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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-251979

Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.
Up to 143,000 Shares of Common Stock Issuable upon Exercise of Warrants
Up to 16,000 Shares of Common Stock
Offered by the Selling Stockholders
This prospectus relates to the resale or other disposition from time to time by the selling stockholders identified herein (including, except as the context may otherwise require, their donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest, the “Selling Stockholders”), of, subject to adjustment, (i) up to 143,000 shares of the common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) issuable upon the exercise of warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”) and (ii) up to 16,000 shares of Common Stock. The Selling Stockholders selling the Warrant Shares acquired the securities covered by this prospectus on November 20, 2020 in connection with a private placement transaction in which we issued the Warrants to accredited investors in conjunction with an amendment and supplement to the Company’s Indenture, originally dated as of July 15, 2019.
Our registration of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus does not mean that the Selling Stockholders will offer or sell any of the shares. The Selling Stockholders may offer and sell or otherwise dispose of the shares of Common Stock described in this prospectus from time to time through public or private transactions at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 16 for more information.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders, although we will receive the proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants, if exercised for cash.
The Selling Stockholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any, in connection with the sale of the shares of Common Stock. We have agreed to pay certain expenses in connection with this registration statement and to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain liabilities. To our knowledge, as of the date of this prospectus, no underwriter or other person has been engaged to facilitate the sale of shares of Common Stock in this offering.
You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus carefully before you invest.
Our Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “AQST.” On January 7, 2021, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock was $5.72 per share.
Investing in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus as described on page 5 of this prospectus.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This prospectus is dated January 19, 2021


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this process, the Selling Stockholders may from time to time, in one or more offerings, sell the Common Stock described in this prospectus.
This prospectus describes the terms of this secondary offering of Common Stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus that was filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, any related prospectus supplement, including any information incorporated by reference, and any pricing supplement. No one is authorized to provide you with information different from that which is contained, or deemed to be contained, in the prospectus, any related prospectus supplement or any pricing supplement. The Selling Stockholders are not making offers to sell Common Stock in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document in which the information is contained or other date referred to in that document, regardless of the time of sale or issuance of the Common Stock.
This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the Common Stock, you should refer to the registration statement including the exhibits. This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
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SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained in other parts of this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). As it is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider before purchasing our securities and it is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, any applicable prospectus supplement and the more detailed information appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read the entire prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and the information incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, including the “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes contained in and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before purchasing our securities.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Aquestive,” “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Company Overview
We are a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing differentiated products which leverage our proprietary PharmFilm® technology to meet patients’ unmet medical needs and to solve patients’ therapeutic problems. We have five products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), both proprietary and out-licensed, as well as a late-stage proprietary product pipeline focused on the treatment of central nervous system, or CNS, diseases and an earlier stage pipeline including treatment of anaphylaxis. Our licensees market their products in the US and in some instances outside the US. The company markets its proprietary product in the US. We believe that our proprietary and licensed products address the characteristics of these patient populations and the shortcomings of available treatments create opportunities for the development and commercialization of meaningfully differentiated medicines.
Sympazan®, an oral soluble film formulation of clobazam used for the treatment of seizures associated with a rare, intractable form of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or LGS, was approved by the FDA on November 1, 2018. The Company commercially launched Sympazan in December 2018. Sympazan was launched as a precursor and complement to our product candidate Libervant™ and continues to progress on key performance metrics including prescriber growth, repeat prescribers, quarterly growth in retail shipments, and covered lives.
Exservan® (riluzole), utilizing our proprietary PharmFilm technology, has been developed for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Exservan was approved by the FDA on November 22, 2019. During the fourth quarter of 2019, we announced the granting of a license to Zambon S.p.A. for the development and commercialization of Exservan Oral Film in the European Union (EU) for treatment of ALS. Zambon is exclusively responsible for obtaining regulatory approval and marketing Exservan in the EU and we have sole and exclusive manufacturing rights for the product in the EU. We are seeking an appropriate licensee for the commercialization rights for Exservan in the United States. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in licensing Exservan in the United States.
One of the company’s out-licensed products, KYNMOBI™, which is used for the treatment of off episodes in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, was approved by the FDA on May 21, 2020, and was commercially launched by our licensee in September 2020. In November 2020, we consummated a royalty monetization transaction for KYNMOBI™ that will result in proceeds to the Company of up to $125 million, $50 million of which was received at closing of the monetization transaction.
