Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Related Party Transactions

v3.23.1
Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Related Party Transactions  
Related Party Transactions

17. Related Party Transactions

The Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, individually and through certain trusts over which he has voting and dispositive control, beneficially owned approximately 10.5% and 10.3% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company’s Executive Vice Chairman, Strategic Development individually owns approximately 11.2% and 11.1% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Shared Services Agreement with TGTX

In July 2015, TGTX and the Company entered into an arrangement to share the cost of certain research and development employees. The Company’s Executive Vice Chairman, Strategic Development, is Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer of TGTX. Under the terms of the Agreement, TGTX will reimburse the Company for the salary and benefit costs associated with these employees based upon actual hours worked on TGTX related projects. In connection with the shared services agreement, the Company invoiced TGTX $0.4 million and $0.4 million, and received payments of $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Shared Services Agreement with Journey

On November 12, 2021, Journey and the Company entered into an arrangement to share the cost of certain legal, finance, regulatory, and research and development employees. The Company’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is the Executive Chairman of Journey. Under the terms of the Agreement, Journey will reimburse the Company for the salary and benefit costs associated with these employees based upon actual hours worked on Journey related projects following the completion of their initial public offering. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s employees have provided services to Journey totaling approximately $0.6 million. Upon completion of Journey’s initial public offering in November 2021 (see Note 14) $0.5 million was converted into 52,438 shares of Journey common stock at the initial public offering price of $10.00 per share.

Desk Share Agreement with TGTX

The Desk Share Agreement with TGTX, as amended, requires TGTX to pay 65% of the average annual rent. Additionally, the Company has reserved the right to execute desk share agreements with other third parties and those arrangements will affect the cost of the lease actually borne by the Company. Each initial Desk Share Agreement has a term of five years. In connection with the Company’s Desk Share Agreement with TGTX for the New York, NY office space, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had paid $2.7 million and $2.7 million in rent, respectively, and invoiced TGTX approximately $1.9 million and $1.6 million respectively, for their prorated share of the rent base. At December 31, 2022, there were no amounts due from TGTX related to this arrangement.

As of July 1, 2018, TGTX employees began to occupy desks in the Waltham, MA office under the Desk Share Agreement. TGTX began to pay their share of the rent based on actual percentage of the office space occupied on a month by month basis. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had paid approximately $0.2 million and $0.2 million in rent for the Waltham, MA office, and invoiced TGTX approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

Checkpoint Collaborative Agreements with TGTX

Checkpoint has entered into various agreements with TGTX to develop and commercialize certain assets in connection with its licenses, including a collaboration agreement for some of the Dana Farber licensed antibodies, and a sublicense agreement for the Jubilant family of patents. Checkpoint believes that by partnering with TGTX to develop these compounds in therapeutic areas outside of its business focus, it may substantially offset its preclinical costs and milestone costs related to the development and marketing of these compounds in solid tumor indications.

Journey Promissory Note

On September 30, 2021, the Company increased the Journey promissory note by $9.5 million in response to a cyber incident that occurred at Journey and resulted in $9.5 million of fraudulent payments.  The $9.5 million contribution was approved by the boards of directors of both the Company and Journey, and ensured that Journey’s accounts payable function continued to operate smoothly.  This contribution, along with the $5.2 million already outstanding under the Journey Promissory Note, converted into 1,476,044 shares of Journey common stock upon completion of Journey’s initial public offering in November 2021 (see Note 14)  at the initial public offering price of $10.00 per share.  The amounts associated with the Journey Promissory Note are eliminated in the consolidated balance sheets.

Avenue Share Contribution Agreement

In November 2022, Fortress completed a Share Contribution Agreement with Avenue to contribute its’ shares in Baergic, which is developing BAER-101, a novel α2/3–subtype-selective GABA A positive allosteric modulator (“PAM”), to Avenue. As a result, Baergic became a majority-controlled and owned subsidiary company of Avenue. Under the Contribution Agreement, Fortress also agreed to assign to Avenue certain intercompany agreements existing between Fortress and Baergic, including a Founders Agreement and Management Services Agreement.

Founders Agreement and Management Services Agreement

The Company has entered into Founders Agreements with each of the Fortress partner companies and subsidiaries listed in the table below. Pursuant to each Founders Agreement, in exchange for the time and capital expended in the formation of each partner company/subsidiary and the identification of specific assets the acquisition of which result in the formation of a viable emerging growth life science company, Fortress will loan each such partner company/subsidiary an amount representing the up-front fee required to acquire assets. Each Founders Agreement has a term of 15 years, which upon expiration automatically renews for successive one-year periods unless terminated by the Company or a Change in Control (as defined in the Founders Agreement) occurs. In connection with each Founders Agreement the Company receives 250,000 Class A Preferred shares (except for that with Checkpoint, in which the Company holds Class A Common Stock).

