Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On February 28, 2020, Exicure, Inc. (the “Company”) and 2430 N. Halsted, LLC (the “Landlord”) entered into a lease agreement (the “Lease”) for approximately 30,085 square feet of laboratory and office space (the “Premises”) in Chicago, Illinois (the “Lease”). The Company intends to move its corporate headquarters and research facility to the Premises upon occupancy, which is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2020.
The original term (the “Original Term”) of the Lease is 10 years, commencing on the date on which the Premises are ready for occupancy under the terms of the Lease (the "Anticipated Commencement Date"). The Company has options to extend the term of the Lease for two additional successive periods of five years each at the then prevailing effective market rental rate.
The initial annual base rent during the Original Term is $37.00 per square foot per year, or approximately $1.1 million for the first 12-month period of the Original Term, payable in monthly installments beginning on the Anticipated Commencement Date. Base rent thereafter is subject to annual increases of 3%, for an aggregate amount of $12.8 million over the Original Term. The Company must also pay its proportionate share of certain operating expenses and taxes for each calendar year during the term. During the first 12-month period of the Original Term, the base rent and the Company's proportionate share of operating expenses and taxes are subject to certain abatements.
The Landlord will contribute a maximum of $3.2 million toward tenant improvements. In connection with the Lease, the Company will maintain a letter of credit for the benefit of the Landlord in an initial amount of $1.2 million, which amount is subject to reduction over time. Upon execution of the lease, the Company paid to the Landlord the first installment of base rent and the estimated monthly amount of its pro rata share of taxes and its pro rata share of operating expenses in the aggregate amount of $87,322, which amount had been adjusted for the abatement as set forth in the lease agreement.
The Lease contains customary representations, warranties, covenants, indemnification provisions, default provisions, and termination provisions for a lease of this nature.
The foregoing description of the terms of the Lease does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Lease, which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ending March 31, 2020.