Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Common Stock Offering
On November 13, 2020, Cassava Sciences, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as representative of the underwriters (the “Underwriters”), in connection with a registered firm commitment underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of up to 10,781,250 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 (the “Common Stock”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters have agreed to purchase from the Company, an aggregate of 9,375,000 shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company also granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,406,250 shares of its Common Stock.
The Company expects to receive gross proceeds from the offering, excluding the exercise of the Underwriters’ option, if any, of approximately $75.0 million, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering-related expenses. Assuming the full exercise of the Underwriters’ option, gross proceeds would be approximately $86.3 million.
The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and the Underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Underwriting Agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.
Pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and related lock-up agreements, the Company and its directors and executive officers also agreed not to sell or transfer any Common Stock held by them for 90 days after November 13, 2020 without first obtaining the written consent of the representative of the Underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, extensions and terms as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
The Offering is being made pursuant to the Company’s effective registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-237452) (the “Registration Statement”) previously filed with, and declared effective on May 5, 2020 by, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus filed with the SEC.
A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference, and the description of the terms of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit. The Underwriting Agreement is also filed with reference to, and is hereby incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement.
Attached as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference is a copy of the opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP relating to the validity of the shares of Common Stock that may be sold in the Offering (the “Legal Opinion”). The Legal Opinion is also filed with reference to, and is hereby incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement.