As filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on September 23, 2019
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
MIDATECH
PHARMA PLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
England and Wales
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Not Applicable
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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Oddfellows House
19 Newport Road
Cardiff, United Kingdom
CF24 OAA
Tel: +44 (0)1235 841 575
(Address and telephone number of registrant’s
principal executive offices)
CT Corporation
111 Eighth Avenue, 13th Floor
New York, New York 10011
Tel: (212) 894-8800
(Name, address and telephone number of
agent for service)
Copies to
Jason S. McCaffrey
Brown Rudnick
LLP
One Financial
Center
Boston, MA 02111
Telephone: (617) 856-8200
Facsimile: (617) 856-8201
Approximate
date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration
statement.
If
the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please
check the following box. ¨
If
any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box. x
If
this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check
the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for
the same offering. ¨
If
this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If
this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become
effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If
this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register
additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following
box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
xEmerging
growth company
If an emerging growth company that prepares
its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended
transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B)
of the Securities Act. ¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class
of Securities to be Registered (1)
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Amount
to be
Registered (1)
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Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Price
Per Unit (1)
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Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price (1)
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Amount of
Registration Fee (1)
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Ordinary shares, nominal value £0.00005 per share (2)
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Warrants
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Units
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Total
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$50,000,000
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$50,000,000
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$6,060
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(1)
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Pursuant to Form F-3 General Instruction II.C information is not required to be included. An indeterminate
amount of the securities are being registered as may from time to time be offered hereunder at indeterminate prices, in U.S. dollars
or the equivalent thereof denominated in foreign currencies, along with an indeterminate number of securities that may be issued
upon exercise, settlement, exchange or conversion of securities offered or sold hereunder as shall have aggregate initial offering
price not to exceed $50,000,000. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),
this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any share split,
share dividend or pursuant to anti-dilution provisions of any of the securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received
for securities that are issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities. In addition, the total amount to be
registered and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.
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(2)
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The ordinary shares may be represented by American Depositary Shares (“Depositary Shares”),
each of which currently represents 20 ordinary shares. A separate Registration Statement on Form F-6, as amended (File No. 333-207186),
has been filed for the registration of Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issuable upon deposit of the
ordinary shares.
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration
Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment
which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this
prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting
offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, dated
September 23, 2019
PROSPECTUS
$50,000,000
MIDATECH PHARMA PLC
Ordinary Shares
American Depositary Shares representing
Ordinary Shares
Warrants
Units
We may offer and sell
from time to time in one or more offerings up to $50,000,000 in aggregate offering price of an indeterminate number of our securities.
This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered.
If we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement describing the terms of the specific issue of securities,
including the amount, price and terms of the securities. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully
before you decide to invest. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement
that further describes the securities being delivered to you.
We may offer and sell
these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of the offering. The securities may be sold directly
to you, through agents, or through one or more underwriters and dealers. If agents, underwriters or dealers are used to sell the
securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or
directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.
Our American Depositary
Shares, each representing 20 ordinary shares, are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “MTP.” The last
reported closing price of American Depositary Shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market on September 20, 2019 was $1.33.
Our ordinary shares
are admitted for trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc, or AIM, under the listing code “MTPH.”
The last reported closing price of our ordinary shares on AIM on September 20, 2019 was £0.0575.
As of September 23,
2019, the aggregate market value of our outstanding ordinary shares held by non-affiliates, or public float, was approximately
$10,879,672, based on 409,399,613 of our ordinary shares outstanding, of which approximately 120,885,241 shares are held by non-affiliates,
and a per share price of approximately $0.09, which represents one-twentieth of $1.73, which was the price of our American Depositary
Shares on July 26, 2019, and which was the highest reported closing sale price of our American Depositary Shares on the NASDAQ
Capital Market, the principal market for our common equity, in the 60 days prior to September 23, 2019. We have not offered any
securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes
the date of this prospectus. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3, in no event will we sell securities registered
on this registration statement in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any
12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75 million.
We are an “emerging
growth company” as defined by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, we have elected to rely on certain
reduced public company disclosure requirements.
______________________________
Investing
in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 in this prospectus and
included in any accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a
discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to purchase these securities.
______________________________
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities
or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is ,
2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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RISK FACTORS
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ABOUT MIDATECH PHARMA PLC
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CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
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TAXATION
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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LEGAL MATTERS
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EXPERTS
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EXPENSES
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EXCHANGE CONTROLS
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MATERIAL CHANGES
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Material Contracts
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SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is
part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC,
using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination
of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings for an aggregate initial offering price of up to $50,000,000,
or the equivalent denominated in foreign currencies.
This prospectus provides
you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities pursuant to the registration statement
of which this prospectus forms a part, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the
terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change the information contained in this prospectus.
You should read both this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement together with the additional information
described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus.
You should rely only
on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any
related free writing prospectus filed by us with the SEC. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to
buy any securities other than the securities described in this prospectus or such accompanying prospectus supplement or an offer
to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, the documents incorporated by reference
and any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects may have changed materially since those dates.
We
are responsible only for the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement
and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone
to provide you with different information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated
by reference in this prospectus. If any person provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should
not rely on it. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information
that others may give you.
Unless the context
specifically indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Midatech Pharma PLC,” “Midatech,” “the
Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us,” “the Group,” or similar
terms refer to Midatech Pharma PLC and its subsidiaries. In this prospectus, we sometimes refer to the Company’s ordinary
shares, nominal value £0.00005 per share, or the ordinary shares, the American Depositary Shares representing the ordinary
shares, or the Depositary Shares, warrants to acquire ordinary shares, or any units thereof collectively as “offered securities.”
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
AND OTHER DATA
We report under International
Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS. None of the financial statements
presented or incorporated by reference in this prospectus were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States. We present our financial statements in British pounds sterling and in accordance with IFRS. All references
in this prospectus to “$” and “U.S. dollars” mean U.S. dollars and all references to “£”,
“p” and “GBP” mean British pounds sterling (or a unit thereof), unless otherwise noted.
On April 8, 2019,
we effected a change in the number of our ordinary shares represented by our Depositary Shares, issued by Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas as depositary, from two of our ordinary shares per Depositary Share to 20 ordinary shares per Depositary
Share. The change in ratio had the same effect as a one-for-10 reverse stock split of the Depositary Shares, reducing the
number of outstanding Depositary Shares, as of the close of business on April 8, 2019, to approximately 829,383. Our ordinary
shares, which were not affected by the change, continue to trade on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc.
The change in the number of Depositary Shares resulting from the change in ratio has been applied retroactively to all share
and per share amounts presented in this prospectus; provided, however, that such changes have not been made to the financial
statements and accompanying notes incorporated herein by reference.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to periodic
reporting and other informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as applicable
to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information
with the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content
of proxy statements to shareholders under the federal proxy rules contained in Sections 14(a), (b) and (c) of the Exchange
Act, and our “insiders” are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16
of the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy, information statements and other information
regarding issuers at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website
at http://www.midatechpharma.com. Our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
This prospectus is
part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. This prospectus omits some information contained in the registration statement
in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement
for further information on us and our consolidated subsidiaries and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus
concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended
to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these
statements. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement from the SEC at the address listed above or from the SEC’s
website.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to
“incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information
to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered
part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update
and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.
This prospectus incorporates
by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed) between the
date of the initial registration statement and the effectiveness of the registration statement and following the effectiveness
of the registration statement until the offering of the securities under the registration statement is terminated or completed:
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our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC
on April 30, 2019, as amended on May 28, 2019;
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our Reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on January 10, 2019, January 25, 2019, January 29,
2019, February 4, 2019, February 5, 2019, February 8, 2019, February 25, 2019, February 26, 2019, March 20, 2019, March 29, 2019,
April 24, 2019, April 26, 2019, May 24, 2019, June 13, 2019, June 19, 2019, July 3, 2019, July 19, 2019, July 31, 2019, September
9, 2019, September 11, 2019, September 19, 2019 and September 20, 2019; and
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the description of our ordinary shares and Depositary Shares contained in our registration statement
on Form 8-A. filed with the SEC on December 2, 2015.
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We will provide, without
charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such
person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference other than exhibits,
unless such exhibits specifically are incorporated by reference into such documents or this document. Requests for such documents
should be addressed in writing or by telephone to:
Midatech Pharma PLC
Oddfellows House
19 Newport Road
Cardiff, CF24 OAA
United Kingdom
+44 1235 888 300
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This prospectus and
the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.
All statements contained or incorporated by reference herein, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future
financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth, other
than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,”
“project,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,”
“continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking
statements contain these identifying words.
We may not actually
achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance
on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations
disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. You are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions
and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are referenced in the section of any accompanying prospectus supplement
entitled “Risk Factors.” You should also carefully review the risk factors and cautionary statements described in the
other documents we file from time to time with the SEC, specifically our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and our Reports
on Form 6-K. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by law.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves significant risks. You
should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below and incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on
Form 20-F, as amended, and any subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other
information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus
forms a part, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act and the risk factors and other information contained
in any applicable prospectus supplement before acquiring any of our securities. Our
business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any or all of these risks
or by additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial that may adversely affect
us in the future.
We have identified a material
weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, and any failure by us to maintain an effective system of internal controls
or provide reliable financial and other information in the future, may cause investors to lose confidence in our financial statements
and SEC filings and the market price of our securities may be materially and adversely affected.
The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal controls
for financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. We are required, under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to
furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This
assessment includes disclosures of any material weaknesses identified by management in its internal control over financial reporting.
A
material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting
that results in more than a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will
not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act also generally requires an attestation from
our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However,
for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements
that are applicable to other public companies that are emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required
to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
In preparing our interim
financial statements for the six months ending June 30, 2019, the Company and our independent registered public accounting firm
identified a material weakness in the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, specifically that we had
expensed a deposit in our income statement, as opposed to classifying it as a recoverable financial asset in other receivables
during the six months ending June 30, 2019. As previously disclosed, in October 2018, pursuant to the terms of a stock purchase
agreement, or Purchase Agreement, we sold our subsidiary, Midatech Pharma US Inc., to an affiliate of Barings LLC. During the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2019, following a request by Midatech Pharma US Inc., we paid a deposit of approximately £947,000
in connection with a certain indemnity obligation set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The deposit was originally expensed
in the income statement. Following a review by our independent registered public accounting firm of the interim financial
information for the six months ended June 30, 2019, this deposit is being reclassified as a recoverable financial asset in other
receivables.
Although
we are instituting remedial measures to address the material weaknesses identified and to continually review and evaluate our
internal control systems to allow management to report on the sufficiency of our internal control over financial reporting, we
cannot assure you that we will not discover additional weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. Any such additional
weaknesses or failure to adequately remediate any existing weakness could materially and adversely affect our financial condition
and results of operations, as well as our ability to accurately report our financial condition and results of operations in
a timely and reliable manner.
Additionally,
the material weakness described above, or other material weaknesses or significant deficiencies we may become aware of in the future,
could result in our determining that our controls and procedures are not effective in future periods or could result in a material
misstatement of the consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected.
Any
failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report
our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial
reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness or significant
deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting once that firm begin its Section 404 reviews, we could lose investor
confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial statements and reports, the market price of our ordinary shares and/or
Depositary Shares could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, the SEC
or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or to
implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict our future access to the
capital markets.
ABOUT MIDATECH PHARMA PLC
We
are focused on the research and development of medicines for rare cancers, via both in-house programs as well as partnered programs.
We take existing therapies and ‘make medicines better’, using our proprietary platform drug delivery technologies that
improve the bio-delivery and bio-distribution of drugs through either sustained delivery (Q-SpheraTM ), direct delivery
(MidaSolveTM ), or targeted delivery (MidaCoreTM ) of drugs:
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Our Q-SpheraTM platform: Our disruptive polymer
microsphere microtechnology is used for sustained delivery to prolong and control the release of therapeutics over an extended
period of time, from weeks to months.
