and into
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ReShape, with ReShape surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Obalon. As a result of the merger, Obalon, the parent company, was renamed “ReShape Lifesciences Inc.” and ReShape was renamed ReShape Weightloss Inc. ReShape Lifesciences shares of common stock trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol RSLS.
We file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and proxy or information statements. Those reports and statements as well as all amendments to those documents filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (1) are available at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549, (2) may be obtained by sending an electronic message to the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov or by sending a fax to the SEC at 1-202-777-1027, (3) are available at the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov), which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and (4) are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after electronic filing with, or furnishing to, the SEC.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1001 Calle Amanecer, San Clemente, California 92673, and our telephone number is (949) 429-6680. Our website addresses are www.reshapelifesciences.com and lapband.com. The information on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K and should not be considered a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Summary of risk Factors
The following is a summary of the principal risks and uncertainties that could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, prospects and/or the price of our outstanding securities, and make an investment in our securities speculative or risky. You should read this summary together with the more detailed description of each risk factor contained below.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
● | We may be unable to attract and retain management and other personnel we need to succeed. |
● | We may not be able to re-introduce the Obalon Balloon System to the marketplace. |
● | Prior to the merger, Obalon shut down the manufacturing operations and released related support personnel. We may have difficulties and delays restarting the manufacturing of the Obalon Balloon System. |
● | Our ReShape Vest product is in the early stages of clinical evaluation. If the clinical trial is not successfully completed or any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, the ReShape Vest may not be commercialized and our business prospects may suffer. |
● | The shares of series C convertible preferred stock issued in connection with our acquisition of ReShape Medical have certain rights and preferences senior to our common stock, including a liquidation preference that is senior to our common stock. |
● | We are a medical device company with a limited history of operations and sales, and we cannot assure you that we will ever generate substantial revenue or be profitable. |
● | Previously, we recorded a non-cash indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment loss, which significantly impacted our results of operations, and we may be exposed to additional impairment losses that could be material. |
● | We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance initiatives. |
● | General economic and political conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business. |
● | We face significant uncertainty in the industry due to government healthcare reform. |
● | We are subject, directly or indirectly, to United States federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse and false claims laws and regulations. Prosecutions under such laws have increased in recent years and we may become subject to such litigation. If we are unable to, or have not fully complied with such laws, we could face substantial penalties. |
● | Failure to protect our information technology information technology infrastructure against cyber-based attacks, network security breaches, service interruptions or data corruption could materially disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business. |
● | We operate in a highly competitive industry that is subject to rapid change. If our competitors are able to develop and market products that are safer or more effective than our products, our commercial opportunities will be reduced or eliminated. |
Risks Associated with Development and Commercialization of the Lap-Band System, reshapecare, ReShape Marketplace, Obalon Balloon System, ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation
● | Our efforts to increase revenue from our Lap-Band system, reshapecare, ReShape Marketplace, re-introduce the Obalon Balloon System, and commercialize the ReShape Vest, Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation and expanded line of bariatric surgical accessories may not succeed or may encounter delays which could significantly harm our ability to generate revenue. |
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● | We may not be able to obtain required regulatory approvals for our ReShape Vest and/or Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation in a cost-effective manner or at all, which could adversely affect our business and operating results. |
● | We depend on clinical investigators and clinical sites to enroll patients in our clinical trials, and on other third parties to manage the trials and to perform related data collection and analysis, and, as a result, we may face costs and delays that are outside of our control. |
● | Modifications to the Lap-Band system may require additional approval from regulatory authorities, which may not be obtained or may delay our commercialization efforts. |
● | If we or our suppliers fail to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, or if we experience unanticipated product problems, our Lap-Band system could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market. |
● | We may be unable to manage our growth effectively. |
● | We may not be able to manufacture, re-introduce and/or market successfully the Obalon Balloon System into the marketplace. |
● | We face the risk of product liability claims that could be expensive, divert management’s attention and harm our reputation and business. We may not be able to obtain adequate product liability insurance. |
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
● | If we are unable to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights relating to our technology and neuroblocking therapy, the commercial value of our technology and any future products will be adversely affected, and our competitive position will be harmed. |
● | Many of our competitors have significant resources and incentives to apply for and obtain intellectual property rights that could limit or prevent our ability to commercialize our current or future products in the United States or abroad. |
● | If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our proprietary information and know-how, the value of our technology and products could be adversely affected. |
● | Intellectual property litigation is a common tactic in the medical device industry to gain competitive advantage. If we become subject to a lawsuit, we may be required to expend significant financial and other resources and our management’s attention may be diverted from our business. |
Risks Relating to Ownership of Our Common Stock
● | The trading price of our common stock has been volatile and is likely to be volatile in the future. |
● | Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market by existing stockholders, or the perception that they may occur, could cause our stock price to decline. |
● | We have a significant number of outstanding warrants, which may cause significant dilution to our stockholders, have a material adverse impact on the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future equity offerings. |
● | You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings. |
● | Our organizational documents and Delaware law make a takeover of our company more difficult, which may prevent certain changes in control and limit the market price of our common stock. |
● | We have not paid dividends in the past and do not expect to pay dividends in the future, and any return on investment may be limited to the value of our common stock. |
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risk factors
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We may be unable to attract and retain management and other personnel we need to succeed.
Our success depends on the services of our senior management and other key employees. The loss of the services of one or more of our officers or key employees could delay or prevent the successful completion of our clinical trials and the commercialization of our Lap-Band system, reshapecare, ReShape Marketplace, the Obalon Balloon System, and the development of our ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation. Our continued growth will require hiring a number of qualified clinical, scientific, commercial and administrative personnel. Accordingly, recruiting and retaining such personnel in the future will be critical to our success. There is intense competition from other companies and research and academic institutions for qualified personnel in the areas of our activities. If we fail to identify, attract, retain and motivate these highly skilled personnel, we may be unable to continue our development and commercialization activities.
Our ReShape Vest product is in the early stages of clinical evaluation. If the clinical trial is not successfully completed or any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, the ReShape Vest may not be commercialized and our business prospects may suffer.
Our ReShape Vest product is in the early stages of development and is currently in the early stages of clinical evaluation. Our ability to market the ReShape Vest in the United States and abroad depends upon our ability to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the product with clinical data to support our requests for regulatory approval. The ReShape Vest may not be found to be safe and, where required, effective in clinical trials and may not ultimately be approved for marketing by U.S. or foreign regulatory authorities, which would have a negative impact on our net sales.
There is no assurance that we will be successful in achieving the desired results in our anticipated clinical trials for the ReShape Vest or, if we do, that the FDA or other regulatory agencies will approve the product for sale without the need for additional clinical trial data to demonstrate safety and efficacy. We continually evaluate the potential financial benefits and costs of clinical trials and the products being evaluated in them. If we determine that the costs associated with obtaining regulatory approval of a product exceed the potential financial benefits of that product or if the projected development timeline is inconsistent with our investment horizon, we may choose to stop a clinical trial and/or the development of a product.
The shares of series C convertible preferred stock issued in connection with our acquisition of ReShape Medical have certain rights and preferences senior to our common stock, including a liquidation preference that is senior to our common stock.
There are currently 95,388 shares of our series C convertible preferred stock outstanding, which are convertible into 38 shares of our common stock. We originally issued the shares of our series C convertible preferred stock in connection with our acquisition of ReShape Medical. The series C convertible preferred stock has a liquidation preference of $274.88 per share, or $692,691.05 per underlying share of common stock, or approximately $26.2 million in the aggregate. Holders of the series C convertible preferred stock have the right to convert their shares into shares of common stock instead of receiving the liquidation preference. In general, the series C convertible preferred stock is entitled to receive dividends (on an as-if-converted-to-common stock basis) actually paid on shares of common stock when, as and if such dividends are paid on shares of common stock. No other dividends will be paid on shares of series C convertible preferred stock. Except in connection with the election of directors, while the series C convertible preferred stock generally does not have voting rights. However, as long as any shares of series C convertible preferred stock remain outstanding, we cannot, without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of series C convertible preferred stock, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the series C convertible preferred stock (including by the designation, authorization, or issuance of any shares of preferred stock that purports to have equal rights with, or be senior in rights or preferences to, the series C convertible preferred stock), (b) alter or amend the series C convertible preferred stock certificate of designation, (c) amend our certificate of incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of the holders of series C convertible preferred stock, (d) increase the number of authorized shares of series C convertible preferred stock or (e) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.
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No Obalon directors, officers or employees continued with the Company which could hinder the ability to transfer the Obalon technology, restart manufacturing operations and maintain FDA regulatory compliance for the Obalon Balloon System and negatively impact our results of operations.
Following the consummation of the merger, no directors, officers or employees of Obalon continued with the Company. In order to restart manufacturing of the Obalon Balloon System, the Company would have to hire and train new personnel to appropriately perform manufacturing operations that meet required performance specifications and maintain quality system and regulatory compliance related to the Obalon Balloon System without the knowledge and expertise of the Obalon management team, including completing two FDA-mandated post-approval studies which were halted due to the effects of COVID-19. Obalon’s prior suppliers have not supplied Obalon since Obalon halted manufacturing and they may be unwilling or unable to supply the Company on the prior terms or at all. Obalon has not manufactured or shipped products to customers since March 2020 and customers may not accept a relaunch of the Obalon Balloon System by the Company.
We are a medical device company with a limited history of operations and sales, and we cannot assure you that we will ever generate substantial revenue or be profitable.
We are a medical device company with a limited operating history upon which you can evaluate our business. The success of our business will depend on our ability to generate increased sales and control costs, as well as our ability to obtain additional regulatory approvals needed to market new versions of our Lap-Band system, reshapecare, ReShape Marketplace, Obalon Balloon System, or regulatory approvals needed to market our ReShape Vest, Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation and any other products we may develop in the future, all of which we may be unable to do. If we are unable to successfully market our Lap-Band system for its indicated use, successfully launch reshapecare and ReShape Marketplace, re-introduce the Obalon Balloon System, or develop and commercialize the ReShape Vest or Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, we may never become profitable and may have to cease operations as a result. Our lack of a significant operating history also limits your ability to make a comparative evaluation of us, our products and our prospects.
Previously, we recorded a non-cash indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment loss, which significantly impacted our results of operations, and we may be exposed to additional impairment losses that could be material.
We conduct our annual indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment analysis during the fourth quarter of each year or when circumstances suggest that an indicator for impairment may be present. Previously, we performed a qualitative impairment analysis of the in-process research and development (“IPR&D”). Due to delays in the clinical trials experienced, we revised its expectations of when revenues would commence for the ReShape Vest, thus reducing the projected near-term future net cash flows related to the ReShape Vest. As a result, we recorded an impairment charge of the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value. In the future, we may have additional indicators of potential impairment requiring us to record an impairment loss related to our remaining indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets, which could also have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance initiatives.
As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC have imposed various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and changes in corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations result in increased legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal controls for financial reporting and disclosure. In particular, we are required to perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal controls over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Our testing may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses. We have incurred and continue to expect to incur significant expense and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with Section 404. Moreover, if we do not comply with the requirements of Section 404, or if we identify deficiencies in our internal
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controls that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would entail expenditure of additional financial and management resources.
General economic and political conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business.
External factors can affect our financial condition. Such external factors include general domestic and global economic conditions, such as interest rates, tax law including tax rate changes, and factors affecting global economic stability, and the political environment regarding healthcare in general. We cannot predict to what extent the global economic conditions may negatively impact our business. For example, negative conditions in the credit and capital markets could impair our ability to access the financial markets for working capital and could negatively impact our ability to borrow.
In addition, the coronavirus outbreak has begun to have indeterminable adverse effects on general commercial activity and the world economy. If the impact of the coronavirus outbreak continues for an extended period, it could materially adversely impact our operating and clinical activities as a result of the impacts on our supply chain, our clinical trial sites, access to patients and additional regulatory guidance could be delayed or impacted. Our business and results of operations could be adversely affected to the extent that this coronavirus or any epidemic harms the global economy.
We face significant uncertainty in the industry due to government healthcare reform.
In the United States, there have been and continue to be a number of legislative initiatives to contain healthcare costs. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended, (the “Affordable Care Act”) as well as any future healthcare reform legislation, may have a significant impact on our business. The impact of the Affordable Care Act on the health care industry is extensive and includes, among other things, the federal government assuming a larger role in the health care system, expanding healthcare coverage of United States citizens and mandating basic healthcare benefits.
Congress regulary considers legislation to replace or repeal elements or all of the Affordable Care Act. At this time, it is not clear whether the Affordable Care Act will be repealed in whole or in part, and, if it is repealed, whether it will be replaced in whole or in part by another plan and what impact those changes will have on coverage and reimbursement for healthcare items and services covered by plans that were authorized by the Affordable Care Act. We expect that additional state and 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 also indirectly affect the amounts that private payers are willing to pay. In addition, any healthcare reforms enacted in the future may, like the Affordable Care Act, be phased in over a number of years but, if enacted, could reduce our revenue, increase our costs, or require us to revise the ways in which we conduct business or put us at risk for loss of business. In addition, our results of operations, financial position and cash flows could be materially adversely affected by changes under the Affordable Care Act and changes under any federal or state legislation adopted in the future.
We are subject, directly or indirectly, to United States federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse and false claims laws and regulations. Prosecutions under such laws have increased in recent years and we may become subject to such litigation. If we are unable to, or have not fully complied with such laws, we could face substantial penalties.
Our operations are directly, or indirectly through customers, subject to various state and federal fraud and abuse laws, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and federal False Claims Act. These laws may impact, among other things, our sales, marketing and education programs.
The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce either the referral of an individual, or the furnishing or arranging for a good or service, for which payment may be made under a federal healthcare program such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Several courts have interpreted the statute’s intent requirement to mean that if any one purpose of an arrangement involving remuneration is to induce referrals of federal healthcare covered business, the statute has been violated. The Anti-Kickback Statute is broad and, despite a series of narrow safe harbors, prohibits many arrangements and practices that are lawful in businesses outside of the healthcare industry. Penalties for violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute include criminal penalties and civil sanctions such as fines, imprisonment and possible exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs. Many states have also adopted laws
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similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, some of which apply to the referral of patients for healthcare items or services reimbursed by any source, not only the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The federal False Claims Act prohibits persons from knowingly filing, or causing to be filed, a false claim to, or the knowing use of false statements to obtain payment from the federal government. Suits filed under the False Claims Act, known as “qui tam” actions, can be brought by any individual on behalf of the government and such individuals, commonly known as “whistleblowers,” may share in any amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. The frequency of filing qui tam actions has increased significantly in recent years, causing greater numbers of medical device, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to have to defend a False Claim Act action. When an entity is determined to have violated the federal False Claims Act, it may be required to pay up to three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties for each separate false claim. Various states have also enacted laws modeled after the federal False Claims Act.
We are unable to predict whether we could be subject to actions under any of these laws, or the impact of such actions. If we are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or other applicable state and federal fraud and abuse laws, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, exclusion from government healthcare reimbursement programs and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations.
Failure to protect our information technology information technology infrastructure against cyber-based attacks, network security breaches, service interruptions or data corruption could materially disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business.
The operation of our business depends on our information technology systems. We rely on our information technology systems to, among other things, effectively manage sales and marketing data, accounting and financial functions, inventory management, product development tasks, clinical data, customer service and technical support functions. Our information technology systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, fires, floods and other natural disasters, terrorist attacks, power losses, computer system or data network failures, security breaches, data corruption, and cyber-based attacks. Cyber-based attacks can include computer viruses, computer denial-of-service attacks, phishing attacks, worms, and other malicious software programs or other attacks, covert introduction of malware to computers and networks, impersonation of authorized users, and efforts to discover and exploit any design flaws, bugs, security vulnerabilities, or security weaknesses, as well as intentional or unintentional acts by employees or other insiders with access privileges, intentional acts of vandalism by third parties and sabotage. In addition, federal, state, and international laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation adopted by the European Union and EEA countries can expose us to enforcement actions and investigations by regulatory authorities, and potentially result in regulatory penalties and significant legal liability, if our information technology security efforts fail. In addition, a variety of our software systems are cloud-based data management applications, hosted by third-party service providers whose security and information technology systems are subject to similar risks.
We operate in a highly competitive industry that is subject to rapid change. If our competitors are able to develop and market products that are safer or more effective than our products, our commercial opportunities will be reduced or eliminated.
The health care industry is highly competitive, subject to rapid change and significantly affected by new product introductions and other market activities of industry participants. The obesity treatment market in which we operate has grown significantly in recent years and is expected to continue to expand as technology continues to evolve and awareness of the need to treat the obesity epidemic grows. Although we are not aware of any competitors in the neuroblocking market, we face potential competition from pharmaceutical and surgical obesity treatments. Many of our competitors in the obesity treatment field have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly if they pursue competing solutions through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies, such as Allergan, Apollo Endosurgery, Boston Scientific, LivaNova PLC, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic or St. Jude Medical. Our competitors may develop and patent processes or products earlier than us, obtain regulatory approvals for competing products more rapidly than we are able to and develop more effective, safer and less expensive products or technologies that would render our products non-competitive or obsolete.
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Risks Associated with Development and Commercialization of the Lap-Band System, reshapecare, Obalon Balloon System, ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation
Our efforts to increase revenue from our Lap-Band system, reshapecare, Obalon Balloon System, and commercialize the ReShape Vest, Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation and expanded line of bariatric surgical accessories may not succeed or may encounter delays which could significantly harm our ability to generate revenue.
Our ability to generate revenue will depend upon the sales of our Lap-Band system, expanded line of bariatric surgical accessories, reshapecare, and Obalon Balloon System, and successful commercialization of our ReShape Vest (if approved for sale) and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation (if approved for sale). Our efforts to commercialize these products may not succeed for a number of reasons, including:
● | we may not be able to obtain the regulatory approvals required for our ReShape Vest and/or Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation; |
● | we may not be able to produce the Obalon Balloon System; |
● | if we are able to produce the Obalon Balloon System, we may not be able to re-introduce the system into the marketplace; |
● | our products may not be accepted in the marketplace by physicians, patients and third-party payers; |
● | the price of our products, associated costs of the surgical procedure and treatment and the availability of sufficient third-party reimbursement for the system implantation and follow-up procedures; |
● | appropriate reimbursement and/or coding options may not exist to enable billing for the system implantation and follow-up procedures for our ReShape Vest; |
● | coverage policies for bariatric surgeries and procedures, including Lap-Band and balloons may be restricted in the future; |
● | we may not be able to sell our products at a price that allows us to meet the revenue targets necessary to generate enough revenue for profitability; |
● | the frequency and severity of any side effects of our products; |
● | physicians and potential patients may not be aware of the perceived effectiveness and sustainability of the results of our products; |
● | we, or the investigators of our products, may not be able to have information on the outcome of the trials published in medical journals; |
● | the availability and perceived advantages and disadvantages of alternative treatments; |
● | any rapid technological change may make our products obsolete; |
● | we may not be able to have our products manufactured in commercial quantities or at an acceptable cost; |
● | we may not have adequate financial or other resources to complete the development and commercialization of our products or to develop sales and marketing capabilities for our products; and |
● | we may be sued for infringement of intellectual property rights and could be enjoined from manufacturing or selling our products. |
Besides requiring physician adoption, market acceptance of our products will depend on successfully communicating the benefits of our products to three additional constituencies involved in deciding whether to treat a particular patient using our products: (1) the potential patients themselves; (2) institutions such as hospitals, where the procedure would be performed and opinion leaders in these institutions; and (3) third-party payers, such as private healthcare insurers and governmental payers, such as Medicare and Medicaid in the United States, which would ultimately bear most of the costs of the various providers and equipment involved in our Lap-Band system, reshapecare, Obalon Balloon System, ReShape Vest (if approved for sale) and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation (if approved for sale). Marketing to each of these constituencies requires a different marketing approach, and we must convince each of these groups of the efficacy and utility of our products to be successful.
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If our products, or any other therapy or products for other gastrointestinal diseases and disorders that we may develop, do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance by the relevant constituencies, we may not generate significant product revenue and may not become profitable.
We may not be able to obtain required regulatory approvals for our ReShape Vest and/or Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation in a cost-effective manner or at all, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.
The production and marketing of our ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, and our ongoing research and development, preclinical testing and clinical trial activities are subject to extensive regulation and review by numerous governmental authorities both in the United States and abroad. U.S. and foreign regulations applicable to medical devices are wide-ranging and govern, among other things, the development, testing, marketing and premarket review of new medical devices, in addition to regulating manufacturing practices, reporting, advertising, exporting, labeling and record keeping procedures. We are required to obtain regulatory approval before we can market our ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation in the United States and certain foreign countries. The regulatory process will require significant time, effort and expenditures to bring products to market, and it is possible that our ReShape Vest and/or Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation will not be approved for sale. Even if regulatory approval of our ReShape Vest and/or Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation is granted, it may not be granted within the timeframe that we expect, which could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. Even after our ReShape Vest and/or Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation is approved by the FDA, we may have ongoing responsibilities under FDA regulations, non-compliance of which could result in the subsequent withdrawal of such approvals, or such approvals could be withdrawn due to the occurrence of unforeseen problems following initial approval. We also are subject to medical device reporting regulations that require us to report to the FDA if any of our products causes or contributes to a death or serious injury or if a malfunction were it to occur might cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. Any failure to obtain regulatory approvals on a timely basis or the subsequent withdrawal of such approvals could prevent us from successfully marketing our products, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.
We depend on clinical investigators and clinical sites to enroll patients in our clinical trials, and on other third parties to manage the trials and to perform related data collection and analysis, and, as a result, we may face costs and delays that are outside of our control.
We rely on clinical investigators and clinical sites to enroll patients in our clinical trials and other third parties to manage the trials and to perform related data collection and analysis. However, we may not be able to control the amount and timing of resources that clinical sites may devote to our clinical trials. If these clinical investigators and clinical sites fail to enroll a sufficient number of patients in our clinical trials, ensure compliance by patients with clinical protocols or comply with regulatory requirements, we will be unable to complete these trials, which could prevent us from obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals for our product. Our agreements with clinical investigators and clinical trial sites for clinical testing place substantial responsibilities on these parties and, if these parties fail to perform as expected, our trials could be delayed or terminated. If these clinical investigators, clinical sites or other third parties do not carry out their contractual duties or obligations or fail to meet expected deadlines, or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to their failure to adhere to our clinical protocols, regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, or the clinical data may be rejected by the FDA, adversely affecting our ability to successfully commercialize our product.
Modifications to the Lap-Band system may require additional approval from regulatory authorities, which may not be obtained or may delay our commercialization efforts.
The FDA and our European Notified Body require medical device companies to initially make and document a determination of whether or not a modification requires a new approval, supplement or clearance; however, some of these regulatory authorities can review a company’s decision. Any modifications to an approved device that could significantly affect its safety or efficacy, or that would constitute a major change in its intended use could require additional clinical studies and separate regulatory applications. Product changes or revisions will require all the regulatory steps and associated risks discussed above possibly including testing, regulatory filings and clinical study. We may not be able to obtain approval of supplemental regulatory approvals for product modifications, new indications for our product or new products. Delays in obtaining future clearances would adversely affect our ability to introduce new or enhanced products in a timely manner, which in turn would harm our commercialization efforts and future growth.
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If we or our suppliers fail to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, or if we experience unanticipated product problems, our Lap-Band system could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.
