EX-10.17



 Exhibit 10.17 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT 

THIS THIRD AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as of February 13, 2015 is entered
into among SynCardia Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party hereto and Cantor Fitzgerald Securities, as Administrative Agent. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement (as defined below). 
 RECITALS 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent entered into that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
December 13, 2013 (as amended or modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”); 
 WHEREAS, the Borrower has
requested that, and the Lenders have agreed to, amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement as more fully set forth herein; and 
 NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 

1. Reaffirmation. The Borrower acknowledges and reaffirms (a) that it is bound by all of the terms of the Investment Documents to
which it is a party and (b) that it is responsible for the observance and full performance of all Obligations, including without limitation, the repayment of the Loans and interest and prepayment premiums thereon and fees with respect thereto.
Furthermore, the Borrower acknowledges and confirms (x) that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have performed fully all of their respective obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Investment Documents and (y) that by
entering into this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders do not waive or release any term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any of the other Investment Documents or any of their rights or remedies under such Investment Documents
or any applicable law or any of the obligations of the Loan Parties thereunder. 
 2. Amendments. The Credit Agreement is hereby
amended as follows: 
 (a) The definition of “Athyrium” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended in its entirety to read as follows: 
 “Athyrium” means Athyrium Capital Management, LP. 

(b) Clause (a)(ii) of the definition of “Change of Control” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is deleted
in its entirety and amended to read as follows: 
 “(ii) an IPO (other than a Qualifying IPO); or” 

(c) The definition of “Intercreditor Agreement” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its
entirety to read as follows: 
 “Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated
Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement dated as of February 13, 2015, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent, the Control Agent and the 







 
Second Lien Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. 

(d) The definition of “Second Lien Credit Agreement” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
in its entirety to read as follows: 
 “Second Lien Credit Agreement” means, collectively, that certain
Amended and Restated Second Lien Credit, Note Purchase, Exchange, and Termination Agreement dated as of February 13, 2015 by and among the Borrower and the entities and persons listed on the Schedule of Investors thereto and the Omnibus
Amendment (which collectively amend and restate that certain Second Lien Credit Agreement dated as of the Restatement Date, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the lenders party thereto and the Second Lien Administrative Agent), as amended or
otherwise modified from time to time to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement. 
 (e) The definition of “Second
Lien Loan Documents” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows: 

“Second Lien Loan Documents” means the Second Lien Credit Agreement and the other “Purchase
Documents” as defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement. 
 (f) The definition of “Second Lien Loans” in
Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows: 
 “Second Lien
Loans” shall mean the loans to the Borrower represented by the notes issued under the Second Lien Credit Agreement. 

(g) The definition of “Second Lien Obligations” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its
entirety to read as follows: 
 “Second Lien Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to the term
“Obligations” (as in effect on the date hereof and as amended or otherwise modified to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement) in the Omnibus Amendment. 

(h) The following definitions are hereby added to Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement in appropriate alphabetical order
to read as follows: 
 “IPO” means the issuance by the Borrower of its Equity Interests in a firm-commitment
underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act. 

“Omnibus Amendment” means that certain Omnibus Reaffirmation and Amendment dated as of February 13, 2015,
by and among the Borrower, the investors party thereto and the Second Lien Administrative Agent. 
 “IPO Per Share
Price” means the price per share at which shares of the Borrower’s common stock are offered to the public in an IPO. 

“Post-Offering Market Value” means (i) the IPO Per Share Price multiplied by (ii) the number of
shares of the Borrower’s common stock outstanding immediately following the closing of such IPO (calculated on a fully-diluted, as-converted and as-exercised basis and including, without duplication, (x) shares issuable upon conversion of








 
the Borrower’s preferred stock in connection with or immediately following such IPO, (y) shares issuable upon the exercise or conversion of all options, warrants and/or other
convertible securities outstanding as of the closing of such IPO (provided that, in all instances, shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Second Lien Loans shall be excluded from the determination of Post-Offering Market Value), and
(z) shares of common stock reserved as of the closing of such IPO for issuance under any stock option plan or similar equity incentive plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower). 

“Qualifying IPO” means an IPO of common stock in which the Post-Offering Market Value is greater than or equal
to $100,000,000 and the gross cash proceeds to the Borrower (prior to underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses) in such offering are greater than or equal to $15,000,000. 

“Second Lien Notes” means the promissory notes issued in connection with the Second Lien Credit Agreement.

 (i) Section 8.11 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: 

8.11 Prepayment of Other Indebtedness. 

Make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment or redemption or acquisition for
value of (including without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due), refund, refinance or exchange of any Indebtedness of any Loan Party or any
Subsidiary (other than (x) Indebtedness arising under the Loan Documents and (y) any repayment or refinancing of purchase money Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.03(b) or Section 8.03(e)); provided that the
Borrower shall be permitted to convert the principal and interest under the Second Lien Notes permitted under Section 8.03(h) into Equity Interests in the Borrower, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Second Lien Notes (in
effect as of the date hereof) unless the conversion is occurring in connection with an IPO which is not a Qualifying IPO (as such terms are defined in this Agreement). 