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Our MidaSolveTM platform: Our innovative nanosaccharide
nanotechnology is used to solubilize drugs so that they can be administered in liquid form directly and locally into tumors.
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MidaCoreTM platform: Our leading-edge gold nanoparticle
nanotechnology is used for targeting sites of disease by using either (i) chemotherapy (for improved and targeted delivery of existing
chemotherapeutic agents to tumor sites), as well as (ii) immunotherapy (for enhanced uptake of new immuno-moieties by immune cells
that can then mount an immune attack against cancer cells).
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All
of our technology platforms are into clinical development, including our two lead programs:
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MTD201 (Q-Octreotide), which uses our sustained release platform,
Q-SpheraTM , to formulate a long acting dose of octreotide for the treatment of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors;
and
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MTX110, which is a direct delivery treatment for diffuse
intrinsic pontine glioma, an ultra-rare brain cancer suffered by children, and is based on the MidaSolveTM technology
for direct delivery.
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In
addition to these two priority programs, a further program in the clinic is MTX102, a European Union funded program seeking to
develop a vaccine for Type I diabetes, based on the MidaCoreTM technology for targeted delivery and uptake by the immune
system.
MTD201
and MTX110 are expected to be our priority focus for the next two years. Pending further funding, we may progress additional pre-clinical
research program in our other pipeline programs including, but not limited to, MTR103, for treatment of glioblastoma multiform
brain cancer, using our MidaSolveTM technology to deliver drugs directly into the tumor, and MTD119, a targeted therapy
treatment using the Company’s MidaCoreTM technology for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Our
development and commercialization efforts are focused on therapeutic areas to which our three drug delivery technology platforms
are being applied.
Our
principal executive offices are located at Oddfellows House, 19 Newport Road, CF24 OAA, United Kingdom. The telephone number at
our principal executive office is +44 1235 888 300.
Our
ordinary shares are admitted for trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc, or AIM, under the listing
code “MTPH.” Our Depositary Shares, each representing 20 ordinary shares, are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under
the symbol “MTP.”
Pursuant
to The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, we are classified as an “emerging growth company.”
Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies are exempt from certain reporting requirements, including the auditor attestation
requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As an emerging growth company, we are not required to comply with the
auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we have reduced disclosure obligations, including with
regard to our audited financial statements and executive compensation, and are exempt from the requirements of holding a nonbinding
advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
Our capitalization
and indebtedness will be set forth in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus or in a report on Form 6-K subsequently furnished
to the SEC and specifically incorporated herein by reference.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will retain broad
discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable
prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of offered securities for general corporate purposes, including
development of our clinical and preclinical programs, other research and development costs, acquisitions of development or commercial
assets, working capital and capital expenditures. Although we have no specific agreements, commitments or understandings with respect
to any acquisition at this time, we evaluate acquisition opportunities and engage in related discussions with other companies from
time to time.
Except as otherwise
stated in an applicable prospectus supplement, pending the application of the net proceeds, we may temporarily invest the proceeds
from the sale of offered securities in short-term investments.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL AND
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
The following describes
our issued share capital, summarizes the material provisions of our Articles of Association and highlights certain differences
in corporate law in the United Kingdom and the United State. This description of our share capital and summary of our Articles
of Association is not complete, and is qualified by reference to our Articles of Association. You should read our Articles of Association,
which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, for the provisions that are
important to you.
General
We are a public limited
company organized under the laws of England and Wales under registered number 09216368. Our registered office is Oddfellows House,
19 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 0AA. The principal legislation under which we operate and our shares are issued
is the United Kingdom Companies Act of 2006, or the Companies Act.
Issued Share
Capital
Our issued share capital
as of December 31, 2018 and September 20, 2019 was 61,184,135 ordinary shares and 409,399,613 ordinary shares, respectively. Each
ordinary share has a nominal value £0.00005 per share. Each issued ordinary share is fully paid. We currently have 1,000,001
deferred shares and no preference shares in our issued share capital.
There is no limit to
the number of ordinary shares or preference shares that we are authorized to issue, as the concept of authorized capital is no
longer applicable under the provisions of the Companies Act. There are no conversion rights,
redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions relating to any ordinary shares.
We are not permitted
under English law to hold our own ordinary shares unless they are repurchased by us and held in treasury. We do not currently hold
any of our own ordinary shares.
History of
Share Capital
Since January 1, 2016,
our issued share capital has changed as provided below.
On July 1, 2016, we
issued 74,908 ordinary shares to former shareholders of Q Chip Limited, in connection with our previous acquisition of such entity
in December 2014. No consideration was received for such shares.
On October 31, 2016,
we issued 14,545,455 ordinary shares in connection with a placing, or the 2016 Placing, of our ordinary shares to certain new and
existing investors, for an aggregate consideration of approximately £16.0 million.
On October 31, 2016,
we issued 611,589 ordinary shares in connection with an open offer to all of our existing shareholders who did not participate
in the 2016 Placing, for an aggregate consideration of £672,748.
On May 25, 2017, we
issued 20,000 ordinary shares for purchase by the Midatech Pharma Share Incentive Plan, an employee share incentive trust.
On October 17, 2017,
we issued 12,000,000 ordinary shares in connection with a placing, or the 2017 Placing, of our ordinary shares to certain new and
existing investors, for an aggregate consideration of approximately £6.0 million.
On October 17, 2017,
we issued 314,679 ordinary shares in connection with an open offer to all of our existing shareholders who did not participate
in the 2017 Placing, for an aggregate consideration of approximately £0.16 million.
On November 10, 2017,
we issued 50,000 ordinary shares for purchase by the Midatech Pharma Share Incentive Plan.
On August 6, 2018,
we issued 100,000 ordinary shares for purchase by the Midatech Pharma Share Incentive Plan.
On February 26, 2019,
we issued 207,792,206 units to new investors pursuant to a subscription agreement, or the subscription, for aggregate consideration
of approximately £8.0 million. Each unit consisted of one ordinary share and one warrant to acquire ordinary shares.
On February 26, 2019,
we issued (i) 86,627,680 units in connection with a placing, or the 2019 Placing, to certain new and existing investors and (ii)
34,339,038 ordinary shares to an existing investor, for an aggregate consideration of approximately £4.7 million. Each unit
consisted of one ordinary share and one warrant to acquire ordinary shares.
On February 26, 2019,
we issued 19,456,554 units in connection with an open offer to all of our existing shareholders who did not participate in the
2019 Placing, for an aggregate consideration of approximately £0.75 million. Each unit consisted of one ordinary share and
one warrant to acquire ordinary shares.
On April 8, 2019, we
effected a ratio change to our Depositary Shares, pursuant to which the ratio of ordinary shares to Depositary Shares was changed
such that one Depositary Share represented 20 ordinary shares. Our ordinary shares were not affected by this change.
Options
We have established
the Midatech Pharma PLC 2014 Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme pursuant to which we have issued options to purchase ordinary
shares to employees and directors. As of September 20, 2019, there were options to purchase 7,309,222 ordinary shares. The options
lapse after ten years from the date of the grant. As of September 20, 2019, the weighted average remaining life of the options
was 7.6 years.
In addition, we maintain
the Midatech Pharma PLC 2016 U.S. Option Plan, pursuant to which we have issued options to purchase ordinary shares to employees
in the United States. With the sale of Midatech Pharma US Inc., options granted to employees remaining with the business at the
time of sale were deemed to be fully vested and such employees were granted two years in which to exercise. At the time of such
sale, there were approximately 505,000 options subject to this. Following the sale of Midatech Pharma US Inc., no further options
have since been, nor will be, granted under such plan.
In connection with
our acquisition of DARA BioSciences, Inc., or DARA, in December 2015, we assumed all of DARA’s outstanding options, or DARA
Options. As of September 20, 2019, there were outstanding DARA Options to purchase 123,790 ordinary shares with a weighted average
remaining life of 5.0 years. All ordinary shares delivered to holders of DARA Options will be delivered in the appropriate amount
of Depositary Shares.
Warrants
On February 26, 2019,
in connection with the subscription, 2019 Placing and related open offer, we issued 313,846,440 warrants to acquire ordinary shares
to existing and new investors, as part of a unit comprised of one ordinary share and one warrant to acquire ordinary shares. Each
warrant entitles the holder to subscribe for one new ordinary share against payment of £0.50 per share. The warrants are
currently exercisable and expire on February 26, 2022.
In connection with
our acquisition of DARA, we assumed all of DARA’s existing warrants. As of September 20, 2019, there were DARA warrants
outstanding exercisable for 92,480 ordinary shares, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.53. All ordinary shares delivered
to holders of such DARA warrants will be delivered in the appropriate amount of Depositary Shares.
Articles of
Association
Shares and
Rights Attaching to Them
Objects
The objects of our
Company are unrestricted.
Share Rights
Subject to any special
rights attaching to shares already in issue, our shares may be issued with or have attached to them any preferred, deferred or
other special rights or privileges or be subject to such restrictions as we may resolve by ordinary resolution of the shareholders
or decision of our board.
Voting
Rights
Without
prejudice to any rights or restrictions as to voting rights attached to any shares forming part of our share capital from time
to time, the voting rights attaching to shares are as follows:
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on a show of hands every shareholder who is present in person
and each duly authorized representative present in person of a shareholder that is a corporation shall have one vote;
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on a show of hands, each proxy present in person has one vote for and one vote against a resolution
if the proxy has been duly appointed by more than one shareholder and the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders
to vote for the resolution and by one or more other of those shareholders to vote against it;
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on a show of hands, each proxy present in person has one
vote for and one vote against a resolution if the proxy has been duly appointed by more than one shareholder entitled to vote on
the resolution and either: (1) the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote for the resolution
and has been given any discretion by one or more other of those shareholders to vote and the proxy exercises that discretion to
vote against it; or (2) the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote against the resolution
and has been given any discretion by one or more other of those shareholders to vote and the proxy exercises that discretion to
vote for it; and
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on a poll every shareholder who is present in person or by
proxy shall have one vote for each share of which he is the holder.
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At
any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is demanded.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, as described in “Differences in Corporate Law - Voting Rights”
in this prospectus, a poll may be demanded by:
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the chairman of the meeting;
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at least five shareholders present in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote;
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any shareholder(s) present in person or by proxy and representing
in the aggregate not less than 10% of the total voting rights of all shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; or
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any shareholder(s) present in person or by proxy and holding
shares conferring a right to vote on the resolution on which there have been paid up sums in the aggregate equal to not less than
10% of the total sums paid up on all shares conferring that right.
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Restrictions
on Voting
No
shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate class meeting in respect of any share held by him
unless all calls or other sums payable by him in respect of that share have been paid.
The
Board of Directors may from time to time make calls upon the shareholders in respect of any money unpaid on their shares and each
shareholder shall (subject to at least 14 days’ notice specifying the time or times and place of payment) pay at the time
or times so specified the amount called on his shares. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, and
the fourteen days’ notice provided by the Board of Directors has not been complied with, any share in respect of which such
notice was given may be forfeited by a resolution of the Board of Directors.
A
shareholder’s right to attend general or class meetings of the Company or to vote in respect of his shares may be suspended
by the Board of Directors in accordance with our Articles of Association if he fails to comply with a proper request for the disclosure
of interests regarding the shares. See “Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—Disclosure of Interest in Shares”
in this prospectus.
Dividends
We
may, by ordinary resolution, declare a dividend to be paid to the share owners according to their respective rights and interests
in profits, and may fix the time for payment of such dividend. No dividend may be declared in excess of the amount recommended
by the directors. The Board of Directors may from time to time declare and pay to our share owners such interim dividends as appear
to the directors to be justified by our profits available for distribution. There are no fixed dates on which entitlement to dividends
arises on our ordinary shares.
The
share owners may pass, on the recommendation of the directors, an ordinary resolution to direct that all or any part of a dividend
to be paid by distributing specific assets, in particular paid up shares or debentures of any other body corporate. Our articles
of association also permit, with the prior authority of an ordinary resolution of shareholders, a scrip dividend scheme under which
share owners may be given the opportunity to elect to receive fully paid ordinary shares instead of cash, or a combination of shares
and cash, with respect to future dividends.