Any product for which we obtain marketing approval, along with the manufacturing processes, post-approval clinical data and promotional activities for such product, will be subject to continual review and periodic inspections by our European Notified Body and the FDA and other regulatory bodies. In particular we and our manufacturers and suppliers are required to comply with ISO requirements, Good Manufacturing Practices, which for medical devices is called the Quality System Regulation (“QSR”), and other regulations which cover the methods and documentation of the design, testing, production, control, quality assurance, labeling, packaging, storage and shipping of any product for which we obtain marketing approval. The FDA enforces the QSR through inspections, which may be unannounced, and the CE system enforces its certification through inspections and audits as well. Our quality system has received certification of compliance to the requirements of ISO 13485:2016 and will have to continue to successfully complete such inspections to maintain regulatory approvals for sales outside of the United States. Failure by us or one of our manufacturers or suppliers to comply with statutes and regulations administered by the FDA, CE authorities and other regulatory bodies, or failure to adequately respond to any observations, could result in enforcement actions against us or our manufacturers or suppliers, including, restrictions on our product or manufacturing processes, withdrawal of the product from the market, voluntary or mandatory recall, fines, suspension of regulatory approvals, product seizures, injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
If any of these actions were to occur it would harm our reputation and cause our product sales to suffer. Furthermore, our key component suppliers may not currently be or may not continue to be in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. If the FDA or any other regulatory body finds their compliance status to be unsatisfactory, our commercialization efforts could be delayed, which would harm our business and our results of operations.
Additionally, if the FDA determines that our promotional materials, training or other activities constitute promotion of an unapproved use, we could be subject to significant liability, the FDA could request that we cease, correct or modify our training or promotional materials or subject us to regulatory enforcement actions. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they consider our training or other promotional materials to constitute promotion of an unapproved use, which could result in significant fines or penalties under other statutory authorities, such as laws prohibiting false claims for reimbursement.
We are subject to medical device reporting regulations that require us to report to the FDA, Competent Authorities or other governmental authorities in other countries if our products cause or contribute to a death or serious injury or malfunction in a way that would be reasonably likely to contribute to death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur. The FDA and similar governmental authorities in other countries have the authority to require the recall of our products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacturing. A government mandated, or voluntary, recall by us could occur as a result of component failures, manufacturing errors or design defects, including defects in labeling. Any recall would divert managerial and financial resources and could harm our reputation with customers. There can be no assurance that there will not be product recalls in the future or that such recalls would not have a material adverse effect on our business. Once the product is approved and implanted in a large number of patients, infrequently occurring adverse events may appear that were not observed in the clinical trials. This could cause health authorities in countries where the product is available to take regulatory action, including marketing suspension and recall.
We may be unable to manage our growth effectively.
Our business strategy entails significant future growth. For example, we will have to expand existing operations in order to increase revenue from our Lap-Band system and reshapecare, re-introduce the Obalon Balloon System, and develop our ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, conduct additional clinical trials, increase our contract manufacturing capabilities, hire and train new personnel to handle the marketing and sales of our product, assist patients and healthcare providers in obtaining reimbursement for the use of our product and create and develop new applications for our technology. This growth may place significant strain on our management and financial and operational resources. Successful growth is also dependent upon our ability to implement appropriate financial and management controls, systems and procedures. Our ability to effectively manage growth depends on our success in attracting and retaining highly qualified personnel, for which the competition may be intense. If we fail to manage these challenges effectively, our business could be harmed.
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We face the risk of product liability claims that could be expensive, divert management’s attention and harm our reputation and business. We may not be able to obtain adequate product liability insurance.
Our business exposes us to a risk of product liability claims that is inherent in the testing, manufacturing and marketing of medical devices. The medical device industry has historically been subject to extensive litigation over product liability claims. We may be subject to product liability claims if our products cause, or appear to have caused, an injury. Claims may be made by consumers, healthcare providers, third-party strategic collaborators or others selling our products.
We have product liability insurance, which covers the use of our products in our clinical trials and any commercial sales, in an amount we believe is appropriate. Our current product liability insurance may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all, and, if available, the coverage may not be adequate to protect us against any future product liability claims. If we are unable to obtain insurance at an acceptable cost and on acceptable terms for an adequate coverage amount, or otherwise to protect against potential product liability claims, we could be exposed to significant liabilities, which may harm our business. A product liability claim, recall or other claim with respect to uninsured liabilities or for amounts in excess of insured liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. These liabilities could prevent or interfere with our product commercialization efforts. Defending a suit, regardless of merit, could be costly, could divert management attention and might result in adverse publicity, which could result in the withdrawal of, or inability to recruit, clinical trial volunteers or result in reduced acceptance of our products in the market.
We may be subject to product liability claims even if it appears that the claimed injury is due to the actions of others. For example, we rely on the expertise of surgeons and other associated medical personnel to perform the medical procedure to implant and remove our products and to perform the related therapy. If these medical personnel are not properly trained or are negligent, the therapeutic effect of our products may be diminished or the patient may suffer critical injury, which may subject us to liability. In addition, an injury that is caused by the negligence of one of our suppliers in supplying us with a defective component that injures a patient could be the basis for a claim against us. A product liability claim, regardless of its merit or eventual outcome, could result in decreased demand for our products; injury to our reputation; diversion of management’s attention; withdrawal of clinical trial participants; significant costs of related litigation; substantial monetary awards to patients; product recalls or market withdrawals; loss of revenue; and the inability to commercialize our products under development.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
If we are unable to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights relating to our technology and neuroblocking therapy, the commercial value of our technology and any future products will be adversely affected and our competitive position will be harmed.
Our commercial success depends in part on our ability to obtain protection in the United States and other countries for our Lap-Band system, reshapecare, Obalon Balloon System, ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation by establishing and maintaining intellectual property rights relating to or incorporated into our technology and products. We own numerous U.S. and foreign patents and have numerous patent applications pending, most of which pertain to treating gastrointestinal disorders and the treatment of obesity. We have also received or applied for additional patents outside the United States. Our pending and future patent applications may not issue as patents or, if issued, may not issue in a form that will provide us any competitive advantage. We expect to incur substantial costs in obtaining patents and, if necessary, defending our proprietary rights. The patent positions of medical device companies, including ours, can be highly uncertain and involve complex and evolving legal and factual questions. We do not know whether we will obtain the patent protection we seek, or that the protection we do obtain will be found valid and enforceable if challenged. If we fail to obtain adequate protection of our intellectual property, or if any protection we obtain is reduced or eliminated, others could use our intellectual property without compensating us, resulting in harm to our business. We may also determine that it is in our best interests to voluntarily challenge a third-party’s products or patents in litigation or administrative proceedings, including patent interferences, re-examinations or under more recently promulgated Inter Partes Review proceedings, depending on when the patent application was filed. In the event that we seek to enforce any of our owned or exclusively licensed patents against an infringing party, it is likely that the party defending the claim will seek to invalidate the patents we assert, which, if successful could result in the loss of the entire patent or the relevant portion of our patent, which would not be limited to any particular party. Any litigation to enforce or defend our patent rights, even if we were to prevail, could be costly and time-consuming and
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could divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations. Even if we were to prevail in any litigation, we cannot assure you that we can obtain an injunction that prevents our competitors from practicing our patented technology. Our competitors may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or products without infringing any of our patent or other intellectual property rights, or may design around our proprietary technologies.
We cannot assure you that we will obtain any patent protection that we seek, that any protection we do obtain will be found valid and enforceable if challenged or that it will confer any significant commercial advantage. U.S. patents and patent applications may also be subject to interference proceedings and U.S. patents may be subject to re-examination proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), or under more recently promulgated Inter Partes Review proceedings, depending on when the patent application was filed, and foreign patents may be subject to opposition or comparable proceedings in the corresponding foreign patent offices, which proceedings 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, re-examination and opposition proceedings may be costly. Moreover, the U.S. patent laws have recently changed with the adoption of the America Invents Act (“AIA”), possibly making it easier to challenge patents. Some of our technology was, and continues to be, developed in conjunction with third parties, and thus there is a risk that such third parties may claim rights in our intellectual property. Thus, any patents that we own or license from others may provide limited or no protection against competitors. Our pending patent applications, those we may file in the future, or those we may license from third parties, may not result in patents being issued. If issued, they may not provide us with proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar technology.
Non-payment or delay in payment of patent fees or annuities, whether intentional or unintentional, may result in loss of patents or patent rights important to our business. Many countries, including certain countries in Europe, have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to 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, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of the patent. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States, particularly in the field of medical products and procedures.
Many of our competitors have significant resources and incentives to apply for and obtain intellectual property rights that could limit or prevent our ability to commercialize our current or future products in the United States or abroad.
Many of our competitors who have significant resources and have made substantial investments in competing technologies may seek to apply for and obtain patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use or sell our products either in the U.S. or in international markets. Our current or future U.S. or foreign patents may be challenged, circumvented by competitors or others or may be found to be invalid, unenforceable or insufficient. In most cases in the United States patent applications are published 18 months after filing the application, or corresponding applications are published in other countries, and since publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that we were the first to make the inventions covered by each of our pending patent applications, or that we were the first to file patent applications for such inventions.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our proprietary information and know-how, the value of our technology and products could be adversely affected.
In addition to patented technology, we rely on our unpatented proprietary technology, trade secrets, processes and know-how. We generally seek to protect this information by confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors and third parties. These agreements may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently developed by competitors. To the extent that our employees, consultants or contractors 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.
Intellectual property litigation is a common tactic in the medical device industry to gain competitive advantage. If we become subject to a lawsuit, we may be required to expend significant financial and other resources and our management’s attention may be diverted from our business.
There has been a history of frequent and extensive litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the medical device industry, and companies in the medical device industry have employed intellectual property
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litigation to gain a competitive advantage. Accordingly, we may become subject to patent infringement claims or litigation in a court of law, or interference proceedings declared by the USPTO to determine the priority of inventions or an opposition to a patent grant in a foreign jurisdiction. We may also become subject to claims or litigation seeking payment of royalties based on sales of our product in connection with licensing or similar joint development arrangements with third parties or in connection with claims of patent infringement.
The defense and prosecution of intellectual property suits, USPTO interference proceedings, reexamination proceedings, or under more recently promulgated Inter Partes Review proceedings, depending on when the patent application was filed, or opposition proceedings and related legal and administrative proceedings, are both costly and time consuming and could result in substantial uncertainty to us. Litigation or regulatory proceedings may also be necessary to enforce patent or other intellectual property rights of ours or to determine the scope and validity of other parties’ proprietary rights. Any litigation, opposition or interference proceedings, with or without merit, may result in substantial expense to us, cause significant strain on our financial resources, divert the attention of our technical and management personnel and harm our reputation. We may not have the financial resources to defend our patents from infringement or claims of invalidity. An adverse determination in any litigation could subject us to significant liabilities to third parties, require us to seek licenses from or pay royalties to third parties or prevent us from manufacturing, selling or using our proposed products, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects.
Our Lap-Band system, reshapecare, Obalon Balloon System, ReShape Vest or Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation may infringe or be claimed to infringe patents that we do not own or license, including patents that may issue in the future based on patent applications of which we are currently aware, as well as applications of which we are unaware. For example, we are aware of other companies that are investigating neurostimulation, including neuroblocking, and of patents and published patent applications held by companies in those fields. While we believe that none of such patents and patent applications are applicable to our products and technologies under development, third parties who own or control these patents and patent applications in the United States and abroad could bring claims against us that would cause us to incur substantial expenses and, if such claims are successfully asserted against us, they could cause us to pay substantial damages, could result in an injunction preventing us from selling, manufacturing or using our proposed products and would divert management’s attention. Because patent applications in many countries such as the United States are maintained under conditions of confidentiality and can take many years to issue, there may be applications now pending of which we are unaware, and which may later result in issued patents that our products infringe. If a patent infringement suit were brought against us, we could be forced to stop our ongoing or planned clinical trials, or delay or abandon commercialization of the product that is subject of the suit.
As a result of patent infringement claims, or to avoid potential claims, we may choose or be required to seek a license from a third-party and be required to pay license fees or royalties, or both. A license may not be available at all or on commercially reasonable terms, and we may not be able to redesign our products to avoid infringement. Modification of our products or development of new products could require us to conduct additional clinical trials and to revise our filings with the FDA and other regulatory bodies, which would be time-consuming and expensive. Even if we were able to obtain a license, the rights may be nonexclusive, which could result in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property. Ultimately, we could be forced to cease some aspect of our business operations if, as a result of actual or threatened patent infringement claims, we are unable to enter into licenses on acceptable terms. This could harm our business significantly.
Risks Relating to Ownership of Our Common Stock
The trading price of our common stock has been volatile and is likely to be volatile in the future.
The trading price of our common stock has been highly volatile. The market price for our common stock will be affected by a number of factors, including:
● | the denial or delay of regulatory clearances or approvals of our product or receipt of regulatory approval of competing products; |
● | our ability to accomplish clinical, regulatory and other product development milestones and to do so in accordance with the timing estimates we have publicly announced; |
● | changes in policies affecting third-party coverage and reimbursement in the United States and other countries; |
● | changes in government regulations and standards affecting the medical device industry and our product; |
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● | ability of our products to achieve market success; |
● | the performance of third-party contract manufacturers and component suppliers; |
● | our ability to develop sales and marketing capabilities; |
● | actual or anticipated variations in our results of operations or those of our competitors; |
● | announcements of new products, technological innovations or product advancements by us or our competitors; |
● | developments with respect to patents and other intellectual property rights; |
● | sales of common stock or other securities by us or our stockholders in the future; |
● | additions or departures of key scientific or management personnel; |
● | disputes or other developments relating to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain patent protection for our technologies; |
● | the trading volume of our common stock; |
● | changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts, failure to obtain or maintain analyst coverage of our common stock or our failure to achieve analyst earnings estimates; |
● | public statements by analysts or clinicians regarding their perceptions of our clinical results or the effectiveness of our products; |
● | decreases in market valuations of medical device companies; and |
● | general market conditions and other factors unrelated to our operating performance or the operating performance of our competitors. |
The stock prices of many companies in the medical device industry have experienced wide fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. Following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation often has been initiated against a company. If class action litigation is initiated against us, we may incur substantial costs and our management’s attention may be diverted from our operations, which could significantly harm our business.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market by existing stockholders, or the perception that they may occur, could cause our stock price to decline.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock by us or by our stockholders, announcements of the proposed sales of substantial amounts of our common stock or the perception that substantial sales may be made, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. We may issue additional shares of our common stock in follow-on offerings to raise additional capital, upon the exercise of options or warrants, or in connection with acquisitions or corporate alliances. We also plan to issue additional shares to our employees, directors or consultants in connection with their services to us. All of the currently outstanding shares of our common stock are freely tradable under federal and state securities laws, except for shares held by our directors, officers and certain greater than five percent stockholders, which may be subject to holding period, volume and other limitations under Rule 144. Due to these factors, sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time and could reduce the market price of our common stock.
We have a significant number of outstanding warrants, which may cause significant dilution to our stockholders, have a material adverse impact on the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future equity offerings.
As of December 31, 2021, we had outstanding 17,831,875 shares of common stock. In addition, as of that date we had outstanding warrants to acquire 6,952,385 shares of common stock. The issuance of shares of common stock upon the exercise of warrants would dilute the percentage ownership interest of all stockholders, might dilute the book value per share of our common stock and would increase the number of our publicly traded shares, which could depress the market price of our common stock.
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In addition to the dilutive effects described above, the perceived risk of dilution as a result of the significant number of outstanding warrants may cause our common stockholders to be more inclined to sell their shares, which would contribute to a downward movement in the price of our common stock. Moreover, the perceived risk of dilution and the resulting downward pressure on our common stock price could encourage investors to engage in short sales of our common stock, which could further contribute to price declines in our common stock. The fact that our stockholders and warrant holders can sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, whether or not sales have occurred or are occurring, could make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate, or at all.
If we fail to meet all applicable Nasdaq Capital Market requirements, Nasdaq could delist our common stock, which could adversely affect the market liquidity of our common stock and the market price of our common stock could decrease.
Nasdaq monitors our ongoing compliance with its minimum listing requirements and if we fail to meet those requirements and cannot cure such failure in the prescribed period of time, our common stock could be subject to delisting from the Nasdaq market. In the event that our common stock is delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market and is not eligible for quotation or listing on another market or exchange, trading of our common stock could be conducted only in the over-the-counter market or on an electronic bulletin board established for unlisted securities such as the Pink Sheets or the OTC Bulletin Board. In such event, it could become more difficult to dispose of, or obtain accurate price quotations for, our common stock, and there would likely also be a reduction in our coverage by securities analysts and the news media, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline further. Also, it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital if we are not listed on a major exchange.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital for general corporate purposes, in the future we may offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may be lower than the current price per share of our common stock. In addition, investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by investors in prior offerings.
Our organizational documents and Delaware law make a takeover of our company more difficult, which may prevent certain changes in control and limit the market price of our common stock.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law contain provisions that may have the effect of deterring or delaying attempts by our stockholders to remove or replace management, engage in proxy contests and effect changes in control. These provisions include:
● | the ability of our board of directors to create and issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could be used to implement anti-takeover devices; |
● | the authority for our board of directors to issue without stockholder approval up to the number of shares of common stock authorized in our certificate of incorporation, that, if issued, would dilute the ownership of our stockholders; |
● | the advance notice requirement for director nominations or for proposals that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings; |
● | a classified and staggered board of directors, which may make it more difficult for a person who acquires control of a majority of our outstanding voting stock to replace all or a majority of our directors; |
● | the prohibition on actions by written consent of our stockholders; |
● | the limitation on who may call a special meeting of stockholders; |
● | the prohibition on stockholders accumulating their votes for the election of directors; and |
● | the ability of stockholders to amend our bylaws only upon receiving a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all outstanding shares then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. |
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In addition, as a Delaware corporation, we are subject to Delaware law, including Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder unless certain specific requirements are met as set forth in Section 203. These provisions, alone or together, could have the effect of deterring or delaying changes in incumbent management, proxy contests or changes in control.
These provisions also could discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions. The existence of these provisions could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. Some provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may deter third parties from acquiring us, which may limit the market price of our common stock.
Our ability to use net operating losses (“NOL”) carryforwards may be limited.
Our ability to use our federal and state NOL carryforwards to offset potential future taxable income is dependent upon our generation of future taxable income before the expiration dates of the NOL carryforwards, and we cannot predict with certainty when, or whether we will generate sufficient taxable income to use all of our NOL carryforwards. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of $178.2 million. Of the total U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards at December 31, 2021, $1.2 million is subject to a 20 year carryover period and began expiring in 2021. Losses generated beginning in 2018 will carryover indefinitely. The Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of $280.9 million at December 31, 2021, and had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $0.2 million at December 31, 2021. Net operating loss carryforwards of the Company are subject to review and possible adjustment by the taxing authorities. With certain exceptions (e.g. the net operating loss carryforwards), the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2016. There are no tax examinations currently in progress.
The Company’s ability to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards, tax credits, and built-in items of deduction, including capitalized start-up costs and research and development costs, has been, and may continue to be substantially limited due to ownership changes. These ownership changes limit the amount of net operating loss carryforwards, credits and built-in items of deduction that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income. In general, an ownership change, as defined in IRC Section 382, results from a transaction or series of transactions over a three-year period resulting in an ownership change of more than 50% of the outstanding stock of a company by certain stockholders or public groups. Due to the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets at December 31, 2021, the net effect of any further limitation will have no impact on results of operations.
We have not paid dividends in the past and do not expect to pay dividends in the future, and any return on investment may be limited to the value of our common stock.
We have never paid dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock will depend on our earnings, financial condition and other business and economic factors affecting us at such time as our board of directors may consider relevant. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on your investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We lease approximately 14,479 square feet of office/warehouse space in San Clemente, California under an operating lease that expires June 30, 2022. We have extended this lease for 12 months through June 30, 2023, as of February 2022. In connection with the merger, we took over the Obalon corporate lease of a 20,200 square feet of office/warehouse space in Carlsbad, California under an operating lease that expired in March 2022.
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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Our legal proceedings are discussed in Note 16, Commitments and Contingencies, Legal Proceedings, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq under the symbol “RSLS”.
Number of Stockholders
As of March 28, 2022, there were approximately 75 holders of record of our common stock.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The information required by this Item regarding equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in Part III, Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
Uses of Proceeds from Sale of Registered Securities
None.
Dividend Policy
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. The board of directors presently intends to retain all earnings for use in our business and does not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We do not have a dividend reinvestment plan or a direct stock purchase plan.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The factors listed in Item 1A “Risk Factors,” as well as any cautionary language in this Form 10-K, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected. Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events after the date of this report.
Overview
We are the premier global weight-loss solutions company, offering an integrated portfolio of proven products and services that manage and treat obesity and associated metabolic disease. Our primary operations are in the following geographical areas: United States, Australia and certain European and Middle Eastern countries. Our current portfolio includes the Lap-Band Adjustable Gastric Banding System, the reshapecare virtual health coaching program, the ReShape Marketplace, the Obalon Balloon System, the ReShape Vest, an investigational device to help treat more patients with obesity, and the Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation device, a technology under development as a new treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. There has been no revenue recorded for the Obalon Balloon System which was recently acquired, and there has been no revenue recorded for the ReShape Vest or the Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation as these products are still in the development stage.
Recent Developments
On January 19, 2021, the Company entered into the fourth amendment to the credit agreement that increased the amount available under the delayed draw term loans by $1.0 million, of which all funds were received upfront and used for the escrow fund securing the termination fee under the Merger Agreement. The maturity date of the loans under the credit agreement, including those under the amendment was March 31, 2021, all of which has subsequently been paid in full.
On March 1, 2021, the Company received confirmation from the SBA that the PPP Loan was forgiven in full including all interest incurred.
On March 10, 2021, the Company entered into the fifth amendment to the credit agreement that extended the maturity date from March 31, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
On June 15, 2021, the Company completed its merger with Obalon, pursuant to which a wholly owned subsidiary merged with and into Obalon. As a result of the merger, Obalon was renamed “ReShape Lifesciences Inc.” and ReShape Lifesciences Inc. was renamed “ReShape Weightloss Inc.”, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of ReShape Lifesciences Inc. Additionally, the Company began trading on the Nasdaq.
On June 28, 2021, the Company entered into a warrant exercise agreement with existing accredited investors to exercise certain outstanding warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 7.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock. In consideration for the immediate exercise of the existing warrants for cash, the investors were granted new unregistered warrants to purchase up to 5.9 million shares of common stock with an exercise price of $6.00 per share. The Company received approximately $45.5 million in proceeds, of which $10.8 million was used to pay off the credit agreement, including $10.5 million of debt and $0.3 million of accrued interest. The remaining proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
On October 12, 2021, the Company announced the launch of a multi-platform consumer advertising campaign utilizing national television, print, social media, and public relations to market the Next-Generation Lap-Band program with available aftercare supported through reshapecare, the reimbursable virtual health coaching platform to create consumer awareness and increase patient demand.
On November 4, 2021, the Company announced the launch of an advanced line of supplements for bariatric surgery and medical weight loss patients, ReShape Optimize by ProCare Health. Products from the new supplement line will be available for purchase in the ReShape Marketplace, an extension of reshapecare.
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On February 16, 2022, the Company renewed the office space lease in San Clemente, California for one year. This lease renewal will commence on July 1, 2022, and end on June 30, 2023.
