UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16

OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of September, 2020

 

Commission File Number: 001-36582

 

Auris Medical Holding Ltd.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Clarendon House, 2 Church Street

Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda

(Address of principal executive office)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F ☒    Form 40-F ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

Yes ☐    No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

Yes ☐    No ☒

 

 

 

Convertible Loan Agreement

 

On September 7, 2020, Auris Medical Holding Ltd., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated in Bermuda (“we” or the “Company”), and Altamira Medica AG, a corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) organized and existing under the laws of Switzerland and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Borrower”), entered into a convertible loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with FiveT Capital Holding AG (the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Lender has agreed to loan to the Borrower CHF 1,500,000 (the “Loan”), which Loan bears interest at the rate of 8% per annum and matures 18 months from the date (the “Disbursement Date”) the Loan proceeds are disbursed to the Borrower.

 

The Borrower may prepay all or part of the Loan after six months after the Disbursement Date; provided that the Borrower will pay an amount equal to 130% of the desired prepayment amount. Subject to certain notice periods, the Lender shall have the right to accelerate repayment of the Loan upon any event of default under the Loan Agreement, which includes if the Borrower and/or the Company fail to make any required payment under the Loan or breach any other material obligation thereunder. In addition, upon a Change of Control Transaction (as defined in the Loan Agreement) with respect to the Borrower or the Company, the Loan Agreement will become due within 10 days after the transaction in an amount equal to the higher of (i) the outstanding balance, including principal and accrued and unpaid interest and (ii) the amount that would have been payable to the Lender as a result of the Change of Control Transaction if the Lender had converted such outstanding balance into common shares, nominal value of CHF 1.00 per share of the Borrower (the “Borrower Shares”) or common shares, par value CHF 0.01 per share of the Company (the “Company Shares”), respectively, under the Loan Agreement immediately prior to the completion of the transaction.

 

From the date that is five trading days after the Disbursement Date until the maturity date of the Loan Agreement, the Lender will have the right to convert all or part of the Loan, including accrued and unpaid interest, at its option, into Borrower Shares and/or Company Shares, subject to the limitation that the Lender own no more than 49.99% of the Borrower Shares at any time and no more than 9.99% of the Company Shares at any time. The conversion price of the Loan into Borrower Shares will be the lower of (i) CHF 3.00 per share (subject to adjustment for share splits or other similar events) and (ii) the issue price per newly issued Borrower Share paid by any third party investor in a financing round of the Borrower as a result of which such third party investor holds a number of Borrower Shares equal to at least 10% of all Borrower Shares issued and outstanding following the completion of such financing round. The conversion price of the Loan into Company Shares will be the lower of (i) 150% of the price per Company Share as at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange on the Disbursement Date (subject to adjustment for share splits or other similar events) and (ii) 95% of the average price per Company Share as at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange during five (5) trading days preceding the date of the applicable conversion notice; provided, however, that under no circumstances will the conversion price per Company Share be less than the higher of (x) the par value per Company Share and (y) a floor price that equals, (A) for the first three calendar months commencing on the Disbursement Date, 75% of the price of a Company Share at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange immediately preceding the time of execution of the Loan Agreement (B) from the three-month anniversary of the Disbursement Date until three months thereafter, 75% of the average of the prices of a Company Share at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange on each trading day during the first three calendar months commencing on the Disbursement Date and (C) during each three-calendar month period thereafter, 75% of the average of the prices of a Company Share at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange on each trading day during the three-calendar month period preceding the beginning of such three-calendar month period.

 

 

Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the Company agreed to file a registration statement on Form F-3 (or other appropriate form) as soon as practicable (and in any event within 30 days of the Disbursement Date) providing for the resale by the Lender of the Company Shares that may be issued upon any conversion of the Loan and to use its best efforts to cause such resale registration statement to be declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within 60 days following the Disbursement Date (or, in the event of a “full review” by the SEC, the 90th calendar day following the Disbursement Date).

 

The Borrower Shares and/or Company Shares are being sold by the Company to the Lender under the Loan Agreement in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

The foregoing description of the Loan Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

 

AM-301 Development Program Announcement

 

In addition, the Company issued a press release on September 8, 2020 announcing a new development program, the Loan Agreement and the formation of the Borrower, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

This Report on Form 6-K, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this Report on Form 6-K, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the registration statements on Form F-3 (Registration Number 333-228121) and Form S-8 (Registration Number 333-232735) of Auris Medical Holding Ltd. and to be a part thereof from the date on which this report is filed, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Convertible Loan Agreement, dated as of September 7, 2020, by and among Auris Medical Holding Ltd., Altamira Medica AG and FiveT Capital Holding AG.
99.2		Press Release, dated September 8, 2020, of Auris Medical Holding Ltd.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

	Auris Medical Holding Ltd.
	By:	/s/ Thomas Meyer
		Name:	Thomas Meyer
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

Date: September 8, 2020

 

 

3

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Convertible Loan Agreement

 

dated as of September 7, 2020
by and between
FiveT Capital Holding AG	(the Lender)
c/o Räber Treuhand AG, Churerstrasse 98, 8808 Pfäffikon, Switzerland
and
Altamira Medica AG	(the Borrower)
c/o Otolanum AG, Bahnhofstrasse 21, 6300 Zug, Switzerland
and
Auris Medical Holding Ltd.	(AMHL)
Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda
(the Lender, the Borrower and AMHL each a Party together the Parties)

 

 

Preamble

 

A.