The Class A Preferred Stock (Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint) is identical to common stock other than as to voting rights, conversion rights and the Payment-in-Kind (“PIK”) Dividend right (as described below). Each share of Class A Preferred Stock (Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint) is entitled to vote the number of votes that is equal to one and one-tenth (1.1) times a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of (A) the shares of outstanding common stock and (B) the whole shares of common stock into which the shares of outstanding Class A Preferred Stock (Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint) are convertible and the denominator of which is the number of shares of outstanding Class A Preferred Stock (Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint). Thus, the Class A Preferred Stock (Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint) will at all times constitute a voting majority. Each share of Class A Preferred Stock (Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint) is convertible, at the holder’s option, into one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of such partner company/subsidiary, subject to certain adjustments.

The holders of Class A Preferred Stock (and the Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint), as a class, are entitled receive on each effective date or “Trigger Date” (defined as the date that the Company first acquired, whether by license or otherwise, ownership rights to a product) of each agreement (each a “PIK Dividend Payment Date”) until the date all outstanding Class A Preferred Stock (Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint) is converted into common stock or redeemed (and the purchase price is paid in full), pro rata per share dividends paid in additional fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock (“PIK Dividends”) such that the aggregate number of shares of common stock issued pursuant to such PIK Dividend is equal to two and one-half percent (2.5%) of such partner company or subsidiary’s fully-diluted outstanding capitalization on the date that is one (1) business day prior to any PIK Dividend Payment Date. The Company has reached agreements with several of the partner companies and subsidiaries to change the PIK Dividend Interest Payment Date to January 1 of each year - a change that has not and will not result in the issuance of any additional partner company/subsidiary common stock beyond that amount to which the Company would otherwise be entitled absent such change(s). The Company owns 100% of the Class A Preferred Stock (Class A Common Stock with respect to Checkpoint) of each partner company/subsidiary that has a Founders Agreement with the Company.

As additional consideration under the Founders Agreement, each partner company and subsidiary with which the Company has entered into a Founders Agreement will also: (i) pay an equity fee in shares of the common stock of such partner company/subsidiary, payable within five (5) business days of the closing of any equity or debt financing for each partner company/subsidiary or any of its respective subsidiaries that occurs after the effective date of the Founders Agreement and ending on the date when the Company no longer has majority voting control in such partner company or subsidiary’s voting equity, equal to two and one-half (2.5%) of the gross amount of any such equity or debt financing; and (ii) pay a cash fee equal to four and one-half percent (4.5%) of such partner company or subsidiary’s annual net sales, payable on an annual basis, within ninety (90) days of the end of each calendar year. In the event of a Change in Control, each such partner company/subsidiary will pay a one-time change in control fee equal to five (5x) times the product of (A) net sales for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the change in control and (B) four and one-half percent (4.5%). In the case of Urica, however, the obligation to pay Fortress royalties under the Founders Agreement would survive any such Change in Control.

The following table summarizes, by subsidiary, the effective date of the Founders Agreements and PIK dividend or equity fee payable to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Founders Agreements, Exchange Agreements and the partner companies’/subsidiaries’ certificates of incorporation.

PIK Dividend as

a % of fully

diluted

outstanding

Class of Stock

Partner Company/Subsidiary

    

Effective Date 1

    

capitalization

    

Issued

Aevitas

July 28, 2017

 

2.5

%  

Common Stock

Avenue

February 17, 2015

 

2.5

%2  

Common Stock

Baergic

December 17, 2019 5

2.5

%3  

Common Stock

Cellvation

October 31, 2016

 

2.5

%  

Common Stock

Checkpoint

March 17, 2015

 

-

%4  

Common Stock

Cyprium

March 13, 2017

 

2.5

%  

Common Stock

Helocyte

March 20, 2015

 

2.5

%  

Common Stock

Mustang

March 13, 2015

 

2.5

%  

Common Stock

Oncogenuity

April 22, 2020 5

2.5

%

Common Stock

Urica

November 7, 2017 5

 

2.5

%  

Common Stock

Note 1:

Represents the effective date of each subsidiary’s Founders Agreement. Each PIK dividend and equity fee is payable on the annual anniversary of the effective date of the original Founders Agreement or has since been amended to January 1 of each calendar year.

Note 2:

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement between Avenue and InvaGen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. during the term of the Avenue SPMA PIK dividends were not be paid or accrued. Upon the repurchase of the securities held by InvaGen, such PIK dividends have resumed.

