Exhibit 10.7

 

SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

THIS SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of the 1st day of April, 2016, by and between PBM Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“PBM”), and AkaRx, Inc. (the “Company”).

 

R E C I T A L S

 

A.            The Company is engaged in the business of owning, managing and developing a new drug product candidate, commonly referenced as avatrombopag (collectively, the “Business”).

 

B.            PBM has expertise in providing accounting and other administrative and management services related to businesses that are similar to the Business.

 

C.            The Company has retained PBM to provide certain accounting and other services for the Company under the terms and conditions stated herein; provided, however, that the Company will control and be fully responsible for its business and facilities.

 

D.            The Company and PBM desire to set forth the terms and conditions on which such services will be provided in the future.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, on the basis of the facts set forth above, and in consideration of the covenants, mutual promises and conditions set forth below, the parties agree as follows:

 

A G R E E M E N T

 

1.             Retention of PBM.  The Company hereby engages PBM to provide certain accounting and back office support services to the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and PBM hereby accepts such engagement.

 

2.             Duties and Responsibilities of PBM.  During the Term (as defined below), PBM, through its duly appointed representative or representatives, shall provide the Company with certain management, accounting and other services, as determined by mutual agreement of PBM and the Company from time to time, which services shall include, without limitation, the performance of the following functions (collectively, the “Services”):

 

(a)           Strategy and business development, including supporting the Company on pursuing partnering, financing, and regulatory planning;

 

(b)           Operations management, including assisting in the operational execution of the Company’s strategic plan as approved by the Company’s Board of Directors;

 

(c)           Technical support, including review of key technical documents and regulatory filings and planning/executing of key development studies;

 

(d)           Contract negotiation and review and other corporate and legal support;

 











 

(e)           Processing purchase orders issued by the Company;

 

(f)            Preparation of a proposed annual budget for the Company to be submitted to the Company’s Board of Directors for review;

 

(g)           Administer the payment of approved and budgeted bills and expenses by the Company;

 

(h)           Administer the payroll of the Company, including payment of wages, salaries or commissions to all full or part-time on-site employees employed by the Company, and all amounts due for workmen’s compensation insurance, social security taxes or levies now in force or hereafter imposed with respect to any such employees or personnel;

 

(i)            Maintain financial books and records for the Company;

 

(j)            Obtain professional services on behalf of Company with respect to audit and outside accounting services and oversee the performance of such services;

 

(k)           Oversee the preparation of financial statements state, local and federal tax returns to be filed by the Company; and

 

(l)            Furnish such other services as are incidental to the foregoing or usually or customarily furnished by a financial manager.

 

PBM agrees to use reasonable diligence in the exercise of the powers and duties conferred upon it in this Agreement, in the performance of the Services.

 

3.             Duties and Responsibilities of the Company.  During the Term, the Company shall cooperate with PBM and shall provide timely responses to PBM’s requests to enable PBM to perform the Services.  All officers and directors of the Company shall fully cooperate with PBM in the fulfillment of its duties hereunder, including, without limitation, attending (or sending representatives to attend) meetings, providing input to PBM and being available for consultation and signing documents.

 

4.             Management Fee.  The Company shall pay a fee to PBM for the Services rendered in an amount of $25,000 per month, which fee shall be paid in equal monthly installments on or before the last day of each calendar month.

 

5.             Term and Termination.

 

(a)           Term.  This Agreement shall commence on the effective date hereof and shall continue for a period of twelve (12) months, unless terminated earlier in accordance with this Section 5 (such period, the “Initial Term”).  Following the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year periods (each, a “Renewal Term”) unless terminated by either Party upon notice to the other Party.  The Initial Term and any Renewal Term shall be, collectively, the “Term.”

 











 

(b)           Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated by the Company or PBM at any time, with or without notice and with or without cause.

 

(c)           Rights Upon Termination.  The termination of this Agreement shall not release or discharge either party from any obligation, debt or liability that shall have previously accrued and remain to be performed through the effective date of termination.

 

6.             Force Majeure.  Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, neither PBM nor the Company shall be deemed to be in default under this Agreement for the failure to perform any of its obligations required pursuant to this Agreement if such failure is a result of governmental intervention, labor disputes, acts of God or any other event that is beyond the reasonable control of the defaulting party.

 

7.             Banking.  All income and other funds of the Company shall be collected by the Company and maintained in such bank account(s) as the Company shall determine from time to time.  All such funds shall be and shall remain the sole property of the Company. PBM will administer and process all of the payments by the Company pursuant to Section 2.  The Company shall obtain approval from PBM prior to becoming obligated for any liability or expense that is not set forth in a budget that was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (as such budgets may be amended from time to time by the Board of Directors), which approval may be withheld in PBM’s sole discretion.

 

8.             Indemnification.  The Company shall indemnify and hold PBM harmless from and against all claims, demands, costs, expenses, liabilities and losses (including reasonable attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees) that may result against PBM as a consequence of PBM’s performance of services under this Agreement, except to the extent caused by PBM’s breach of this Agreement, gross negligence, violation of law or intentional misconduct.

 

9.             Limitation of Liability.  IN NO EVENT SHALL PBM BE LIABLE TO THE COMPANY, OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY, FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, LOST DATA OR OTHER SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY SERVICES, WORK PRODUCT OR DELIVERABLES PROVIDED OR DELIVERED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN INFORMED IN ADVANCE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  PBM’S TOTAL LIABILITY TO THE COMPANY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO, THIS AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE TOTAL PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY PBM UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

 

10.          Notices.  Any and all notices, designation, consents, offers, acceptances or any other communication provided herein, shall be in writing and deemed given three (3) days after deposited in the U.S. Mail, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed, (i) in the case of PBM, to 200 Garrett Street, Suite S, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, Attn: Corporate Counsel, and (ii) in the case of the Company, to 200 Garrett Street, Suite S, Charlottesville, VA 22902, Attn: Corporate Counsel, or in each case to such other address or addresses as may be specified in a notice given in a manner described in this section.

 











 

11.          Governing Law.  This Agreement and all questions relating to its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware notwithstanding any conflict or choice of laws provisions to the contrary.

 

12.          Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective legal representatives, successors and assigns, except that neither party shall have the right to assign this Agreement, or its rights or obligations hereunder, without the written consent of the other party hereto.

 

13.          Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)           Integration.  This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties and contains all of the agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement supersedes any and all other agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Modification.  No change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the person or party to be charged.

 

14.          Waivers.  Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of any party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege (“Right”) under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any Right preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other Right, nor shall any waiver of any Right with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such Right with respect to any such occurrence.  No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

 

15.          Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature and in any number of counterparts, all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

16.          Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.

 

17.          Status of Parties.  In the performance of the work, duties and obligations under this Agreement, it is mutually understood and agreed that each party is at all times acting and performing as an independent contractor with respect to the other party and that no relationship of partnership, joint venture or employment is created by this Agreement.

 

18.          No Rights or Liabilities in Third Parties.  This Agreement is not intended to, nor shall it be construed to, create any rights or liabilities in any third parties.

 

19.          Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision

 











 

shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Services Agreement to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
PBM:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
PBM   CAPITAL GROUP, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   James C. Reebals
    
	
 
    	
Name:   James C. Reebals
    
	
 
    	
Title:   CFO
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
COMPANY:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
AKARX, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   James C. Reebals
    
	
 
    	
Name:   James C. Reebals
    
	
 
    	
Title:   CFO