Libervant is our most advanced proprietary investigational product candidate, which we intend to self-commercialize, subject to FDA approval for market access in the U.S. Libervant is a buccally, or inside of the cheek, administered soluble film formulation of diazepam. Aquestive is developing Libervant as an alternative to the device-dependent rescue therapies currently available to patients with refractory epilepsy, which are a rectal gel and nasal sprays. In late September 2020, we received a complete response letter (“CRL”) from the FDA focusing on dosing issues in certain weight groups. In a Type A meeting with the FDA in November, the FDA confirmed that these issues may be addressed by utilizing modeling and simulations for an updated dosing regimen. The Company resubmitted a revised weight-based dosing regimen with modeling and simulations in December 2020. Based upon correspondence from the FDA, the Company expects to receive feedback and guidance from the FDA in late January 2021. We expect to resubmit the NDA for Libervant, based upon further FDA feedback (the timing of which cannot be assured), during the first half of 2021. We are seeking to demonstrate to the FDA that Libervant will, if approved by the FDA, represent a “major contribution to patient care” within the meaning of FDA regulations and guidance,
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as compared to available treatment options, as the first, non-device delivered, oral diazepam-based product available to manage seizure clusters in epilepsy patients. However, overcoming the orphan drug marketing exclusivity is difficult to establish with limited precedent, and there can be no assurance that the FDA will agree with our position seeking to overcome such marketing exclusivity and approve Libervant for U.S. market access. Further, there can be no assurance that a competitor will not obtain other FDA marketing exclusivity that blocks U.S. market access for Libervant.
We have also developed a proprietary pipeline of complex molecule-based products addressing market opportunities beyond CNS indications, which include:
AQST-108, using Aquestive’s proprietary PharmFilm technologies, is a “first of its kind” oral sublingual film formulation delivering systemic epinephrine in development for the treatment of anaphylaxis. We recently completed a second pharmacokinetic (PK) trial for AQST-108. The Phase 1 study featured a 4-treatment crossover design that compared the pharmacokinetics, safety and pharmacodynamics of epinephrine administered in a sublingual film to that of epinephrine administered via both subcutaneous and intramuscular injections in 24 healthy adult subjects. Based on top-line results, AQST-108 was generally well-tolerated, with adverse events observed that are consistent with the known adverse events profile for epinephrine. AQST-108 also achieved a similar time to maximal concentrations, or median Tmax, when compared to both the subcutaneous and intramuscular injections of epinephrine. The data from both this Phase 1 PK trial and the previous trials collectively demonstrate that AQST-108 can consistently deliver epinephrine sublingually and, after receiving AQST-108, all subjects had measurable plasma concentrations of epinephrine. The Company plans on conducting another PK trial beginning in the first calendar quarter of 2021 as it continues to progress towards a final product formulation and dose.
AQST-305 is a sublingual film formulation of octreotide, a small peptide that has a similar pharmacological profile to natural somatostatin, for the treatment of acromegaly, as well as severe diarrhea and flushing associated with carcinoid syndrome. Acromegaly is a hormone disorder that results from the overproduction of growth hormone in middle-aged adults. While we focus our efforts on Libervant and AQST-108 in the short-term, we have taken the necessary steps to prepare AQST-305 for additional research trials.
The COVID-19 pandemic may adversely impact the expected timelines for our clinical trials and studies and could contribute to delay in obtaining regulatory review and approval for our product candidates.
Our largest commercialized licensed product to date is Suboxone®, a sublingual film formulation of buprenorphine and naloxone, for the treatment of opioid dependence. We have a sole and exclusive worldwide agreement with our licensee for this product, Indivior Inc., or Indivior, to manufacture Suboxone. In early 2019, certain third-party pharmaceutical companies launched, at risk, generic film products for buprenorphine-naloxone. As of mid-October 2020, Suboxone branded products retain approximately 40% of film market share as generic film-based products have penetrated this market. Indivior accounted for 54% of our total revenues as of September 30, 2020. Our total revenue mix is expected to shift to a higher proportionate share of proprietary product sales in future years as we continue to grow Sympazan revenues and pursue the launch of other products in our pipeline, assuming FDA approvals.