By
the way of the exercise of a lien, if a share owner owes us any money relating in any way to shares, the Board of Directors may
deduct any of this money from any dividend on any shares held by the share owner, or from other money payable by us in respect
of the shares. Money deducted in this way may be used to pay the amount owed to us.
Unclaimed
dividends and other money payable in respect of a share can be invested or otherwise used by directors for our benefit until they
are claimed. A dividend or other money remaining unclaimed 12 years after it first became due for payment will be forfeited and
shall revert to the Company.
A
shareholder’s right to receive dividends on his shares may, if they represent more than 0.25% of the issued shares of that
class, be suspended by the directors if he fails to comply with a proper request for the disclosure of interests regarding the
shares. See “Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—Disclosure of Interests in Shares” in this prospectus.
Change
of Control
There
is no specific provision in our Articles of Association that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change
of control. We are, however, subject to the provisions of the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, or the City Code,
which contains detailed provisions regulating the timing and manner of any takeover offer for those of the Company’s shares
which confer voting rights. See “Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—City Code on Takeovers and Mergers”
in this prospectus.
Variation of
Rights
Whenever
our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class may be varied or
abrogated in such manner (if any) as may be provided by those rights or (in the absence of any such provision) either with the
consent in writing of the holders of at least 75% of the issued shares of that class or with the authority of a special resolution
passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.
Alteration
of Share Capital and Repurchases
Subject to the provisions
of the Companies Act, and without prejudice to any relevant special rights attached to any class of shares, we may, from time to
time:
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increase our share capital by allotting and issuing new shares in accordance with the our articles
of association and any relevant shareholder resolution;
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consolidate all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger nominal amount (i.e.,
par value) than the existing shares;
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subdivide any of our shares into shares of a smaller nominal amount (i.e., par value) than
our existing shares; or
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redenominate our share capital or any class of share capital.
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Preemptive
Rights and New Issuance of Shares
Under the Companies
Act, the issuance of equity securities (except shares held under an employees’ share scheme) that are to be paid for wholly
in cash must be offered first to the existing holders of equity securities in proportion to the respective nominal amounts (i.e.,
par values) of their holdings on the same or more favorable terms, unless a special resolution to the contrary has been passed
or the articles of association otherwise provide an exclusion from this requirement (which exclusion can be for a maximum of five
years after which our shareholders’ approval would be required to renew the exclusion). In this context, “equity securities”
means ordinary shares (and would exclude shares that, with respect to dividends or capital, carry a right to participate only up
to a specified amount in a distribution), and any and all rights to subscribe for or convert securities into such ordinary shares.
This differs from U.S. law, under which shareholders generally do not have pre-emptive rights unless specifically granted in the
certificate of incorporation or otherwise.
By way of resolutions
passed at our annual general meeting held on June 19, 2019, authorities were given to the directors to allot shares in the Company,
or to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert or exchange any security into shares in the Company, up to an aggregate nominal
amount representing one-third of our issued share capital for a period up to the earlier of the conclusion of our 2020 annual general
meeting or 15 months from the date of passing of the first resolutions at the annual general meeting for 2020 referenced above.
Pre-emptive rights under the Companies Act will not apply in respect of allotment of shares for cash made pursuant to such authority,
up to approximately 75% of the issued share capital. Renewal of such authorization is expected to be sought at each of our annual
general meetings.
In circumstances where
we allot further ordinary shares, we must apply for such new ordinary shares to be admitted to trading on AIM, which in some instances
requires the publication of an admission document.
Transfer
of Shares
Any certificated shareholder
may transfer all or any of his shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual common form or in any other manner which is permitted
by the Companies Act and approved by the Board of Directors. Any written instrument of transfer shall be signed by or on behalf
of the transferor and (in the case of a partly paid share) the transferee.
All transfers of uncertificated
shares shall be made in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 and
the facilities and requirements of its relevant system. The Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 permit shares to be
issued and held in uncertificated form and transferred by means of a computer-based system.
The Board of Directors
may decline to register any transfer of any share unless it is:
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a share on which the Company has no lien;
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in respect of only one class of shares;
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in favor of a single transferee or not more than four transferees;
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duly stamped or duly certificated or otherwise shown the satisfaction of the Board of Directors
to be exempt from any required stamp duty; or
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delivered for registration at the Company’s registered office or such other place as the
Board of Directors may decide, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates (other than uncertificated shares)
and any other evidence the Board of Directors may reasonably require to provide the title to such share of the transferor.
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If the Board of Directors
declines to register a transfer it shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within two months after the date on which the
transfer is lodged, send to the transferee notice of the refusal, together with reasons for the refusal.
CREST
To be traded on AIM,
securities must be able to be transferred and settled through the CREST system. CREST is a computerized paperless share transfer
and settlement system which allows securities to be transferred by electronic means, without the need for a written instrument
of transfer. The Articles of Association are consistent with CREST membership and, among other things, allow for the holding and
transfer of shares in uncertificated form.
Shareholder
Meetings
Annual
General Meetings
In
accordance with the Companies Act, we are required in each year to hold an annual general meeting in addition to any other general
meetings in that year and to specify the meeting as such in the notice convening it. The annual general meeting shall be convened
whenever and wherever the board sees fit, subject to the requirements of the Companies Act, as described in “Differences
in Corporate Law—Annual General Meeting” and “Differences in Corporate Law—Notice of General Meetings”
in this prospectus.
Notice
of General Meetings
The
arrangements for the calling of general meetings are described in “Differences in Corporate Law—Notice of General Meetings”
in this prospectus.
Subject
to certain conditions, holders of Depositary Shares are entitled to receive notices under the terms of the deposit agreement relating
to the Depositary Shares. See “Description of American Depositary Shares—Voting Rights” in this prospectus.
Quorum
of General Meetings
No
business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present, but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude
the appointment, choice or election of a chairman which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. At least two
shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes.
Class
Meetings
The
provisions in the Articles of Association relating to general meetings apply to every separate general meeting of the holders of
a class of shares except that:
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no member, other than a member of the Board of Directors,
shall be entitled to notice of it or attend such meeting unless he is a holder of shares of that class;
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the quorum for such class meeting shall be two holders in
person or by proxy representing not less than one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class;
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at the class meeting, a holder of shares of the class present
in person or by proxy may demand a poll and shall on a poll be entitled to one vote for every shares of the class held by him;
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if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum is not
present at the meeting, one holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy at an adjourned meeting constitutes a quorum.
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Directors
Number
of Directors
We
may not have less than two directors on our Board of Directors. We have no maximum number of directors, though we may fix a maximum
number by ordinary resolution of the shareholders. We may, by ordinary resolution of the shareholders, vary the minimum and any
maximum number of directors from time to time.
Appointment
of Directors
Subject
to the provisions of the Articles of Association, we may, by ordinary resolution of the shareholders, elect any person to be a
director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing board.
Without
prejudice to the power to appoint any person to be a director by shareholder resolution, the Board of Directors has the power to
appoint any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board of Directors. Any
director appointed by the Board of Directors will hold office only until the earlier to occur of the close of the next following
annual general meeting and someone being appointed in his stead at that meeting. Such a director is eligible for re-election at
that meeting but shall not be taken into account in determining the directors or the number of directors who are to retire by rotation
at such meeting.
Rotation
of Directors
At
every annual general meeting, one-third of the directors or, if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest
to and not exceeding one-third, shall retire from office and each director must retire from office at least once every three years.
If there are fewer than three directors, one director shall make himself or herself available for re-election
The
directors to retire on each occasion shall be those subject to retirement by rotation who have been longest in office since their
last election, but as between persons who became or were re-elected directors on the same day those to retire shall (unless they
otherwise agree amongst themselves) be determined by lot.
A
director who retires at the annual general meeting shall be eligible for re-election.
The
shareholders may, at the meeting at which a director retires, fill the vacated office by electing a person and in default the retiring
director shall, if willing to continue to act, be deemed to have been re-elected, unless at such meeting it is expressly resolved
not to fill such vacated office or unless a resolution for the re-election of such director shall have been put to the meeting
and lost or such director has given notice in writing to us that he is unwilling to be re-elected or such director has attained
the retirement age applicable to him as director pursuant to the Companies Act.
Director’s
Interests
The
Board of Directors may authorize, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any matter proposed to them which would otherwise result
in a director infringing his duty to avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts,
or possibly may conflict, with our interests and which may reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest.
A director shall not, save as otherwise agreed by him, be accountable to us for any benefit which he (or a person connected with
him) derives from any matter authorized by the directors and any contract, transaction or arrangement relating thereto shall not
be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such benefit.
Subject
to the requirements under Sections 175, 177 and 182 of the Companies Act (which require a director to avoid a situation in which
he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly conflicts, with our interests, and to declare any
interest that he has, whether directly or indirectly, in a proposed or existing transaction or arrangement with us), and provided
that he has disclosed to the Board of Directors the nature and extent of any interest of his in accordance with the Companies Act
and the Articles of Association, a director notwithstanding his office:
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may be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction
or arrangement with us or in which we are otherwise interested;
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may be a director or other officer of, or employed by, or
a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate promoted by us or in which we are
otherwise interested; and
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shall not, by reason of his office, be accountable to us
for any benefit which he derives from any such office or employment or from any such transaction or arrangement or from any interest
in any such body corporate and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest
or benefit.
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In
the case of interests arising where a director is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in (a) a proposed transaction
or arrangement with us or (b) a transaction or arrangement that has been entered into by us and save as otherwise provided
by the Articles of Association, such director shall not vote at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board
of Directors on any resolution concerning such matter in which he has a material interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interest
in shares, debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, us) unless his interest or duty arises only because the
case falls within one or more of the following paragraphs:
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the resolution relates to the giving to him or a person connected
with him of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of money lent to, or an obligation incurred by him or such a person at
the request of or for the benefit of, us or any of our subsidiaries;
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the resolution relates to the giving of a guarantee, security
or indemnity in respect of a debt or obligation of ours or any of our subsidiaries for which the director or a person connected
with him has assumed responsibility in whole or part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
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the resolution relates in any way to any other company in
which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise howsoever, provided that he
and any persons connected with him do not to his knowledge hold an interest in shares representing one per cent or more of any
class of the equity share capital of such company or of the voting rights available to shareholder of such company;
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the resolution relates in any way to an arrangement for the
benefit of our employees or any employees of our subsidiaries which does not award him as such any privilege or benefit not generally
awarded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates;
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the resolution relates in any way to the purchase or maintenance
for the directors of insurance; or
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the resolution is in respect of any matter in which the interest
of the director cannot reasonably be regarded as conflicting.
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A
director shall not be counted in the quorum present at a meeting in relation to a resolution on which he is not entitled to vote.
If
a question arises at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors as to the right of a director
to vote or be counted in the quorum, and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting or not
to be counted in the quorum, the question may, before the conclusion of the meeting, be referred to the chairman of the meeting
and his ruling in relation to any director other than himself shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or
extent of the interest of the director concerned has not been fairly disclosed.
An
interest of a person connected with a director shall be treated as an interest of the director and Section 252 of the Companies
Act shall determine whether a person is connected with a director.
Directors’
Fees and Remuneration
Each
of the directors shall be paid a fee at such rate as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors (or for the
avoidance of doubt any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors) provided that the aggregate of all such fees so paid
to directors shall not exceed £300,000 per annum, or such higher amount as may from time to time be determined by ordinary
resolution of shareholders.
Each
director may be paid his reasonable traveling, hotel and other expenses of attending and returning from meetings of the Board of
Directors or committees thereof of or general meetings or separate meetings of the holders class of shares or of debentures and
shall be paid all expenses properly and reasonably incurred by him in the conduct of the Company’s business or in the discharge
of his duties as a director. Any director who, by request, goes or resides abroad for any purposes required by us or who performs
services which in the opinion of the Board of Directors go beyond the ordinary duties of a director may be paid such extra remuneration
as the Board of Directors may determine.