The Lender is a corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) organized and existing under the laws of Switzerland with its registered office in Zurich, Switzerland.

 

B.

The Borrower is a corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) organized and existing under the laws of Switzerland with its registered office in Zug, Switzerland. As of the date of this convertible loan agreement (the Agreement), the Borrower has a share capital of CHF 525,000, divided into 525,000 registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 1.00 each (Borrower Shares).

 

C.

AMHL is a limited company organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda with its registered office in Hamilton, Bermuda. As of the date hereof, AMHL has an authorized share capital of CHF 25,000,000.00 under which 7’089’512 common shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.01 each are issued and outstanding (AMHL Common Shares). The AMHL Common Shares are listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker code EARS and the international securities identification number (ISIN) BMG070252017.

 

D.

As of the date of this Agreement, AMHL is the legal owner of 100% of the Borrower Shares.

 

E.

The Lender wishes to grant the Borrower a loan to cover the Borrower’s financial needs.

 

F.

The Lender shall have the right to convert such loan into Borrower Shares or AMHL Common Shares in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Now, therefore, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

For the purposes of this Agreement (including the Preamble and the Annexes), capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth in Annex 1.

 

(a)

The Lender hereby grants the Borrower a loan in the amount of CHF 1,500,000.00 (the Loan), divided into 30 units of CHF 50,000.00 each (each a Loan Unit), in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)

The Loan shall bear interest as from the Disbursement Date at an interest rate of 8% p.a. (the Interest). Interest on the Loan shall be calculated on an actual (365) basis.

 

(c)

Subject to Sections 4 and 5, Interest on the Loan shall not be paid in cash, but added to the Loan outstanding on the date of the Conversion Notice and be converted together with such outstanding Loan.

 

The Lender shall disburse the Loan by no later than 2 (two) Business Days after the date of this Agreement (the Disbursement Date) to the following bank account of the Borrower:

 

	Bank:
	IBAN:
	BIC/Swift:

 

Subject to Sections 6 (Event of Default), 7 (Change of Control Transaction) and 8 (Conversion), the total outstanding principal amount under the Loan including all accrued and unpaid Interest thereon shall become due and payable in cash on the date which is 18 months after the Disbursement Date (the Maturity Date).

 

(a)

The Borrower may elect in its sole discretion to repay in cash the total outstanding principal amount under (i) the Loan or (ii) one or several Loan Unit(s), in each case including all accrued and unpaid Interest thereon (the Repayment Amount), at any time from the date which is six (6) months following the Disbursement Date by giving 1 (one) month prior written notice to the Lender (the Repayment Notice Period), provided that the Borrower shall pay to the Lender an amount equal to 130% of the Repayment Amount.

 

(b)

The repayment shall be made within 10 (ten) calendar days following expiry of the Repayment Notice Period.

 

(c)

Prior to the expiry of the Repayment Notice Period, the Lender may convert the Repayment Amount in accordance with Section 8. Thereafter, irrespective of any other provision in this Agreement, the Repayment Amount may no longer be converted by the Lender under this Agreement, provided that the Borrower pays the relevant amount to the Lender as set forth under Sections 5(a) and 5(b).

 

The Lender shall have the right to request immediate payment in cash of the total outstanding principal amount under the Loan including all accrued and unpaid Interest thereon by giving written notice to the Borrower and AMHL at any time upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(a)

the Borrower and/or AMHL fail(s) to make any payments under this Agreement when due, provided that the Lender has submitted a 1 (one) month written notice to the Borrower and AMHL notifying Borrower and AMHL of such failure and requesting the payment;

 

(b)

the Borrower and/or AMHL breach(es) any of its/their material obligations under this Agreement, provided that any such breach is not cured within 20 (twenty) calendar days following written notice thereof by the Lender; or

 

(c)

a resolution is passed for the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Borrower or AMHL.

 

(a)

In the event that the Borrower or AMHL completes any Change of Control Transaction prior to the full repayment or conversion of the total outstanding principal amount under the Loan and all accrued and unpaid Interest thereon in accordance with this Agreement, the total amount to be paid to the Lender under this Agreement shall correspond to the higher of (i) the total principal amount under the Loan and all accrued Interest thereon outstanding at such time (the Outstanding Balance) and (ii) the amount that would have been payable to the Lender as a result of the Change of Control Transaction if the Lender had converted such Outstanding Balance into Borrower Shares or AMHL Common Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the completion of the Change of Control Transaction.

 

(b)

The relevant amount pursuant to Section 7(a) shall be due and payable within 10 (ten) calendar days following the date on which the Change of Control Transaction has been completed.

 

(c)

Upon completion of any Change of Control Transaction, the total outstanding principal amount under the Loan and all accrued and unpaid Interest thereon may no longer be converted by the Lender under this Agreement.