Financial Overview
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth certain data from our operating results from the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, expressed as percentages of net revenue (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 13,600 | 100.0 | % | $ | 11,299 | 100.0 | % | |||
Cost of goods sold | 5,252 | 38.6 | % | 5,037 | 44.6 | % | |||||
Gross profit | 8,348 | 61.4 | % | 6,262 | 55.4 | % | |||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||
Sales and marketing | 9,165 | 67.4 | % | 4,694 | 41.5 | % | |||||
General and administrative | 24,410 | 179.5 | % | 10,527 | 93.2 | % | |||||
Research and development | 2,522 | 18.5 | % | 3,498 | 31.0 | % | |||||
Loss on impairment of intangible assets and goodwill | 28,752 | 211.4 | % | — | — | % | |||||
Total operating expenses | 64,849 | 476.8 | % | 18,719 | 165.7 | % | |||||
Operating loss | (56,501) | (415.4) | % | (12,457) | (110.2) | % | |||||
Other expense (income), net: | |||||||||||
Interest expense, net | 832 | 6.1 | % | 2,049 | 18.1 | % | |||||
Warrant expense | 2,813 | 20.7 | % | — | — | % | |||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net | 2,061 | 15.2 | % | 7,715 | 68 | % | |||||
Gain on foreign currency | (168) | (1.2) | % | (410) | (4) | % | |||||
Loss before income tax provision | (62,039) | (456.2) | % | (21,811) | (193.0) | % | |||||
Income tax benefit | (106) | (0.8) | % | (181) | (1.6) | % | |||||
Net loss | $ | (61,933) | (455.4) | % | $ | (21,630) | (191.4) | % |
Non-GAAP Disclosures
In addition to the financial information prepared in conformity with GAAP, we provide certain historical non-GAAP financial information. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures assist investors in making comparisons of period-to-period operating results and that, in some respects, these non-GAAP financial measures are more indicative of the Company’s ongoing core operating performance than their GAAP equivalents.
Management believes that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial information provides investors with greater transparency and facilitates comparison of operating results across a broad spectrum of companies with varying capital structures, compensation strategies, derivative instruments, and amortization methods, which provides a more complete understanding of our financial performance, competitive position, and prospects for the future. However, the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K have certain limitations in that they do not reflect all of the costs associated with the operations of our business as determined in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, investors should consider non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, the non-GAAP financial measures presented by the Company may be different from similarly named non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
Adjusted EBITDA
Management uses Adjusted EBITDA in its evaluation of the Company’s core results of operations and trends between fiscal periods and believes that these measures are important components of its internal performance measurement process. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, changes in fair value of liability warrants and other one-time costs. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA in its evaluation of the Company’s core results of operations and trends between fiscal periods and
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believes that these measures are important components of its internal performance measurement process. Therefore, investors should consider non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, the non-GAAP financial measures presented by the Company may be different from similarly named non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
The following table contains a reconciliation of non-GAAP net loss to GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands).
Years Ended December 31, | |||||
2021 | 2020 | ||||
GAAP net loss | $ | (61,933) | $ | (21,630) | |
Adjustments: | |||||
Interest expense, net: | 832 | 2,049 | |||
Income tax benefit | (106) | (181) | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,971 | 1,667 | |||
Stock-based compensation expense | 12,752 | 1,323 | |||
Loss on impairment of intangible assets and goodwill | 28,752 | — | |||
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net | 2,061 | 7,715 | |||
Warrant expense | 2,813 | — | |||
Professional fees incurred in connection with the Obalon merger | 2,277 | — | |||
Non-GAAP loss | $ | (10,581) | $ | (9,057) |
Comparison of Results of Operations
Revenue. The following table summarizes our net revenue by geographic location based on the location of customers for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, as well as the percentage by location of total revenue and the amount of change and percentage of change (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | Amount | Percentage | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Change | Change | ||||||||||||||
United States | $ | 10,297 | 75.7 | % | $ | 8,275 | 73.2 | % | $ | 2,022 | 24.4 | % | |||||
Australia | 1,039 | 7.6 | % | 1,086 | 9.6 | % | (47) | (4.3) | % | ||||||||
Europe | 2,127 | 15.7 | % | 1,824 | 16.2 | % | 303 | 16.6 | % | ||||||||
Rest of world | 137 | 1.0 | % | 114 | 1.0 | % | 23 | 20.2 | % | ||||||||
Total revenue | $ | 13,600 | 100.0 | % | $ | 11,299 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,301 | 20.4 | % |
Revenue totaled $13.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary reason for the increase of $2.3 million, or 20.4%, is due to a $2.0 million increase in sales for the United States, and a $0.3 million increase internationally. The increase in total revenue is primarily due to lessened COVID 19 pandemic restrictions for elective surgeries in 2021 as compared to 2020. There has also been a rise in obesity awareness due to the complications associated with COVID 19 for obesity, and the Company has increased its overall sales and marketing efforts, which has resulted in increased sales. We did see a slight decrease in sales during the fourth quarter of 2021, due to the rise of the Delta and Omicron variants, and the associated restrictions.
Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit: The following table summarizes our cost of goods sold and gross profit for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, as well as percentage of total revenue and the amount of change and percentage of change (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | Amount | Percentage | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Change | Change | ||||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 13,600 | 100.0 | % | $ | 11,299 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,301 | 20.4 | % | |||||
Cost of goods sold | 5,252 | 38.6 | % | 5,037 | 44.6 | % | 215 | 4.3 | % | ||||||||
Gross profit | $ | 8,348 | 61.4 | % | $ | 6,262 | 55.4 | % | $ | 2,086 | 33.3 | % |
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Gross profit. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $8.3 million, compared to $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, an increase of $2.0 million or 33.3%. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021, was 61.4% compared to 55.4% for the same period in 2020. The increase in gross profit margin is primarily due to increased volume, as revenue increased by 20.4%, reduced period expenses, and improved product mix with higher domestic sales as a percentage of revenue, which have a higher gross profit margin than international sales. We have also begun to realize significant cost of goods savings by moving our manufacturing from Costa Rica to a new supplier in the United States.
Operating Expenses: The following table summarizes our operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, as well as the percentage of total revenue, and the amount of changes and percentage of change (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | Amount | Percentage | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Change | Change | ||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing | $ | 9,165 | 67.4 | % | $ | 4,694 | 41.5 | % | $ | 4,471 | 95.2 | % | |||||
General and administrative | 24,410 | 179.5 | % | 10,527 | 93.2 | % | 13,883 | 131.9 | % | ||||||||
Research and development | 2,522 | 18.5 | % | 3,498 | 31.0 | % | (976) | (27.9) | % | ||||||||
Loss on impairment of intangible assets and goodwill | 28,752 | 211.4 | % | — | — | % | 28,752 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 64,849 | 476.8 | % | $ | 18,719 | 165.7 | % | $ | 46,130 | 246.4 | % |
Total operating expenses increased by $46.1 million, or 246.4%, due primarily to an impairment charge of $28.8 million, an increase in stock-based compensation of $11.4 million and an increase in general and administrative expenses related to the merger with Obalon of $2.3 million. After the Obalon merger, and subsequent listing on the Nasdaq, the Company issued either restricted stock units or stock options to all employees and non-employee directors of the Company, its first grant since 2017. The vesting schedules for these grants were retroactive to hire dates, so there was a catch-up expense of $8.9 million. Due to this catch-up, the Company expects for stock-based compensation expense to normalize going forward. The Company has begun focusing on increased brand recognition through improved marketing strategies, including television and print advertisements, and social media presence which has increased our overall sales and marketing expenses. As previously disclosed, the Company announced the launch of a multi-platform consumer advertising campaign utilizing national television, print, social media and public relations during the fourth quarter of 2021.
Sales and Marketing Expense. Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $4.5 million, or 95.2%, to $9.2 million, compared to $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase is primarily due to an increase in advertising and marketing costs of $2.5 million, as the Company launched its direct to consumer campaign, and increased its social media presence. In addition, we had an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million, as during the third quarter of 2021, the Company issued both RSUs and stock options containing a look back provision to begin vesting at the one-year anniversary of the date of employment, resulting in an expense of $0.9 million at the time the awards were granted. Additionally, payroll related expenditures increased by $0.4 million as the Company strengthened its commercial organization and commissions increased by $0.2 million from higher revenue compared to the prior year. The Company also had an increase in software costs of $0.2 million. These increases were minimally offset by a decrease of $0.2 million in consulting fees. The Company expects to continue devoting more resources toward sales and marketing, particularly through our national direct to consumer campaign, and so we expect total Sales and Marketing expenses to increase for 2022.
General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $13.9 million, or 131.9%, to $24.4 million, compared to $10.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase is primarily due to an increase of $8.9 million in stock-based compensation expense, as during the third quarter of 2021, the Company issued both RSUs and stock options containing a look back provision to begin vesting at the one-year anniversary of the date of employment, resulting in an expense of $6.8 million at the time the awards were granted. In addition, the Company had increases in audit, consulting and other professional services of $3.2 million, of which $2.3 million was directly related to the merger with Obalon, an increase in payroll related expenses of $1.0 million, including a $0.7 million increase in bonus fees, an increase in legal and patent related fees of $0.4 million, an increase in rent and facilities of $0.3 million due to the facilities assumed from the merger with Obalon, and an increase in insurance fees of $0.1 million. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense of $0.2 million, as the Company continues to focus on collections.
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Research and Development Expense. Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, decreased by $1.0 million, or 27.9%, to $2.5 million, compared to $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease is primarily due to a $2.2 million reduction in consulting, and clinical trial expenses as a result of a slowdown in clinical trials for the ReShape Vest due to the COVID 19 pandemic, and a reduction in payroll expenses of $0.1 million. This decrease was offset by an increase of $1.3 million in stock-based compensation expense, as during the third quarter of 2021, the Company issued both RSUs and stock options containing a look back provision to begin vesting at the one-year anniversary of the date of employment, resulting in an expense of $1.2 million at the time the awards were granted.
Loss on Impairment of Intangible Assets and Goodwill. The Company incurred two impairment charges totaling $28.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $21.6 million due to a reduction in our market capitalization at year-end. In addition, an impairment charge of $7.2 million was recorded, due to a reduction in our market capitalization coupled with the effects of the delays in the ReShape Vest clinical trials from the COVID-19 pandemic thus reducing the near-term future net cash flows. For further details regarding the impairment charges, see Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company did not have an impairment of intangible assets.
Net Interest Expense. Net interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2021, decreased by $1.2 million, to $0.8 million, compared to $2.0 million, for the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary reason for the decrease is due to the Company paying off the credit agreement during the second quarter of 2021 and the forgiveness of the PPP loan including accrued interest during the first quarter of 2021.
Warrant Expense. Warrant expense was $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The warrant expense relates to the issuance of warrants and common stock in connection with the exchange agreement entered with an investor that held Obalon warrants and exercised the fundamental transaction provision of their warrants. There was no warrant expensess for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt. Loss on extinguishment of debt, net for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $2.1 million, which consisted of losses of $3.0 million related to the fair value of the warrants issued in connection with the January 19, 2021, credit agreement amendments and $0.1 million related to the early payment of the debt. These losses were offset by a $1.0 million gain on the full extinguishment of our PPP loan, as we received official confirmation of forgiveness on March 1, 2021.The Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2020, of $7.7 million, related to the fair value of the warrants issued in connection with the third and fourth amendments of the credit agreement and discounts related to the amendments.
Income Tax Benefit. Income tax benefit was $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a benefit of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have financed our operations to date principally through the sale of equity securities and debt financings. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we received proceeds of $45.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, from exercises of warrants by institutional investors, and $1.0 million and $9.5 million, respectively, from the credit agreement with an institutional investor. As of December 31, 2021, we had $22.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, which includes $5.2 million of cash received in connection with the merger with Obalon and $50 thousand of restricted cash. During March of 2021, the Company received confirmation from the SBA that the PPP Loan was forgiven in full including all interest incurred and in June of 2021, the credit agreement was paid in full.
During June of 2021, the Company completed the merger with Obalon and obtained approval for the combined Company’s common stock to be traded on the Nasdaq.
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The following table summarizes our change in cash and cash equivalents (in thousands):
Year Ended | ||||||
December 31, | ||||||
2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (15,375) | $ | (8,550) | ||
Net cash received (used) in investing activates | 1,855 | (2,390) | ||||
Net cash provided in financing activities |
| 33,299 |
| 11,075 | ||
Effect of exchange rate changes | 29 | (113) | ||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 19,808 | $ | 22 |
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $15.4 million and $8.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash used in operating activities was primarily the result of our net loss of $61.9 million, partially offset by non-cash adjustments for loss on impairment of intangible assets and goodwill of $28.8 million, stock-based compensation expense of $12.8 million, amortization of intangible assets of $1.7 million, net loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.1 million, warrant expense of $2.8 million and amortization of debt discount of $0.5 million. We show a negative cash impact to accounts receivable of $0.3 million, due primarily to an increase in sales, a negative cash impact from increased prepaids of $0.4 million and warranty liability of $0.7 million, and a cash outflow for accounts payable and accruals of $1.5 million as the Company paid down its vendors and liabilities with the funds received from the June 2021 equity raise. These decreases were partially offset by a change in other assets of $0.5 million.
Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2020, was primarily the result of our net loss of $21.6 million, partially offset by non-cash adjustments for amortization of intangible assets of $1.7 million, stock-based compensation of $1.3 million, loss on extinguishment of debt of $7.7 million, amortization of debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs of $1.7 million, noncash interest expense of $0.2 million, bad debt expense of $0.3 million, and provision for inventory in excess and obsolescence of $0.2 million. In addition, the Company has focused efforts on collection of accounts receivable, which resulted in an increase to cash of $1.2 million, offset by an increase in change of inventory of $1.2 million, primarily due to expected inventory buildup related to our impending manufacturing transfer and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $1.0 million.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $1.9 million, which was comprised of $5.2 million of cash received in connection with the merger with Obalon, offset by $3.0 million for the final payment for our acquisition of the Lap-Band product line, as well as $0.3 million of capital expenditures primarily related to the completion of moving manufacturing from Costa Rica to the United States.
Net cash used by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020, reflects the second annual payment of $2.0 million paid in connection with our acquisition of the lap-band product line, as well as $0.4 million of capital expenditures related to the process of moving manufacturing transfer Costa Rica to the United States.
Net Cash Provided by Financing
Net cash provided by financing activities was $33.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to proceeds of $45.6 million received from the exercises of warrants from institutional investors, $1.0 million received from the credit agreement with an institutional investor, and $0.4 million in proceeds received from stock option exercises, offset by the early payment of $10.5 million to pay off the credit agreement and $3.2 million for financing costs.
Net cash provided by financing of $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, consisted of proceeds from the credit agreement with an institutional investor of $9.5 million, $1.0 million received under the CARES Act in
46
the form of a PPP Loan and $0.7 million in cash received from the exercise of warrants, offset by approximately $0.1 million of debt issuance costs.
Operating Capital and Capital Expenditure Requirements
Our anticipated operations include plans to (i) integrate the sales and operations of the Company with the Lap-Band product line in order to expand sales domestically and internationally as well as to obtain cost savings synergies, (ii) introduce to the market place reshapecare and ReShape Marketplace as an extension, (iii) ramp up marketing efforts to increase brand recognition, create customer awareness and increase in patient demand, (iv) continue clinical trials of the ReShape Vest, (v) continue development of the Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, (vi) seek opportunities to leverage our intellectual property portfolio and custom development services to provide third-party sales and licensing opportunities, and (vii) explore and capitalize on synergistic opportunities to expand our portfolio and offer future minimally invasive treatments and therapies in the obesity continuum of care, including the recently acquired Obalon Balloon System. The Company believes that it has the flexibility to manage the growth of its expenditures and operations depending on the amount of available cash flows, which could include reducing expenditures for marketing, clinical and product development activities.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development of medical devices, such as our ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, we are unable to estimate the exact amounts of capital outlays and operating expenditures necessary to complete the development of the ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation or other additional products and successfully deliver a commercial product to the market. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, the following:
● | the cost and timing of establishing sales, marketing and distribution capabilities; |
● | the cost of establishing clinical and commercial supplies of our ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, and any products that we may develop; |
● | the rate of market acceptance of our ReShape Vest and Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, and any other product candidates; |
● | the cost of filing and prosecuting patent applications and defending and enforcing our patent and other intellectual property rights; |
● | the cost of defending, in litigation or otherwise, any claims that we infringe third-party patent or other intellectual property rights; |
● | the effect of competing products and market developments; |
● | the cost of explanting clinical devices; |
● | the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing or other arrangements that we may establish; |
● | any revenue generated by sales of our Lap-Band, reshapecare, ReShape Marketplace, Obalon Balloon System, ReShape Vest, Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation or our future products; |
● | the scope, rate of progress, results and cost of our clinical trials and other research and development activities; |
● | the cost and timing of obtaining any further required regulatory approvals; and |
● | the extent to which we invest in products and technologies, although we currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions. |
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Off-balance-sheet Arrangements
Since our inception, we have not engaged in any off-balance-sheet arrangements, including the use of structured finance, special purpose entities or variable interest entities as defined by rules enacted by the SEC and FASB, and accordingly, no such arrangements are likely to have a current or future effect on our financial position, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported expenses during the reporting periods. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that the following accounting policies and estimates are most critical to a full understanding and evaluation of our reported financial results.
Intangible Assets and Long-Lived Assets
We acquire intangible assets in connection with business combinations and asset purchases. The acquired intangible assets are recorded at fair value, which is determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis. The determination of fair value requires significant estimates, including, but not limited to, the amount and timing of projected future cash flows, the discount rate used to discount those cash flows, the assessment of the asset's life cycle, including the timing and expected costs to complete in-process projects, and the consideration of legal, technical, regulatory, economic, and competitive risks.
IPR&D acquired in business combinations is reviewed for impairment annually, or whenever an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Additionally, management reviews the carrying amounts of other intangible and long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of an asset may not be recoverable. The impairment reviews require significant estimates about fair value, including estimation of future cash flows, selection of an appropriate discount rate, and estimates of long-term growth rates.
Acquisition
The Company accounts for business combinations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations. The results of businesses acquired in a business combination are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. Purchase accounting results in assets and liabilities of an acquired business generally being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. Any excess consideration over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recognized as goodwill. Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative related costs in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and allocates the purchase price to its respective assets and liabilities. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to use significant judgment and estimates.
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Stock-based Compensation
We measure and recognize compensation expenses for all stock-based awards based on estimated fair values. Stock-based awards consist of stock options and restricted stock units. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Black-Scholes models require various highly judgmental assumptions, including stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected option term. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures.
Research and Development Expenses
We record the estimated costs of research and development activities performed by third-party service providers based upon the estimated services provided but not yet invoiced and include these costs in accrued expenses and other payables in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and within research and development expense in the consolidated statements of operations. We accrue for these costs based on factors such as estimates of the work completed and in accordance with agreements established with its third-party service providers. As actual costs become known, the Company adjusts its accrued liabilities.
We make significant judgments and estimates in determining the accrued balance and any deferred charges in each reporting period. Our understanding of factors such as the status and timing of services performed, the number of patients enrolled and the rate of patient enrollment may vary from our estimates and could result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The Company’s policy is to classify interest and penalties related to income taxes as income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, for a discussion of new accounting standards that have been adopted and those not yet adopted.
49
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Index to Financial Statements
Page | |
---|---|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms (PCAOB ID | 51 |
Financial Statements | |
53 | |
54 | |
55 | |
56 | |
57 | |
58 |
50
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Shareholders and Board of Directors
ReShape Lifesciences, Inc.
San Clemente, California
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ReShape Lifesciences, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting 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.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Acquisition of Obalon Therapeutics, Inc. (“Obalon”) - Valuation of Developed Technology
As described in Note 10 of the consolidated financial statements, during 2021, the Company acquired 100% of Obalon through a reverse acquisition for a purchase price of $30.6 million. As a result of the acquisition, management determined the estimated fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date and recorded a developed technology asset of $2.73 million.
51
We identified the determination of the fair value of the developed technology asset resulting from the acquisition of Obalon to be a critical audit matter. The principal considerations for our determination were the inherent uncertainties that exist related to the Company’s forecasts used to determine the fair value of the developed technology asset. Auditing these elements required especially challenging auditor judgment due to the nature and extent of audit effort required to address these matters, including the extent of specialized skill or knowledge needed.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:
● | Evaluating the reasonableness of the cash flow assumptions used to determine the fair value of the developed technology asset by (i) evaluating historical performance of Obalon and (ii) assessing performance against market trends, industry metrics, and guideline companies. |
● | Utilizing professionals with specialized skills and knowledge to assist in: (i) evaluating the appropriateness of the valuation models used by management, (ii) testing the mathematical accuracy of the Company’s calculations, and (iii) assessing the reasonableness of the discount rate. |
In Process Research & Development Intangible Impairment
As described in Note 2 and Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s recognized an impairment charge of $7.2 million in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021. The in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) asset is tested for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. An impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Management was required to calculate the fair value of the intangible asset. The fair value calculation of the intangible asset included significant estimates and assumptions related to the amount and timing of projected future cash flows and the discount rate.
We identified the intangible asset impairment assessment of the IPR&D indefinite-lived intangible asset as a critical audit matter. The principal consideration for our determination are the subjective and complex judgment required by management in developing the assumptions used in determining the fair value of this asset, including the forecasted cash flows and discount rate. Auditing these estimates and related assumptions involved especially challenging and subjective auditor judgment due to the nature and extend of audit evidence and effort required to address these matters, including the extent of specialized skill or knowledge needed.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:
● | Evaluating reasonableness of management’s assumptions used to develop cash flow forecasts and projections by comparing historical operating performance, assessing internal communications made by the Company, and benchmarking cash flow assumptions to guideline companies and prospective market information included in industry reports. |
● | Utilizing personnel with specialized knowledge and skills in valuation to assist in: (i) evaluating the appropriateness of the valuation models used by management, (ii) testing the mathematical accuracy of the Company’s calculations, and (iii) assessing the reasonableness of the discount rate. |
/s/
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2019
April 8, 2022
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RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31, | December 31, | |||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||
ASSETS | ||||||
Current assets: | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | |
| $ | | |
Restricted cash | | | ||||
Accounts and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $ |
| |
|
| | |
Inventory |
| |
|
| | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| |
|
| | |
Total current assets |
| |
|
| | |
Property and equipment, net |
| |
|
| | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | | ||||
Other intangible assets, net | | | ||||
Other assets |
| |
|
| | |
Total assets | $ | |
| $ | | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||
Accounts payable | $ | |
| $ | | |
Accrued and other liabilities |
| |
|
| | |
Warranty liability, current | | | ||||
Debt, current portion, net of deferred financing costs | — | | ||||
Operating lease liabilities, current | | | ||||
Total current liabilities |
| |
|
| | |
Debt, noncurrent portion | — | | ||||
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent | — | | ||||
Warranty liability, noncurrent | | | ||||
Deferred income taxes | | | ||||
Total liabilities | |
| | |||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||
Preferred stock, | ||||||
Series B convertible preferred stock, $ | ||||||
Series C convertible preferred stock, $ | — | | ||||
Common stock, $ |
| |
|
| | |
Additional paid-in capital |
| |
|
| | |
Accumulated deficit |
| ( |
|
| ( | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity |
| |
|
| | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | |
| $ | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
53
RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||
Revenue | $ | | $ | | ||
Cost of revenue |
| |
| | ||
Gross profit |
| |
| | ||
Operating expenses: | ||||||
Sales and marketing |
| |
| | ||
General and administrative | | | ||||
Research and development |
| |
| | ||
Loss on impairment of intangible asset and goodwill | | — | ||||
Total operating expenses |
| |
| | ||
Operating loss |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Other expense (income), net: | ||||||
Interest expense, net | | | ||||
Warrant expense | | — | ||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net | | | ||||
Gain on foreign currency exchange, net | ( | ( | ||||
Loss before income tax provision | ( | ( | ||||
Income tax benefit | ( | ( | ||||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Net loss per share - basic and diluted: | ||||||
Net loss per share - basic and diluted | ( | ( | ||||
Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share |
| |
| |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | | ( | ||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | | ( | ||||
Comprehensive loss | $ | ( | $ | ( |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(in thousands, except share amounts)
Series B Convertible | Series C Convertible | Additional | Accumulated Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Income (Loss) |
| Equity | ||||||||
Balance December 31, 2019 | | $ | — | | $ | | | $ | — | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense, net | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of warrants | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Institutional exercise of warrants | — | — | — | — | | | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Cashless exercise of warrants | — | — | — | — | | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for professional services | — | — | — | — | | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Balance December 31, 2020 | | $ | — | | $ | | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock pursuant to reverse acquisition | ( | — | — | ( | | | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense, net | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised | — | — | — | — | | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock from RSUs | — | — | — | — | | | ( | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of warrants | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Institutional exercise of warrants | — | — | — | — | | | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Warrant liability reclassified to equity | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Restricted shares issued for consulting services | — | — | — | — | | — | | — | — | | |||||||||||||||||
Balance December 31, 2021 | — | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
| ||||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||
Depreciation expense |
| |
| | ||
Amortization of intangible assets | | | ||||
Noncash interest expense | | | ||||
Loss on impairment of intangible assets and goodwill | | — | ||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net | | | ||||
Stock-based compensation | | | ||||
Bad debt expense | | | ||||
Provision for inventory excess and obsolescence | | | ||||
Warrant expense | | — | ||||
Amortization of debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs | | | ||||
Deferred income tax benefit | ( | ( | ||||
Other noncash items | — | | ||||
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of business combination: |
| |||||
Accounts and other receivables |
| ( | | |||
Inventory |
| ( | ( | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| ( | | |||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ( | ( | ||||
Warranty liability | ( | | ||||
Other |
| | | |||
Net cash used in operating activities |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||
Capital expenditures | ( | ( | ||||
Acquisition of Lap-Band product line assets | ( | ( | ||||
Proceeds received from acquisition | | — | ||||
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities: | | ( | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||
Payments of financing costs |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Proceeds from institutional exercise of warrants |
| |
| | ||
Proceeds from stock options exercised | | — | ||||
Proceeds from credit agreement | | | ||||
Payment of credit agreement | ( | — | ||||
Proceeds from PPP loan | — | | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| |
| | ||
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | ( | ||||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| |
| | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
| |
| | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | | $ | | ||
Supplemental disclosure: | ||||||
Cash paid for income taxes | $ | | $ | | ||
Cash paid for interest | | — | ||||
Noncash investing and financing activities: | ||||||
Purchase price, net of cash received | $ | | $ | — | ||
Fair value of warrants included as a component of loss on extinguishment of debt | | | ||||
Fair value of common stock and warrants issued related to the fundamental transaction exchange | | — | ||||
Fair value of common stock issued for professional services | | — | ||||
Capital expenditures accruals | | | ||||
Relative fair value of warrants classified as debt issuance costs | — | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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ReShape Lifesciences Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(1) | Description of the Business and Risks and Uncertainties |
Description of Business
We were incorporated under the laws of Delaware on January 2, 2008. On June 15, 2021, we completed a merger with ReShape Lifesciences Inc. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary of Obalon merged with and into ReShape, with ReShape surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Obalon. As a result of the merger, Obalon, the parent company, was renamed “ReShape Lifesciences Inc.” and ReShape was named ReShape Weightloss Inc. ReShape Lifesciences’ shares of common stock trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol RSLS.