An
executive director shall receive such remuneration as the Board of Directors may determine, and either in addition to or in lieu
of his remuneration as a director as detailed above.
Age
Limitations and Share Ownership
We
do not have any age limitations for our directors, nor do we have mandatory retirement as a result of reaching a certain age. Our
directors are not required to hold any shares in the Company.
Borrowing
Power
Our
directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow or raise money and mortgage or charge all or any part of our undertaking,
property and assets (present and future), and uncalled capital. Subject to the Companies Act, the directors may also create and
issue debentures, other loan stock and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or
obligation of the Company or of any third party. Our directors are required to restrict the borrowings of the Company to ensure
that the aggregate principal amount of borrowings at any one time outstanding and all of its subsidiary undertakings (other than
intra-Group borrowing) shall not at any time, without the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company, exceed two
times the gross asset value of the Company and our subsidiaries.
Liability
of Midatech and its Directors and Officers
Subject
to the provisions on indemnities set out in Companies Act, every director, alternate director or former director (and of any associated
company) shall be entitled to be indemnified out of our assets against all costs and liabilities incurred by him or her in relation
to any proceedings or any regulatory investigation or action which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done
or omitted by him or her as a director so long as the indemnities do not cover liability for breach of duty to the Company or cover
any fine, costs or related expense in connection with any proceedings for default on the part of the director. Lawful indemnities
extend to the provision of funds to him or her by the Company to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending
himself in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) or in connection with an application for statutory relief or in an investigation
by a regulatory authority which must however be repaid where such proceedings, application, investigation or action are in connection
with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him or her in relation to the Company (or any associated
company of ours) and he or she is convicted or found in default thereof. Under English law, any provision that purports to exempt
a director of a company (to any extent) from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence,
default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company is void.
Under
a deed poll declared by us on August 5, 2015, or a Deed of Indemnity, our Board of Directors and our Company Secretary are indemnified
against costs and liabilities incurred in connection with their office, other than any liability owed by such person to the Company
itself (or any of our associated entities) and other than indemnification for liabilities in certain circumstances, which are prohibited
by virtue of the Companies Act. The Deed of Indemnity provides that a director may also be lent sums to finance any relevant defense
costs, provided that, in the event such proceedings involve criminal or civil matters in which the person is convicted or has a
judgment made against him or her, then such loan must be repaid. Our total aggregate liability of Midatech under the Deed of Indemnity
is £5 million.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling
persons pursuant to a charter provision, by-law, contract, arrangements, statute or otherwise, we acknowledge that in the opinion
of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Other
United Kingdom Law Considerations
Notification
of Voting Rights
A
shareholder in a public company incorporated in the United Kingdom whose shares are admitted to trading on AIM is required pursuant
to Rule 5 of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority to notify us of the
percentage of his voting rights if the percentage of voting rights which he holds as a shareholder or through his direct or indirect
holding of financial instruments (or a combination of such holdings) reaches, exceeds or falls below 3%, 4%, 5%, and each 1% threshold
thereafter up to 100% as a result of an acquisition or disposal of shares.
Mandatory
Purchases and Acquisitions
Pursuant
to Sections 979 to 991 of the Companies Act, where a takeover offer has been made for us and the offeror has acquired or unconditionally
contracted to acquire not less than 90% in value of the shares to which the offer relates and not less than 90% of the voting rights
carried by those shares, the offeror may give notice to the holder of any shares to which the offer relates which the offeror has
not acquired or unconditionally contracted to acquire that he wishes to acquire, and is entitled to so acquire, those shares on
the same terms as the general offer. The offeror would do so by sending a notice to the outstanding minority shareholders telling
them that it will compulsorily acquire their shares. Such notice must be sent within three months of the last day on which the
offer can be accepted in the prescribed manner. The squeeze-out of the minority shareholders can be completed at the end of six
weeks from the date the notice has been given, following which the offeror can execute a transfer of the outstanding shares in
its favor and pay the consideration to us, and we would hold the consideration on trust for the outstanding minority shareholders.
The consideration offered to the outstanding minority shareholders whose shares are compulsorily acquired under the Companies Act
must, in general, be the same as the consideration that was available under the takeover offer.
Sell
Out
The
Companies Act also gives our minority shareholders a right to be bought out in certain circumstances by an offeror who has made
a takeover offer for all of our shares. The holder of shares to which the offer relates, and who has not otherwise accepted the
offer, may require the offeror to acquire his shares if, prior to the expiry of the acceptance period for such offer, (i) the
offeror has acquired or agreed to acquire not less than 90% in value of the voting shares, and (ii) not less than 90% of the
voting rights carried by those shares. The offeror may impose a time limit on the rights of minority shareholders to be bought
out that is not less than three months after the end of the acceptance period. If a shareholder exercises his rights to be bought
out, the offeror is required to acquire those shares on the terms of this offer or on such other terms as may be agreed.
Disclosure
of Interest in Shares
Pursuant
to Part 22 of the Companies Act, we are empowered by notice in writing to any person whom we know or have reasonable cause to believe
to be interested in our shares, or at any time during the three years immediately preceding the date on which the notice is issued
has been so interested, requiring such person within a reasonable time to disclose to us particulars of that person’s interest
and (so far as is within his knowledge) particulars of any other interest that subsists or subsisted in those shares. The Articles
of Association specify that a response is required from such person within 14 days after service of any such notice.
Under
the Articles of Association, if a person defaults in supplying us with the required particulars in relation to the shares in question,
or Default Shares, the directors may by notice direct that:
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in respect of the Default Shares, the relevant member shall
not be entitled to attend or vote (either in person or by proxy) at any general meeting or of a general meeting of the holders
of a class of shares or upon any poll or to exercise any right conferred by the Default Shares; and/or
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where the Default Shares represent at least 0.25% of their
class, (a) any dividend (or any part of a dividend) payable in respect of the Default Shares shall be retained by us without liability
to pay interest, (b) the shareholder may not be entitled to elect to receive shares instead of a dividend, and (c) no transfers
by the relevant member of any Default Shares may be registered (unless the member himself is not in default and the transfer does
not relate to Default Shares, the transfer is exempt or that the transfer is permitted under the U.K. Uncertificated Securities
Regulations 2001).
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Purchase
of Own Shares
Under
English law, a limited company may only purchase or redeem its own shares out of the distributable profits of the company or the
proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of financing the purchase, provided that they are not restricted from
doing so by their articles. A limited company may not purchase or redeem its own shares if, as a result of the purchase, there
would no longer be any issued shares of the company other than redeemable shares or shares held as treasury shares. Shares must
be fully paid in order to be repurchased.
Subject
to the above, we may purchase our own shares in the manner prescribed below. We may make a market purchase of our own fully paid
shares pursuant to an ordinary resolution of shareholders. The resolution authorizing the purchase must:
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specify the maximum number of shares authorized to be acquired;
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determine the maximum and minimum prices that may be paid
for the shares; and
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specify a date, not being later than five years after the
passing of the resolution, on which the authority to purchase is to expire.
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We
may purchase our own fully paid shares otherwise than on a recognized investment exchange pursuant to a purchase contract authorized
by resolution of shareholders before the purchase takes place. Any authority will not be effective if any shareholder from whom
we propose to purchase shares votes on the resolution and the resolution would not have been passed if he had not done so. The
resolution authorizing the purchase must specify a date, not being later than five years after the passing of the resolution, on
which the authority to purchase is to expire.
We currently have
authority from a resolution passed at our 2019 annual general meeting to purchase a maximum of 40,939,961 shares representing
approximately 10% of our issued capital valid for a period up to the earlier of the conclusion of our 2020 annual general meeting
or 15 months from the date of passing such resolution, although we do not currently have any distributable profits out of which
such a purchase or redemption of shares may be made.
Distributions
and Dividends
Under the Companies
Act, before a company can lawfully make a distribution or dividend, it must ensure that it has sufficient distributable reserves
(on a non-consolidated basis). The basic rule is that a company’s profits available for the purpose of making a distribution
are its accumulated, realized profits, so far as not previously utilized by distribution or capitalization, less its accumulated,
realized losses, so far as not previously written off in a reduction or reorganization of capital duly made. The requirement to
have sufficient distributable reserves before a distribution or dividend can be paid applies to us and to each of our subsidiaries
that has been incorporated under English law.
It is not sufficient
that we, as a public company, have made a distributable profit for the purpose of making a distribution. An additional capital
maintenance requirement is imposed on us to ensure that the net worth of the company is at least equal to the amount of its capital.
A public company can only make a distribution:
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if, at the time that the distribution is made, the amount of its net assets (that is, the total
excess of assets over liabilities) is not less than the total of its called up share capital and undistributable reserves; and
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if, and to the extent that, the distribution itself, at the time that it is made, does not reduce
the amount of the net assets to less than that total.
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City Code
on Takeovers and Mergers
As a United Kingdom
incorporated public company with our registered office in the United Kingdom which is admitted to AIM, we are subject to the City
Code, which is issued and administered by the United Kingdom Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, or the Panel. The City Code provides
a framework within which takeovers of companies subject to it are conducted. In particular, the City Code contains certain rules
in respect of mandatory offers. Under Rule 9 of the City Code, if a person:
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acquires an interest in our shares which, when taken together with shares in which he or persons
acting in concert with him are interested, carries 30% or more of the voting rights of our shares; or
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who, together with persons acting in concert with him, is interested in shares that in the aggregate
carry not less than 30% and not more than 50% of the voting rights in us, acquires additional interests in shares that increase
the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which that person is interested,
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the acquirer,
and depending on the circumstances, its concert parties would be required (except with the consent of the Panel) to make a cash
offer for our outstanding shares at a price not less than the highest price paid for any interests in the shares by the acquirer
or its concert parties during the previous 12 months.
Exchange
Controls
There are no governmental
laws, decrees, regulations or other legislation in the United Kingdom that may affect the import or export of capital, including
the availability of cash and cash equivalents for use by us, or that may affect the remittance of dividends, interest, or other
payments by us to non-resident holders of our ordinary shares or Depositary Shares, other than withholding tax requirements. There
is no limitation imposed by English law or in the Articles of Association on the right of non-residents to hold or vote shares.
Differences
in Corporate Law
The
applicable provisions of the Companies Act 2006 differ from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth
below is a summary of certain differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the Delaware General
Corporation Law relating to shareholders’ rights and protections. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion
of the respective rights and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to English law and Delaware Law.
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England and Wales
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Delaware
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Number of Directors
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Under the Companies Act, a public limited company must have at least two directors and the number of directors may be fixed by or in the manner provided in a company’s articles of association.
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Under Delaware law, a corporation must have at least one director and the number of directors shall be fixed by or in the manner provided in the bylaws.
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Removal of Directors
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Under the Companies Act, shareholders may remove a director without cause by an ordinary resolution (which is passed by a simple majority of those voting in person or by proxy at a general meeting) irrespective of any provisions of any service contract the director has with the company, provided 28 clear days’ notice of the resolution has been given to the company and its shareholders. On receipt of notice of an intended resolution to remove a director, the company must forthwith send a copy of the notice to the director concerned. Certain other procedural requirements under the Companies Act must also be followed such as allowing the director to make representations against his or her removal either at the meeting or in writing.
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Under Delaware law, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, except (a) unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, in the case of a corporation whose board of directors is classified, shareholders may effect such removal only for cause, or (b) in the case of a corporation having cumulative voting, if less than the entire board of directors is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors, or, if there are classes of directors, at an election of the class of directors of which he is a part.
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Vacancies on Board of
Directors
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Under English law, the procedure by which directors, other than a company’s initial directors, are appointed is generally set out in a company’s articles of association, provided that where two or more persons are appointed as directors of a public limited company by resolution of the shareholders, resolutions appointing each director must be voted on individually.