 

8.1.

Conversion Right

 

(a)

Subject to Section 8.2, the Lender has the right to request (the Conversion Right) full conversion of the total outstanding principal amount under (i) the Loan or (ii) one or several Loan Unit(s), in each case including all accrued and unpaid Interest thereon as per the date of the Conversion Notice (the Conversion Amount), into (y) Borrower Shares (the Borrower Conversion) or (z) AMHL Common Shares (the AMHL Conversion); the number of such Borrower Shares or AMHL Common Shares issuable or deliverable to the Lender shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Conversion Amount, in case of (y), by the Borrower Conversion Price (such number of such Borrower Shares, the Borrower Conversion Shares) or, in case of (z), the AMHL Conversion Price (such number of such AMHL Common Shares, the AMHL Conversion Shares).

 

 

(b)

The Lender may exercise the Conversion Right at any time from the date which is 5 (five) Trading Days following the Disbursement Date until no later than the Maturity Date by giving written notice to the Borrower and AMHL, substantially in the form as set out in Annex 8.1(b) (the Conversion Notice). The Conversion Notice shall be irrevocable and cannot be cancelled or withdrawn by the Lender.

 

8.2.

Limitations of Conversion Right

 

The Lender’s Conversion Right shall be subject to the following limitations:

 

(a)

No Borrower Conversion shall result in the beneficial ownership of the Lender and/or any of its Affiliates at any time of more than 49.99% of all issued and outstanding Borrower Shares (the Borrower Conversion Cap), it being understood and agreed by the Parties that such Borrower Conversion Cap shall not be exceeded by any of the Lender and/or its Affiliates alone or together.

 

(b)

No AMHL Conversion shall result in the beneficial ownership of the Lender or any of its Affiliates at any time of more than 9.99% of all issued and outstanding AMHL Common Shares (the AMHL Conversion Cap), it being understood and agreed by the Parties that such AMHL Conversion Cap shall not be exceeded by any of the Lender and/or its Affiliates alone or together. The AMHL Conversion Cap may be terminated by the Lender by giving 61 (sixty-one) calendar days prior written notice to AMHL and the Borrower.

 

(c)

The limitations as per Sections 5(c) and 7(c).

 

8.3.

Conversion Price

 

(a)

The conversion price applicable for any Borrower Conversion (the Borrower Conversion Price) shall be the amount equal to the lower of (i) CHF 3.00 (subject to adjustment for share splits, share dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse share splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof) and (ii) the issue price per newly issued Borrower Share paid by any third party investor in a financing round of the Borrower preceding any Borrower Conversion as a result of which such third party investor holds a number of Borrower Shares equal to at least 10% of all Borrower Shares issued and outstanding following the completion of such financing round (the Qualified Financing Round). Promptly upon completion of any Qualified Financing Round, the Borrower shall notify the Lender (whereby by e-mail is sufficient) of the applicable Borrower Conversion Price.

 

 

(b)

The conversion price applicable for any AMHL Conversion (the AMHL Conversion Price) shall be the amount equal to the lower of (i) 150% of the price per AMHL Common Share as at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange on the Disbursement Date (subject to adjustment for share splits, share dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse share splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof) and (ii) 95% of the average price per AMHL Common Share as at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange during five (5) Trading Days preceding the date of the Conversion Notice, in each case as the relevant price(s) per AMHL Common Share as at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange is/are reported under www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/ears/historical; provided, however, that under no circumstances shall the AMHL Conversion Price be less than the higher of (x) the par value per AMHL Common Share and (y) the 3-Month Floor Price.

 

8.4.

Borrower Conversion

 

(a)

No later than 5 (five) calendar days prior to submitting the Conversion Notice, the Lender shall inform the Borrower and AMHL (whereby by e-mail is sufficient) about its intention to exercise the Conversion Right in the form of a Borrower Conversion (the Advance Notification). Such Advance Notification shall state the envisaged date of the Conversion Notice and the number of Borrower Conversion Shares issuable or deliverable to the Lender, calculated on the basis of the envisaged date of the Conversion Notice. Promptly upon receipt of the Advance Notification, the Borrower shall inform the Lender (whereby by e-mail is sufficient) of any objections (which shall include a brief explanation of such objections) (the Objections) it may have and whether the relevant number of Borrower Conversion Shares will be issued out of conditional share capital or authorized share capital, or delivered from Borrower Shares owned by AMHL or held by the Borrower as treasury shares. The Parties agree to settle any Objections in good faith and promptly. If the Borrower Conversion Shares shall be issued out of authorized share capital, the Lender shall be required to submit to the Borrower, together with the Conversion Notice, a subscription form (the Subscription Form) in the form as provided by the Borrower.