(j) Schedule 11.02 to the Credit Agreement is replaced in its entirety with Schedule 11.02 attached hereto. 

3. Release. As a material part of the consideration for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders entering into this Agreement, the
Borrower agrees as follows (the “Release Provision”): 
 (a) By its signature below, the Borrower hereby
agrees that the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, each of their respective Affiliates and each of the foregoing Persons’ respective officers, managers, members, directors, partners, agents and employees, and their respective successors and
assigns (hereinafter all of the above collectively referred to as the “Lender Group”), are irrevocably and unconditionally released, discharged and acquitted from any and all actions, causes of action, claims, demands, damages and
liabilities of whatever kind or nature, in law or in equity, now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected to the extent that any of the foregoing arises from any action or failure to act under or otherwise arising in connection with the Investment
Documents on or prior to the date hereof. 
 (b) The Borrower hereby acknowledges, represents and warrants to the Lender
Group that: 







 (i) The Borrower has read and understands the effect of the Release Provision.
The Borrower has had the assistance of independent counsel of its own choice, or has had the opportunity to retain such independent counsel, in reviewing, discussing, and considering all the terms of the Release Provision; and if counsel was
retained, counsel for the Borrower has read and considered the Release Provision and advised the Borrower with respect to the same. Before execution of this Agreement, the Borrower has had adequate opportunity to make whatever investigation or
inquiry it may deem necessary or desirable in connection with the subject matter of the Release Provision. 
 (ii) The
Borrower is not acting in reliance on any representation, understanding, or agreement not expressly set forth herein. The Borrower acknowledges that the Lender Group has not made any representation with respect to the Release Provision except as
expressly set forth herein. 
 (iii) The Borrower has executed this Agreement and the Release Provision thereof as its free
and voluntary act, without any duress, coercion, or undue influence exerted by or on behalf of any person. 
 (iv) The
Borrower is the sole owner of the claims released by the Release Provision, and the Borrower has not heretofore conveyed or assigned any interest in any such claims to any other Person. 

(c) The Borrower understands that the Release Provision was a material consideration in the agreement of the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement. The Release Provision shall be in addition to any rights, privileges and immunities granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Investment Documents. 

4. Conditions Precedent. This Agreement shall be effective upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (such date, the
“Third Amendment Effective Date”): 
 (a) the receipt by the Administrative Agent of counterparts of this
Agreement duly executed by the Borrower and the Lenders and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent; 
 (b) payment, by the
Borrower, of all outstanding fees, costs and expenses of counsel to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent incurred in drafting, negotiating and consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or currently outstanding under the
Investment Documents; 
 (c) the Borrower shall have consummated the transactions contemplated by the Second Lien Credit
Agreement, which agreement shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders; and 
 (d) the Administrative Agent
shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders, (i) certifying that the Organization Documents of the Borrower delivered on the Third Amendment Effective
Date have not been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and remain in full force and effect as of the Third Amendment Effective Date and (ii) attaching resolutions of the Borrower approving and adopting this Agreement, the transactions
contemplated herein and authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and any documents, agreements or certificates related thereto and certifying that such resolutions have not been amended,








 
supplemented or otherwise modified and remain in full force and effect as of the Third Amendment Effective Date. 

5. Miscellaneous. 

(a) The Credit Agreement, as modified hereby, and the obligations of the Loan Parties thereunder and under the other Investment
Documents, are hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain in full force and effect according to their terms. This Agreement shall constitute a Loan Document. 

(b) The Borrower hereby represents and warrant as follows: 

(i) it has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement; 

(ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes the Borrower’s legal, valid and
binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and (B) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); and 

(iii) no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental
authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement. 

(c) The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that (i) the representations and
warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in Article VI of the Credit Agreement and in each other Investment Document are true and correct in all material respects (or, if any such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or
Material Adverse Effect, it shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date hereof with the same effect as if made on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate solely to an earlier
date and (ii) no event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes (A) a Default or an Event of Default or (B) an Event of Non-Compliance under the Warrants. 

(d) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an
original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as an original and shall constitute a representation that an executed original shall be
delivered. 
 (e) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 (f) The execution of this Agreement by
the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be deemed their: (i) consent to the Borrower entering into the Second Lien Loan Documents for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) confirmation that








 
no Default or Event of Default shall occur under the Credit Agreement solely as a result of Borrower entering into the Second Lien Loan Documents. 