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Under Delaware law, vacancies
and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or
by a sole remaining director unless (a) otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the corporation or
(b) the certificate of incorporation directs that a particular class of stock is to elect such director, in which case a majority
of the other directors elected by such class, or a sole remaining director elected by such class, will fill such vacancy.
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Annual General Meeting
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Under the Companies Act, a public limited company must hold an annual general meeting in each six-month period following the company’s annual accounting reference date.
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Under Delaware law, the annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors or as provided in the certificate of incorporation or by the bylaws.
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England and Wales
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Delaware
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General Meeting
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Under the Companies Act, a general
meeting of the shareholders of a public limited company may be called by the directors.
Shareholders holding at least
5% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying voting rights at general meetings can require the directors to call a general
meeting and, if the directors fail to do so within a certain period, may themselves convene a general meeting.
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Under Delaware law, special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the board of directors or by such person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate of incorporation or by the bylaws.
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Notice of General Meetings
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Under the Companies Act, 21 clear days’ notice must be given for an annual general meeting and any resolutions to be proposed at the meeting. Subject to a company’s articles of association providing for a longer period, at least 14 clear days’ notice is required for any other general meeting. In addition, certain matters, such as the removal of directors or auditors, require special notice, which is 28 clear days’ notice. The shareholders of a company may in all cases consent to a shorter notice period, the proportion of shareholders’ consent required being 100% of those entitled to attend and vote in the case of an annual general meeting and, in the case of any other general meeting, a majority in number of the members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority who together hold not less than 95% in nominal value of the shares giving a right to attend and vote at the meeting.
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Under Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, written notice of any meeting of the stockholders must be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting and shall specify the place, date, hour, and purpose or purposes of the meeting.
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Proxy
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Under the Companies Act, at any meeting of shareholders, a shareholder may designate another person to attend, speak and vote at the meeting on their behalf by proxy.
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Under Delaware law, at any meeting of stockholders, a stockholder may designate another person to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A director of a Delaware corporation may not issue a proxy representing the director’s voting rights as a director.
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Pre-emptive Rights
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Under the Companies Act, “equity securities”, being (i) shares in the company other than shares that, with respect to dividends and capital, carry a right to participate only up to a specified amount in a distribution (“ordinary shares”) or (ii) rights to subscribe for, or to convert securities into, ordinary shares, proposed to be allotted for cash must be offered first to the existing equity shareholders in the company in proportion to the respective nominal value of their holdings, unless an exception applies or a special resolution to the contrary has been passed by shareholders in a general meeting or the articles of association provide otherwise in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act.
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Under Delaware law, shareholders have no preemptive rights to subscribe to additional issues of stock or to any security convertible into such stock unless, and except to the extent that, such rights are expressly provided for in the certificate of incorporation.
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England and Wales
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Delaware
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Authority to Allot
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Under the Companies Act, the directors of a company must not allot shares or grant of rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares unless an exception applies or an ordinary resolution to the contrary has been passed by shareholders in a general meeting or the articles of association provide otherwise in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act.
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Under Delaware law, if the corporation’s charter or certificate of incorporation so provides, the board of directors has the power to authorize the issuance of stock. It may authorize capital stock to be issued for consideration consisting of cash, any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the corporation or any combination thereof. It may determine the amount of such consideration by approving a formula. In the absence of actual fraud in the transaction, the judgment of the directors as to the value of such consideration is conclusive.
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Liability of Officers and
Directors
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Under the Companies Act, any
provision, whether contained in a company’s articles of association or any contract or otherwise, that purports to exempt
a director of a company, to any extent, from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence,
default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company is void.
Any provision by which a company
directly or indirectly provides an indemnity, to any extent, for a director of the company or of an associated company against
any liability attaching to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the
company of which he is a director is also void except as permitted by the Companies Act, which provides exceptions for the company
to (a) purchase and maintain insurance against such liability; (b) provide a “qualifying third party indemnity” (being
an indemnity against liability incurred by the director to a person other than the company or an associated company or criminal
proceedings in which he is not convicted); and (c) provide a “qualifying pension scheme indemnity” (being an indemnity
against liability incurred in connection with the company’s activities as trustee of an occupational pension plan).
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Under Delaware law, a corporation’s
certificate of incorporation may include a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation
and its stockholders for damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, no provision can limit the liability
of a director for:
· any
breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;
· acts
or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
· intentional
or negligent payment of unlawful dividends or stock purchases or redemptions; or
· any
transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.
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England and Wales
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Delaware
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Voting Rights
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Under English law, unless a poll
is demanded by the shareholders of a company or is required by the chairman of the meeting or the company’s articles of association,
shareholders shall vote on all resolutions on a show of hands. Under the Companies Act, a poll may be demanded by (a) not fewer
than five shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; (b) any shareholder(s) representing not less than 10% of the
total voting rights of all the shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; or (c) any shareholder(s) holding shares
in the company conferring a right to vote on the resolution being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not
less than 10% of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right. A company’s articles of association may provide
more extensive rights for shareholders to call a poll, and in our case the number in clause (a) above is reduced from five to three.
Under English law, an ordinary
resolution is passed on a show of hands if it is approved by a simple majority (more than 50%) of the votes cast by shareholders
present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote. If a poll is demanded, an ordinary resolution is passed if it is approved
by holders representing a simple majority of the total voting rights of shareholders present, in person or by proxy, who, being
entitled to vote, vote on the resolution. Special resolutions require the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the votes cast
by shareholders present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting.
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Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.
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Shareholder Vote on Certain
Transactions
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The Companies Act provides for
schemes of arrangement, which are arrangements or compromises between a company and any class of shareholders or creditors and
used in certain types of reconstructions, amalgamations, capital reorganizations or takeovers. These arrangements require:
· the
approval at a shareholders’ or creditors’ meeting convened by order of the court, of a majority in number of shareholders
or creditors representing 75% in value of the capital held by, or debt owed to, the class of shareholders or creditors, or class
thereof present and voting, either in person or by proxy; and
· the
approval of the court.
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Generally, under Delaware law,
unless the certificate of incorporation provides for the vote of a larger portion of the stock, completion of a merger, consolidation,
sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets or dissolution requires:
· the
approval of the board of directors; and
· approval
by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock or, if the certificate of incorporation provides for more or
less than one vote per share, a majority of the votes of the outstanding stock of a corporation entitled to vote on the matter.
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England and Wales
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Delaware
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Standard of Conduct
for Directors
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Under English law, a director
owes various statutory and fiduciary duties to the company, including:
· to
act in the way he considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members
as a whole;
· to
avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly conflicts, with the interests
of the company;
· to
act in accordance with the company’s constitution and only exercise his powers for the purposes for which they are conferred;
· to
exercise independent judgment;
· to
exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence;
· not
to accept benefits from a third party conferred by reason of his being a director or doing, or not doing, anything as a director;
and
· to
declare any interest that he has, whether directly or indirectly, in a proposed or existing transaction or arrangement with the
company.
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Delaware law does not contain
specific provisions setting forth the standard of conduct of a director. The scope of the fiduciary duties of directors is generally
determined by the courts of the State of Delaware. In general, directors have a duty to act without self-interest, on a well-informed
basis and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interest of the stockholders.
Directors of a Delaware corporation
owe fiduciary duties of care and loyalty to the corporation and to its shareholders. The duty of care generally requires that a
director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this
duty, a director must inform himself of all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The
duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation.
He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. In general, but subject to certain exceptions, actions of
a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was
in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary
duties. Delaware courts have also imposed a heightened standard of conduct upon directors of a Delaware corporation who take any
action designed to defeat a threatened change in control of the corporation.
In addition, under Delaware law,
when the board of directors of a Delaware corporation approves the sale or break-up of a corporation, the board of directors may,
in certain circumstances, have a duty to obtain the highest value reasonably available to the shareholders.
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Stockholder Suits
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Under English law, generally, the company, rather than its shareholders, is the proper claimant in an action in respect of a wrong done to the company or where there is an irregularity in the company’s internal management. Notwithstanding this general position, the Companies Act provides that (i) a court may allow a shareholder to bring a derivative claim (that is, an action in respect of and on behalf of the company) in respect of a cause of action arising from a director’s negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust and (ii) a shareholder may bring a claim for a court order where the company’s affairs have been or are being conducted in a manner that is unfairly prejudicial to some of its shareholders
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Under Delaware law, a stockholder
may initiate a derivative action to enforce a right of a corporation if the corporation fails to enforce the right itself. The
complaint must:
· state
that the plaintiff was a stockholder at the time of the transaction of which the plaintiff complains or that the plaintiffs shares
thereafter devolved on the plaintiff by operation of law; and
· allege
with particularity the efforts made by the plaintiff to obtain the action the plaintiff desires from the directors and the reasons
for the plaintiff’s failure to obtain the action; or
· state
the reasons for not making the effort.
Additionally, the plaintiff must
remain a stockholder through the duration of the derivative suit. The action will not be dismissed or compromised without the approval
of the Delaware Court of Chancery.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY
SHARES
General
Our
Depositary Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “MTP.” Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
is the depositary for the Depositary Shares. Each Depositary Share represents ownership of 20 ordinary shares deposited with the
London Branch of Deutsche Bank AG, as custodian for the depositary. Each Depositary Share also represents ownership of any other
securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s principal office at which the Depositary
Shares will be administered is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, United States of America. The
principal executive office of the depositary is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, United States of
America.
The
Direct Registration System, or DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, pursuant to which the depositary
may register the ownership of uncertificated Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued
by the depositary to the Depositary Share holders entitled thereto.
We
will not treat Depositary Share holders as its stockholders and accordingly, Depositary Shares holders will not have stockholder
rights. English law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the ordinary shares underlying the Depositary
Shares. Holders of Depositary Shares will have the rights of Depositary Share holders. A deposit agreement, as amended, among Midatech,
the depositary and Depositary Share holders, and the beneficial owners of Depositary Shares sets out Depositary Share holder rights
as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. The laws of the State of New York govern the deposit agreement and
the Depositary Shares.
The
following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the
entire deposit agreement and the form of American Depositary Receipt, or ADR, which are filed as exhibits to this prospectus. See
“Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus.
Holding the
Depositary Shares
How
will you hold your Depositary Shares?
You
may hold Depositary Shares either (i) directly (a) by having an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number
of Depositary Shares, registered in your name, or (b) by holding Depositary Shares in DRS, or (ii) indirectly through
your broker or other financial institution. If you hold Depositary Shares directly, you are a Depositary Share holder. This description
assumes you hold your Depositary Shares directly. Depositary Shares will be issued through DRS unless you specifically request
certificated ADRs. If you hold the Depositary Shares indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial
institution to assert the rights of Depositary Share holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or
financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Dividends and
Other Distributions
How will
you receive dividends and other distributions on the ordinary shares?
The
depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on ordinary shares or
other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number
of ordinary shares your Depositary Shares represent as of the record date (which will be as close as practicable to the record
date for ordinary shares) set by the depositary with respect to the Depositary Shares.
Cash. The
depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the ordinary shares or any net proceeds from the
sale of any ordinary shares, rights, securities or other entitlements into U.S. dollars if it can do so on a practicable basis,
and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not practical or lawful or if any government approval
is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary either to distribute the foreign currency to the
Depositary Share holders, or to hold the foreign currency for the account of the Depositary Share holders, in which case it will
not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.
Before making a distribution, any taxes or other governmental
charges, together with fees and expenses of the depositary, that must be paid, will be deducted. It will distribute only whole
U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents down to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate
during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.
Shares. The
depositary may distribute additional Depositary Shares representing any ordinary shares it distributes as a dividend or free distribution
to the extent reasonably practicable and permissible under law. The depositary will only distribute whole Depositary Shares. It
will sell ordinary shares which would require it to deliver a fractional Depositary Share and distribute the net proceeds in the
same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional Depositary Shares, the outstanding Depositary Shares
will, to the extent permissible by law, also represent the new ordinary shares. The depositary may also sell all or a portion of
the ordinary shares that is has not distributed, and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. Additionally,
the depositary may sell a portion of the distributed ordinary shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses, and any taxes and
governmental charges, in connection with that distribution.