 

 

(b)

In case the Borrower Conversion Shares shall be issued as part of a capital increase of the Borrower or delivered from Borrower Shares held by the Borrower as treasury shares, the Lender shall settle its respective contribution obligation or, as applicable, the purchase price for the Borrower Conversion Shares, in each case in the amount equal to the Conversion Amount by setting-off the Conversion Amount. In case the Borrower Conversion Shares shall be delivered from Borrower Shares owned by AMHL, the Borrower’s payment obligation under this Agreement in the amount equal to the Conversion Amount shall be deemed automatically transferred to and assumed by AMHL, and the Lender shall settle the purchase price for the Borrower Conversion Shares in the amount equal to the Conversion Amount by setting-off the Conversion Amount vis-à-vis AMHL.

 

(c)

Any fractional Borrower Conversion Shares resulting from any Borrower Conversion shall be disregarded and the number of Borrower Conversion Shares to be issued or delivered to the Lender shall be rounded down to the next whole number without any further compensation.

 

(d)

The Borrower and AMHL shall take all actions, execute all documents and make all declarations as may be necessary or appropriate, and the Lender shall cooperate as necessary and appropriate, to give full effect to the Borrower Conversion and ensure that the Borrower Conversion Shares are duly issued or delivered to the Lender by no later than 5 (five) Business Days following the date of receipt of the originals of the Conversion Notice and, as may be required, the Subscription Form, duly executed by the Lender, or, in case of any Objections, promptly upon settlement by the Parties of the Objections. Upon registration of the Borrower Conversion Shares in the commercial register or delivery of the Borrower Conversion Shares to the Lender, the Borrower shall provide the Lender with a copy of its share register evidencing the registration of the Lender as shareholder with voting rights with respect to the Borrower Conversion Shares.

 

 

8.5.

AMHL Conversion

 

(a)

In case the Lender opts for an AMHL Conversion, the Lender shall, simultaneously with the Conversion Notice, submit to AMHL and the Borrower (whereby by e-mail is sufficient) a calculation sheet evidencing the calculation of the AMHL Conversion Price pursuant to Section 8.3(b) and the number of AMHL Conversion Shares issuable or deliverable to the Lender, such notice to be accompanied by screenshots of the relevant screens from www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/ears/historical. Promptly upon receipt, AMHL shall notify the Lender (whereby by e-mail is sufficient) of any Objections (which shall include a brief explanation of such Objections) it may have and any further actions or documents required to be taken or provided by the Lender for the issuance of the relevant number of AMHL Conversion Shares out of AMHL’s authorized share capital. The Parties agree to settle any Objections in good faith and promptly.

 

(b)

In case of any AMHL Conversion, the Borrower’s payment obligation under this Agreement in the amount equal to the Conversion Amount shall be deemed automatically transferred to and assumed by AMHL, and the Lender shall settle its respective contribution obligation as part of the issuance of the relevant number of AMHL Conversion Shares out of AMHL’s authorized share capital in the amount equal to the Conversion Amount, by setting-off the Conversion Amount vis-à-vis AMHL.

 

(c)

Any fractional AMHL Conversion Shares resulting from any AMHL Conversion shall be disregarded and the number of AMHL Conversion Shares to be issued or delivered to the Lender shall be rounded down to the next whole number without any further compensation.

 

(d)

AMHL and the Borrower shall take all actions, execute all documents and make all declarations as may be necessary or appropriate, and the Lender shall cooperate as necessary and appropriate, to give full effect to the AMHL Conversion and ensure that the AMHL Borrower Conversion Shares are duly issued or delivered to the Lender by crediting the depository account of the Lender (as designated by the Lender in the Conversion Notice) by no later than 2 (two) Trading Days following the date of receipt of the original of the Conversion Notice or, in case of any Objections, promptly upon settlement by the Parties of the Objections.

 

 

(e)

AMHL shall procure that any AMHL Conversion Shares issued or delivered to the Lender under this Agreement will, no later than 2 (two) Trading Days after the date on which the AMHL Conversion Shares have been issued or delivered, be listed on the NASDAQ and become tradable without any restrictions on the NASDAQ.

 

(f)

As soon as practicable (and in any event within 30 calendar days of the Disbursement Date), AMHL shall file a registration statement on Form F-3 (or other appropriate form) providing for the resale by the Lender of the AMHL Conversion Shares issued and issuable upon any AMHL Conversion. Such registration statement shall cover an amount (the Initial Required Amount”) of AMHL Conversion Shares equal to (i) the original principal amount of the Loan on the Disbursement Date divided by (ii) the 3-Month Floor Price in effect at the time of such filing. AMHL shall use best efforts to cause such resale registration statement to become effective within 60 days following the Disbursement Date (or, in the event of a “full review” by the SEC, the 90th calendar day following the Disbursement Date) and to keep the registration statement effective at all times until (the following date, the Registration End Date) the earlier of (1) the date as of which the Lender may sell AMHL Conversion Shares without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 (as defined below) and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Securities Act or (2) the later of (x) the date on which no principal or Interest remains outstanding under the Loan or (y) the date on which the Lender no longer owns any AMHL Conversion Shares. In addition, if at any time following the three-calendar month anniversary of the Disbursement Date but prior to the Registration End Date AMHL has issued a number of AMHL Conversion Shares that equals or exceeds the Initial Required Amount then AMHL shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file one or more additional resale registration statements so as to cover any additional AMHL Conversion Shares that may be issuable under this Agreement at such time, determined using the 3-Month Floor Price in effect at the time of determination.