ReShape Medical (formerly ReShape Lifesciences Inc.) was incorporated in the state of Minnesota in December 2002 and reincorporated in the state of Delaware in July 2004. In 2017, the Company changed its name from EnteroMedics Inc. to ReShape Lifesciences Inc.
The Company is headquartered in San Clemente, California. The Company is a developer of minimally invasive medical devices that advance bariatric surgery to treat obesity and metabolic diseases. The Company’s current portfolio consists of the Lap-Band® Adjustable Gastric Banding System, reshapecareTM virtual health coaching program, ReShape Market Place, including ReShape OptimizeTM a supplemental multivitamin, the Obalon Balloon System, the first and only swallowable gas filled balloon system, the ReShape VestTM, an investigational device to help treat more patients with obesity and the Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, a technology under development as a new treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Company sells the Lap-Band worldwide and is managed in the following geographical regions: United States, Australia, Europe and the rest of world. Refer to Note 13 for additional information about operating segments.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company continues to devote significant resources to developing its product technology, commercialization activities and raising capital. These activities are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the ability to obtain additional financing, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may have to further reduce its cost structure until financing is obtained and/or delay development, or commercialization of products, or license to third parties the rights to commercialize products, or technologies that the Company would otherwise seek to commercialize.
The medical device industry is characterized by frequent and extensive litigation and administrative proceedings over patent and other intellectual property rights. Whether a product infringes a patent involves complex legal and factual issues, the determination of which is often difficult to predict, and the outcome may be uncertain until the court has entered final judgment and all appeals are exhausted. The Company’s competitors may assert that its products or the use of the Company’s products are covered by U.S. or foreign patents held by them. Refer to Note 16 for additional information about contingencies and litigation matters.
On April 16, 2020, the Company implemented various short-term cost reductions and cash flow improvement actions, such as reducing the compensation for executives, management and key employees and decreasing operating expenses where possible. In addition, the Company also identified temporary headcount reductions and made the decision to furlough a portion of its workforce. On June 15, 2020, the Company ended the temporary pay reductions and the furloughed employees returned to work. During the second quarter of 2020, certain government-mandated closures began to ease and many areas throughout the world and within the United States began to allow elective surgeries. As a result of the easing, the Company did see sales volumes improve as we progressed through the third quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2020 and throughout 2021, there were additional surges in COVID-19 as multiple variants, such as the Delta and Omicron strands. As a result, various territories within the U.S. and around the world took precautions and slowdown, or in some cases a shutdown elective surgery. As the COVID-19 pandemic still surges, many researchers and medical professionals predict it will become an endemic. To the extent to which the COVID-19 global measures taken in
58
response to the continuing variants and cases, the future impact to the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition are highly uncertain and are difficult to predict.
(2) | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of Presentation
The Company has prepared the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Reverse Stock Splits
On June 15, 2021, and immediately prior to the closing of the merger, the Company effected a -for-3 reverse stock split. Accordingly, all share and per share amounts for the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively, where applicable, to reflect the reverse stock split. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Unless otherwise noted, all references to shares of the Company’s common stock and per share amounts have also been adjusted to reflect the exchange ratio of
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Acquisition
The Company accounts for business combinations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations. The results of businesses acquired in a business combination are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. Purchase accounting results in assets and liabilities of an acquired business generally being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. Any excess consideration over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recognized as goodwill. Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative related costs in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and allocates the purchase price to its respective assets and liabilities. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to use significant judgment and estimates.
Upon completion of the business combination on June 15, 2021, with Obalon, the transaction was treated as a “reverse acquisition” for financial accounting purposes. As a result of the controlling interest of the former shareholders of ReShape, for financial statement reporting and accounting purposes, ReShape was considered the acquirer under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805-10-55. The reverse acquisition is deemed a capital transaction in substance whereas the historical assets and liabilities of Obalon before the business combination were replaced with the historical financial statements of ReShape in all future filings with the SEC, for further details see Note 10.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers highly liquid investments generally with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value. The Company’s cash equivalents are primarily in money market funds and certificates of deposit. The Company deposits its cash and cash equivalents in high-quality credit institutions.
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Restricted Cash
Restricted cash represents $
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the consolidated balance sheets to the same total reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):
December 31, | December 31, | |||||
2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | ||
Restricted cash | | | ||||
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in the consolidated statement of cash flows | $ | | $ | |
Accounts Receivable
The majority of the Company’s accounts receivable arise from direct product sales and sales of products under consignment aggrangements, and have payment terms that generally require payment within to
At December 31, 2021, the Company had
Inventory
The Company accounts for inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, where net realizable value is based on market prices less costs to sell. The Company establishes inventory reserves for obsolescence based upon specific identification of expired or unusable units with a corresponding provision included in cost of revenue. The allowance for excess and slow-moving inventory was $
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of to
Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets relate to in-process research and development ("IPR&D") acquired in business combinations. The estimated fair values of IPR&D projects acquired in a business combination which have not reached technological feasibility are capitalized and accounted for as indefinite-lived intangible assets until completion or abandonment of the projects. In accordance with guidance within FASB ASC 350 “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other,” goodwill and identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives are not subject to amortization but must be evaluated for impairment.
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We evaluate long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets, for impairment by comparison of the carrying amounts to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by such assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Should an impairment exist, the impairment loss would be measured based on the excess carrying value of the asset over the asset’s fair value or estimates of future discounted cash flows.
For goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, in-process research and development, we review for impairment annually and upon the occurrence of certain events as required by ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other.” Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested at least annually for impairment and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. We review goodwill for impairment by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If we are able to determine that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we would conclude that goodwill is not impaired. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit is zero or negative, the second step of the impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any, when it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. The Company, recorded an impairment to goodwill and an IPR&D intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2021, and did not record any impairment loss for goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2020, for further details see Note 6 and Note 7.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The Company’s policy is to classify interest and penalties related to income taxes as income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Equity
Certain issuances of the Company’s convertible preferred stock and warrants classified within equity contain non-standard down round features that result in the strike price being reduced on the basis of the pricing of future equity offerings. The value of the effect of the down round feature when it is triggered is recorded similar to a dividend and as a numerator adjustment in the basic earnings per share calculation.
Foreign Currency
When the local currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the functional currency, all assets and liabilities are translated into United States dollars at the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the weighted-average exchange rate prevailing during the period. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments for these subsidiaries are deferred and reported in stockholders’ equity as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. The effects of foreign currency transactions denominated in a currency other than an entity's functional currency are included in Gain on foreign currency exchange in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company does not hedge foreign currency translation risk in the net assets and income it reports from these sources.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of the promised goods or services to its customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Product sales consist of a single performance obligation that the Company satisfies at a point in time. The Company recognizes product revenue when the following events have occurred: (a) the Company has transferred physical possession of the products, (b) the Company has a present right to
61
payment, (c) the customer has legal title to the products, and (d) the customer bears significant risks and rewards of ownership of the products.
For the Company’s Lap-Band product, these criteria are met under the agreements with most customers upon product shipment. This includes sales to distributors, who sell the products to their customers, take title to the products and assume all risks of ownership at the time of shipment. Distributors are obligated to pay within specified terms regardless of when, if ever, they sell the products. Refer to Note 13 for additional information about the Company’s products and contractual arrangements.
Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis. Accordingly, such amounts are excluded from revenues. Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling are included in revenues. Shipping and handling costs related to revenue producing activities are included in cost of sales.
Variable Consideration
The Company records revenue from customers in an amount that reflects the transaction price it expects to be entitled to after transferring control of the goods. Customers and distributors of the Lap-Band product generally have the right to return or exchange products purchased for up to
Certain Lap-Band customers may receive volume rebates or discounts. Discounts are treated as a reduction in sales price and therefore corresponding revenue at the point of sale. Any volume rebates offered would be estimated and reserved as a reduction in revenue.
Warranty
The Company generally provides warranties against defects in materials and workmanship, and provides replacements at no charge to the customer, as long as the customer has notified the Company within
For the vBloc product line, the Company has a warranty on all implantable parts. vBloc sales began in 2015 and ended in 2018, so this warranty period will go through 2023.
Contract Balances
The Company records a receivable when it has an unconditional right to receive consideration after the performance obligations are satisfied.
Practical Expedients
The Company has elected the practical expedient
Advertising Cost
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and totaled $
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred to further the Company’s research and development activities, including product development, clinical trial expenses, quality assurance, regulatory expenses, payroll and
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other personnel expenses, materials and consulting costs. Certain of these activities, such as pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, may be conducted by third-party service providers at the direction of the Company.
The Company records the estimated costs of research and development activities performed by third-party service providers based upon the estimated services provided but not yet invoiced and includes these costs in accrued expenses and other payables in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and within research and development expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company accrues for these costs based on factors such as estimates of the work completed and in accordance with agreements established with its third-party service providers. As actual costs become known, the Company adjusts its accrued liabilities.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company applies ASC 718 Compensation — Stock Compensation and accordingly records compensation expense for stock options over the vesting or service period using the fair value on the date of grant, as calculated by the Company using the Black-Scholes model. The Company’s stock-based compensation plans are more fully described in Note 13.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including the pre-funded warrants, see Note 11, that were reclassified from warrant liability to equity as a result of the reverse stock split. Diluted net loss per share is based on the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period plus dilutive potential common shares calculated using the treasury stock method. Such potentially dilutive shares are excluded when the effect would be to reduce a net loss per share. For purposes of basic and diluted per share computations, loss from continuing operations and net loss are reduced by the down round adjustments for convertible preferred stock and warrants.
The following table sets forth the potential shares of common stock that are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would be anti-dilutive as of the end of each period presented:
December 31, | ||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |
Stock options |
| |
| |
Unvested restricted stock units | | — | ||
Convertible preferred stock | | | ||
Warrants |
| |
| |
Concentration of Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Foreign Currency Exchange Rate
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and trade accounts receivable. Cash and cash equivalents are primarily deposited in demand and money market accounts. At times, such deposits may be in excess of insured limits. Investments in money market funds are not considered to be bank deposits and are not insured or guaranteed by the federal deposit insurance company or other government agency. These money market funds seek to preserve the value of the investment at $
Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars. Only a small portion of revenue and expenses are denominated in foreign currencies, principally the Australian dollar and Euro for 2021 and 2020. The Company has not entered into any hedging contracts. Future fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar may affect the price competitiveness of the Company’s products outside the U.S.
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (referred to as an “exit price”). Fair value of an asset or liability considers assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including consideration of non-performance risk.
Assets and liabilities are categorized into a three-level fair value hierarchy based on valuation inputs used to determine fair value.
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 inputs are unobservable due to little or no corroborating market data.
The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain accrued and other liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. Refer to Note 7 regarding the impairment of goodwill and IPR&D, Note 8 regarding the fair value of debt instruments and Note 12 regarding fair value measurements and inputs of warrants.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
New accounting standards adopted by the Company in 2021 are discussed below or in the related notes, where appropriate.
In May 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt – Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). This update provides guidance to clarify and reduce diversity in an accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options (for example, warrants) that is not within the scope of another Topic. An entity should treat a modification of the terms or conditions or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange as an exchange of the original instrument for a new instrument. This update additionally provides further guidance on measuring the effect of a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange on the basis of the substance of the transaction, in the same manner as if cash had been paid as consideration. This guidance is effective for the fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company adopted this guidance early and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued authoritative guidance intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes: ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This guidance eliminates certain exceptions to the general approach to the income tax accounting model and adds new guidance to reduce the complexity in accounting for income taxes. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2021, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
New accounting standards not yet adopted are discussed below.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which is intended to provide financial statement users with more useful information about expected credit losses on financial assets held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-05, which amended the new standard by providing targeted transition relief. The new guidance replaces the existing incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable forward-looking information to estimate all expected credit losses. In November 2019, the FASB issued 2019-11, which amended the new standard by providing additional clarification. This guidance is effective for the fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after
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December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Various other accounting standards and interpretations have been issued with 2021 effective dates and effective dates subsequent to December 31, 2020. The Company has evaluated the recently issued accounting pronouncements that are currently effective or will be effective in 2021 and believe that none of them have had or will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
(3) | Liquidity and Management’s Plans |
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had net working capital of approximately $
The Company’s anticipated operations include plans to (i) manufacture, and promote the sales and operations of the Lap-Band product line in order to expand sales domestically and internationally as well as to obtain cost savings synergies, (ii) introduce to the marketplace reshapecare and ReShape Marketplace as an extension of reshapecare (iii) continue clinical testing of the ReShape Vest, (iv) continue development of the Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation, (v) seek opportunities to leverage our intellectual property portfolio and custom development services to provide third-party sales and licensing opportunities, and (vi) explore and capitalize on synergistic opportunities to expand our portfolio and offer future minimally invasive treatments and therapies in the obesity continuum of care, which includes the Obalon Balloon System acquired from the recently finalized merger with Obalon that was completed on June 15, 2021. With the July 2021 financing transaction the Company believes that it has the flexibility to manage the growth of its expenditures and operations.
Liquidity
The Company has incurred significant net losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception, and as a result has an accumulated deficit of approximately $
The Company expects operating losses and negative cash flows from operations to continue for the foreseeable future. The Company believes its current capital resources will be sufficient for the Company to continue as a going concern for at least one year from the issuance date of these consolidated financial statements.
The Company will be required to raise additional capital, however, there can be no assurance as to whether additional financing will be available on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all. If sufficient funds on acceptable terms are not available when needed, it would have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and could force the Company to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates or testing products that the Company would otherwise plan to develop.
COVID-19 Risk and Uncertainties and CARES Act
Since the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented restrictions on, distributions in, and other related impacts on business and personal activities, including a shift in healthcare priorities, which resulted in a significant decline in medical procedures in 2020 in the United States and internationally. Concerns remain regarding the pace of economic recovery due to virus resurgence across the globe from the Delta and Omicron variants and other virus mutations as well as vaccine distribution and hesitancy. As the COVID-19 pandemic shifts to a COVID-19 endemic, the United States and other foreign governments may continue existing measures or implement new restrictions and other requirements in light of the continuing spread of the COVID-19 virus. Due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19, the full extent to which COVID-19 will directly or indirectly impact the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition, including sales, expenses, manufacturing, clinical trials, research and development costs, reserves and allowances, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict. These developments include, but are not limited to, the duration and spread of the outbreak (including new and more contagious variance of COVID-19), its severity, the actions to contain the virus or address its impact, the timing, distribution, public acceptance and efficacy of vaccines and other treatments, United States and foreign governments
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actions to respond to the reduction of global activity, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.” The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer side social security payments, net operating loss carryback periods, alternative minimum tax credit refunds, modifications to the net interest deduction limitations, increased limitations on qualified charitable contributions, and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property. The CARES Act established the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) under which the Company received a PPP loan. On February 3, 2021, the Company submitted the application for PPP loan forgiveness according to the terms and conditions of the United States Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) Loan Forgiveness Application (Revised June 24, 2002). On March 1, 2021, the Company received confirmation from the SBA that, the PPP Loan had been forgiven in full including all interest incurred. This may still be subject to audit by the SBA or relevant authorities, subject to terms and conditions of the PPP program. The Company was also able to benefit from the employee recognition credit. For further details on the PPP loan and the employee recognition credit, see Note 8 below.
(4) | Supplemental Balance Sheet Information |
Inventory
December 31, | December 31, | |||||
2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Raw materials | $ | | $ | | ||
Sub-assemblies | | | ||||
Finished goods |
| |
| | ||
Total inventory | $ | | $ | |
At December 31, 2021, $
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||
2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Prepaid insurance | $ | | $ | | ||
Prepaid advertising and marketing | | — | ||||
Prepaid contract research organization expenses | — | | ||||
Other current assets | | | ||||
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | | $ | |
Accrued and other liabilities:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||
2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Payroll and benefits | $ | | $ | | ||
Customer deposits | | | ||||
Taxes | | | ||||
Accrued insurance premium | | | ||||
Accrued professional | | | ||||
Other liabilities |
| |
| | ||
Total accrued and other liabilities | $ | | $ | |
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(5) | Property and Equipment |
Property and equipment consist of the following:
December 31, | ||||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||
Machinery and equipment | $ | | $ | | ||
Furniture and equipment | | | ||||
Computer hardware and software |
| |
| | ||
Tooling and molds | | — | ||||
Leasehold improvements | | | ||||
Construction in progress |
| |
| | ||
| |
| | |||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Property and equipment, net | $ | | $ | |
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, was approximately $
(6) | Goodwill and Intangible Assets |
In connection with the merger with Obalon, ReShape recorded $
December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
| Weighted Average Useful Life (years) |
| Gross Carrying Amount |
| Accumulated Amortization |
| Net Book Value | ||||
Finite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||||||
Developed technology | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||
Trademarks/Tradenames | ( | ||||||||||
Covenant not to compete |
|
| ( |
| |||||||
( | |||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||||||
In-process research and development | indefinite | — | |||||||||
Total | $ | $ | ( | $ |
December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||
| Weighted Average Useful Life (years) |
| Gross Carrying Amount |
| Accumulated Amortization |
| Net Book Value | ||||
Finite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||||||
Developed technology | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||
Trademarks/Tradenames | ( | ||||||||||
Covenant not to compete |
|
| ( |
| |||||||
( | |||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||||||
In-process research and development | indefinite | — | |||||||||
Total | $ | $ | ( | $ |
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The gross amount and accumulated impairment loss of indefinite-lived intangible assets are as follows (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||
Gross amount | $ | | $ | | ||
Accumulated impairment loss | ( | ( | ||||
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, net | $ | | $ | |
Amortization expense for both the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, was approximately $
Estimated amortization expense for each of the years ending December 31 is as follows:
Year ending December 31, |
|
| |
2022 | $ | | |
2023 | | ||
2024 | | ||
2025 | | ||
2026 | | ||
Thereafter | | ||
$ | |
In connection with the merger with Obalon, ReShape recorded
Goodwill at December 31, 2020 | $ | — | |
Goodwill acquired during the year | | ||
Adjustments to purchase price allocation | ( | ||
Impairment of goodwill | ( | ||
Goodwill at December 31, 2021 | $ | — |
The primary decrease to goodwill was a $
(7) | Impairment of Intangible Assets and Goodwill |
As of December 31, 2021, the Company determined a triggering event occurred due to the decline in the Company’s market capitalization, coupled with the delayed effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such, the Company performed a qualatative analysis of IPR&D. Due to continued delays in the clinical trials experienced during the COVID-19 restrictions, the Company revised its expectations of when revenues would commence for the ReShape Vest, thus reducing the near-term future net cash flows related to the ReShape Vest. As a result, the Company performed a quantitative impairment analysis and recorded a one-time nonrecurring impairment charge of $
As of December 31, 2021, the Company determined due to a decrease in market capitalization, that it is more likely than not that the fair value of net assets are below their carrying amounts and, therefore, the Company performed a goodwill impairment test. The Company estimated the fair value of the goodwill using a combination of the income and market approach, and then the carrying amount including the goodwill to the fair value. Since the fair value was less than the carrying amount, we calculated the goodwill impairment as the difference between the fair value and carrying
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value. As the difference was greater than the carrying amount of the goodwill the Company impaired the entire balance of $
During the second quarter of 2020, the Company determined a triggering event occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such, the Company performed a quantitative analysis and determined the fair value of the IPR&D exceeded the carrying value and concluded there was
(8) | Debt |
December 31, | December 31, | |||||
2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Asset purchase consideration | $ | — | $ | | ||
Credit agreement | — | | ||||
PPP loan | — | | ||||
Total debt | — | | ||||
Less: unamortized debt discount | — | | ||||
Less: current portion of debt | — | | ||||
Debt, noncurrent portion | $ | — | $ | |
CARES Act
On April 24, 2020, the Company entered into a PPP Loan agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) under the PPP, which is part of the CARES Act administered by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”). As part of the application for these funds, the Company in good faith, has certified that the current economic uncertainty made the loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Company. This certification further requires the Company to take into account our current business activity and our ability to access other sources of liquidity sufficient to support ongoing operations in a manner that is not significantly detrimental to the business. Under this program, the Company received proceeds of $
On February 23, 2021, the Company submitted the application for PPP loan forgiveness, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the SBA’s Loan Forgiveness Application (revised June 24, 2020). On March 1, 2021, the Company received confirmation from the SBA, the PPP Loan has been forgiven in full including all interest incurred.
Under the provisions of the CARES Act, the Company is eligible for a refundable employee retention credit subject to certain criteria. The Company recognized a $
Credit Agreement
On March 25, 2020, the Company executed a credit agreement up to $
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the Company issued to the Lender an additional
On September 14, 2020, the Company and the Lender entered into an amendment to the credit agreement that increased the amount available under delayed draw term loans by $
On December 16, 2020, the Company and the Lender entered into the third amendment to the credit agreement that increased the amount available under delayed draw term loans by an additional $
On January 19, 2021, the Company and the Lender entered into an amendment to the credit agreement that increased the amount available under delayed draw term loans by $
On March 10, 2021, the Company and the Lender entered into an amendment to the credit agreement that extended the maturity date from March 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022. The Company has accounted for this amendment as a debt modification. The associated unamortized debt discount on the January 19, 2021 amendment of $
On June 28, 2021, the Company entered into a warrant exercise agreement with existing investors, including the Lender, to exercise certain outstanding warrants. For further details on this transaction see Note 9. The Company used some of the proceeds from this transaction to pay off the $
Asset Purchase Consideration Payable
The asset purchase consideration payable related to the Company’s December 2018 acquisition of the Lap-Band product line from Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. (“Apollo”), was initially recorded at net present value using a discount rate of
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(9) | Leases |
The Company had noncancelable operating leases for office and warehouse space in San Clemente and Carlsbad, California, as well as and noncancelable operating leases for certain office equipment that expire at various dates through 2022. The Company does not have any short-term leases or financing lease arrangements and the effects of any lease modifications have not been material. Certain of the Company’s equipment leases include variable lease payments that are adjusted periodically based on actual usage. Lease and non-lease components are accounted for separately.