Elective
Distributions in Cash or Shares. If we offer holders of our ordinary shares the option to receive dividends in
either cash or ordinary shares, the depositary, after consultation with us and having received timely notice as described in the
deposit agreement of such elective distribution by us, has discretion to determine to what extent such elective distribution will
be made available to you as a holder of the Depositary Shares. We must first instruct the depositary to make such elective distribution
available to you and furnish it with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. The depositary could decide it is not legal
or reasonably practical to make such elective distribution available to you. In such case, the depositary shall, on the basis of
the same determination as is made in respect of the ordinary shares for which no election is made, distribute either cash in the
same way as it does in a cash distribution, or additional Depositary Shares representing ordinary shares in the same way as it
does in a share distribution. The depositary is not obligated to make available to you a method to receive the elective dividend
in ordinary shares rather than in Depositary Shares. There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to receive
elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of ordinary shares.
Rights
to Purchase Additional Shares. If we offer holders of its ordinary shares any rights to subscribe for additional
ordinary shares or any other rights, the depositary may after consultation with us and having received timely notice as described
in the deposit agreement of such distribution by us, make these rights available to you. We must first instruct the depositary
to make such rights available to you and furnish the depositary with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. If the depositary
decides it is not legal and reasonably practicable to make the rights available, or if rights have been made available but have
not been exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the depositary may, if it determines it is lawful and reasonably practicable
to do so, endeavor to sell the rights and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will
allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them.
If
the depositary makes rights available to you, it will establish procedures to distribute such rights and enable you to exercise
the rights upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental
charges. The depositary shall not be obliged to make available to you a method to exercise such rights to subscribe for ordinary
shares (rather than Depositary Shares).
The
depositary may sell a portion of the distributed rights sufficient to pay its fees and expenses, and any taxes and governmental
charges, in connection with that distribution.
There
can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of
ordinary shares, or be able to exercise such rights.
U.S. securities
laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the Depositary Shares represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights.
For example, you may not be able to trade these Depositary Shares freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary
may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the Depositary Shares described in this section, except for
changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.
Other
Distributions. Subject to receipt of timely notice, as described in the deposit agreement, from us with the request
to make any such distribution available to you, and provided the depositary has determined such distribution is lawful and reasonably
practicable and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will send to you anything else we distribute
on deposited securities by any means it thinks is practicable, upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred
by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. If the depositary cannot make a distribution in this way, it may
endeavor to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary is
unable to sell what we distributed, it may dispose of such property in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances
for nominal or no consideration. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay
its fees and expenses and any taxes and governmental charges in connection with that distribution.
The
depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any Depositary
Share holders. We have no obligation to register Depositary Shares, ordinary shares, rights or other securities under the Securities
Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of Depositary Shares, ordinary shares, rights
or anything else to Depositary Share holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our ordinary shares
or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us or the depositary to make them available to you.
Deposit, Withdrawal
and Cancellation
How are
Depositary Shares issued?
The
depositary will deliver Depositary Shares if you or your broker deposit ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive ordinary
shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer
taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of Depositary Shares in the names you request and will deliver
the Depositary Shares to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto.
How
do Depositary Share holders cancel an American Depositary Share?
You
may turn in your Depositary Shares at the depositary’s principal office or by providing appropriate instructions to your
broker. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees,
the depositary will deliver the ordinary shares and any other deposited securities underlying the Depositary Shares to you or a
person you designate at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited
securities at its principal office, to the extent permitted by law.
How do Depositary
Share holders interchange between Certificated Depositary Shares and Uncertificated Depositary Shares?
You
may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated Depositary Shares. The depositary
will cancel that ADR and will send you a statement confirming that you are the owner of uncertificated Depositary Shares. Alternatively,
upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a holder of uncertificated Depositary Shares requesting the exchange
of uncertificated Depositary Shares for certificated Depositary Shares, the depositary will execute and deliver to you an ADR evidencing
those Depositary Shares.
Voting Rights
How do you
vote?
You
may instruct the depositary to vote the ordinary shares or other deposited securities underlying your Depositary Shares. Otherwise,
you could exercise your right to vote directly if you withdraw the ordinary shares. However, you may not know about the meeting
sufficiently enough in advance to withdraw the ordinary shares.
If
we ask for your instructions and upon timely notice from us as described in the deposit agreement, the depositary will notify you
of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you by regular, ordinary mail delivery, or by electronic transmission.
The materials will (i) describe the matters to be voted on and (ii) explain how you may instruct the depositary to vote
the ordinary shares or other deposited securities underlying your Depositary Shares as you direct. For your voting instructions
to be valid, the depositary must receive them in writing on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as practical,
subject to applicable law and the provisions of the deposit agreement, the deposited securities and our articles of association,
to vote or to have its agents vote the ordinary shares or other deposited securities as you instruct. The depositary will only
vote or attempt to vote as you instruct.
We
cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the
ordinary shares underlying your Depositary Shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to
carry out voting instructions or for the manner in which any vote is cast. This means that you may not be able to exercise
your right to vote and you may have no recourse if the ordinary shares underlying your Depositary Shares are not voted as you requested.
In
order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited
securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning
the matters to be voted at least 30 days in advance of the meeting date.
Fees and Expenses
As
a Depositary Shareholder, you will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental
charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities
represented by any of your Depositary Shares):
Service
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Fees
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• to any person to whom Depositary Shares are issued or to any person to whom a distribution is made in respect of Depositary Share distributions pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock, bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except where converted to cash)
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Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share issued
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• to any person surrendering Depositary Shares for withdrawal of deposited securities or whose Depositary Shares are cancelled or reduced for any other reason including, inter alia, cash distributions made pursuant to a cancellation or withdrawal
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Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share cancelled
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• Distribution of cash dividends
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Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share held
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• Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds, including proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements
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Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share held
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• Distribution
of Depositary Shares pursuant to exercise of rights.
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Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share held
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• Depositary services
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Up to US$0.05 annually per Depositary Share held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank
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In
addition, Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners of Depositary Shares, persons depositing ordinary shares for deposit and
persons surrendering Depositary Shares for cancellation and withdrawal of deposited securities will be required to pay the following
charges:
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taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;
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such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of ordinary shares
or other deposited securities with our share registrar and applicable to transfers of ordinary shares or other deposited securities
to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;
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such cable, telex, facsimile and electronic transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly
provided in the deposit agreement to be at the expense of the person depositing or withdrawing ordinary shares or Depositary Share
holders and beneficial owners of Depositary Shares;
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the expenses, fees and other charges incurred by the depositary in the conversion of foreign currency,
including, without limitation, the expenses, fees and other charges imposed by any affiliate of the depositary (which may, in its
sole discretion, act in a principal capacity in such transaction) that may be utilized in connection therewith;
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such fees and expenses as are incurred by the depositary in connection with compliance with exchange
control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to ordinary shares, deposited securities, Depositary Shares and
ADRs;
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the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with the delivery of deposited securities,
including any fees of a central depository for securities in the local market, where applicable; and
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any fees, charges, costs or expenses that may be incurred from time to time by the depositary and/or
any of the depositary’s agents, including the custodian, and/or agents of the depositary’s agents in connection with
the servicing of ordinary shares, deposited securities and/or Depositary Shares, the sale of securities (including, without limitation,
deposited securities), the delivery of deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the depositary’s or its custodian’s
compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation (such fees, charges, costs or expenses to be assessed against Depositary Share
holders of record as at the date or dates set by the depositary as it sees fit and collected at the sole discretion of the depositary
by billing such Depositary Share holders for such fee or by deducting such fee from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
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The
depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of Depositary Shares are typically paid to the depositary bank by the
brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly issued Depositary Shares from the depositary bank and by the brokers (on
behalf of their clients) delivering the Depositary Shares to the depositary bank for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these
fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to Depositary Share holders
and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary bank to the holders of record of Depositary Shares as of the applicable
Depositary Share record date.
The
depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed or by selling a portion of
distributable property to pay the fees. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., share dividends, rights), the depositary
bank charges the applicable fee to the Depositary Share record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of Depositary
Shares registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in direct registration), the depositary bank
sends invoices to the applicable record date Depositary Share holders. In the case of Depositary Shares held in brokerage and custodian
accounts (via DTC), the depositary bank generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered
holder of the Depositary Shares held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding Depositary Shares in their DTC accounts. The
brokers and custodians who hold their clients’ Depositary Shares in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients’ accounts
the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.
In
the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the
requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to
the Depositary Share holder.
The
depositary has agreed to reimburse us for a portion of certain expenses it incurs that are related to establishment and maintenance
of the ADR program, including investor relations expenses. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the depositary
will reimburse us, but the amount of reimbursement available to us is not related to the amounts of fees the depositary collects
from investors. Further, the depositary has agreed to reimburse us certain fees payable to the depositary by holders of Depositary
Shares. Neither we nor the depositary can determine the exact amount to be made available to us because (i) the number of
Depositary Shares that will be issued and outstanding, (ii) the level of service fees to be charged to holders of Depositary
Shares and (iii) its reimbursable expenses related to the program are not known at this time.
Payment of
Taxes
You
will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable, or which become payable, on your Depositary Shares or
on the deposited securities represented by any of your Depositary Shares. The depositary may refuse to register or transfer your
Depositary Shares or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your Depositary Shares until such taxes or other
charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your Depositary Shares to pay any
taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate,
reduce the number of Depositary Shares to reflect the sale and pay to you any net proceeds, or send to you any property, remaining
after it has paid the taxes. You agree to indemnify us, the depositary, the custodian and each of their respective agents, directors,
employees and affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes and additions to tax (including
applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax
benefit obtained for or by you. Your obligations under this paragraph shall survive any transfer of ADRs, any surrender of ADRs
and withdrawal of deposited securities or the termination of the deposit agreement.
Reclassifications,
Recapitalizations and Mergers, etc.
Upon
any change in our par value, split-up, subdivision cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of our ordinary shares,
or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation or sale of assets affecting us or to which
we otherwise are a party, any securities which shall be received by the depositary or a custodian in exchange for, or in conversion
of or replacement or otherwise in respect of, our ordinary shares shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as new deposited
securities under the deposit agreement, and the ADRs shall, subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement and applicable
law, evidence Depositary Shares representing the right to receive such additional securities. Alternatively, the depositary may,
with our approval, and shall, if we request, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement and receipt of an opinion of our counsel
satisfactory to the depositary that such distributions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, execute and
deliver additional ADRs as in the case of a stock dividend on our ordinary shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding ADRs
to be exchanged for new ADRs, in either case, as well as in the event of newly deposited ordinary shares, with necessary modifications
to the form of ADR specifically describing such new deposited securities and/or corporate change. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event that any security so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Depositary Share holders, the depositary
may, with our approval, and shall if we request, subject to receipt of an opinion from our counsel satisfactory to the depositary
that such distributions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such securities at public or private
sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of
fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the depositary and taxes and governmental charges) for the account of the Depositary
Share holders otherwise entitled to such securities upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions
among such Depositary Share holders and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a
distribution received in cash pursuant to the deposit agreement. In accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement, the
depositary is not responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such securities
available to Depositary Share holders in general or any Depositary Share holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange
exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such securities.
Amendment and
Termination
How may
the deposit agreement be amended?
We
may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of ADR without your consent for any reason. If an amendment
adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration
fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, including expenses incurred in connection with foreign exchange control
regulations and other charges specifically payable by Depositary Share holders under the deposit agreement, or materially prejudices
a substantial existing right of Depositary Share holders, it will not become effective for outstanding Depositary Shares until
30 days after the depositary notifies Depositary Share holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes
effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your Depositary Shares, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs
and the deposit agreement as amended. If any new laws are adopted which would require the deposit agreement to be amended in
order to comply therewith, Midatech and the depositary may amend the deposit agreement in accordance with such laws and such amendment
may become effective before notice thereof is given to Depositary Share holders.