 

9.1.

Limited Representations and Warranties

 

(a)

The Lender hereby represents and warrants to the Borrower and AMHL the following:

 

(i)

due incorporation and valid existence under the laws of Switzerland, with the power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business in the ordinary course;

 

(ii)

the execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions thereunder are duly authorized by the competent corporate bodies;

 

(iii)

the Lender is (a) acquiring the Loan and (b) upon any Conversion will acquire Conversion Shares, for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act. The Lender is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. The Lender does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities

 

(iv)

the Lender is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the Securities Act;

 

(v)

the Lender has been given the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers concerning the terms and condition of the offering of and to obtain any additional information which Borrower and/or AMHL possess or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to verify the accuracy of the information provided to the Lender;

 

 

(vi)

the Lender understands that, except as provided in Section 8.5(f) hereof: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any United States state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, (B) the Lender shall have delivered to AMHL an opinion of counsel, in a form reasonably satisfactory to AMHL, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) the Lender provides AMHL with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended, (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, Rule 144); (b) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144 and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the Securities Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder; and (c) neither AMHL nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder; and

 

(b)

Each of the Borrower and AMHL represents and warrants to the Lender, solely with respect to itself, the following:

 

(i)

due incorporation and valid existence under the laws of their respective place of incorporation, with the power and authority to own their properties and conduct their business in the ordinary course;

 

(ii)

the execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions thereunder do not conflict with, violate or result in a breach of any law, regulation or judgement applicable to the Borrower or AMHL, their articles of association and bye-laws, respectively, or any agreement or commitment to which the Borrower or AMHL are a party to or by which they are bound; and

 

(iii)

the obligations of the Borrower and AMHL according to this Agreement are valid, binding and enforceable against the Borrower and AMHL in accordance with their terms, subject only to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, composition or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights in general.

 

 

9.2.

Limitations of Liability

 

(a)

A claim by the Lender against the Borrower or AMHL for misrepresentation or breach of a warranty shall be time-barred (verjährt) and forfeited (verwirkt) unless the Lender has delivered a written notice to the Company and AMHL describing in reasonable detail the facts then known about any such claim (the Notice of Breach) before the lapse of a period of [12 (twelve)] months from the Disbursement Date. If a Notice of Breach is delivered by the Lender to the Borrower and AMHL on or before the applicable date set forth in the preceding sentence, the relevant claim may be resolved after such date, provided that the Lender initiates judicial proceedings in accordance with Section 13 within [6 (six)] months from such applicable date.

 

(b)

The Borrower’s and AMHL’s liability for any misrepresentation or breach of warranty shall not exceed an amount equal to 100% of the total principal amount under the Loan and all accrued Interest thereon outstanding at the date of the Notice of Breach.

 

(a)

Save for a Borrower Conversion or an AMHL Conversion and subject to paragraph (b) hereinafter, the Borrower and AMHL shall neither be entitled to set-off any of their claims they may have against the Lender against any amount payable by the Borrower or AMHL to the Lender under or pursuant to this Agreement, regardless if such claim of the Borrower or AMHL against the Lender has arisen under or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise, nor shall the Borrower and AMHL be entitled to otherwise withhold the payment of any amount payable by them to the Lender under or pursuant to this Agreement. Subject to applicable laws (and hereby in particular subject to paragraph (b) hereinafter), all payments to be made by the Borrower or AMHL to the Lender under this Agreement shall be made clear of all deduction whatsoever.

 

(b)

The Borrower and AMHL shall be entitled to deduct from any payments to be made by them to the Lender under this Agreement any deductions for withholding taxes required under Swiss law (if any). In case of a Borrower Conversion or an AMHL Conversion, only such amounts net of any withholding taxes shall be subject to the respective conversion.

 

(a)

Neither Party shall terminate this Agreement prior to the Maturity Date.

 

(b)

This Agreement will automatically terminate upon full payment or conversion of the total outstanding principal amount under Loan and all accrued and unpaid Interest thereon in accordance with this Agreement.

 

12.1.

Obligations of the Borrower and AMHL

 

Unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement, each of the Borrower and AMHL shall be individually and severally liable and not jointly for any of their respective obligations and liabilities under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

12.2.

NASDAQ Requirements

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if at any time while any amount is outstanding under this Agreement NASDAQ informs AMHL that a provision of this Agreement violates the rules or policies of NASDAQ, then the Lender, the Borrower and AMHL shall use their respective best efforts in good faith to negotiate and agree to amend this Agreement in order to cure such violation.

 

12.3.

Taxes, Costs and Expenses

 

(a)

Any and all taxes and other public charges imposed on one of the Parties in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are to be borne by the Party on which such tax or public charge is imposed.

 

(b)

Each Party shall bear its own costs and expenses (including advisor fees) arising out of or incurred in connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated hereby.

 

 

12.4.

No Assignment

 

Unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement, neither Party shall be entitled to transfer this Agreement or all or part of its rights and/or obligations hereunder without the other Parties prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

12.5.