The Company determines the lease term as the noncancelable period of the lease, and may include options to extend or terminated the lease when reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recognized on the balance sheet. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement in determining the present value of unpaid lease payments. Right-of-use assets also include any lease payments made at or before lease commencement and any initial direct costs incurred, and exclude any lease incentives received.
Operating lease costs for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, were $
Supplemental information related to operating leases is as follows:
Balance sheet information at December 31, 2021 | |||
Operating lease ROU assets | $ | | |
Operating lease liabilities, current portion | $ | | |
Operating lease liabilities, long-term portion | - | ||
Total operating lease liabilities | $ | | |
Cash flow information for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 | |||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating leases liabilities | $ | |
Maturities of operating lease liabilities at December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Twelve months ending December 31, 2021 |
|
| |
2022 | $ | | |
Total lease payments | | ||
Less: imputed interest | | ||
Total lease liabilities | $ | | |
Weighted-average remaining lease term at end of period (in years) | |||
Weighted-average discount rate at end of period |
(10) | Acquisition |
On June 15, 2021, the Company completed the merger with Obalon, which was treated as a reverse acquisition for accounting purposes, for an aggregate purchase price of $
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Tangible and intangible assets acquired were recorded based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired was recorded to goodwill. The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, primarily related to inventory, developed technology, goodwill (including the deductibility for tax purposes) and income tax related accruals:
Current assets | $ | | |
Property and equipment, net | | ||
Right-of-use assets | | ||
Other assets | | ||
Goodwill | | ||
Developed technology | | ||
Liabilities assumed | ( | ||
Total purchase price | | ||
Less: cash acquired | ( | ||
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired | $ | |
As part of the merger, the Company assumed warrants agreements previously entered into by Obalon that contained a fundamental transaction provision that provide the holders a cash payment based on a Black-Scholes valuation of the warrants. This clause was valid for 30 days subsequent to the date of the transaction. The merger was considered a fundamental transaction provision that allowed the holder to redeem the warrants for cash. The Company performed a preliminary valuation of these warrants and recorded a liability at the time of the merger of $
As of the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company is still finalizing the impact of acquisition accounting on deferred income taxes.
Goodwill includes expected synergies and other benefits the Company believes will result from the acquisition. The developed technology has been capitalized at fair value as an intangible asset with an estimated life of
Obalon’s results of operations have been included in our financial statements for the periods subsequent to the consummation of the Merger on June 15, 2021. Obalon contributed
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Pro Forma Results of Operation (Unaudited)
The following table summarizes the results of operations of the above mentioned acquisition from their respective dates of acquisition included in our consolidated results of operations and the unaudited pro forma results of operations of the combined entity had the date of acquisition been January 1, 2020:
Revenue | Net Loss | |||||
(Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||
Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 | $ | | $ | ( | ||
Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 | | ( |
The information present above is for illustrative purpose only and is not necessarily indicative or results that would have been achieved if the acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of our 2020 reporting period.
(11) | Equity |
The Company may issue preferred stock, common stock, or both, in connection with underwritten public offerings, registered direct offerings, private placements or business acquisitions. Such issuances of equity typically include the issuance or sale of warrants to purchase common stock. Certain issuances of convertible preferred stock and warrants may contain anti-dilutive features apart from customary adjustments for splits and reverse splits of common stock (collectively, “down round features”). When a series of convertible preferred stock contains this non-standard down round feature, the Company is required to adjust the conversion price in the event of future stock sales at a lower unit price. When warrants issued in connection with an equity transaction contain, or are amended to contain, this non-standard down round feature, the Company is required to adjust the exercise price upon the issuance of any shares of common stock or securities convertible into shares of common stock below the then-existing exercise price and evaluate and account for the value attributable to the reduced warrant exercise price. In the event down round adjustments are triggered, the values attributable to the adjustment to the convertible preferred stock conversion price and warrant exercise price are recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital and increase to accumulated deficit.
All series of the Company’s convertible preferred stock are classified in stockholders’ equity, including those with the down round feature, when applicable to the equity transaction.
Warrants to purchase common stock are classified in stockholders’ equity, including those issued with the down round feature, as they are both indexed to the Company’s own stock and meet the scope exception in ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging.”
The Company had the following equity transactions during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
August 2021 Issuance of Common Stock for Services
On August 11, 2021, the Company entered into a consulting agreement in which the Company issued to the consultant
July 2021 Exchange of Warrants for Common Stock
On July 16, 2021, the Company entered into an exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with existing investors to exchange certain outstanding warrants (the “Exchange Warrants”) for shares of common stock and new warrants to purchase common stock. The investors held common stock purchase warrants issued by the Company prior to the merger of Obalon Therapeutics, Inc. and ReShape Lifesciences Inc. The merger constituted a fundamental transaction under the Exchange Warrants and, as a result thereof, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Warrants, the investors were entitled to a cash payment equal to the Black Scholes value of the Exchange Warrants, calculated in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Warrants (the “Black Scholes Payment”).
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Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange Agreement and, in reliance on Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, in lieu of the Black Scholes Payment, the Company and the Investors agreed to exchange all of the Exchange Warrants for (a) a total of
June 2021 Exercises of Warrants for Common Stock
On June 28, 2021, the Company entered into a warrant exercise agreement with existing investors to exercise certain outstanding warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of
The gross proceeds to the Company from the Exercise and the sale of the New Warrants was approximately $
On June 18, 2021, the Company issued
Common Stock Issued Related to Stock Awards and Options
Restricted Stock Units
On July 22, 2021, the Company issued restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to certain members of the management and Board of Directors. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued
Exercise of Stock Options
On September 15, 2021, the Company issued
On July 13, 2021, the Company issued
On June 18, 2021, the Company issued
December 2020 Exercise of Warrants for Common Stock
On December 3, 2020, the Company issued
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June 2020 Cashless Exercise of Warrants for Common Stock
On June 23, 2020, the Company issued
May 2020 Common Stock Issued for Professional Services
On May 28, 2020, the Company issued
April 2020 Exercise of Warrants for Common Stock
As discussed in Note 8 above, in connection with the credit agreement, the lender exercised its Series C and Series F warrants to purchase an aggregate of
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
The Series C convertible stock has a liquidation preference of $
(12) | Warrants |
The Company’s grants of warrants to purchase common stock are primarily in connection with equity and debt financings. See Note 11 for additional information about equity financings and the related issuance of warrants. Warrant activity was as follows:
| ||||
Shares | ||||
Balance December 31, 2019 |
| | ||
Issued |
| |
| (1) |
Exercised |
| ( |
| (2) |
Cancelled |
| ( |
| |
Balance December 31, 2020 | | |||
Obtained due to merger | |
| (3) | |
Issued | | (4) | ||
Exercised | ( |
| (5) | |
Cancelled | — |
| ||
Balance December 31, 2021 | |
(1) | Warrants issued in 2020 includes |
(2) | Warrants exercised in 2020 includes |
(3) | Obalon’s warrants outstanding at the time of the merger with the -for-3 reverse stock split adjustment. In addition, this amount includes |
(4) | Warrants issued in 2021 includes |
(5) | Warrants exercised in 2021 includes |
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Warrant Assumptions – 2021 Warrants Issued
The following table provides the assumptions used to calculate the fair value of the new warrants issued during 2021, using a Black-Scholes model:
Warrants Outstanding | Strike Price | Volatility | Remaining Life | Risk Free Rate | |||||||||
January 19, 2021 | | $ | | % | % | ||||||||
June 28, 2021 | | $ | | % | % | ||||||||
July 16, 2021 | | $ | | % | % |
Warrant Assumptions – 2020 Warrants Issued
The following table provides the assumptions used to calculate the fair value of the Series G warrants issued during 2020, using a Black-Scholes model:
Warrants Outstanding | Strike Price | Volatility | Remaining Life | Risk Free Rate | |||||||||
First Issuance | | $ | | % | % | ||||||||
Second Issuance | | $ | | % | % | ||||||||
Third Issuance | | $ | | % | % |
(13) | Revenue Disaggregation and Operating Segments |
The following table presents the Company’s revenue disaggregated by product and geography:
Year Ended | ||||||
December 31, | ||||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||
United States | $ | | $ | | ||
Australia | | | ||||
Europe | | | ||||
Rest of world | | | ||||
Total revenue | $ | $ |
Operating Segments
The Company conducts operations worldwide and is managed in the following geographical regions: United States, Australia, Europe and Rest of World (primarily in the Middle East). All regions sell the Lap-Band product line, which consisted of nearly all our revenue and gross profit for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. During the second half of 2020 the Company launched reshapecare, which had minimal revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company anticipates generating more reshapecare revenue during 2022. There was
The Company’s geographic segments are reported based on the financial information provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (the Chief Executive Officer, or “CODM”). The Company’s CODM evaluates segment performance based on revenue and gross profit. The Company’s CODM does not use operating segment assets information to allocate resources or to assess performance of the operating segments and thus total segment assets have not been disclosed.
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(14) | Stock-based Compensation |
The ReShape Lifesciences Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) provides for the grant of stock options or other stock-based awards to employees, officers, non-employee directors and outside consultants of the Company. In 2018, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Plan that increased the number of shares authorized for issuance by
The Plan is administered by the board of directors, which determines the types of awards to be granted, including the number of shares subject to the awards, the exercise price and the vesting schedule. Options granted under the Plan expire no later than
Stock Options
On August 18, 2021, the Company granted
A summary of the status of the Company’s stock options are as follows:
| Weighted | |||||||||
Weighted | Average | Aggregate | ||||||||
Average | Remaining | Intrinsic | ||||||||
| Exercise Price | Contractual | Value | |||||||
Shares | Per Share | Life (years) | (in thousands) | |||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2019 | | $ | | |||||||
Options granted | — | — | ||||||||
Options exercised | — | — | ||||||||
Options cancelled | — | — | ||||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2020 |
| | | $ | — | |||||
Vested options obtained due to merger |
| | | |||||||
Options granted |
| | | |||||||
Options exercised |
| ( | | |||||||
Options cancelled |
| ( | | |||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2021 |
| | | $ | — | |||||
Exercisable at December 31, 2021 | | | — | |||||||
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2021 | | | — |
As of December 31, 2021, stock options under the Plan that were , and vested, and expected to vest, had
Stock option awards outstanding under the Company’s incentive plans have been granted at exercise prices that are equal to the market value of its common stock on the date of grant. Such options generally vest over a period of
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Expected Term – The estimate of expected term is based on the historical exercise behavior of grantees, as well as the contractual life of the options granted.
Expected Volatility – The expected volatility factor is based on the volatility of the Company’s common stock for a period equal to the term of the stock options.
Risk-free Interest Rate – The risk-free interest rate is determined using the implied yield for a traded zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond with a term equal to the expected term of the stock options.
Expected Dividend Yield – The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical practice of paying dividends on its common stock.
The Company’s weighted average assumptions used to estimate fair value of stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Risk-free interest rate | |||
Expected term (in years) | |||
Expected dividend yield | |||
Expected volatility |
The Company issued
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Restricted Stock Units
On July 22, 2021, the Company issued
A summary of the Company’s unvested RSUs award activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, were as follows:
Weighted | |||||
Average | |||||
| Grant Date | ||||
Shares | Fair Value | ||||
Unvested RSUs at December 31, 2020 |
| — | $ | — | |
Granted |
| | | ||
Vested (1) |
| ( | | ||
Cancelled/Forfeited |
| — | — | ||
Non-vested RSUs at December 31, 2021 |
| | |
(1) | At December 31, 2021, there were |
The fair value of each RSU is the closing price on the Nasdaq of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Upon vesting, a portion of the RSU award may be withheld to satisfy the statutory income tax withholding obligation. The remaining RSUs will be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock after the vesting period. The unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs at December 31, 2021 was $
Compensation expense related to stock options was recognized as follows:
Year Ended | ||||||
December 31, | ||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||
Sales and marketing | $ | | $ | — | ||
General and administrative | | | ||||
Research and development | | — | ||||
Total stock-based compensation expense | $ | | $ | |
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(15) | Income Taxes |
Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||
Deferred: | ||||||
Federal | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
State | | ( | ||||
Deferred income tax benefit | ( | ( | ||||
Current: | ||||||
Federal | — | — | ||||
State | | | ||||
Foreign | ( | ( | ||||
Total income tax benefit, net | $ | ( | $ | ( |
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:
Year ended December 31, |
| ||||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Income tax benefit at U.S. federal statutory rate |
| | % | | % | ||
State income tax benefit, net of federal benefit | | % | | % | |||
Stock warrant valuation | ( | % | ( | % | |||
Goodwill impairment | ( | % | — | % | |||
Stock-based compensation | ( | % | — | % | |||
Other permanent differences |
| ( | % | ( | % | ||
Change in state tax rate | ( | % | ( | % | |||
Foreign rate differential | — | % | | % | |||
Net operating loss true up | | % | — | % | |||
Other adjustments | | % | | % | |||
Change in valuation allowance |
| | % | ( | % | ||
Effective income tax rate |
| | % | | % |
The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
| December 31, | |||||
2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
|
| ||
Start-up costs | $ | | $ | | ||
Capitalized research and development costs |
| |
| | ||
Reserves and accruals |
| |
| | ||
Property and equipment |
| |
| | ||
Research and development credit |
| |
| | ||
Lease liability | | | ||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | | | ||||
State and local taxes | | | ||||
Total gross deferred tax assets |
| |
| | ||
Valuation allowance |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance | | | ||||
Intangible assets | ( | ( | ||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | ( | ( | ||||
Total gross deferred tax liabilities | ( | ( | ||||
Net deferred tax liability | $ | ( | $ | ( |
In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is
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dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Based on the level of historical losses, projections of losses in future periods and potential limitations pursuant to changes in ownership under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 382, the Company provided a valuation allowance at both December 31, 2021 and 2020. The remaining net deferred tax liability at both December 31, 2021 and 2020 is the result of the deferred tax liability associated with the indefinite-lived intangible asset less the deferred tax asset associated with U.S. federal net operating loss that do not expire. The Company has a policy that NOL’s are shown gross with valuation allowances with respect to IRC 382 limitations.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of $
The Company’s ability to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards, tax credits, and built-in items of deduction, including capitalized start-up costs and research and development costs, has been, and may continue to be substantially limited due to ownership changes. These ownership changes limit the amount of net operating loss carryforwards, credits and built-in items of deduction that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income. In general, an ownership change, as defined in IRC Section 382, results from a transaction or series of transactions over a three-year period resulting in an ownership change of more than
The Company has adopted accounting standards which prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a company’s income tax return, and also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The Company had
(16) | Commitments and Contingencies |
Employee Arrangements and Other Compensation
Certain members of management are entitled to severance benefits payable upon termination following a change in control, which would approximate $
Purchase Commitments
The Company generally purchases its products and accessories from a limited group of third-party suppliers through purchase orders. The Company had $
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Litigation
On August 6, 2021, Cowen and Company, LLC filed a complaint against ReShape, as successor in interest to Obalon Therapeutics, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York based on an alleged breach of contract arising out of Cowen’s prior engagement as Obalon’s financial advisor. The complaint alleges that Cowen is entitled to be paid a $
On August 18, 2021, H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC filed a complaint against ReShape in the Supreme Court of the State of New York based on an alleged breach of contract arising out of Wainwright’s prior engagement by ReShape in connection with certain capital raising transactions by ReShape. The complaint alleges that Wainwright is entitled to be paid a fee in connection with ReShape’s capital raising transaction under the warrant exercise agreement that ReShape entered into on June 28, 2021. Wainwright alleges that its June and September 2019 engagement agreements with ReShape require ReShape to pay Wainwright a cash fee equal to
Product Liability Claims
The Company is exposed to product liability claims that are inherent in the testing, production, marketing and sale of medical devices. Management believes any losses that may occur from these matters are adequately covered by insurance, and the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. The Company is not currently a party to any product liability litigation and is not aware of any pending or threatened product liability litigation that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results or financial condition.
(17) | Subsequent Events |
On February 16, 2022, the Company renewed the office space lease in San Clemente, California for
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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of December 31, 2020.
Based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded as of December 31, 2021 that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed at a reasonable assurance level and are effective in providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control–Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
We believe that a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the control system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within any company have been detected.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISIDTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
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PART III.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this Item concerning our directors and executive officers is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections of our Proxy Statement for our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the headings “Nominees,” “Executive Officers,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Board Meetings and Committees—Audit Committee.”
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics, which applies to all directors and employees, including executive officers, including, without limitation, our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and persons performing similar functions. A copy of this code of business conduct and ethics is available on our website at www.reshapelifesciences.com (under “Investors,” “Corporate Governance”) and we intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding any waivers from or amendments to any provision of the code of business conduct and ethics by disclosing such information on the same website.
In addition, we intend to promptly disclose (1) the nature of any amendment to our code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and (2) the nature of any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of our code of business conduct and ethics that is granted to one of these specified officers, the name of such person who is granted the waiver and the date of the waiver on our website in the future
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections of our Proxy Statement entitled “Director Compensation,” “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report.”
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections of our Proxy Statement entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the section of our Proxy Statement entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTing FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference to the section of our Proxy Statement entitled “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” and “Administration of Engagement of Independent Auditor.”
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PART IV.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) | The following documents are filed as part of this report: |
1. | Consolidated Financial Statements. See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” in Part II, Item 8 herein. |
2. | Financial Statement Schedules. Other schedules are not applicable and have not been included herein. |
3. | Exhibits |
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
| Description of Document |
---|---|---|
2.2 | ||
3.1 | ||
3.2 | ||
3.3 | ||
3.4 | ||
3.5 | ||
3.6 | ||
3.7 | ||
4.1* | ||
4.2 | ||
4.3 | ||
4.4 | ||
4.5 | ||
4.6 | ||
4.7 | ||
4.8 | ||
4.9 |
86
Exhibit |
| Description of Document |
---|---|---|
4.10 | ||
4.11 | ||
4.12 | ||
4.13 | ||
4.14 | ||
4.15 | ||
4.16 | ||
4.17 | ||
4.18 | ||
4.19 | ||
10.1† | ||
10.2† | ||
10.3 | ||
10.4†* | ||
10.5†* | ||
10.6† | ||
10.7 |
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Exhibit |
| Description of Document |
---|---|---|
10.8 | ||
10.9 | ||
10.10 | ||
14.1 | ||
21.1* | ||
23.1* | Consent of BDO USA LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | |
24.1* | Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Form 10-K). | |
31.1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
31.2* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.2* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
101* | Financial statements from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2021, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
* Filed herewith.
† Indicates management contract or compensation plan or agreement.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC. | ||
By: | /S/ BARTON P. BANDY | |
Barton P. Bandy | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: April 8, 2022
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Barton P. Bandy and Thomas Stankovich, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this report, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
| Title |
| Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
/S/ BARTON P. BANDY | President, and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) | April 8, 2022 | ||
Barton P. Bandy | ||||
/S/ Thomas Stankovich | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) | April 8, 2022 | ||
Thomas Stankovich | ||||
/S/ DAN W. GLADNEY | Chairman of the Board | April 8, 2022 | ||
Dan W. Gladney | ||||
/S/ GARY D. BLACKFORD | Director | April 8, 2022 | ||
Gary D. Blackford | ||||
/S/ LORI C. MCDOUGAL | Director | April 8, 2022 | ||
Lori McDougal | ||||
/S/ ARDA MINOCHERHOMJEE | Director | April 8, 2022 | ||
Arda Minocherhomjee |
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Exhibit 4.1
RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC.
DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following description of ReShape Lifesciences Inc.’s securities is a summary. This summary is qualified by reference to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and the complete text of ReShape Lifesciences Inc.’s restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), and amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”). We urge you to read that law and those documents carefully.
Common Stock
General. Our Charter authorizes 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share.
Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. We do not provide for cumulative voting for the election of directors in our Charter. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock are able to elect all of our directors.
Outstanding preferred stock and potential issuance of preferred stock. Pursuant to our Charter, our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue from time to time up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, vesting, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders.
In accordance with a certificate of designation filed on June 15, 2021, which has been filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, we have designated 95,388 shares of preferred stock as series C convertible preferred stock, all of which remained issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021, and which are convertible into 38 shares of common stock. The series C convertible preferred stock has a liquidation preference of $274.88 per share, or approximately $26.2 million in the aggregate. Holders of the series C convertible preferred stock have the right to convert their shares into shares of common stock instead of receiving the liquidation preference. In general, the series C convertible preferred stock is entitled to receive dividends (on an as-if-converted-to-common stock basis) actually paid on shares of common stock when, as and if such dividends are paid on shares of common stock. No other dividends will be paid on shares of series C convertible preferred stock. Except in connection with the election of directors, which the holders of series C convertible preferred stock are entitled to vote for on an as-converted to common stock basis, the series C convertible preferred stock generally does not have voting rights. However, as long as any shares of series C convertible preferred stock remain outstanding, we cannot, without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of series C convertible preferred stock, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the series C convertible preferred stock (including by the designation, authorization, or issuance of any shares of preferred stock that purports to have equal rights with, or be senior in rights or preferences to, the series C convertible preferred stock), (b) alter or amend the series C convertible preferred stock certificate of designation, (c) amend our certificate of incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of the holders of series C convertible preferred stock, (d) increase the number of authorized shares of series C convertible preferred stock or (e) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.
Although the board has no intention at the present time of issuing additional shares of preferred stock, the rights of holders of common stock may be materially limited or qualified by the rights of the holders of series C convertible preferred stock and holders of preferred stock that we may issue in the future.
Dividend rights. Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our board of directors, in
its discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine.
No preemptive or similar rights. Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive or subscription rights, and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
Right to receive liquidation distributions. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights of and the payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Fully Paid and Nonassessable. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
Annual Stockholder Meetings
Our Bylaws provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held at a date, place (if any) and time, as selected by the board of directors. To the extent permitted under applicable law, we may, but are not obligated to conduct meetings by remote communications.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
The provisions of Delaware law, our Charter and our Bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our company, or make removing incumbent officers and directors more difficult. These provisions, which are summarized below, may have the effect of discouraging takeover bids. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Delaware Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, or Section 203, regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date on which the person became an interested stockholder unless:
● | prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
● | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder, (i) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
● | at or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66.67% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction or series of transactions together resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock. We expect the existence of this provision to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions our board of directors does not approve in advance. We also anticipate that Section 203 may also discourage attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
Provisions Relating to our Charter and Bylaws
Our Charter and our Bylaws include a number of provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes in control of our company, including the following:
● | Board of Directors Vacancies. Our Charter and Bylaws authorize only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This makes it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors but promotes continuity of management. |
● | Classified Board. Our Charter and Bylaws provide that our board of directors be classified into three classes of directors, each with staggered three-year terms. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors. |
● | Stockholder Action; Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our Charter provides that our stockholders may not take action by written consent, but may only take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. As a result, a holder controlling a majority of our capital stock would not be able to amend our Bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of our stockholders called in accordance with our Bylaws. Further, our Bylaws and Charter provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our President, thus prohibiting a stockholder from calling a special meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors. |
● | Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our Bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. Our Bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions might preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders if the proper procedures are not followed. We expect that these provisions might also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company. |
● | No Cumulative Voting. The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our Charter does not provide for cumulative voting. |
● | Directors Removed Only for Cause. Our Charter provides that stockholders may remove directors only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding common stock. |
● | Amendment of Charter Provisions. Any amendment of the above expected provisions in our Charter would require approval by holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding common stock, unless such amendment is approved by at least two-thirds of our directors, in which case the amendment may be approved by the holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock. |
● | Amendment of Bylaw Provisions. Any amendment of our Bylaws would require approval by a majority of the board of directors or the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding common stock, unless such amendment is approved by at least two-thirds of the board of directors, in which case the amendment may be approved by holders of a majority our outstanding common stock. |
● | Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by our board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock would enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or other means. |
● | Choice of Forum. Our Charter provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for: any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the DGCL, our Charter or our Bylaws; any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Charter or our Bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable. |
Stock Exchange Listing
Our shares of common stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “RSLS”.