Note 3:

Pursuant to the Share Contribution Agreement between Fortress and Avenue, under which Baergic became a majority-controlled and owned subsidiary of Avenue, Fortress also assigned to Avenue the Founders Agreement previously between Fortress and Baergic, such that Baergic’s annual PIK dividend is now payable to Avenue.

Note 4:

Instead of a PIK dividend, Checkpoint pays the Company an annual equity fee in shares of Checkpoint’s common stock equal to 2.5% of Checkpoint’s fully diluted outstanding capitalization.

Note 5:

Represents the Trigger Date, the date that the Fortress partner company first acquires, whether by license or otherwise, ownership rights in a product.

Equity Fees

The following table summarizes, by subsidiary, the PIK dividend or equity fee recorded by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Founders Agreements, Exchange Agreements and the partner companies’/subsidiaries’ certificates of incorporation for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):

PIK Dividend

Year Ended

Year Ended

Partner company

    

Date

    

December 31, 2022

    

December 31, 2021

Aevitas

July 28

$

23

$

22

Avenue

January 1

268

Baergic1

 

December 17

 

 

10

Cellvation

 

October 31

 

10

 

9

Checkpoint

 

January 1

 

1,885

 

6,598

Cyprium

 

January 1

 

422

 

1,304

Helocyte

 

January 1

 

90

 

141

Mustang

 

January 1

 

1,109

 

4,212

Oncogenuity

 

May 8

 

8

 

5

Urica

November 25

51

26

Fortress

 

(3,866)

 

(12,327)

Total

$

$

Note 1:  Pursuant to the Share Contribution Agreement between Fortress and Avenue, under which Baergic became a majority-controlled and owned subsidiary of Avenue, Fortress also assigned to Avenue the Founders Agreement previously between Fortress and Baergic, such that Baergic’s annual PIK dividend is now payable to Avenue.

Management Services Agreements

The Company has entered into Management Services Agreements (the “MSAs”) with certain of its partner companies and subsidiaries. Pursuant to each MSA, the Company’s management and personnel provide advisory, consulting and strategic services to each partner company/subsidiary that has entered into an MSA with Fortress for a period of five (5) years. Such services may include, without limitation, (i) advice and assistance concerning any and all aspects of each such company’s operations, clinical trials, financial planning and strategic transactions and financings and (ii) conducting relations on behalf of each such company with accountants, attorneys, financial advisors and other professionals (collectively, the “Services”). Each such partner company/subsidiary is obligated to utilize clinical research services, medical education, communication and marketing services and investor relations/public relation services of companies or individuals designated by Fortress, provided those services are offered at market prices. However, such companies are not obligated to take or act upon any advice rendered from Fortress, and Fortress shall not be liable to any such partner company/subsidiary for its actions or inactions based upon Fortress’ advice. Fortress and its affiliates, including all members of Fortress’ Board of Directors, have been contractually exempted from fiduciary duties to each such partner company/subsidiary relating to corporate opportunities.

The following table summarizes, by partner company/subsidiary, the effective date of the MSA and the annual consulting fee payable by the partner company/subsidiary to Fortress in quarterly installments ($ in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, 

Partner Company/Subsidiary

    

Effective Date

2022

    

2021

Aevitas

July 28, 2017

$

500

$

500

Avenue1

February 17, 2015

 

83

 

Baergic2

March 9, 2017

 

417

 

500

Cellvation

October 31, 2016

 

500

 

500

Checkpoint

March 17, 2015

 

500

 

500

Cyprium

March 13, 2017

 

500

 

500

Helocyte

March 20, 2015

500

500

Mustang

March 13, 2015

 

1,000

 

500

Oncogenuity

February 10, 2017

500

500

Urica

November 7, 2017

500

500

Fortress

 

(5,000)

 

(4,500)

Consolidated (Income)/Expense

$

$

Note 1:   Fees under the MSA were not due or accrued during the pendency of agreements formerly in place between Avenue and InvaGen (now terminated).

Note 2:  Pursuant to the Share Contribution Agreement between Fortress and Avenue, under which Baergic became a majority-controlled and owned subsidiary of Avenue, Fortress also assigned to Avenue the MSA previously between Fortress and Baergic, such that Baergic’s annual MSA fee is now payable to Avenue.

Fees and Stock Grants Received by Fortress

Fees recorded in connection with Fortress’ agreements with its subsidiaries and partner companies are eliminated in consolidation. These include management services fees, issuance of common shares of partner companies in connection with third party raises and annual stock dividend or issuances on the anniversary date of respective Founders Agreements.