Notices

 

(a)

All notices or other communications to be given under or in connection with this Agreement shall be made in writing and shall be delivered by registered mail (return receipt requested), an internationally recognized courier or e-mail transmission to the following addresses:

 

	If to the Lender:	FiveT Capital Holding AG
		Att.: Johannes Minho Roth
		c/o Räber Treuhand AG
		Churerstrasse 98
		8808 Pfäffikon
		Switzerland
		e-mail:
	if to the Borrower:	Altamira Medica AG
		Att.: Thomas Meyer
		c/o Otolanum AG
		Bahnhofstrasse 21
		6300 Zug
		Switzerland
		e-mail:
	if to AMHL:	Auris Medical Holding Ltd.
		Att.: Thomas Meyer
		Clarendon House, 2 Church Street
		Hamilton HM 11
		Bermuda
		e-mail:

 

or such other address as any Party may notify to the other Parties in accordance with the above.

 

 

(b)

Any notice to be given hereunder shall be given before the expiry of a term or deadline set forth in this Agreement or by applicable law. All notices or other communications shall be effective only if sent out to the Party to whom it is addressed in accordance with this Section 12.5 before the expiry of such term or deadline.

 

(c)

Any notice to be given hereunder made by or attached to an e-mail will be deemed received if the sending Party does not receive an automatic non-delivery notification that the e-mail has not been received (other than an out of office notification) within one hour after dispatch of the e-mail; provided that the e-mail is in an appropriate and commonly used format, and any attached file is a pdf, jpeg, tiff or other appropriate and commonly used format.

 

12.6.

Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement, including it Annexes and any other documents referred to herein, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and written agreements or understandings of the Parties relating hereto, in particular any term sheets among the Parties.

 

12.7.

Amendments

 

No amendment, variation or waiver of any term or provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is evidenced in writing and signed by or on behalf of each of the Parties or in the case of a waiver only, by the Party granting such waiver.

 

12.8.

Severability

 

If any part or provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of this Agreement shall nonetheless remain valid. In this case, the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by a substitute provision that best reflects the intentions of the Parties without being unenforceable, and each Party shall execute all agreements and documents required in this connection. The same shall apply in case of any gap in this Agreement.

 

(a)

This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of Switzerland (to the exclusion of conflicts of laws principles and provisions).

 

(b)

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including, but not limited to, disputes regarding its conclusion, validity, binding effect, breach or termination, shall exclusively be referred to the courts competent for the City of Zug, Switzerland.

 

[SIGNATURES ON THE NEXT PAGE]

 

 

Signatures
Lender		FiveT Capital Holding AG
Pfaffikon, September 7, 2020		/s/ Johannes Minho Roth
Place, date		Name: Johannes Minho Roth
		Function: Director & Member of the Board
Place, date		Name:
		Function:
Borrower		Altamira Medica AG
Basel, September 7, 2020		/s/ Thomas Meyer
Place, date		Name: Thomas Meyer
		Function: Chairman and CEO
Place, date		Name:
		Function:
AMHL		Auris Medical Holding Ltd.
Basel, September 7, 2020		/s/ Thomas Meyer
Place, date		Name: Thomas Meyer
		Function: Chairman and CEO
Place, date		Name:
		Function:

 

 

Annex 1 – Definitions

 

3-Month Floor Price		means, (i) for the first three calendar months commencing on the Disbursement Date, 75% of the price of an AMHL Common Share at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange immediately preceding the time of execution of this Agreement (ii) from the three-month anniversary of the Disbursement Date until three months thereafter, 75% of the average of the prices of an AMHL Common Share at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange on each Trading Day during the first three calendar months commencing on the Disbursement Date and (iii) during each three-calendar month period thereafter, 75% of the average of the prices of an AMHL Common Share at close of the NASDAQ stock exchange on each Trading Day during the three-calendar month period preceding the beginning of such three-calendar month period.
Advance Notification		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
Affiliate		shall mean, with respect to the Lender, (i) any person Controlling the Lender, (ii) any person under Control by the Lender, (iii) any person under common Control with the Lender and (iv) any person acting otherwise in concert with the Lender.
Agreement		means this convertible loan agreement as set forth in Preamble B.
AMHL		has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.
AMHL Common Shares		has the meaning set forth in Preamble C.
AMHL Conversion		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(a).
AMHL Conversion Cap		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b).
AMHL Conversion Price		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(b).
AMHL Conversion Shares		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(a).
Annex		means any annex of this Agreement.
Borrower		has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.
Borrower Conversion		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(a).
Borrower Conversion Cap		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(a).