How may
the deposit agreement be terminated?
The
depositary will terminate the deposit agreement if we ask it to do so, in which case the depositary will give notice to you at
least 90 days prior to termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement if the depositary has told us
that it would like to resign, or if we have removed the depositary, and in either case we have not appointed a new depositary within
90 days. In either such case, the depositary must notify you at least 30 days before termination.
After
termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions
on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property and deliver ordinary shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation
of Depositary Shares after payment of any fees, charges, taxes or other governmental charges. Six months or more after termination,
the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the
money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, for the pro rata benefit
of the Depositary Share holders that have not surrendered their Depositary Shares. It will not invest the money and has no liability
for interest. The depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination, our only
obligations under the deposit agreement will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that
we agreed to pay.
Books of Depositary
The
depositary will maintain Depositary Share holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office
during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of our business or
matters relating to the Depositary Shares or the deposit agreement.
The
depositary will maintain facilities in New York to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and
transfer of ADRs.
These
facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by law or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable
by the depositary, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law, any government or governmental
body or commission or any securities exchange on which the ADRs or Depositary Shares are listed, or under any provision of the
deposit agreement or provisions of, or governing, the deposited securities, or any meeting of our shareholders or for any other
reason.
Limitations
on Obligations and Liability
Limits on
Our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of Depositary Shares
The
deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the
liability of the depositary and its directors, officers, affiliates, employees and agents.
We
and the depositary, and each of our and their respective directors, officers, affiliates, employees and agents:
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are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without
gross negligence or willful misconduct;
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are not liable to Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners or any third parties if prevented
or forbidden from, or subjected to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing
any act or thing required by the terms of the deposit agreement or the ADRs, by reason of any provision of any present or future
law or regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the United Kingdom or any other country, or of any other governmental
authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraints or
by reason of any provision, present or future of our constituent documents or any provision of or governing any deposited securities,
or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond their control, (including, without limitation, nationalization,
expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure
beyond such party’s control);
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are not liable to Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners or any third parties by reason of
any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the deposit agreement or in Midatech’s constituent
documents or provisions of or governing deposited securities;
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are not liable to Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners or any third parties for the inability
of any holder of Depositary Shares to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit made available to holders
of deposited securities that is not made available to holders of Depositary Shares under the terms of the deposit agreement;
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have no obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect
of any deposited securities, the ADRs, or the deposit agreement, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless
indemnity satisfactory to it against all expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liabilities be furnished as
often as may be required (and no custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility
of the custodian being solely to the depositary);
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may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, opinion or other document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
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disclaim any liability for any action/inaction in reliance on the advice or information of legal
counsel, accountants, any person presenting ordinary shares for deposit, holders and beneficial owners (or authorized representatives)
of Depositary Shares, or any other person believed in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; and
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disclaim any liability to Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners or any third parties for
any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement or otherwise.
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Neither
the depositary nor the custodian shall be liable under the deposit agreement or otherwise for the failure by any Depositary Share
holder or beneficial owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Depositary Share holder’s
or beneficial owner’s income tax liability. The depositary and any of its agents also disclaim any liability for any failure
to carry out any instructions to vote, the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote or failure to determine that
any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable or for allowing any rights to lapse in accordance with the provisions
of the deposit agreement, the failure or timeliness of any notice from us, the content of any information submitted to it by us
for distribution to you or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, any investment risk associated with the acquisition of
an interest in the deposited securities, the validity or worth of the deposited securities, the credit-worthiness of any third
party, or for any tax consequences that may result from ownership of Depositary Shares, ordinary shares or deposited securities.
The depositary and its agents shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary.
In
connection with the sale of securities, including, without limitation, deposited securities, the deposit agreement provides that
the depositary shall not have any liability for the price received in connection with any such sale, the timing thereof or any
delay in action or omission to act nor shall it be responsible for any error or delay in action, omission to act, default or negligence
on the part of the party so retained in connection with any such sale or proposed sale.
In
addition, the deposit agreement provides that each party to the deposit agreement (including each holder, beneficial owner and
holder of interests in the ADRs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to
a trial by jury in any lawsuit or proceeding against the depositary or us related to our ordinary shares, the Depositary Shares
or the deposit agreement.
In
the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.
Requirements
for Depositary Actions
Before
the depositary will issue, deliver or register a transfer of a Depositary Share, split-up, subdivide or combine Depositary Shares,
make a distribution on a Depositary Share, or permit withdrawal of ordinary shares, the depositary may require:
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payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration
fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any ordinary shares or other deposited securities and payment of the applicable
fees, expenses and charges of the depositary;
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satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matters contemplated
in the deposit agreement; and
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compliance with applicable laws and governmental regulations, and such reasonable regulations and
procedures as the depositary may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement and applicable law, including
presentation of transfer documents.
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The
depositary may refuse to issue and deliver Depositary Shares or register transfers of Depositary Shares generally when the register
of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary determines that it is necessary or advisable
to do so.
Your Right
to Receive the Shares Underlying Your Depositary Shares
You
have the right to cancel your Depositary Shares and withdraw the underlying ordinary shares at any time except:
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when temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we
have closed its transfer books; (ii) the transfer of ordinary shares is blocked to permit voting at a stockholders’
meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on its ordinary shares;
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when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges;
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when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations
that apply to Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of ordinary shares or other deposited securities;
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other circumstances specifically contemplated by Section I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to
Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time); or
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for any other reason if the depositary determines, in good faith, that it is necessary or advisable
to prohibit withdrawals.
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This right of
withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Pre-release
of Depositary Shares
The
deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver Depositary Shares before deposit of the underlying ordinary shares. This is
called a pre-release of the Depositary Shares. The depositary may also deliver ordinary shares upon cancellation of pre-released
Depositary Shares (even if the Depositary Shares are cancelled before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release
is closed out as soon as the underlying ordinary shares are delivered to the depositary. The depositary may receive Depositary
Shares instead of ordinary shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release Depositary Shares only under the following
conditions: (i) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the
depositary in writing that it or its customer (a) beneficially owns the ordinary shares or Depositary Shares to be deposited,
(b) agrees to indicate the depositary as owner of such ordinary shares or Depositary Shares in its records and to hold such
ordinary shares or Depositary Shares in trust for the depositary until such ordinary shares or Depositary Shares are delivered
to the depositary or the custodian, (c) unconditionally guarantees to deliver such ordinary shares or Depositary Shares to
the depositary or the custodian, as the case may be, and (d) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the
depositary deems appropriate; (ii) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash, United States government securities
or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (iii) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release
on not more than five business days’ notice. Each pre-release is subject to further indemnities and credit regulations as
the depositary considers appropriate. In addition, the depositary will normally limit the number of Depositary Shares that may
be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release to 30% of the aggregate number of Depositary Shares then outstanding, although
the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so.
Direct Registration
System
The
deposit agreement provides that, to the extent available by the depositary, Depositary Shares shall be evidenced by ADRs issued
through DRS/Profile unless certificated ADRs are specifically requested by the Depositary Share holder. DRS is the system administered
by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be
evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the Depositary Share holders entitled thereto. The Profile Modification
System, or Profile, is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a Depositary Share
holder, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those Depositary
Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the Depositary
Share holder to register such transfer.
In
connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement
understand that the depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to
be acting on behalf of a Depositary Share holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in the paragraph
above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Depositary Share holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform
Commercial Code).
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We
may issue warrants to purchase ordinary shares or Depositary Shares. We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more
additional warrants, ordinary shares or Depositary Shares, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described
in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we issue warrants as part of a unit, the accompanying prospectus supplement will specify
whether those warrants may be separated from the other securities in the unit prior to the expiration date of the warrants.
Each
series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the investors or a warrant
agent. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their
entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series
of warrants. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We urge
you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements
and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.
The
particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the issue. Those terms may
include:
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·
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the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the offering price at which we will issue,
the warrants;
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·
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the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are
payable;
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·
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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right
will expire or, if the holder may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on
which the holder may exercise the warrants;
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·
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whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units;
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·
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whether the warrants will be issued in definitive or global form or in any combination of these
forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security
included in that unit;
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·
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any applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences;
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·
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the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or
paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents;
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·
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the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the
warrants on any securities exchange;
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·
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the designation and terms of any equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
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·
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the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of any debt securities that may
be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;
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·
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the ordinary shares or Depositary Shares with which
the warrants are issued and, the number of warrants issued with each security;
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·
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if applicable, the date from and after which any warrants issued as part of a unit and the related
ordinary shares or Depositary Shares will be separately transferable;
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·
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the number of ordinary shares or the number of Depositary Shares purchasable upon exercise of a
warrant and the price at which those shares may be purchased;
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·
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if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
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·
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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
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·
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the antidilution provisions of, and other provisions for changes to or adjustment in the exercise
price of, the warrants, if any;
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·
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any redemption or call provisions; and
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·
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any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the
exchange or exercise of the warrants.
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Holders
of equity warrants will not be entitled:
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·
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to vote, consent or receive dividends;
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·
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receive notice as shareholders with respect to any general meeting of shareholders for the election
of our directors or any other matter; or
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·
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exercise any rights as shareholders of Midatech.
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Each
warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of ordinary shares or Depositary Shares at the exercise price
set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable
prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration
date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised
warrants will become void.
A
holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new warrant certificates of different denominations, present them for registration
of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase ordinary shares or Depositary Shares are exercised, the holders of the warrants
will not have any rights of holders of the underlying ordinary shares or Depositary Shares, including any rights to receive dividends
or payments upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up on the ordinary shares or Depositary Shares, if any.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We
may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination.
We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit
agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address
of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.
The
following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the
general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing
prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit
agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions
and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference
from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.
If
we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including,
without limitation, the following, as applicable:
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the title of the series of the units;
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·
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the material terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and
under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
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·
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any material provisions relating to the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of
the units or the securities comprising the units; and
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·
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any material provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described above.
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TAXATION
Taxation in the United Kingdom
A
general summary of certain United Kingdom tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of any of the
securities offered by this prospectus will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the offering of those securities.
Taxation in the United States
A
general summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition
of any of the securities offered by this prospectus will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the offering of those
securities
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the
securities covered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings. Registration of the securities covered by this
prospectus does not mean, however, that those securities will necessarily be offered or sold.
We may sell the
offered securities in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
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to or through one or more underwriters,
brokers or dealers;
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·
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in short or long transactions;
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·
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through a block trade in which the broker
or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion
of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; or
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In addition, we
may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. This
prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described
in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may directly
solicit offers to purchase securities, or agents may be designated to solicit such offers. We will, in the prospectus supplement
relating to such offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act, and describe any commissions
that we must pay. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the
applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment basis.
The distribution
of the offered securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:
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·
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at a fixed price or prices, which may
be changed from time to time;
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in “at the market offerings”
within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on
an exchange or otherwise;
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·
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at prices related to those prevailing
market prices; or
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We will describe
the method of distribution of the securities and the terms of the offering in the prospectus supplement.
The prospectus
supplement with respect to the offered securities of a particular series will describe the terms of the securities, including the
following:
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the name of the agent or any underwriters;
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·
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the public offering or purchase price;
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the proceeds we will receive from the sale of the securities;
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any discounts or commissions to be allowed or re-allowed or paid to the agent or underwriters;
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·
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all other items constituting underwriting compensation;
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·
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any discounts or commissions to be allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and
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·
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any exchanges on which the securities will be listed.
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If any underwriters
or agents are utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will enter into an underwriting
agreement or other agreement with them at the time of sale to them, and we will set forth in the prospectus supplement relating
to such offering the names of the underwriters or agents and the terms of the related agreement with them.
If a dealer is
utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer,
as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the
time of resale.