No Sinking Fund
The shares of common stock have no sinking fund provisions.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.
Exhibit 10.4
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered as of August 26, 2019 (the “Agreement Date”), between ReShape Lifesciences Inc. (“Company”), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 1001 Calle Amanecer, San Clemente, CA 92673; and Barton P. Bandy (“Employee”), a California resident whose address is 23 Calle Pacifica, San Clemente, CA 92673, for the purpose of setting forth the terms and conditions of Employee’s employment by Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and obligations contained herein, Company and Employee agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1.EMPLOYMENT, TERM AND DUTIES
1.3 | Position and Duties. |
ARTICLE 2.COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
2.1 | Base Salary. |
The Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board annually for potential additional adjustment on the basis of performance; and Employee shall be eligible, at the Board’s sole discretion, for annual merit and incentive-based salary increases consistent with Company’s procedures, policies and practices. If Employee’s Base Salary is increased from time to time during the Term, the increased amount shall become the Base Salary for the remainder of the Term and any extensions of the Term and for as long thereafter as required pursuant to Article 3 as applicable, subject to any subsequent increases.
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ARTICLE 3.TERMINATION AND COMPENSATION FOLLOWING TERMINATION
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If Employee (or his legal representative, if applicable) does not agree with Company’s decision to terminate his employment hereunder because of Disability, the question of Employee’s Disability shall be subject to the certification of a qualified medical doctor mutually agreed to by Company and Employee (or, in the event of Employee’s incapacity to designate a doctor, Employee’s legal representative). In the absence of such agreement, each such party shall nominate a qualified medical doctor and the two doctors shall select a third doctor, who shall make the determination as to Employee’s Disability. The decision of the designated physician shall be binding upon the parties in the same manner as the decision of an arbitrator under Section 4.5.
For purposes of this Section 3.1.4, no act, or failure to act, on Employee’s part shall be considered “dishonest” or “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by Employee in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in or not opposed to, the best interest of Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Employee in good faith and in the best interests of Company. Furthermore, the term “Cause” shall not include ordinary negligence or failure to act, whether due to an error in judgment or otherwise, if Employee has exercised substantial efforts in good faith to perform the duties reasonably assigned or appropriate to his position.
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For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means, at any time: (a) the assignment by Company to Employee of employment duties, functions or responsibilities that are significantly different from, and result in a material diminution of, Employee’s duties, functions or responsibilities, including without limitation any requirement that Employee report to another officer of Company, rather than directly to the Board; (b) a material reduction in Employee’s Base Salary or the minimum target amount provided under Section 2.2 for his cash incentive compensation for any calendar year; (c) a Company requirement that Employee be based at any office or location more than 35 miles from Employee’s primary work location before the date of this Agreement; or (d) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of this Agreement by Company.
If a termination occurs pursuant to Section 3.l.5 (by Employee without Good Reason), when Company receives Employee’s notice Company shall have the option, at its discretion (a) to continue to engage Employee’s services through the 30-day notice period until the Separation Date, or (b) terminate the use of Employee’s services during the 30-day notice period before the Separation Date but treat Employee as if he were providing services
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through the 30-day notice period until the Separation Date for purposes of determining Employee’s compensation due him pursuant to this Section 3.2.1.
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defined pursuant to Code Section 409A. Each payment under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A.
revocation of the Release, if Employee timely and effectively elects continuation coverage under Company’s group health plans pursuant to section 4980B of the Code, as amended (“COBRA”) or similar state law, Company will pay or reimburse the premiums for such coverage of Employee (and Employee’s dependents, as applicable) at the same rate it pays for active employees for a period of 12 months from the Separation Date (for a period of 18 months following three years of employment from the Start Date); provided, however, that Company’s obligation to make such payments shall immediately expire if Employee ceases to be eligible for continuation coverage under COBRA or similar state law or otherwise terminates such coverage or, if earlier, the date Employee becomes eligible for group health plan coverage with a new employer of Employee.
ARTICLE 4.MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
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If to Company, at: | ReShape Lifesciences Inc. |
| 1001 Calle Amanecer |
| San Clemente, CA 92673 |
| |
If to Employee, at: | Barton P. Bandy |
| 23 Calle Pacifica |
| San Clemente, CA 92673 |
Any party may change the address for the purpose of this Section by giving the other written notice of the new address in the manner set forth above.
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Any such arbitration shall be conducted by one neutral arbitrator appointed by mutual agreement of the parties or, failing such agreement, in accordance with the JAMS Rules then in effect, a copy of which is available on the JAMS website (https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment- arbitration/english). The arbitrator shall be an experienced attorney with a background in employment law. Any arbitration shall be conducted in Orange County, California. An arbitration award may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction.
To the extent any provision of this Agreement may be deemed to provide a benefit to Employee that is treated as non-qualified deferred compensation pursuant to Code Section 409A, such provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner that qualifies for any applicable exemption from compliance with Code Section 409 or, if such interpretation would cause any reduction of benefit(s), such provision shall be interpreted (if reasonably possible) in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A and does not cause any such reduction. Any payment under this Agreement that is payable upon a termination of employment of the Executive shall only be made upon the Employee’s “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A, and any reference to Separation Date shall similarly mean the date of such “separation from service” with the Company. If any payment under this Agreement is contingent upon the execution and delivery of a release and if the Separation Date with respect to which such payment is being made occurs during the last 60 days of the calendar year, the payment shall in no event be made earlier than the first business day of the succeeding calendar year.
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or the termination of Employee’s employment under this Agreement, shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding Employee’s termination of employment under this Agreement or the expiration of this Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC. | ||
| | ||
| | ||
By: | |||
| | | |
Name: | Dan W. Gladney | ||
Its: | Chairman of the Board | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| Barton P. Bandy |
[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]
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EXHIBIT A
Proprietary Information Agreement
(attached)
RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES, INC.
EMPLOYEE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AGREEMENT
In consideration and as a condition of my employment, or continued employment, by ReShape Lifesciences, Inc. and/or by companies which it owns, controls, or is affiliated with or their successors in business ("the Company"), and the compensation paid therefor:
1. | Confidentiality. |
1.1I agree to keep confidential, except as the Company may otherwise consent in writing, and not to disclose or make any use of except for the benefit of the Company, at any time, either during or subsequent to my employment, any trade secrets, confidential information, knowledge, data or other information of the Company relating to products, processes, know-how, designs, formulas, test data, customer lists, business plans, marketing plans and strategies, pricing strategies or other subject matter pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its clients, customers, consultants, licensees or affiliates, which I may produce, obtain or otherwise acquire during the course of my employment, except as herein provided. I further agree not to deliver, reproduce or in any way allow any such trade secrets, confidential information, knowledge, data or other information, or any documentation relating thereto, to be delivered or used by any third parties without prior written consent of a duly authorized representative of the Company. The foregoing obligations of confidentiality shall not apply to (a) any knowledge or information which is now or subsequently becomes generally and publicly known, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by me or a breach of a confidentiality obligation owed to the Company by another, or (b) any knowledge or information which is not proprietary to the Company that I acquired prior to becoming its employee. I acknowledge that I have been informed that I have rights under 18
U.S.C. Section 1833(6) which states in part: "An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that - (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local gover11111ent official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal." Nothing in this Agreement is intended by Company to conflict with or create liability for actions taken that are permitted under 18 U.S.C. Section 1833(6).
2. | Conflicting Employment/Return of Confidential Material. |
I agree that during my engagement with the Company, I will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other activity relating to the business in which the Company is now or may hereafter become engaged or which would otherwise conflict with my obligations to the Company. In the event of my termination of engagement with the Company for any reason whatsoever or upon the request of the Company, I agree to promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all records, materials, equipment, drawings, documents and data, including any reproductions thereof, of any nature pertaining to any invention, trade secret or confidential information of the Company or to my engagement, and I will not take with me any description containing or pertaining to any confidential information, knowledge or data of the Company which I may produce or obtain during the course of my engagement. The foregoing shall not apply to my address book, or to any information or documentation I acquired prior to becoming an employee of the Company. In the event of the termination of my engagement for any reason whatsoever, I agree to sign and deliver the "Termination Certificate" attached hereto as Exhibit A.
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3. | Assignment of lnventions. |
I agree that all medical devices and processes, documentation and other copyrightable materials to which I contribute during my engagement shall be considered "works made for hire" and shall be the sole property of the Company. I hereby assign and transfer to the Company my entire right, title and interest in and to all inventions (as used in the Agreement, "inventions" shall include but not be limited to ideas, improvements, designs and discoveries) whether or not patentable and whether or not reduced to practice, made or conceived by me (whether made solely by me or jointly with others) during the period of my engagement with the Company, which relate in any manner to the actual or demonstrably anticipated business, work or research and development of the Company or its subsidiaries, or result from or are suggested by any task assigned to me or any work performed by me for or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries or result from use of premises owned, leased or contracted for the Company. I agree that all such inventions are the sole property of the Company provided, however, that this Agreement does not require assignment of an invention for which no equipment, supplies, facility, or trade secret information of the Company was used, and which was developed entirely on my own time as provided in California Labor Code Section 2870 a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B, and:
(a)which does not relate to the business of the Company or to the Company's actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development; or
(b) | which does not result from any work performed by me for the Company. |
4. | Disclosure of lnventions and Patents. |
I agree that in connection with any "invention" as defined in Paragraph 3 above:
(a)I will disclose such invention promptly in writing to my immediate superior at the Company, with a copy to the Chief Executive Officer, regardless of whether I believe the invention is protected by Paragraph 3 above, in order to permit the Company to claim rights to which it may be entitled under this Agreement. Such disclosure shall be received in confidence by the Company.
(b)I will, at the Company's request, promptly execute a written assignment of title to the Company for any invention required to be assigned by Paragraph 3 ("assignable invention"), and I will preserve any such assignable invention as confidential information of the Company.
(c)Upon request, I agree to assist the Company or its nominee (at its expense) during and at any time subsequent to my engagement in every reasonable way to obtain for its own benefit patents and copyrights for such assignable inventions in any and all countries, which inventions shall be and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company or its nominee whether or not patented or copyrighted. I agree to execute such papers and perform such lawful acts as the Company deems to be necessary to allow it to exercise all right, title, and interest in such patents and copyrights.
5. | Execution of Documents. |
In connection with Paragraph 4(c), I further agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company or its nominee upon request and at its expense all such documents, including applications for patents and copyrights and assignments of inventions, patents and copyrights to be issued
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therefore, as the Company may determine necessary or desirable to apply for and obtain letters, patents and copyrights on such assignable inventions in any and all countries and/or to protect the interest of the Company or its nominee in such inventions, patents and copyrights, and to vest title thereto in the Company or its nominee. In the event that the Company is unable for any reason whatsoever to secure my signature to any lawful and necessary document required to apply for or execute any patent application with respect to inventions (including renewals, extension, continuations, divisions or continuations, divisions or continuations in part thereof), I hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents, as my agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and in my behalf and instead of me, to execute and file any such application and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of patents thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me.
6. | Maintenance of Records. |
I agree to keep and maintain adequate and current written or printed records of all inventions made by me (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and as may be specified by the Company), which records shall be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.
7. | Prior Inventions. |
It is understood that all inventions if any, patented or unpatented, which I made prior to my engagement by the Company are excluded from the scope of this Agreement. To preclude any possible uncertainty, I have set forth on Exhibit C attached hereto a complete list of all my prior inventions excluded from the assignment of rights, including numbers of all patents and patent applications, and a brief description of all unpatented inventions which are not the prope1ty of a previous employer. I represent and covenant that the list is complete and that, if no items are on the list, I have no such prior inventions. During my engagement with the Company, I agree to notify the Company in writing before I make any disclosure or perform any work on behalf of the Company which appears to threaten or conflict with proprietary rights I claim in any invention or idea. In the event of my failure to give such notice, I agree that I will make no claim against the Company with respect to any such inventions or ideas. In addition, if any invention made or conceived by me during the period of my employment is based on, or incorporates, or is an improvement or derivative of, or cannot reasonably be made, used, reproduced and distributed without violating other technology or rights owned by me, I hereby grant to the Company a perpetual, worldwide, royalty free, non-exclusive, sublicensable right and license to exploit and exercise all such technology in suppo1t of the Company's exercise or exploitation of its rights to such invention.
8. | Trade Secrets of Others. |
I represent that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of the Company does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by me in confidence or in trust prior to my employment with the Company, and I will not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous employer or others. I agree not to enter into any agreement either written or oral in conflict herewith.
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9. | Performance. |
I understand, as part of the consideration for the offer of employment extended to me by the Company and of my employment or continued employment by the Company, that I have not brought and will not bring with me to the Company or use in the performance of my responsibilities at the Company any equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of any former employer which are not generally available to the public, unless I have obtained written authorization for their possession and use.
10. | Remedies. |
I agree that in addition to any other rights and remedies available to the Company for any breach by me of my obligations hereunder, the Company shall be entitled to enforcement of my obligations hereunder by court injunction.
11. | Non Solicitation. |
I agree that during my employment and for the two-year period following my employment I will not solicit or induce any employee or consultant of the Company to quit their employment, cease doing business with the Company or accept employment with any entity that I am then involved with, unless I am specifically authorized to do so by the Company. In addition, during my engagement and for the two-year period following my engagement I will not solicit or induce any customer of the Company to cease doing business with the Company.
12. | Modification. |
This Agreement may not be changed, modified, released, discharged, abandoned or otherwise amended, in whole or in part, except by an instrument in writing, signed by me and the Company. I agree that any subsequent change or changes in my duties or compensation shall not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.
13. | Entire Agreement. |
I acknowledge receipt of this Agreement and agree that with respect to the subject matter thereof it is my entire agreement with the Company, superseding any previous oral or written communications, representations, understandings or agreements with the Company or any officers or representative thereof.
14. | Severability. |
In the event that any paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall be held to be illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such paragraph or provision shall, as to that jurisdiction, be adjusted and reformed, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the parties, and if such paragraph or provision cannot be adjusted and reformed, such paragraph or provision shall, for the purposes of that jurisdiction be voided and severed from this Agreement, and the entire Agreement shall not fail on account thereof but shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.
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15. | Successors and Assigns. |
This Agreement shall be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representative and is for the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company to any purchaser or successor in interest to the business of the Company.
16. | Governing Law. |
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the location of the Company's corporate headquarters, which is presently located in the State of California; provided, however, that in the event this provision is deemed to be unenforceable by a local judicial authority or governmental agency, then the laws of the location of my employment shall apply.
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17.Counterparts.
This Agreement may be signed in two counterparts, each shall be deemed an original and both of which shall together constitute one agreement.
Dated: | | | EMPLOYEE | |
| | | ||
| | | ||
| Sign | |||
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| | RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES, INC. | ||
| a Delaware corporation | |||
| | |||
| By: | |
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EXHIBIT B
CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
This Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between (“you”) and ReShape Lifesciences Inc. (“ReShape”).
WHEREAS, you and ReShape entered into an Employment Agreement dated
(the “Employment Agreement”) which terminates effective
, except as to certain provisions outlined below;
WHEREAS, ReShape wishes to provide you with the separation benefits described in Section 2 below; and
WHEREAS, you and ReShape want to fully and finally settle all issues, differences, and claims, whether potential or actual, between you and ReShape, including, but not limited to, any claim that might arise out of your employment with ReShape or the termination of your employment with ReShape;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the provisions and of the mutual covenants contained herein, you and ReShape agree as follows:
1.Separation from Employment. Effective (your “date of separation”), your employment with ReShape terminates. Except as provided in this Agreement, all benefits and privileges of employment end as of your date of separation.
2.Separation Benefits. As consideration for your promises and obligations under this Agreement and the Employment Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Employment Agreement, including the release of claims set forth below, ReShape agrees to pay you, as separation pay, the gross amount of , less applicable deductions and withholdings for state and federal taxes, which amount represents 12 months of your Base Salary as of your date of separation. The separation pay will be divided and paid to you in substantially equal periodic payments at the usual and customary pay intervals of ReShape, less deductions and withholdings and at the time described in Section 3.2.2 or
Section 3.2.3 of the Employment Agreement. You agree that you are not entitled to the separation benefits provided to you in this Agreement if you do not sign this Agreement or if you rescind or attempt to rescind your release of claims under this Agreement.
3.Incentive Compensation. You are not entitled to receive incentive compensation for calendar year .
4.COBRA Premium Payments/Reimbursements. Subject to the terms of Section 3.3 of the Employment Agreement, ReShape agrees to pay you certain COBRA premium reimbursements. You agree that any COBRA premium paid on your behalf and/or any reimbursement made to you for COBRA premiums paid by you will be treated as taxable by ReShape. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4, the benefits to which you (or, as applicable, your spouse and eligible dependents) may be entitled upon termination of your
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employment shall be determined and paid in accordance with such plans, policies and applicable laws.
5.Stock Options. All options to purchase shares of common stock of ReShape held by you (the “Options”) are subject to the terms of one or more stock option agreements between you and Company (each, an “Option Agreement”) and were granted pursuant to the ReShape Inc. Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Stock Plan”). Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Option Agreements, ReShape agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in such Option Agreements or the Stock Plan, during the two-year period following your date of separation, you shall be permitted to exercise any Option immediately to the extent that such Option was vested as of your date of separation or would have vested within one year of your date of separation had your employment with Company not terminated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in such Option Agreements or the Stock Plan, ReShape shall have a right, following your date of separation, to buy back all such Options based on the per share exercise price under the applicable Option Agreement. The parties agree and acknowledge that, with respect to any Options that were intended by the parties to be treated as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such Options, to the extent they may be exercised by you more than 90 days following your date of separation, shall be treated as non-qualified options, notwithstanding any provision in the Option Agreements to the contrary.
6.Confidential Information. You executed an Executive Employment Agreement with ReShape, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. All provisions of the Employment Agreement that, by their terms, survive the termination of your employment will continue in full force and effect and are not negated or otherwise affected by this Agreement, including but not limited to Section 4.1: Company Remedies; Section 4.4: Governing Law/Venue; Section 4.5: Arbitration; and the Employee Proprietary Information Agreement attached to the Employment Agreement as Exhibit A and fully incorporated therein.
7.Return of ReShape Property. You acknowledge that, on or before the date you sign this Agreement, you have returned all ReShape property in your possession, including, but not limited to, all files, memoranda, documents, records, copies of the foregoing, any ReShape credit card, computer, fax machine, printer, copier, keys, access cards, and any other property of ReShape in your possession. You also acknowledge that, on or before the date you sign this Agreement, you have provided ReShape with any and all pass codes and/or personal identification numbers used by you to access the ReShape computer system, e-mail system, and/or the Internet, and/or documents or files contained on and saved in the ReShape computer system.
8.Duty to Cooperate. You agree that, beginning on the date you are presented with this Agreement, you will cooperate with ReShape with respect to the transition of your duties, the preservation of effective operations and customer service, and ReShape’s strategic and commercial initiatives. As part of your agreement to cooperate, you will provide a list identifying the status of major projects under way, pending customer interactions, the status of sale cycles with customers, the names and contact information of key contacts at customers, and any other information reasonably requested by ReShape regarding your duties and responsibilities. You further agree that, in the 30-day period following your acceptance of this Agreement you will
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periodically make yourself accessible and available during normal business hours for consultation with ReShape representatives in connection with the transition of your duties and responsibilities. You agree that such consultation may include appearing from time to time at the office of ReShape for conferences.
9.Confidentiality. You agree that the existence and terms and conditions of this Agreement shall remain confidential and that you will not disclose any information concerning the provisions of this Agreement to any person or entity, including, but not limited to, any present or former employee of ReShape. These confidentiality provisions are subject to the following exceptions: you may disclose the provisions of this Agreement to your attorneys, accountants, tax and financial advisors, and immediate family, or in the course of legal proceedings involving ReShape, or in response to a subpoena, court order, or inquiry by a government agency. You further agree that, if any information concerning the provisions of this Agreement is revealed as permitted by this section, you shall inform the recipient of the information that it is confidential, and the recipient shall agree to keep the information confidential.
10.Release. By this Agreement, you intend to settle any and all claims that you have or may have against ReShape as a result of ReShape hiring you, your employment with ReShape, and the decision to terminate your employment with ReShape. You agree that, in exchange for ReShape’s promises in this Agreement, and in exchange for the consideration provided to you by ReShape, described above in Section 2, you, on behalf of your heirs, successors and assigns, hereby release and discharge ReShape, its predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and related companies, and their officers, directors, shareholders, agents, servants, employees, and insurers (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from all liability for damages and from all claims that you may have against the Released Parties occurring up through the date you sign this Agreement. You understand and agree that your release of claims in this Agreement includes, but is not limited to, any claims you may have under: Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988; the False Claims Act; the California Constitution; the California Labor Code (including but not limited to Sections 132a and 4553); the California Fair Employment & Housing Act; the California Government Code; the California Civil Code; the California Penal Code; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; the Civil Rights Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the United States Constitution; or any other federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or law.
You also agree and understand that you are giving up all other claims, whether grounded in contract or tort theories, including but not limited to: wrongful discharge; breach of contract; any claim for unpaid compensation (including, but not limited to, any claims for vacation, PTO or severance except as set forth in this Agreement, or for incentive compensation); tortious interference with contractual relations; promissory estoppel; detrimental reliance; breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; breach of express or implied promise; breach of manuals or other policies; breach of fiduciary duty; assault; battery; fraud; false imprisonment; invasion of privacy; intentional or negligent misrepresentation; defamation, including libel,
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slander, discharge defamation and self-publication defamation; discharge in violation of public policy; whistleblower; qui tam actions; intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress; or any other theory, whether legal or equitable.
You understand that nothing contained in this Agreement, including but not limited to this Section 10, will be interpreted to prevent you from filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), or any other governmental agency, or from participating in or cooperating with an EEOC or other governmental agency investigation or proceeding. However, you agree that you are waiving the right to monetary damages or other individual legal or equitable relief awarded as a result of any such proceeding.
Nothing in this Agreement prohibits or restricts you from (i) making any disclosure of information required by law; (ii) filing a charge with, providing truthful information to, or testifying or otherwise cooperating or assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought by, any governmental agency, such as the Department of Labor, EEOC, or similar state or federal agency, or any designated legal, compliance or human resources officer designated by ReShape; or (iii) reporting an illegal act to any duly authorized law enforcement agency. However, to the maximum extent allowed by applicable law, if you file such a charge or complaint, you waive your right to recover damages or obtain personal relief of any kind with respect to the matters released by this Agreement, and you agree to assign any such monetary recovery that you may obtain despite this waiver, to ReShape.