 

 

Borrower Conversion Price		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a).
Borrower Conversion Shares		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(a).
Borrower Shares		has the meaning set forth in Preamble B.
Business Day		means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which commercial banks in Zug and Zurich are open for business throughout the day.
Change of Control Transaction		shall mean (i), with respect to the Borrower, the acquisition of more than 50% of the Borrower’s issued and outstanding share capital by one or several parties acting in concert, and (ii), with respect to AMHL, the acquisition of more than 50% of AMHL’s issued and outstanding share capital by one or several parties acting in concert, provided that such acquirer(s) shall have the right to designate the majority of all members of the board of directors of AMHL.
CO		means the Swiss Code of Obligations, as amended from time to time.
Control		shall mean the ability of one person to determine that the affairs of another person are conducted in accordance with the intentions of the first person by way of (i) the holding of shares, (ii) the possession of voting, appointment or instruction rights or (iii) in any other way whatsoever (in each case whether directly or indirectly), and the terms Controlled and Controlling shall be construed accordingly.
Conversion Amount		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(a).
Conversion Notice		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(b).
Conversion Price		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.
Conversion Right		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(a).
Conversion Shares		means, collectively, the Borrower Shares or AMHL Common Shares issuable upon a Borrower Conversion or AMHL Conversion, respectively.
Disbursement Date		means the date on which the Loan is disbursed to the Borrower in accordance with Section 3.
Interest		has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 

 

Lender		has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.
Loan		has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
Loan Unit		has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
Maturity Date		has the meaning set forth in Section 4.
Notice of Breach		has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
Objections		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
Outstanding Balance		has the meaning set forth in Section 7.
Party/Parties		has the meaning set forth on the cover page of this Agreement.
Person		means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.
Preamble		means the preamble of this Agreement.
Qualified Financing Round		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a).
Repayment Amount		has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
Repayment Notice Period		has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
Section		means any section of this Agreement.
Securities		means, collectively, the Loan and the Conversion Shares.
Securities Act		means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Subscription Form		has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
Trading Day		means any day during which the NASDAQ stock exchange is open for business.

 

 

Annex 8.1(b) – Conversion Notice

 

From:

FiveT Capital Holding AG, c/o Räber Treuhand AG, Churerstrasse 98, 8088 Pfäffikon, Switzerland

 

To:

Altamira Medica AG, c/o Otolanum AG, Bahnhofstrasse 21, 6300 Zug, Switzerland

 

Auris Medical Holding Ltd., Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda

 

[Place], [date]

 

Conversion Notice

 

Dear Sirs,

 

This is a Conversion Notice pursuant to Section 8.1(b) of the convertible loan agreement dated as of [date] 2020 (the Agreement). Unless otherwise defined, capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meaning as in the Agreement.

 

We hereby exercise our Conversion Right to convert the Conversion Amount in the amount of CHF [amount] into [number] [registered shares of the Borrower with a nominal value of CHF 1.00 each (the Borrower Conversion Shares) at the Borrower Conversion Price of CHF [amount] per Borrower Conversion Share] OR [common shares of AMHL with a nominal value of CHF 0.01 each (the AMHL Conversion Shares) at the AMHL Conversion Price of CHF [amount] per AMHL Conversion Share].

 

[You have informed us that the Borrower Conversion Shares will be [issued out of the [conditional share capital pursuant to article [number] of the Borrower’s articles of associations] OR [authorized share capital pursuant to article [number] of the Borrower’s articles of association and we attach a corresponding Subscription Form to this Conversion Notice]] OR [delivered from Borrower Shares [owned by AMHL] OR [held by the Borrower as treasury shares]]].

 

We hereby unconditionally [make a contribution corresponding to the [Borrower Conversion Price multiplied with the number of Borrower Conversion Shares] OR [AMHL Conversion Price multiplied with the number of AMHL Conversion Shares], i.e. in the amount of CHF [amount], by way of setting-off our claims against [the Borrower] OR [AMHL] under the Agreement in such amount] OR [set-off our claims against [the Borrower] OR [AMHL] under the Agreement in the amount corresponding to the Borrower Conversion Price multiplied with the number of Borrower Conversion Shares, i.e. in the amount of CHF [amount]].

 

Sincerely yours,

Name:		Name:
Function:		Function:

 

 

22/22

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

 

Auris Medical Launches Development of Drug-Free Nasal Spray for Protection against Airborne Pathogens and Allergens

 

●	Development of AM-301 nasal spray initiated with aim of regulatory submission in 2021
●	Key component of AM-301 shown to reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral infectious load in vitro by up to 99%
●	Creation of dedicated subsidiary, Altamira Medica Ltd, to focus solely on AM-301 development program
●	CHF 1.5 m convertible loan arranged in support of development program

 

Hamilton, Bermuda, September 8, 2020 – Auris Medical Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ: EARS), a clinical-stage company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs in neurotology and central nervous system disorders, today announced the launch of the development of AM-301, a drug-free nasal spray for protection against airborne pathogens and allergens, based on positive data obtained in a SARS-CoV-2 assay. In order to expedite the development process, Auris Medical set up a new subsidiary, Altamira Medica Ltd. (“Altamira”), based in Zug, Switzerland, and has already obtained funding through a CHF 1.5 m convertible loan agreement.

 

Seeking protection against airborne pathogens and allergens

 

AM-301 is a gel which works by forming a protective layer on the nasal mucosa, acting as a physical barrier against airborne pathogens and allergens. Under normal conditions, human beings take in approximately 90% of air through their noses, which are therefore particularly exposed to airborne pathogens and allergens. The thin protective film formed by the AM-301 gel helps to prevent the contact of such pathogens and allergens with cells; in addition, the composition serves to “trap” such particles and help with their discharge. Together, this is designed to reduce the risk of infection and promote alleviation of allergic symptoms.

