6. Loan and Security Agreement

In August 2017, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with Oxford Finance LLC (“Oxford”) and Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) under which it borrowed $15.0 million (the “August 2017 Loan”). The loan was due in 30 monthly installments from March 2019 through its repayment in August 2021, with interest-only monthly payments until March 2019.  The Company commenced repayment of the loan in March 2019.  The interest charges on the loan were based on a floating rate that equaled the greater of 7.39% or the sum of the 30-day U.S. Dollar London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 6.40%. In connection with the August 2017 Loan, the Company issued to Oxford and SVB a warrant to purchase the Company’s Series D-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock (the “2017 Warrant”). The 2017 Warrants were later converted into warrants to purchase Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock in May and July 2018, and upon the Company’s IPO on October 1, 2018, all Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants were converted to warrants to purchase 46,359 shares of common stock. The estimated fair value upon issuance of the 2017 Warrant of $0.3 million was recorded as a debt discount on the associated borrowings on the Company’s balance sheet. The debt discount was amortized to interest expense over the expected repayment period of the loan using the effective-interest method.  As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding principal on the August 2017 Loan was $10.0 million.

On February 28, 2020, (the “Effective Date”), the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan and Security Agreement”) with Oxford as the collateral agent and a lender, and SVB as a lender (together with Oxford, the “Lenders”), pursuant to which the Lenders agreed to lend the Company up to an aggregate of $25.0 million in a series of term loans (the “Term A Loan”). Upon entering into the Loan and Security Agreement, the Company borrowed $25.0 million from the Lenders, with approximately $9.6 million of such amount applied to the repayment of the outstanding principal, interest and final payment fees owed pursuant to the August 2017 Loan.  As such, the August 2017 Loan has been paid in full.  The Company accounted for the issuance of the Loan and Security Agreement and repayment of the August 2017 Loan as a debt modification. The associated unamortized debt discount on the August 2017 Loan and new lender fees from the debt issuance will be amortized as interest expense using the effective interest method until the maturity date of the Term A Loan.

Under the terms of the Loan and Security Agreement, the Company may, at its sole discretion, borrow from the Lenders up to an additional $5.0 million (the “Term B Loan” and together with the Term A Loan, the “Term Loans”) upon the Company closing of a new collaboration agreement that includes an upfront payment of at least $50.0 million to the Company, as determined by Oxford in its sole and absolute discretion (the “Term B Milestone Event”). The Company may draw the Term B Loan during the period commencing on the date of the occurrence of the Term B Milestone Event and ending on the earliest of (i) December 31, 2020, (ii) the thirtieth (30th) day following the occurrence of the Term B Milestone Event, and (iii) the occurrence of an event of default by the Company.

The Company’s obligations under the Loan and Security Agreement are secured by all assets of the Company, other than its intellectual property. The Company has also agreed not to encumber its intellectual property assets, except as permitted by the Loan and Security Agreement.

The Term Loans mature on March 1, 2024 (the “Maturity Date”) and will be interest-only through March 1, 2022, followed by 24 equal monthly payments of principal and interest. The Term Loans will bear interest at a floating per annum rate equal to the greater of (i) 8.07% or (ii) the sum of (a) the greater of (1) the thirty (30) day U.S. LIBOR rate reported in the Wall Street Journal on the last business day of the month that immediately precedes the month in which the interest will accrue or (2) 1.67%, plus (b) 6.40%.  

The Company will be required to make a final payment of 3.83% of the original principal amount of the Term Loans drawn, or $1.0 million, payable on the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the acceleration of any Term Loans, or (iii) the prepayment of the Term Loans (the “Final Payment”). The final payment amount is accreted as interest expense until the Maturity Date using the effective interest method.  The Company may prepay all, but not less than all, of the Term Loans upon 30 days’ advance written notice to Oxford, provided that the Company will be obligated to pay a prepayment fee equal to (i) 3.00% of the principal amount of the applicable Term Loan prepaid on or before the first anniversary of the applicable funding date, or (ii) 2.00% of the principal amount of the applicable Term Loan prepaid between the first and second anniversary of the applicable funding date, or (iii) 1.00% of the principal amount of the applicable Term Loan prepaid thereafter, and prior to the Maturity Date (each, a “Prepayment Fee”).

The Loan and Security Agreement contains customary affirmative and restrictive covenants, including covenants regarding incurrence of additional indebtedness or liens, investments, transactions with affiliates, delivery of financial statements, maintenance of inventory, payment of taxes, maintenance of insurance, protection of intellectual property rights, dispositions of property, business combinations or acquisitions, among other customary covenants. The Company is also restricted from paying dividends or making other distributions or payments on its capital stock, subject to limited exceptions. The Loan and Security Agreement provides that an event of default will occur if, among other triggers, there occurs any circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the business, or operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or a material impairment of the prospect of the Company to repay any portion of its obligations under the Agreement. The Agreement also includes customary representations and warranties, other events of default and termination provisions.

In connection with entering into the Loan and Security Agreement, the Company issued to the Lenders warrants exercisable for 81,257 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “2020 Warrants”). The 2020 Warrants are exercisable in whole or in part, immediately, and have a per share exercise price of $9.23, which is the closing price of the Company’s common stock reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on the day prior to the Effective Date. The 2020 Warrants will terminate on the earlier of February 28, 2030 or the closing of certain merger or consolidation transactions. The estimated fair value upon issuance of the Warrants of $0.6 million is recorded as a debt discount on the associated borrowings on the Company’s balance sheet. The debt discount is being amortized to interest expense over the expected repayment period of the loan using the effective-interest method.

As of June 30, 2020, the Company has classified the outstanding debt balance of $25.0 million as non-current, which reflects the scheduled repayment terms under the Loan and Security Agreement.

  As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, accrued interest expense was $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recorded interest expense related to loans outstanding of $0.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively, with average interest rates of 8.07% and 8.08%, respectively, and interest related to the accretion of debt discount of $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company recorded interest expense related to loans outstanding of $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively, with average interest rates of 8.87% and 8.88%, respectively, and interest related to the accretion of debt discount of $85,000 and $175,000, respectively.