You are not aware of any other facts, evidence, allegations, claims, liabilities, or demands relating to alleged or potential violations of law that may give rise to any claim or liability on the part of any Released Party under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the False Claims Act, the Anti-kickback Statute. You understand that nothing in this Agreement interferes with your right to file a complaint, charge or report with any law enforcement agency, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or other regulatory body, or to participate in any manner in an SEC or other governmental investigation or proceeding under any such law, statute or regulation, or to require notification or prior approval by ReShape of any such a complaint, charge or report. You understand and agree, however, that you waive your right to recover any whistleblower award under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or other individual relief in any administrative or legal action whether brought by the SEC or other governmental or law enforcement agency, you, or any other party, unless and to the extent that such waiver is contrary to law. You agree that the Released Parties reserve any and all defenses which they might have against any such allegations or claims brought by you or on your behalf. You understand that ReShape is relying on your representations in this Agreement.
You agree that ReShape reserves any and all defenses, which it has or might have against any claims brought by you. This includes, but is not limited to ReShape’s right to seek available costs and attorneys’ fees as allowed by law, and to have any monetary award granted to you, if any, reduced by the amount of money that you received in consideration for this Agreement.
You understand and for valuable consideration hereby expressly waive all of the rights and benefits of Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which section reads as follows:
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A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.
11.Time to Accept. You are hereby informed that the terms of this Agreement shall be open for acceptance and execution by you through and including , during which time you may consult with an attorney and consider whether to accept this Agreement. Changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, will not restart the running of this acceptance period. You hereby are advised to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement.
12.Older Workers Benefit Protection Act. You understand and have been advised that the above release of your claims is subject to the terms of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”). The OWBPA provides that an individual cannot waive a right or claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) unless the waiver is knowing and voluntary. [IF A GROUP IS BEING TERMINATED UNDER THE ADEA: At the same time that you received Agreement, ReShape also provided you with information required under the OWBPA, which tells you information about the ages of other employees who were, or were not, selected to receive enhanced separation benefits. This information is set forth in Attachments A and B to this Agreement]. You agree that you have been advised of the OWBPA and agree that you are signing this Agreement voluntarily, and with full knowledge of its consequences. You understand that ReShape is giving you at least [21] [45] days from the date you received a copy of this Agreement to decide whether you want to sign it. You acknowledge that you have been advised to use this time to consult with an attorney about the effect of this Agreement. If you sign this Agreement before the end of the [21] [45] day period it will be your personal, voluntary decision to do so, and will be done with full knowledge of your legal rights. You agree that material and/or immaterial changes to this Agreement will not restart the running of this consideration period.
13.Right to Revoke and Rescind. You are hereby informed of your right to revoke your release of claims, insofar as it extends to potential claims under the ADEA, by informing ReShape of your intent to revoke your release of claims within seven (7) calendar days following your signing of this Agreement. You understand that any such revocation or rescission must be made in writing and delivered by hand or by certified mail, return receipt requested, postmarked on or before the last day within the applicable revocation period to: Chief Financial Officer, ReShape Lifesciences Inc., 1001 Calle Amanecer, San Clemente, CA 92673.
If you exercise your right to revoke or rescind this Agreement, ReShape may, at its option, either nullify this Agreement in its entirety, or keep it in effect in all respects other than as to that portion of your release of claims that you have revoked or rescinded. You agree and understand that if ReShape chooses to nullify the Agreement in its entirety, ReShape will have no obligations under this Agreement or the Employment Agreement to you or to others whose rights derive from you.
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14.Entire Agreement. This Agreement, as well as the exhibits hereto and any agreements referenced herein, is the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the parties and sets forth the entire agreement between ReShape and you with respect to your employment by ReShape, and there are no undertakings, covenants or commitments other than as set forth herein. The Agreement may not be altered or amended, except by a writing executed by you and a member of the Board. Except as otherwise indicated, this Agreement supersedes, terminates, replaces and supplants any and all prior understandings or agreements between the parties relating in any way to you hiring or employment by ReShape.
15.Governing Law. The laws of the State of California will govern the validity, construction and performance of this Agreement, without regard to the conflict of law provisions of any other jurisdictions. If any part of this Agreement is construed to be in violation of any law, such part shall be modified to achieve the objective of the parties to the fullest extent permitted and the balance of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If such modification is not possible, said provision will be deemed severable from the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
16.Remedies. To the extent that the ReShape wishes to pursue remedies against you under Section 7.1 of the Employment Agreement, you and ReShape agree that such action shall be venued in Orange County, California. For any other dispute, you and ReShape irrevocably consent that any litigation commenced or arising in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement that has not been settled through negotiation within a period of thirty (30) days after the date on which either party shall first have notified the other party in writing of the existence of a dispute shall be settled by final and binding arbitration under the then-applicable Employment Arbitration Rules of JAMS (“JAMS”); and a court judgment on the award may be entered in any court having competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither party shall be entitled or required to seek arbitration regarding any cause of action that would entitle such party to injunctive relief.
Any such arbitration shall be conducted by one neutral arbitrator appointed by mutual agreement of the parties or, failing such agreement, in accordance with the JAMS Rules then in effect, a copy of which is available on the JAMS website (https://www.jamsadr.com/rules- employment-arbitration/english). The arbitrator shall be an experienced attorney with a background in employment law. Any arbitration shall be conducted in Orange County, California or as otherwise agreed by the Parties. An arbitration award may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction.
17.No Admission. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to be, and nothing will be deemed to be, an admission of liability by ReShape or you that either party has violated any state or federal statute, local ordinance or principle of common law, or that either party has engaged in any wrongdoing.
18.Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party making the waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach by the other party of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement on the dates set forth below to be effective as of the date shown below.
I acknowledge and agree that I have read this Agreement in its entirety and that I agree to the conditions and obligations set forth herein. Further, I agree that I have had adequate time to consider the terms of this Agreement and that I am voluntarily entering into this Agreement with a full understanding of its meaning. I understand that I am hereby advised to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement.
Dated: | | | | ||||
| | | Barton P. Bandy | ||||
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| | | | RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC. | |||
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Dated: | | | By: | | |||
| | | Its: | | |||
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Exhibit 10.5
RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered on October 29, 2019 (the "Agreement Date"), between ReShape Lifesciences, ("Company"), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at I 00 I Calle Amanecer, San Clemente, CA 92673; and Thomas Stankovich ("Employee"), a California resident whose address is 29011 Modjeska Peak, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679, for the purpose of setting forth the terms and conditions of Employee's employment by Company.
WITNESETH:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and for Employee to hold such position, on the terms and conditions, and for the consideration, hereinafter set forth and Employee desires to be employed by the Company and hold such position on such terms and conditions and for such consideration; and
WHEREAS, Employee executed a Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement with the Company on October 29, 2019 ("Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement"), which is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement and fully incorporated herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and obligations contained herein, the Company and Employee agree as follows:
ARTICLE I EMPLOYMENT, TERM AND DUTIES
1.1Employment. Effective on the Agreement Date, Employee will be employed as the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform services for the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
1.2Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Agreement Date and, unless earlier terminated in accordance with Article III of this Agreement, shall terminate one year from the Agreement Date (the "Term"); provided, however, that the Term of this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms thereafter unless, at least 90 days before the expiration of the initial Te1m or any additional Term, either party provides written notice to the other of its or his desire to terminate this Agreement.
1.3 | Position and Duties. |
1.3.1Service with Company. During the Term, Employee agrees to perform such duties and responsibilities as are assigned to him from time to time by Company's Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") and/or Board of Directors (the "Board).
1.3.2Performance of Duties. During the Term, Employee agrees to serve Company in an executive capacity as its Chief Financial Officer or such other position as the Company may assign, and shall perform such duties as are required by the CEO and/or the Board.
l.3.2a Employee shall at all times be subject to, and shall abide by, the policies established by the Company, including but not limited to the policies set forth in the Company's employee handbook, as it may be updated from time to time.
l.3.2b Employee agrees that to the best of his ability and experience he will at all times loyally and conscientiously perform all of the duties and obligations required of him either expressly or implicitly by the terms of this Agreement and that may be assigned to him in accordance with this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
2.1Base Salary. Subject to the provisions of Article III of this Agreement, during the Term, Company shall pay Employee a"Base Salary" of$300,000.00 on an annualized basis or such other rate as may from time to time be approved by the Board and/or Company. Such Base Salary shall be paid in substantially equal regular periodic payments, less deductions and withholdings, in accordance with Company's regular payroll procedures, policies and practices, as such may be modified from time to time. The Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board annually for potential adjustment on the basis of performance; and Employee shall be eligible, at Company's sole discretion, for annual salary changes consistent with Company's procedures, policies and practices. If Employee's Base Salary is increased from time to time during the Term, the increased amount shall become the Base Salary for the remainder of the Term and any extensions of the Term and for as long thereafter as required pursuant to Article III as applicable, subject to any subsequent increases.
2.2Incentive Compensation. In addition to Base Salary, Company may make Employee eligible for cash or equity awards pursuant to Company's Incentive Compensation Plan, if any, as may be applicable and adopted by Company. Except to the extent as otherwise provided in Article III in connection with a termination of Employee's employment, payment of incentive compensation will be subject to Employee achieving certain objectives set annually by the CEO and/or the Board of Directors (the "Board"), with the target amount of any cash incentive compensation for any calendar year to be approved by the Board, which target in no event shall be more than 30% (subject to performance of the specified objectives) of Employee's Base Salary in effect from time to time; provided, the 2019 cash incentive compensation will be pro-rated based on Employee's employment with the Company from the Agreement Date to December 31, 2019. Company shall pay any such incentive compensation for which Employee may be eligible for a calendar year on or before March 15 of the following year (provided that Employee is employed on such date). Employee will not be entitled to receive incentive compensation for any calendar year in which Employee's employment is terminated, except as may be provided in Article III.
2.3Non-Qualified Stock Option Award. Company will grant Employee a non-qualified stock option under the Company's 2019 Employee Inducement Incentive Award Plan (the "Incentive Award Plan") to purchase 1.25% shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise
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price per share equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Incentive Award Plan) of one share of common stock on the date of grant, subject to and contingent upon the approval of the Company's board of directors, the te1ms of which will be governed by the Incentive Award Plan and a non-qualified stock option award agreement to be executed in connection with such grant which will include, an10ng other terms, that such award will vest twenty five percent (25%) at the first anniversary of the Agreement Date and 2.0833% per month thereafter.
2.4Participation in Benefits. During the Term of Employee's employment by Company, Employee shall be entitled to participate in the employee benefits offered generally by Company to its employees, to the extent that Employee's position, tenure, salary, health and other qualifications make Employee eligible to participate. Employee is eligible to receive vacation benefits in accordance with the Company's "Paid Time Off' policy. Employee's participation in such benefits shall be subject to the terms of the applicable plans, as the same may be amended from time to time. Company does not guarantee the adoption or continuance of any particular employee benefit during Employee's employment; and nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall in any way restrict the right of Company to amend, modify or terminate any of its benefit plans during the Term of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
TERMINATION AND COMPENSATION FOLLOWING TERMINATION
3.1Termination. Subject to the respective continuing obligations of the parties under this Agreement, this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated as of the applicable date, whether before or at the end of the Term (the "Separation Date") under any of the following circumstances:
3.1.1Termination by Mutual Agreement. By mutual written agreement of the parties at any time, which may specify a Separation Date.
3.1.2Termination by Employee's Death. If Employee dies during the Term, the date of his death shall be his Separation Date.
3.1.3Termination Due to Employee's Disability. If Employee becomes Disabled, the Separation Date shall be the effective date of his resignation or his discharge by the Company because of the Disability, after engaging in a good faith interactive process, whichever occurs first. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disabled" or "Disability" means the incapacity or inability of Employee, whether due to accident, sickness or otherwise, to perform the essential functions of Employee's position under this Agreement, with or without reasonable accommodation (provided that no accommodation that imposes undue hardship on Company will be required).
To the extent Employee is unable to perform the essential functions of his position for more than 90 days during any period of 180 consecutive days, the parties agree that he will be put on an unpaid leave of absence as a reasonable accommodation, and that the Company need not guarantee reinstatement when Employee is released back to work as holding his job open at that time would be an undue hardship. Any disputes over this Section shall be resolved by the parties in Arbitration under Section 4.5.
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3.1.4Termination by Company for Cause. Company may terminate this Agreement and Employee's employment for Cause immediately upon written notice to Employee. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means: (a) willful breach of Employee's duties to Company or willful breach of this Agreement; (b) Employee's conviction of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or moral turpitude; (c) Employee's willful participation in any fraud against or affecting Company or any subsidiary, affiliate, customer, supplier, client, agent, or employee thereof; or (d) any other act that Company reasonably determines constitutes gross or willful misconduct materially detrimental to Company including, but not limited to, unethical practices, dishonesty, disloyalty, or any other acts harmful to Company; provided, however that a for Cause termination pursuant to clause (a), if susceptible of cure, which determination is in the sole discretion of Company to make, shall not become effective unless Employee fails to cure such failure to perform or breach within 30 days after his receipt of written notice from Company, such notice to describe such failure to perform or breach and identity what reasonable actions shall be required to cure such failure to perform or breach.
For purposes of this Section 3.1.4, no act, or failure to act, on Employee's part shall be considered "dishonest" or "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by Employee in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in or not opposed to, the best interest of Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Employee in good faith and in the best interests of Company. Furthermore, the term "Cause" shall not include ordinary negligence or failure to act, whether due to an error in judgment or otherwise, if Employee has exercised substantial efforts in good faith to perform the duties reasonably assigned or appropriate to his position.
3.1.5Termination by Employee without Good Reason. Employee may at any time voluntarily terminate his employment under this Agreement, for any reason or no reason, with 30 days' written notice.
3. I .6 Termination by Company without Cause. Company may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement at any time for any reason or no reason with 30 days' written notice, except that no notice shall be required for a termination without Cause following a "Change in Control" as defined in Employee's Non-Incentive Stock Option Agreement(s), as the case may be, with Company (collectively, the "Stock Option Agreements").
3.1.7Termination by Employee for Good Reason. Employee may at any time voluntarily terminate his employment pursuant to this Agreement for Good Reason (as defined below); provided, however, that any resignation by Employee for Good Reason shall not be effective unless and until the following two conditions have been satisfied: (a) he has notified Company in writing of the facts that he believes constitute Good Reason, within 90 days after such facts first becomes known to him; and (b) Company fails to cure such Good Reason within 30 days after its receipt of that notice. Employee's resignation shall be effective before the end of that 30-day period as of any earlier date on which Company refuses to cure or denies the existence of such Good Reason. The effective date of any resignation for Good Reason shall be a Separation Date. If Company timely cures such Good Reason, or it is determined that the reason for Employee's resignation was not a Good Reason, he shall be deemed not to have resigned unless he elects to resign under Section 3.1.5.
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For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means, at any time: (a) the assignment by Company to Employee of employment duties, functions or responsibilities that are significantly different from, and result in a material diminution of, Employee's duties, functions or responsibilities; (b) a material reduction in Employee's Base Salary or the minimum target amount provided under Section 2.2 for his cash incentive compensation for any calendar year of more than 50%; or (c) a Company requirement that Employee be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from Employee's primary work location before the date of this Agreement.
3.1.8Termination at End of Term. The termination of this Agreement and Employee's employment, as of the end of the initial Term or any additional Term, pursuant to the operation of the provisions of Section 1.2, shall entitle Employee only to the payments provided in Sections 3.2.1 and 3.3.
3.2Compensation following Termination of Employment. If Employee's employment pursuant to this Agreement is terminated before the end of the Term, or by Company as of the end of the Term, Employee shall be entitled to the following compensation and benefits upon such termination:
3.2.1Payment of Base Salary. If Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to any subsection of Section 3.1, Company shall, within 14 calendar days following the Separation Date, pay to Employee, Employee's surviving spouse (or, if none, Employee's estate), as the case may be, any amounts due to Employee for Base Salary through the Separation Date.
If a termination occurs pursuant to Section 3.1.5 (by Employee without Good Reason), when Company receives Employee's notice Company shall have the option, at its discretion (a) to continue to engage Employee's services through the 30 day notice period until the Separation Date, or (b) terminate the use of Employee's services during the 30 day notice period before the Separation Date but treat Employee as if he were providing services through the 30 day notice period until the Separation Date for purposes of determining Employee's compensation due him pursuant to this Section 3.2.1.
3.2.2Payment of Severance for Termination by Company without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason. If (a) Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to either of Sections 3.1.6 (by Company without Cause) or 3.1.7 (by Employee for Good Reason),
(b) Employee has executed and delivered to Company, within 60 days after the effective date of that termination, a written release in substantially the same form as is attached hereto as Exhibit B, and (c) the rescission period specified therein has expired, Company shall, subject to any payment delay required by Section 3.2.6, continue to pay, as severance pay, Employee's Base Salary (at the rate in effect on the Separation Date) for a period of six (6) months following the Separation Date. To the extent that Employee has received stock options or other equity awards, the terms of such stock options and/or the Company's Stock Incentive Plan shall determine the vesting of any Options or other equity awards upon termination under this Section 3.2.2. Such payments of Base Salary will be at the usual and customary pay intervals of Company and will be subject to all appropriate deductions and withholdings. For purposes of Employee's qualification for severance pay, his right to any series of such payments due under this Agreement is treated as the right to a series of sepm·ate payments, each of which is subject to all of the requirements of this Section 3.2.2.
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3.2.3Payment of Severance at End of Term. If (a) Employee's employment terminates pursuant to Section 3.1.8, (b) Employee has executed and delivered to Company, within 60 days after the effective date of that termination, a written release in substantially the same form as is attached hereto as Exhibit B, and (c) the rescission period specified therein has expired, Company shall, subject to any payment delay required by Section 3.2.6, continue to pay, as severance pay, Employee's Base Salary at the rate in effect on the Separation Date, for a period of six months following the Separation Date. To the extent that Employee has received stock options or other equity awards, the terms of such stock options and/or the Company's Stock Incentive Plan shall determine the vesting of any Options or other equity awards upon termination under this Section 3.2.3.
3.2.4Effects of Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement), Company agrees that, notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the Stock Option Agreements or Company's Incentive Award Plan, the vesting schedule of Employee's stock options granted in the Stock Option Agreements (the "Options") shall accelerate such that on the date the Change in Control is completed, 100% of any then-unvested shares subject to the Options held by Employee shall immediately vest; provided, however, that if, in connection with the consummation of the transaction resulting in the Change in Control, Employee receives a cash payment with respect to each Option (after they become fully vested) equal to the difference or "spread" between (a) the per share amount paid to holders of Company's common stock in such transaction and (b) the per share exercise price under the applicable Stock Option Agreement, his Options shall be cancelled upon the consummation of the Change in Control in exchange for such cash payment.
3.2.5General Provision Regarding Treatment of Options. Except as otherwise specified in Sections 3.2.2 and 3.2.4 of this Agreement, the terms of the Incentive Award Plan and Stock Option Agreements, as applicable, shall govern the treatment of the Options following the Separation Date.
3.2.6Potential Delay of Severance Payments.If, as of the Separation Date, (a)Company's common stock is publicly traded (as dete1mined under Code Section 409A), (b)Employee is a "specified employee" (as determined under Code Section 409A), and (c) any pmiion of the severance pay due Employee under Sections 3.2.2, 3.2.3 would exceed the sum of the applicable limited separation pay exclusions (or otherwise not qualify for any exclusion) as determined pursuant to Code Section 409A, then payment of the excess amount shall be delayed until the first regular payroll date of Company following the six month anniversary of Employee's Separation Date (or the date of his death, if earlier than that anniversary), and shall include a lump sum equal to the aggregate amounts that Employee would have received had payment of this excess amount commenced as provided in Sections 3.2.2 or 3.2.3 after the Separation Date. If Employee continues to perform any services for Company (as an employee or otherwise) after the Separation Date, such six month period shall be measured from the date of Employee's "separation from service" as defined pursuant to Code Section 409A. Each payment under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A.
3.3Benefits Following Certain Employment Terminations. Except as othe1wise provided in this Section 3.3, the benefits to which Employee (or, as applicable, Employee's spouse, eligible dependents or estate) may be entitled upon termination of his employment, pursuant to the plans
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and policies of Company described in Article II of this Agreement, shall be determined and paid in accordance with such plans, policies and applicable laws.
3.3.1COBRA Reimbursements Following Certain Employment Terminations. If Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to any of Section 3.1.2, Section 3.1.3, Section 3.1.6, Section 3.1.7 or Section 3.1.8, subject to Employee's execution and non-revocation of the Release, if Employee timely and effectively elects continuation coverage under Company's group health plans pursuant to section 4980B of the Code, as amended ("COBRA") or similar state law, Company will pay or reimburse the premiums for such coverage of Employee (and Employee's dependents, as applicable) at the same rate it pays for active employees for a period of 6 months from the Separation Date; provided, however, that Company's obligation to make such payments shall immediately expire if Employee ceases to be eligible for continuation coverage under COBRA or similar state law or otherwise terminates such coverage or, if earlier, the date Employee becomes eligible for group health plan coverage with a new employer of Employee.
3.4Surrender of Records and Property. Upon termination of Employee's employment with Company, Employee shall deliver promptly to Company all Confidential Information as defined in the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement attached at Exhibit A, and all Company property including, but not necessarily limited to records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, business plans, minutes, notes, notebooks, reports, computer disks, computer software, computer programs (including source code, object code, on-line files, documentation, testing materials and plans and reports), computer print-outs, member or customer lists, credit cards, keys, identification, products, access cards, designs, drawings, sketches, devices, specifications, formulae, data, tables or calculations or copies thereof, and all other tangible or intangible prope1ty relating in any way to the business of Company that are the property of Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, if any, or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of Company or any subsidiary or affiliate.
3.6 Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Employee will experience a termination of employment with the Company only if such termination also constitutes a "separation from service" as defined under Code Section 409A. The payment and benefits provided under this Article III are intended to be exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A and this Agreement will be construed and administered to give effect to such intent.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
4.1Company Remedies. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions and agreements contained in this Agreement and in the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement that is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement are reasonable and necessary to protect legitimate interests of Company; that any violation of the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement would be highly injurious to Company; that Employee's violation of the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement would cause Company irreparable harm that would not be adequately compensated by monetary damages; and that the remedy at law for any breach of any of the provisions of the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement will be inadequate.
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4.2Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by Employee without the written consent of Company and any purported or attempted assignment or transfer of this Agreement or any of Employee's duties, responsibilities or obligations hereunder shall be void. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Employee, Employee's heirs and personal representatives. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Company and its successors and assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company may not, without the written consent of Employee, assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any business entity that has become the successor to Company in the event of a sale, merger, liquidation or similar transaction. After any such assigmnent by Company to which Employee has given such consent, Company shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such successor assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement.
4.3Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing, shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of service if personally served on the parties to whom notice is to be given, or on the third day after mailing if mailed to the parties to whom notice is given, whether by first class, registered, or certified mail, and properly addressed as follows:
If to Company, at: | ReShape Lifesciences |
| |
If to Employee, | Thomas Stankovich |
Any party may change the address for the purpose of this Section by giving the other written notice of the new address in the manner set forth above.
4.4Governing Law/Venue. The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof. The parties irrevocably consent and agree that the venue of any cause of action seeking injunctive relief shall be California District Court, Orange County, and the parties further irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction of the California District Court for any such action.
4.5Mediation and Arbitration. Employee and the Company agree that any and all disputes regarding this Agreement or Employee's employment with the Company will first be addressed in mediation before a mutually agreeable mediator, paid for by the Company. If the matter cannot be resolved in mediation, then the dispute will be resolved in binding arbitration administered by JAMS pursuant to its Employment Arbitration Rules then in effect (available at www.jamsadr.com and upon request). The arbitration shall take place in San Clemente, California before an experienced employment arbitrator licensed to practice law in California and mutually selected by the parties. The arbitrator may not modify or change this Agreement in any way. All out-of pocket costs of the arbitration, including the fees of the arbitrator, the costs of any record or
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transcript of the arbitration, administrative fees, and other fees and costs shall be paid for by the Company. Each party shall initially be responsible for his/its own attorneys' fees, except that the arbitrator may award such fees and costs, exclusive of the arbitrator's fees, to the prevailing party in a manner consistent with applicable law as set forth in Paragraph 4.12. All procedural and substantive rights that the Employee and the Company would have in a court of law, will be extended to the parties in arbitration, including full discove1y, the application of the Federal Rules of Evidence, and all forms of relief. The parties expressly acknowledge that they are waiving any right they may have to a jury trial for any and all claims covered by this Agreement.