 

Promising results in SARS-CoV-2 assay

 

The potential protective effects of AM-301 have been demonstrated to date in a SARS-CoV-2 virus assay. In this the experiment, the key component of AM-301 was added in various concentrations to a suspension of the virus for various time periods. Virus particles were then collected from the suspension and transferred onto cell cultures for incubation, allowing for viral replication and infection of adjacent cells. The experiment showed that after only 5 minutes of contact between AM-301’s key component and the virus suspension the viral infectious load was reduced by up to 99%. The Company intends to perform additional testing involving various pathogens and allergens.

 

Addressing need for personal protection

 

“The current Covid-19 pandemic has drastically highlighted the risks of airborne transmission of viruses and the need for protective measures such as proper ventilation in buildings and the wearing of face masks“, commented Thomas Meyer, Auris Medical’s founder, Chairman and CEO. “With AM-301, we are seeking to provide a simple and effective means for personal protection in settings or places with increased risk of exposure to airborne pathogens, such as public transportation, flights, cruises, sport events, concerts or university lectures. In addition to its potential protection against SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, we believe AM-301 could provide help to people suffering from allergic rhinitis by reducing their exposure to airborne allergen particles e.g. from pollens, house dust or animal hair.”

 

Auris Medical Holding Ltd., Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda

www.aurismedical.com

 

Aiming for regulatory submissions in 2021

 

For AM-301, the Company can draw on its experience from the development of nasal sprays with betahistine for the treatment of vertigo (AM-125) or antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AM-201). Unlike the betahistine nasal sprays, AM-301 does not contain any active substance, and the Company believes it will be regulated and marketed as an “over-the-counter” medical device. The Company will advance and complete the development of AM-301 through its new Altamira subsidiary. Following the conduct of further studies in safety and efficacy, the Company is targeting submission of regulatory applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions in 2021. Altamira plans to initiate discussions with regulatory authorities regarding the regulatory pathway for AM-301 shortly. The Company intends to market AM-301 in collaboration with partners.

 

Funding with financial or strategic investors

 

Altamira is currently a 100% subsidiary of Auris Medical Holding Ltd.; going forward, the Company expects its ownership in Altamira to decrease as financial or strategic investors will be invited to join as shareholders as additional financing will be required. In a first transaction, FiveT Capital Holding Ltd. (“FiveT”), a Swiss investment management firm, provided a convertible loan to Altamira. The loan has a principal amount of CHF 1.5 m, a duration of 18 months, and carries an interest rate of 8% p.a. Under the terms of the agreement, FiveT will have the right to convert the loan or parts thereof including accrued interest into common shares of either Altamira or Auris Medical Holding Ltd., subject to additional provisions and certain restrictions. The Company has filed a copy of the convertible loan agreement on Form 6-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will file a registration statement on Form F-3 to register for resale the common shares of the Company that may be issued upon conversion.

 

About Auris Medical

 

Auris Medical is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs in neurotology and CNS disorders. The Company is focused on the development of intranasal betahistine for the treatment of vertigo (AM-125, in Phase 2) and for the prevention of antipsychotic-induced weight gain and somnolence (AM-201, post Phase 1b). With AM-301, the Company is developing a nasal spray for protection against airborne pathogens and allergens. In addition Auris Medical has two Phase 3 programs under development: Sonsuvi^® (AM-111) for acute inner ear hearing loss and Keyzilen^® (AM-101) for acute inner ear tinnitus. The Company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda with its main operations in Basel, Switzerland. The shares of Auris Medical Holding Ltd. trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “EARS.”

 

Forward-looking Statements

 

This press release may contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or Auris Medical’s strategies or expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “projects”, “potential”, “outlook” or “continue”, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions will agree with Auris Medical’s plans for the regulatory pathway for AM-301 and its other product candidates, whether the safety and efficacy of AM-301, and other regulatory requirements, can be established to the satisfaction of the FDA and other regulatory authorities, Auris Medical’s need for and ability to raise substantial additional funding to continue the development of its product candidates, the ability to pursue strategic partnering and non-dilutive funding for its Phase 3 programs, the results of Auris Medical’s review of strategic options and the outcome of any action taken as a result of such review, the timing and conduct of clinical trials of Auris Medical’s product candidates, the clinical utility of Auris Medical’s product candidates, the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, Auris Medical’s intellectual property position and Auris Medical’s financial position, including the impact of any future acquisitions, dispositions, partnerships, license transactions or changes to Auris Medical’s capital structure, including future securities offerings. These risks and uncertainties also include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Auris Medical’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019, and in Auris Medical's other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the Securities Exchange Commission's website at: www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Auris Medical or to persons acting on behalf of Auris Medical are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Auris Medical does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.

 

Investor contact:
Joseph Green
Edison Advisor for Auris Medical
646-653-7030
jgreen@edisongroup.com

 

or

 

investors@aurismedical.com