We may also sell
securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents. In this case, no agents, underwriters or dealers
would be involved. We may also sell securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters
within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities.
If we offer securities
in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with dealers,
acting as standby underwriters. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the securities they commit to purchase
on a standby basis. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting arrangement, we may retain a dealer-manager to manage a subscription
rights offering for us.
We may enter into
a continuous offering program equity distribution agreement with a broker-dealer, under which we may offer and sell shares of our
common stock from time to time through a broker-dealer as our sales agent. If we enter into such a program, sales of securities,
if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NASDAQ Capital Market at market prices, block transactions
and such other transactions as agreed upon by us and the broker-dealer. Under the terms of such a program, we also may sell securities
to the broker-dealer, as principal for its own account at a price agreed upon at the time of sale. If we sell securities to such
broker-dealer as principal, we will enter into a separate terms agreement with such broker-dealer, and we will describe this agreement
in a separate prospectus supplement or pricing supplement.
Remarketing firms,
agents, underwriters, dealers and other persons may be entitled under agreements which they may enter into with us to indemnification
by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions
with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If so indicated
in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers
by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery
on the date stated in the prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate amount of
securities sold pursuant to such contracts shall not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the prospectus supplement.
Institutions with whom the contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension
funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject
to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that:
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·
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the purchase by an institution of the
securities covered under that contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which
that institution is subject; and
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·
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if the securities are also being sold
to underwriters acting as principals for their own account, the underwriters shall have purchased such securities not sold for
delayed delivery. The underwriters and other persons acting as our agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity
or performance of delayed delivery contracts.
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Certain agents,
underwriters and dealers, and their associates and affiliates may be customers of, have borrowing relationships with, engage in
other transactions with, and/or perform services, including investment banking services, for us or one or more of our respective
affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Any ordinary shares
will be listed on AIM and any Depositary Shares will be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, but any other securities may or may
not be listed on a national or other securities exchange. In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters
may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the
prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may overallot in connection
with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price
of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other
securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting
syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering
if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization
transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent
market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any
time.
Under Rule 15c6-1
of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to
any such trade expressly agree otherwise or the securities are sold by us to an underwriter in a firm commitment underwritten offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled
business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date
prior to the second business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact
that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities,
to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The securities
may be new issues of securities and may have no established trading market. The securities may or may not be listed on a national
securities exchange. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any of the securities.
To comply with
the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities may be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or
licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified
for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
In compliance
with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency
fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will
not exceed 8% of the proceeds from any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the
warrants and units and certain other matters of United States law will be passed upon for us by Brown Rudnick LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.
The validity of our ordinary shares, including ordinary shares in the form of Depositary Shares, and certain other matters of United
Kingdom law will be passed upon for us by Brown Rudnick LLP, London, United Kingdom. Additional legal matters may be passed upon
for any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated into
this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018 have so been incorporated in
reliance on the report of BDO LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on
the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
BDO LLP, Reading, United Kingdom, is a
member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
EXPENSES
The following
table sets forth the expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the sale of
the securities being registered hereby. All amounts shown, other than the SEC registration fee, are estimates:
SEC registration fee
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$
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6,060
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FINRA filing fee
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*
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Printing and engraving
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*
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Accounting services
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*
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NASDAQ fees
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*
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Legal fees of registrant’s counsel
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*
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Transfer agent’s, trustee’s and depository’s fees and
expenses
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*
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Miscellaneous
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*
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Total
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$
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*
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*
To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
There
are no governmental laws, decrees, regulations or other legislation in the United Kingdom that may affect the import or export
of capital, including the availability of cash and cash equivalents for use by us, or that may affect the remittance of dividends,
interest, or other payments by us to non-resident holders of our securities, other than withholding tax requirements. There is
no limitation imposed by English law or in our articles of association on the right of non-residents to hold or vote shares.
MATERIAL CHANGES
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control
over financial reporting is a process designed, under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer,
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements
for external reporting purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Moreover, projections
of any evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control to future periods are subject to a risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions and that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our
management has assessed the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ending December
31, 2019 based on the Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) 2013. Based on this assessment, our management has concluded that there has been a material weakness in the
design and operating effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting during the fiscal year ending December 31,
2019. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be
prevented or detected on a timely basis. A description of the identified material weakness in internal control over financial
reporting is as follows:
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·
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As previously disclosed, in October 2018, pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, we sold
our subsidiary, Midatech Pharma US Inc., to an affiliate of Barings LLC. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, following
a request by Midatech Pharma US Inc., we paid a deposit of approximately £947,000 in connection with a certain indemnity
obligation set forth in the Purchase Agreement. This deposit was originally expensed in the income statement. Following a review
by our independent registered public accounting firm of the interim financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2019,
this deposit will be reclassified as a recoverable financial asset in other receivables in our interim financial information for
the six months ended June 30, 2019.
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We
did not prevent this error from being recorded, nor did we detect it after it had occurred. Although we have expanded our accounting
and compliance teams with additional staff or third party external specialists with public company experience and technical accounting
knowledge, our future compliance with Section 404 will require that we incur further accounting expenses and expend more significant
management efforts.
Although
we are instituting remedial measures to address the material weakness identified and to continually review and evaluate our internal
control systems to allow management to report on the sufficiency of our internal control over financial reporting, we cannot assure
you that we will not discover additional weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Any such additional weaknesses
or failure to adequately remediate any existing weakness could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results
of operations, as well as our ability to accurately report our financial condition and results of operations in a timely and reliable
manner.
Additionally,
the material weakness described above, or other material weaknesses or significant deficiencies we may become aware of in the future,
could result in our determining that our controls and procedures are not effective in future periods or could result in a material
misstatement of the consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected.
Any
failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report
our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial
reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness or significant
deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting once that firm begin its Section 404 reviews, we could lose investor
confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial statements and reports, the market price of our ordinary shares and/or
Depositary Shares could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, the SEC
or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or to
implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict our future access to the
capital markets.
Except as described
above or otherwise described herein or in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, and in our Form
6-Ks incorporated by reference into this prospectus, no reportable material changes have occurred since December 31, 2018.
Material
Contracts
Our material contracts are described
in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference”
in this prospectus.
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT
OF JUDGMENTS
We are incorporated
under the laws of England and Wales. All of our directors and officers are residents of jurisdictions outside the United States.
Our corporate headquarters is located in the United Kingdom and all or a substantial portion of our assets, and all or a substantial
portion of the assets of our directors and officers, are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult
for you to serve legal process on us or our directors or have any of them appear in a U.S. court.
We
have appointed CT Corporation System as our authorized agent upon whom process may be served in any action instituted in any U.S.
federal or state court having subject matter jurisdiction arising out of or based upon the securities offered by this prospectus.
We
understand that in England it may not be possible to bring proceedings or enforce a judgment of a U.S. court in respect of civil
liabilities based solely on the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, awards of punitive damages in actions
brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in England. An award of damages is usually considered to be punitive
if it does not seek to compensate the claimant for loss or damage suffered and is instead intended to punish the defendant. In
addition to public policy aspects of enforcement, such as the aforementioned, the enforceability of any judgment in England will
depend on the particular facts of the case and the relevant circumstances, for example (and expressly without limitation), whether
there are any relevant insolvency proceedings which may affect the ability to enforce a judgment. In addition, the United States
and the United Kingdom have not currently entered into a treaty (or convention) providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement
of judgments (although both are contracting states to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral
Awards).
MIDATECH PHARMA
PLC
$50,000,000
Ordinary Shares
American Depositary
Shares representing Ordinary Shares
Warrants
Units
PROSPECTUS
,
2019
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
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Item 8.
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers
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The
Registrant’s articles of association provide that, subject to the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom, every person
who is or was at any time a director, alternate director, or former director of the Registrant or of any of its subsidiaries may
be indemnified out of the assets of the Registrant against all costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages and liabilities incurred
by him or her in performing his duties or the exercise of his or her powers or otherwise in relation to such company. Generally,
under the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom, a company may not indemnify its directors against personal liability covering:
liability to the company in cases where the company sues the director (i.e., only liability to third parties can be the subject
of an indemnity); liability for fines for criminal conduct or fines imposed by a regulator; or other liabilities, such as legal
costs, in criminal cases where the director is convicted, or in civil cases brought by the company where the final judgment goes
against the director.
The
Registrant has entered into a deed of indemnity with each of its directors and officers. Except as prohibited by applicable law,
these deeds of indemnity may require Midatech, among other things, to indemnify its directors and officers for certain expenses,
including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by such directors and officers in any action
or proceeding arising out of their service as a director or officer of the Registrant, or one of its subsidiaries, or arising out
of the services provided to another company or enterprise at the Registrant’s request.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers
or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
The
exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the exhibit index, which appears elsewhere herein and is incorporated herein
by reference.
The
undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
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(1)
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To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
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(i)
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to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);
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(ii)
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to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
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(iii)
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to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;
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provided, however,
that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
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(2)
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That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(3)
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To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
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(4)
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To file a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-K if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Form F-3.
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(5)
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That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
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(i)
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each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
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(ii)
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each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
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(6)
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That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are
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offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
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(i)
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any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
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(ii)
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any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
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(iii)
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the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
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(iv)
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any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
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(7)
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That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(8)
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If applicable, the undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transaction by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
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(9)
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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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(10)
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To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of London, United Kingdom, on the 23rd day of September, 2019.
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MIDATECH PHARMA PLC
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By:
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/s/ Craig Cook
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Name:
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Craig Cook
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Craig Cook and Stephen Stamp, and each of them, acting individually and without the other,
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her
and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign (i) any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments, exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith) to this registration statement and (ii) any and
all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and 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 in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them individually, or their or his substitute
or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities
and on the dates indicated.
Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ Craig Cook
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Chief Executive Officer, Principal
Executive Officer
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September 23, 2019
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Craig Cook
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/s/ Stephen Stamp
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Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial
Officer, Principal Accounting Officer
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September 23, 2019
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Stephen Stamp
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/s/ Rolf Stahel
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Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
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September 23, 2019
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Rolf Stahel
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/s/ Frederic Duchesne
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Non-Executive Director
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September 23, 2019
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Frederic Duchesne
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Non-Executive Director
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Dr. Huaizheng Peng
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/s/ Simon Turton
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Senior Independent Non-
Executive Director
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September 23, 2019
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Simon Turton, Ph.D.
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/s/ Sijmen de Vries
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Non-Executive Director
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September 23, 2019
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Sijmen de Vries, M.D.
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AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, this Registration Statement on Form F-3 has been signed by the undersigned on this 23rd day of September, 2019.
By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
Name: Donald J. Puglisi
Title: Authorized Representative in the United States
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No.
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Description
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1.1*
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Form of Underwriting Agreement.
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3.1
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Articles of Association of Midatech Pharma PLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-206305), originally filed with the SEC on August 11, 2015, as amended).
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4.1
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Specimen certificate representing ordinary shares of Midatech Pharma PLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-206305), originally filed with the SEC on August 11, 2015, as amended).
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4.2
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Form of Deposit Agreement by and among Midatech Pharma PLC, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, and all owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares thereunder (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99A to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-6/A (File No. 333-207186), filed with the SEC on October 27, 2015).
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4.3
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Form of Amendment to Deposit Agreement by and among Midatech Pharma PLC, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, and all owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares thereunder (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99A to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-6/A (File No. 333-207186), filed with the SEC on April 8, 2019).
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4.4
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Form of American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.3).
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4.5*
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Form of Warrant Agreement.
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4.6*
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Form of Unit Agreement.
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5.1
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Opinion of Brown Rudnick LLP.
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5.2
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Opinion of Brown Rudnick LLP.
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23.1
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Consent
of BDO LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
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23.2
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Consent of Brown Rudnick LLP (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2).
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24.1
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Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to the Registration Statement).
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*
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To be filed by amendment or by a Report on Form 6-K.
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II-6
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