(g) Direction. The Lenders party hereto hereby direct and authorize the Administrative Agent, pursuant to
Section 10.03 of the Credit Agreement, to execute and deliver the Agreement (the foregoing, the “Direction”). The Lenders party hereto acknowledge and affirm their obligations under Section 10.03 of the Credit Agreement to
hold harmless and indemnify the Administrative Agent in connection with the Direction. 
 [Signature pages follow] 







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

							
	BORROWER:				SYNCARDIA SYSTEMS, INC.,
					a Delaware corporation
				
					By:		 /s/ Michael Garippa

					Name:		Michael Garippa
					Title:		Chief Executive Officer


  
 [Third Amendment to
Syncardia A&R Credit Agreement] 









													
	LENDERS:				ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES FUND (A) LP,
					a Delaware limited partnership
				
							By: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATES LP, its General Partner
					
									By: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATES GP LLC, the General Partner of Athyrium Opportunities Associates LP
							
											By:		 /s/ Andrew Hyman

											Name:		 Andrew Hyman

											Title:		 Authorized Signatory

											Date:		 2/13/2015

			
					 ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES FUND (B) LP,

a Delaware limited partnership

				
							By: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATES LP, its General Partner
					
									By: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATES GP LLC, the General Partner of Athyrium Opportunities Associates LP
							
											By:		 /s/ Andrew Hyman

											Name:		 Andrew Hyman

											Title:		 Authorized Signatory

											Date:		 2/13/2015

			
					 SWK FUNDING LLC,
 a Delaware limited
liability company

				
							By: SWK Holdings Corporation, its sole Manager
					
							By:		 /s/ J. Brett Pope

							Name:		 J. Brett Pope

							Title:		 CEO

							Date:		 2/12/15



  
 [Third Amendment to
Syncardia A&R Credit Agreement] 








 ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED: 
  

							
	ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:				CANTOR FITZGERALD SECURITIES
				
					By:		 /s/ James Bond

					Title:		 Chief Operating Officer

					Date:		 February 13, 2015



  
 [Third Amendment to
Syncardia A&R Credit Agreement] 








 Schedule 11.02 - Certain Addresses for Notices 

 

	1.	Address for all Loan Parties: 

 SynCardia Systems, Inc. 

c/o Michael Garippa, CEO 
 1992 E
Silverlake Rd 
 Tucson, AZ 85713 

Telephone Direct: 
 Telephone
General: 
 Telecopier: 

Electronic Mail: MGarippa@syncardia.com 

Website Address: http://www.syncardia.com/ 

With a copy to: 
 Cooley LLP 

c/o Steve Przesmicki 
 4401
Eastgate Mall 
 San Diego, CA 92121 

Telephone: 858-550-6070 

Telecopier: 858-550-6420 

Electronic Mail: przes@cooley.com 
  

	2.	Address for Administrative Agent: 

 Cantor Fitzgerald Securities 

110 East 59th Street 

New York, NY 10022 
 Attention:
Nils Horning 
 Telephone: 212-829-4889 

Telecopier: 646-219-1180 

Electronic Mail: nhorning@cantor.com 

With a copy to: 

Shipman & Goodwin 
 c/o
Nathan Z. Plotkin 
 One Constitution Plaza 

Hartford, CT 06103-1919 

Telephone: 860-251-5320 

Electronic Mail: NPlotkin@goodwin.com 








	3.	Addresses for Lenders: 

  

	 	(a)	Athyrium Opportunities Fund (A) LP and 

 Athyrium Opportunities Fund (B) LP: 

Kelly Maughan 
 Neuberger Berman

 605 Third Avenue – 22 Floor 

New York, NY 10158 
 Telephone:
212-476-5963 
 Telecopier: 646-758-2812 

Electronic Mail: Kelly.maughan@nb.com 

With a copy to: 
 Laurent Hermouet

 Athyrium Capital Management, LP 

530 Fifth Avenue 
 Floor 25 

New York, NY 10036 
 Telephone:
646-434-1635 
 Electronic Mail: lhermouet@athyrium.com 

With a copy to: 
 Tripp Monroe

 Moore & Van Allen PLLC 

100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4700 

Charlotte, NC 28202 
 Telephone:
704-331-1107 
 Electronic Mail: trippmonroe@mvalaw.com 








	 	(b)	SWK Funding LLC: 

 J. Brett Pope 

SWK Funding LLC 
 14755 Preston
Road, Suite 105 
 Dallas, TX 75254 

Telecopier: 972-687-7255 
 With a
copy to: 
 Jay Baker 

Holland & Knight LLP 

200 Crescent Court, Suite 1600 

Dallas, TX 75201 
 Telecopier:
214-964-9501 
 Electronic Mail: james.baker@hklaw.com 








	4.	Wiring Instructions: 

  

	 	(a)	Athyrium Opportunities Fund (A) LP: 

  

	 	(b)	Athyrium Opportunities Fund (B) LP: 

  

	 	(c)	SWK Funding LLC: