Fortress entered into a Founders Agreement with Avenue in February 2015, pursuant to which Fortress assigned to Avenue all of its rights and interest under Fortress’s license agreement with Revogenex for IV Tramadol (the “License Agreement”). As consideration for the Founders Agreement, Avenue assumed $3.0 million in debt (see Note 7) that Fortress accumulated to NSC for expenses and costs of forming Avenue and obtaining the IV Tramadol license, of which $3.0 million represents the acquisition of the License Agreement. As additional consideration for the transfer of rights under the Founders Agreement, Avenue shall also: (i) issue annually to Fortress, on the anniversary date of the Founders Agreement, shares of common stock equal to two and one half percent (2.5%) of the fully-diluted outstanding equity of Avenue at the time of issuance; (ii) pay an equity fee in shares of Avenue common stock, payable within five (5) business days of the closing of any equity or debt financing for Avenue or any of its respective subsidiaries that occurs after the effective date of the Founders Agreement and ending on the date when Fortress no longer has majority voting control in Avenue’s voting equity, equal to two and one half percent (2.5%) of the gross amount of any such equity or debt financing; and (iii) pay a cash fee equal to four and one half percent (4.5%) of Avenue’s annual net sales, payable on an annual basis, within ninety (90) days of the end of each calendar year. In the event of a change in control (as it is defined in the Founders Agreement), Fortress will be paid a one-time change in control fee equal to five (5x) times the product of (i) net sales for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the change in control and (ii) four and one-half percent (4.5%). This additional consideration was waived on November 12, 2018 with the Waiver Agreement signed between Avenue, Fortress and InvaGen.

 

On September 13, 2016, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated the Founders Agreement (“A&R Founders Agreement”) with Fortress. The A&R Founders Agreement eliminated the Annual Equity Fee in connection with the original agreement and added a term of 15 years, which upon expiration automatically renews for successive one-year periods unless terminated by Fortress or a Change in Control occurs. Concurrently with the A&R Founders Agreement the Company entered into an Exchange Agreement whereby the Company exchanged Fortress’ 2.3 million Class A common shares for approximately 2.5 million common shares and 250,000 Class A Preferred shares (see Note 9).

  

On June 26, 2017, the Company issued 158,125 common shares to Fortress representing 2.5% of common shares issued in connection with the IPO (see Note 9). The Company recorded expense of approximately $0.9 million related to the financing fee in general and administrative expenses in the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Effective as of February 17, 2015, Fortress entered into a Management Services Agreement (the “MSA”) with Avenue and each of Avenue’s current directors and officers who are directors or officers of Fortress, excluding services provided by Dr. Lucy Lu, the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer as of June 26, 2017 and the former Chief Financial Officer of Fortress (resigned as of June 26, 2017), to provide services to Avenue pursuant to the terms of the MSA. Pursuant to the terms of the MSA, for a period of five (5) years, Fortress will render advisory and consulting services to Avenue. Services provided under the MSA may include, without limitation, (i) advice and assistance concerning any and all aspects of Avenue’s operations, clinical trials, financial planning and strategic transactions and financings and (ii) conducting relations on behalf of Avenue with accountants, attorneys, financial advisors and other professionals (collectively, the “Services”). Avenue is obligated to utilize clinical research services, medical education, communication and marketing services and investor relations/public relation services of companies or individuals designated by Fortress, provided those services are offered at market prices. However, Avenue is not obligated to take or act upon any advice rendered from Fortress and Fortress shall not be liable for any of Avenue’s actions or inactions based upon their advice. Fortress and its affiliates, including all members of Avenue’s Board of Directors, have been contractually exempt from fiduciary duties to Avenue relating to corporate opportunities. In consideration for the Services, Avenue will pay Fortress an annual consulting fee of $0.5 million (the “Annual Consulting Fee”), payable in advance in equal quarterly installments on the first business day of each calendar quarter in each year, provided, however, that such Annual Consulting Fee shall be increased to $1.0 million for each calendar year in which Avenue has net assets in excess of $100.0 million at the beginning of the calendar year.

  

On May 15, 2017, the Company and Fortress amended the MSA to allow for payment of the Annual Consulting Fee in the Company’s common stock in increments of $0.5 million, prior to the launch of the Company’s IPO (see Note 9). On June 26, 2017, the Company repaid $1.0 million of the outstanding 2015 and 2016 Annual Consulting fees by issuing 166,666 shares of the Company’s common stock at the offering price of $6.00 per share.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had expenses related to the MSA of approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Effective November 12, 2018, the MSA fee was waived with the Waiver Agreement signed between Avenue, Fortress and InvaGen.

 

Effective March 15, 2015, the Company and Fortress entered into a future advance promissory note (the “Fortress Note”), in which Fortress agreed to provide a working capital line of credit until the Company has a third-party financing. Interest on the Fortress Note accrued at 8% per annum and shall be payable to Fortress on the day after the end of each calendar quarter following the first third-party financing. All principal and accrued interest under the Fortress Note is payable on demand following the first third-party financing. This Fortress Note can be pre-paid at any time in cash or through the assumption of Fortress’ indebtedness NSC or other similar indebtedness.

 

In May 2017, in anticipation of the Company’s IPO, the Company and Fortress amended the FBIO Note (the “FBIO Note Amendment”), to reduce interest on the FBIO Note from 8% to 2% from inception, effective the closing date of the Company’s IPO. Accordingly, on June 26, 2017, the interest rate was reduced and resulted in a reduction of interest of approximately $0.3 million ($0.4 million at 8% versus $0.1 million at 2%). In accordance with ASC 470-50,

, the Company determined that since the change in interest rate did not materially change the nature of the note, it was accounted for as a modification and recorded as a reduction in interest expense of $0.3 million in additional paid in capital on the Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit).

 

On July 25, 2017, the Company repaid the outstanding principal and interest balance of the Fortress Note of approximately $3.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had interest expense related to the Fortress Note of approximately $0 and $74,000, respectively.

 

 

In September 2016, Fortress acquired through a tender offer 56.6% of National Holdings, Inc. (“National” or “NHLD”). The Company held an approximate $3.0 million NSC Note (“NSC Note”) (see Note 7) for which NSC, a subsidiary of National, received a 10% placement fee upon issuance of the Note to Fortress.

On June 26, 2017, the Company completed an IPO and NSC acted as co-manager in this offering and earned commissions and fees of approximately $2.3 million. On July 5, 2017, the Company repaid the outstanding NSC Note of approximately $3.0 million and accrued interest of approximately $2,000.

 

On June 26, 2017, pursuant to the terms of the Company’s $3.0 million NSC Note, upon the closing of the Company’s IPO, the Company issued to National the Contingently Issuable Warrants for 125,000 common shares at par, relating to its aggregate gross proceeds from its third-party offerings exceeding five times the value of the debt. Upon the issuance of the Contingently Issuable Warrants, Fortress was removed as the guarantor on the note (see Note 7).