4.5a Class Action Waiver. Except as otherwise required under applicable law, the Company and Employee expressly intend and agree as follows: (1) that class action and representative action procedures shall not be asserted, nor will they apply, in any arbitration pursuant to this Agreement; (2) that neither the Company nor Employee will assert, participate in, or join class action or representative action claims against the other in arbitration or otherwise; and (3) that the Company and Employee shall only submit their own, individual claims in arbitration and will not seek to represent the interests of any other person.
4.6Construction. Notwithstanding the general rules of construction, both Company and Employee acknowledge that both parties were given an equal opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, and agree that the identity of the drafter of this Agreement is not relevant to any interpretation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
To the extent any provision of this Agreement may be deemed to provide a benefit to Employee that is treated as non-qualified deferred compensation pursuant to Code Section 409A, such provision shall be interpreted in a manner that qualifies for any applicable exemption from compliance with Code Section 409 or, if such interpretation would cause any reduction of benefit(s), such provision shall be interpreted (if reasonably possible) in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A and does not cause any such reduction.
4.7Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement (or portion thereof) shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not in any way affect the legality or validity of any other provision of this Agreement. To the extent any provision (or portion thereof) of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such provision (or portion thereof) shall be deemed to be deleted from this Agreement as to such jurisdiction only, and the validity and enforceability of the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected.
4.8Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement that is attached as its Exhibit A and fully incorporated herein, is the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the parties and sets forth the entire agreement between Company and Employee with respect to Employee's employment by Company, and there are no undertakings, covenants or commitments other than as set fmth herein. The Agreement may not be altered or amended, except by a writing executed by Employee and a member of the Board. This Agreement supersedes, terminates, replaces and supplants any and all other prior understandings or agreements between the parties relating in any way to the hiring or employment of Employee by Company.
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4.9Survival. The parties expressly acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Agreement that by their express or implied terms extend beyond the expiration of this Agreement or the termination of Employee's employment under this Agreement, shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding Employee's termination of employment under this Agreement or the expiration of this Agreement.
4.10Waivers. No failure on the part of either party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy granted hereby or by any related document or by law.
4.11Attorneys' Fees for Resolving Disputes. If any party to this Agreement is made or shall become a party to any litigation (including arbitration) commenced by or against the other party involving the enforcement of any of the rights or remedies of such party, or arising on account of a default of the other party in its performance of any of the other party's obligations hereunder, then the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to receive from the other party all costs incurred by the prevailing party in such litigation, plus reasonable attorneys' fees to be fixed by the court or arbitrator (as applicable), with interest thereon from the date of judgment or arbitrator's decision at the rate of 8% or, if less, the maximum rate permitted by law.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the paities hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
ReShape Lifesciences
By _________________________
Its: ______________________
____________________________
Thomas Stanokvich
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Exhibit A
ReShape Lifesciences Inc.
Nondisclosure and Non-Solicitation Agreement
This is an agreement between ( " Employee" ) and ReShape Lifesciences Inc., its affiliates, successors and assigns ("Employer"). The patties agree that Employer would be substantially harmed if Employee competes with Employer during employment with Employer or after termination of employment with Employer. The parties further agree that Employer would be substantially harmed if Employee were to disclose its Confidential, Proprietary and Trade Secret Information.
Therefore, in consideration of Employer's employment of Employee for monetary compensation, benefits, access to Employer's Trade Secrets and/or Confidential Information, and/or other valuable consideration provided by Employer, Employee agrees as follows:
I.Nondisclosure of Confidential, Proprietary, and Trade Secret Information
Employee agrees not to disclose Confidential Information to any other third party or company, other than in connection with Employee's employment with Employer, or use such information, directly or indirectly, for any purpose whatsoever, without the prior written consent of Employer.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means any information that is not generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; information which derives independent economic benefit from not being known to such persons; and info1mation about the activities or business of Employer that is not generally known to others engaged in similar business or activities, its products, services, finances, trade secrets, contracts, patents filed or pending, the techniques used in completing customer projects, research and development, data and information, processes, designs, engineering, marketing plans or techniques, organization or operation. The foregoing list is intended to be illustrative rather than comprehensive. Additionally, the term "confidential info1mation" shall mean any confidential info1mation as that term is defined in any Agreement Employer may have with its customers or other third parties from time to time.
II.Assignment of Inventions
A) | Disclosure and Assignment of Inventions and Other Works. During the term of this Agreement and for one year following the Separation Date, Employee shall promptly disclose to Employer in writing all ideas, improvements and discoveries, whether or not such are patentable or copyrightable, and whether or not in writing or reduced to practice ("Inventions") and any writings, drawings, diagrams, charts, tables, databases, software (in object or source code and recorded on any medium), and any other works of authorship, whether or not such are copyrightable ("Works of Authorship") that are conceived, made, discovered, written or created by Employee alone or jointly with any person, group or entity, whether during the normal hours of his employment at Employer or on Employee's |
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own time. Employee hereby assigns all rights to all such Inventions and Works of Authorship to Employer. Employee shall give Employer all the assistance it reasonably requires for Employer to perfect, protect, and use its rights to such Inventions and Works of Authorship. Employee shall sign all such documents, take all such actions and supply all such information that Employer considers necessary or desirable to transfer or record the transfer of Employer's entire right, title and interest in such Inventions and Works of Authorship and to enable Employer to obtain exclusive patent, copyright, or other legal protection for Inventions and Works of Authorship anywhere in the world, provided Employer shall bear all reasonable expenses of Employee in rendering such cooperation.
B) | Prior Inventions. Employee has set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto a list of all significant Inventions, to the best of his knowledge, that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, made prior to his employment with Employer that Employee considers to be Employee's property or the property of third parties and that Employee wishes to exclude from the scope of this Agreement (collectively referred to as "Prior Inventions"). If no such disclosure is attached, or permission supporting evidence is available, Employee represents that there are no Prior Inventions. If, during Employee's employment with Employer, Employee incorporates a Prior Invention into an Employer product or process, Employer is hereby granted a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license (with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicenses) to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee agrees that Employee will not incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, Prior Inventions in any Employer Inventions without Employer's prior written consent. |
C) | Notice and Acknowledgment. In accordance with California Statutes, the foregoing paragraph does not require Employee to assign or offer to assign to Employer any of Employee's rights in an Invention that Employee developed entirely on Employee's own time without using Employer's equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information, and (a) that does not relate directly to Employer's business or to Employer's actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (b) that does not result from any work performed by Employee for Employer. For the purpose of this Section, "Employer's business" shall be defined as development pertaining to implantable medical devices to treat obesity or devices to apply signals to a vagus nerve to treat a gastrointestinal disorder (e.g., obesity, pancreatitis or irritable bowel syndrome). |
To the extent a provision in this Agreement purports to require Employee to assign Inventions otherwise excluded by this paragraph, the provision is against the public policy of the State of California and is unenforceable. By signing this Agreement, Employee acknowledges receipt of the notification required by California Statutes.
III.Non-Solicitation of Employees
Employee hereby acknowledges that Employer's employees, consultants and other contractors constitute vital and valuable aspects of its business and missions on a worldwide basis. In recognition of that fact, for a period of one year following the termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not solicit, or assist anyone else in the solicitation of, any of Employer's then-current employees, consultants and other contractors to terminate their
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respective relationships with Employer and to become employees, consultants and other contractors of any enterprise with which Employee may then be associated, affiliated or connected.
IV. | Employer Remedies |
Employee acknowledges and agrees that the restnct10ns and agreements contained in this Agreement are reasonable and necessary to protect legitimate interests of Employer, that the services to be rendered by Employee are of a special, unique and extraordinary character, that it would be difficult to replace such services, that any violation of this Agreement would be highly injurious to Employer, Employee's violation of any provision of this Agreement would cause Employer irreparable harm that would not be adequately compensated by monetary damages, and that the remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement will be inadequate. Accordingly, Employee specifically agrees that Employer shall be entitled, in addition to any remedy at law, to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and specific performance for any actual or threatened violation of this Agreement and to enforce the provisions of this Agreement. Should a breach of the agreement occur, Employer will be entitled to recover costs, including attorney's fees, incurred in enforcing the te1ms of the Agreement for each breach. If a Court finds any part of the Agreement to be invalid, the remainder of the provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent possible.
V. | Governing Law/Venue |
The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof. The parties irrevocably consent and agree that the venue of any cause of action seeking injunctive relief shall be California District Court, Orange County, and the patties further irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction of the California District Comt for any such action.
VI. | Construction |
Notwithstanding the general rules of construction, both Employer and Employee acknowledge that both parties were given an equal opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, and agree that the identity of the drafter of this Agreement is not relevant to any interpretation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
VII. | Severability |
In the event any provision of this Agreement (or portion thereof) shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not in any way affect the legality or validity of any other provision of this Agreement. To the extent any provision (or portion thereof) of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such provision (or portion thereof) shall be deemed to be deleted from this Agreement as to such jurisdiction only, and the validity and enforceability of the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected.
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VIII. | Waiver |
Failure by Employer to enforce any provision of this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of or a prohibition against any further enforcement of that provision or any other provision of this Agreement.
IX. | Entire Agreement and Amendment |
This Agreement supersedes all previous agreements between the parties concerning the subject matter of this Agreement. All amendments to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the parties to be effective.
X. | At Will Employment |
This Agreement is not an employment agreement for any specified period of time and Employee understands that either Employee or Employer may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason or no reason at all.
XI. | Succession and Survival |
This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of this Agreement shall survive the termination of Employee's employment with Employer and shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon Employee's heirs, assigns and personal representatives and the successors of Employer.
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Executed this day of 20 .
EMPLOYEE | | |||
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By: | | | ||
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Printed Name: | | | ||
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RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC. | | |||
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By: | | | ||
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Printed Name: | | | ||
Its: | | | ||
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EXHIBIT A
To: | ReShape Lifesciences Inc. |
| |
From: | |
| |
Date: | |
| |
Subject: | Prior Inventions |
1. | Except as listed in Section 2 below, the following is a complete list of all inventions or improvements relevant to the subject matter of my employment by ReShape Lifesciences, Inc. ("Employer") that have been made or conceived or first reduced to practice by me alone or jointly with others prior to my engagement by Employer : |
No inventions or improvements.
□ | See below: |
|
|
|
|
|
□ | Additional sheets attached |
2. | Due to a prior confidentiality agreement, I cannot complete the disclosure under Section 1 above with respect to inventions or improvements generally listed below, the proprietary rights and duty of confidentiality with respect to which I owe to the following parties: |
| Invention or Improvement | | Party(ies) | | Relationship |
1. | | | | | |
| | | | | |
2. | | | | | |
| | | | | |
3. | | | | | |
□ Additional sheets attached
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EXHIBIT B
CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
This Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release (hereinafter "Agreement") is entered into by and between (hereinafter "you") and ReShape Lifesciences Inc. (hereinafter "ReShape Lifesciences").
WHEREAS, you and ReShape Lifesciences entered into an Employment Agreement dated
("Employment Agreement") which terminates effective ------------------------ except
as to certain provisions outlined below;
WHEREAS, ReShape Lifesciences wishes to provide you with the separation benefits described in Section 2 below; and
WHEREAS, you and ReShape Lifesciences want to fully and finally settle all issues, differences, and claims, whether potential or actual, between you and ReShape Lifesciences, including, but not limited to, any claim that might arise out of your employment with ReShape Lifesciences or the termination of your employment with ReShape Lifesciences;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the provisions and of the mutual covenants contained herein, you and ReShape Lifesciences agree as follows:
I.Separation from Employment. Effective (your "date of separation"), your employment with ReShape Lifesciences terminates. Except as provided in this Agreement, all benefits and privileges of employment end as of your date of separation.
2.Separation Benefits. As consideration for your promises and obligations under this Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the release of claims set forth below, ReShape Lifesciences agrees to pay you, as separation pay, the gross amount of ,less applicable deductions and withholdings for state and federal taxes, which amount represents six months of your base salary as of your date of separation. The separation pay will be divided and paid to you in substantially equal periodic payments at the usual and customary pay intervals of ReShape Lifesciences, less deductions and withholdings. The payments will begin within 30 business days of the date on which ReShape Lifesciences receives this Agreement signed by you, provided that you do not revoke or rescind this Agreement as set forth below. You agree that you ai·e not entitled to the separation benefits provided to you in this Agreement if you do not sign this Agreement.
3. | Incentive Compensation. You are not entitled to receive incentive compensation |
for calendar year .
4.Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance. The benefits to which you (or, as applicable, your spouse and eligible dependents) may be entitled upon termination of your employment shall be dete1mined and paid in accordance with such plans, policies and applicable laws.
5.Stock Options. All options to purchase shares of common stock of ReShape Lifesciences held by you (the "Options") are subject to the terms of one or more Stock Option Agreements between you and the Company (each, an "Option Agreement") and were granted pursuant to the ReShape Lifesciences Inc. 2019 Employee Inducement Incentive Award Plan, as
amended (the "Plan"). Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Option Agreements, ReShape Lifesciences agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in such Option Agreements or the Plan, during the two-year period following your date of separation, you shall be permitted to exercise any Option immediately to the extent that such Option was vested as of your date of separation or would have vested within one year of your date of separation had your employment with Company not terminated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in such Option Agreements or the Plan, ReShape Lifesciences shall have a right, following your date of separation, to buy back all such Options based on the per share exercise price under the applicable Option Agreement. The parties agree and acknowledge that, with respect to any Options that were intended by the parties to be treated as "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such Options, to the extent they may be exercised by you more than 90 days following your date of separation, shall be treated as non-qualified options, notwithstanding any provision in the Option Agreements to the contra1y.
6.Confidential Information; Nonsolicitation. You executed an Employment Agreement with ReShape Lifesciences as well as a Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement, copies of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. All provisions of both agreements, including those, that by their terms, survive the termination of your employment will continue in full force and effect and are not negated or otherwise affected by this Agreement, including but not limited to the Employment Agreement Section 4.1: Company Remedies; Section 4.4: Governing Law/Venue; Section 4.5: Arbitration; and the Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation attached to the Employment Agreement as its Exhibit A and fully incorporated therein.
7.Return ofReShape Lifesciences Property. You acknowledge that, on or before the date you sign this Agreement, you have returned all ReShape Lifesciences property in your possession, including, but not limited to, all files, memoranda, documents, records, copies of the foregoing, any ReShape Lifesciences credit card, computer, fax machine, Sma1tphone, printer, copier, keys, access cards, and any other property of ReShape Lifesciences in your possession. You also acknowledge that, on or before the date you sign this Agreement, you have provided ReShape Lifesciences with any and all pass codes and/or personal identification numbers used by you to access the ReShape Lifesciences computer system, e-mail system, and/or the Internet, and/or documents or files contained on and saved in the ReShape Lifesciences computer system.
8.Duty to Cooperate. You agree that, beginning on the date you are presented with this Agreement, you will cooperate with ReShape Lifesciences with respect to the transition of your duties, the preservation of effective operations and customer service, and ReShape Lifesciences' strategic and commercial initiatives. As part of your agreement to cooperate, you will provide a list identifying the status of major projects under way, pending customer interactions, the status of sale cycles with customers, the names and contact information of key contacts at customers, and any other information reasonably requested by ReShape Lifesciences regarding your duties and responsibilities. You further agree that, in the 30 day period following your acceptance of this Agreement you will periodically make yourself accessible and available during normal business hours for consultation with ReShape Lifesciences representatives in connection with the transition of your duties and responsibilities. You agree that such consultation may include appearing from time to time at the office of ReShape Lifesciences for conferences.
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9.Confidentiality. You agree that the existence and terms and conditions of this Agreement (other than Exhibit A) shall remain confidential and that you will not disclose any information concerning the provisions of this Agreement to any person or entity, including, but not limited to, any present or former employee of ReShape Lifesciences. These confidentiality provisions are subject to the following exceptions: you may disclose the provisions of this Agreement to your attorneys, accountants, tax and financial advisors, and immediate family, or in the course of legal proceedings involving ReShape Lifesciences, or in response to a subpoena, court order, or inquiry by a government agency. You further agree that, if any information concerning the provisions of this Agreement is revealed as permitted by this section, you shall inform the recipient of the information that it is confidential, and the recipient shall agree to keep the information confidential.
10.Release. By this Agreement, you intend to settle any and all claims that you have or may have against ReShape Lifesciences as a result ofReShape Lifesciences hiring you, your employment with ReShape Lifesciences, and the decision to terminate your employment with ReShape Lifesciences. You agree that, in exchange for ReShape Lifesciences' promises in this Agreement, and in exchange for the consideration provided to you by ReShape Lifesciences, described above in Section 2, you, on behalf of your heirs, successors and assigns, hereby release and discharge ReShape Lifesciences, its predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and related companies, and their officers, directors, shareholders, agents, servants, employees, and insurers (collectively "the Released Parties") from all liability for damages and from all claims that you may have against the Released Parties occurring up through the date you sign this Agreement. You understand and agree that your release of claims in this Agreement includes, but is not limited to, any claims you may have under: Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988; the False Claims Act and/or any other local, state, or federal law governing discrimination in employment and/or the payment of wages and benefits.
You also agree and understand that you are giving up all other claims, whether grounded in contract or tort theories, including but not limited to: wrongful discharge; breach of contract; any claim for unpaid compensation (including, but not limited to, any claims for PTO or severance except as set forth in this Agreement, or for incentive compensation); tortious interference with contractual relations; promissory estoppel; detrimental reliance; breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; breach of express or implied promise; breach of manuals or other policies; breach of fiduciary duty; assault; battery; fraud; false imprisonment; invasion of privacy; intentional or negligent misrepresentation; defamation, including libel, slander, discharge defamation and self-publication defamation; discharge in violation of public policy; whistleblower; qui tam actions; intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress; or any other theory, whether legal or equitable.
You understand that nothing contained in this Agreement, including but not limited to this Section I 0, will be interpreted to prevent you from filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), or any other governmental agency or from participating in or cooperating with an EEOC or other governmental agency investigation or proceeding.
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However, you agree that you are waiving the right to monetary damages or other individual legal or equitable relief awarded as a result of any such proceeding.
11.Time to Accept. You are hereby informed that the terms of this Agreement shall be open for acceptance and execution by you through and including _______, during
which time you may consult with an attorney and consider whether to accept this Agreement. Changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, will not restart the running of this acceptance period. You hereby are advised to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement.
12.Consideration and Revocation Period. You are hereby informed of your right to revoke your release of claims, insofar as it extends to potential claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, by informing ReShape Lifesciences of your intent to revoke your release of claims within 7 calendar days following your signing of this Agreement. You are also informed of your right to rescind your release of claims, insofar as it extends to potential claims under the California Human Rights Act, by delivering a written rescission to ReShape Lifesciences within 15 calendar days after your signing of this Agreement. You understand that any such revocation or rescission must be made in writing and delivered by hand or by certified mail, return receipt requested, postmarked on or before the last day within the applicable revocation period to: Erica Charlton, HR Payroll Specialist, ReShape Lifesciences, Inc., I 001 Calle Amanecer, CA 92673. If you exercise your right to revoke or rescind this Agreement, ReShape Lifesciences may, at its option, either nullify this Agreement in its entirety, or keep it in effect in all respects other than as to that portion of your release of claims that you have revoked or rescinded. You agree and understand that if ReShape Lifesciences chooses to nullify the Agreement in its entirety, ReShape Lifesciences will have no obligations under this Agreement to you or to others whose rights derive from you.
13.Entire Agreement. This Agreement, as well as the exhibits hereto and any agreements referenced herein, is the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the parties and sets forth the entire agreement between ReShape Lifesciences and you with respect to your employment by ReShape Lifesciences, and there are no undertakings, covenants or commitments other than as set forth herein. The Agreement may not be altered or amended, except by a writing executed by you and a member of the Board. Except as otherwise indicated, this Agreement supersedes, te1minates, replaces and supplants any and all prior understandings or agreements between the parties relating in any way to you hiring or employment by ReShape Lifesciences.
14.Governing Law. The laws of the State of California will govern the validity, construction and performance of this Agreement, without regard to the conflict of law provisions of any other jurisdictions. If any part of this Agreement is construed to be in violation of any law, such part shall be modified to achieve the objective of the parties to the fullest extent permitted and the balance of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If such modification is not possible, said provision will be deemed severable from the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
15.Remedies. Any disputes with regard to this Agreement will be governed by the Arbitration Agreement in Section 4.5 of your Employment Agreement.
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16.Non-Disparagement/Litigation Assistance. You agree to refrain from any disparagement of the Company, including to the Company's owners, former and cun-ent employees to members of the public. You further agree not to commence, maintain, prosecute or participate in (except as may be required by law, pursuant to court order, or in response to a valid subpoena) any action, charge, complaint, or proceeding of any kind (on your own behalf and/or on behalf of any other person or entity and/or on behalf of or as a member of any alleged class of persons) in any court, or before any administrative or investigative body or agency (whether public, quasi-public or private) against the Company or any Released Party with respect to any act, omission, transaction or occurrence arising out of your employment at the Company.
17.No Admission. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to be, and nothing will be deemed to be, an admission of liability by ReShape Lifesciences or you that either party has violated any state or federal statute, local ordinance or principle of common law, or that either party has engaged in any wrongdoing.
18.Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party making the waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach by the other party of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement on the dates set forth below to be effective as of the date shown below.
I acknowledge and agree that I have read this Agreement in its entirety and that I agree to the conditions and obligations set forth herein. Further, I agree that I have had adequate time to consider the terms of this Agreement and that I am voluntarily entering into this Agreement with a full understanding of its meaning. I understand that I am hereby advised to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement.
Dated: | | | | |
| | Thomas Stankovich | ||
| | | ||
| | RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC. | ||
| | | ||
Dated: | | | By: | |
| | Its: | |
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Exhibit 21.1
Subsidiaries
Reshape Lifesciences, Inc. (Delaware)
ReShape Weightloss, Inc. (Delaware)
ReShape Lifesciences Netherlands B.V. (Netherlands)
ReShape Lifesciences Australia Pty Ltd (Australia)
ReShape Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limited (Costa Rica)
Obalon Center for Weight Loss, Inc. (Delaware)
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
ReShape Lifesciences, Inc.
San Clemente, California
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-213988, 333-218482, 333-224864, 333-232759, 333-235876, and 333-236062), Form S-3 (Nos. 333-221264, 333-227160, 333-259301, and 333-259303), and Form S-1 (Nos. 333-229142, 333-232276, and 333-236327) of Reshape Lifesciences, Inc. (“Company”) of our report dated April 8, 2022, relating to the consolidated financial statements, which appears in this Form 10-K.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
Costa Mesa, California
April 8, 2022
EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Barton P. Bandy, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of ReShape Lifesciences Inc.;
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 consolidated 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 registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant 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 registrant, 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’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 registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| /s/BARTON P. BANDY |
| Barton P. Bandy |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: April 8, 2022
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Thomas Stankovich, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of ReShape Lifesciences Inc.;
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 consolidated 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 registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant 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 registrant, 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’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 registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| /S/ thomas stankovich |
| Thomas Stankovich |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| and Senior Vice President, Finance |
Date: April 8, 2022
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. §1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of ReShape Lifesciences Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Barton P. Bandy, President and 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:
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.
| /S/BARTON P. BANDY |
| Barton P. Bandy |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
April 8, 2022
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. §1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of ReShape Lifesciences (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Thomas Stankovich, 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:
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.
| /S/ thomas stankovich |
| Thomas Stankovich |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| and Senior Vice President, Finance |
April 8, 2022