We manufacture all our licensed and proprietary products at our FDA- and DEA-inspected facilities and anticipate that our current manufacturing capacity is sufficient for commercial quantities of our products and product candidates currently in development. We have produced over 2 billion doses of Suboxone since 2006. Not all collaborative or licensed products of the Company that may be commercially launched in the future will necessarily be manufactured by the Company, such as the case with KYNMOBI. Our products are developed using our proprietary PharmFilm technology and know-how. The COVID-19 pandemic could negatively impact our continued commercialization of Sympazan, impact demand for our approved products and development and commercialization of other products in our pipeline.
Corporate Information
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. was formed effective on January 1, 2018 via the conversion of MonoSol Rx, LLC to a Delaware corporation and a simultaneous name change. Prior to that date, the business operated as MonoSol Rx, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The financial statement information presented or incorporated by reference herein from periods prior to January 1, 2018 are that of MonoSol Rx, LLC.
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The Company conducts its production activities at facilities located in Portage, Indiana, and maintains its headquarters, sales and commercialization operations and its primary research laboratory in Warren, New Jersey. Our principal executive office is at 30 Technology Drive, Warren, New Jersey 07059. Our telephone number there is (908) 941-1900. The address of our website is www.aquestive.com. The information set forth on, or connected to, our website is expressly not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this prospectus.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, or the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. We would cease to be an emerging growth company on the date that is the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of our initial public offering; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC, which means the market value of our Common Stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th.
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues are more than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
Warrants
As previously announced, on November 20, 2020, we closed a private placement of Warrants to purchase 143,000 shares of Common Stock. The Warrants are exercisable beginning on the date of their issuance until June 30, 2025 at an initial exercise price equal to $5.38. The exercise price of the Warrants will be subject to adjustment for stock splits, reverse splits, and similar capital transactions as described in the Warrants. The Warrants also contain customary change of control provisions and are exercisable on a “cashless” basis. The Warrants include an obligation for the Company to use reasonable best efforts to register the Warrant Shares for resale with the SEC within 90 days of November 20, 2020 and grant customary piggyback registration rights to Warrant holders.
Piggyback Registration
We entered into a Registration Rights Agreement dated June 26, 2018 with Aquestive Partners, LLC, or APL, the members of the board of directors of APL and certain holders of membership interests of APL (collectively, the “Holders”), or the Registration Rights Agreement, which covers shares of our common stock issued to the Holders. The Registration Rights Agreement, among other things, granted “piggyback” registration rights to the Holders and certain of our directors and officers. Each of the Selling Stockholders, other than the Selling Stockholders selling Warrant Shares, have requested their shares be registered for resale pursuant to their piggyback registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement. The total number of shares of Common Stock registered for resale in this Prospectus pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is 16,000 shares (the “Piggyback Shares”).
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THE OFFERING
Common Stock offered by the Selling Stockholders
Up to 159,000 shares of Common Stock, which includes (i) 143,000 Warrant Shares and (ii) 16,000 Piggyback Shares.
Use of proceeds
We are not selling any shares of Common Stock under this prospectus and will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders. To the extent Warrants are exercised for cash, we will receive the exercise price thereof.
Risk factors
Investing in our Common Stock involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a discussion of factors that you should read and consider before investing in our Common Stock.
NASDAQ listing symbol
AQST
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by the materialization of any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to the materialization of any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and other documents we file with the SEC that are deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements. Words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the advancement of AQST-108 and Libervant™ through the regulatory and development pipeline; ability to address the concerns identified in the FDA’s Complete Response Letter dated September 25, 2020 regarding the New Drug Application for Libervant and obtain FDA approval of Libervant for U.S. market access; the focus on growing the Company’s commercial sales of Sympazan® and continuing to manufacture Suboxone® and other licensed products; clinical trial timing and plans for AQST-108; ability to obtain FDA approval and advance our other product candidates to the market; our growth and future financial and operating results and financial position; our and our competitors’ orphan drug approval and resulting drug exclusivity for our products or products of our competitors; short-term and long-term liquidity and cash requirements, cash funding and cash burn; and business strategies, market opportunities, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are also subject to the uncertain impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on our business including with respect to our clinical trials including site initiation, patient enrollment and timing and adequacy of clinical trials; on regulatory submissions and regulatory reviews and approvals of our product candidates; pharmaceutical ingredients and other raw materials; supply chain, manufacture, distribution and sale of and demand for our products; our liquidity and availability of capital resources; customer demand for our products and services; customers’ ability to pay for goods and services; and ongoing availability of an appropriate labor force and skilled professionals. Given these uncertainties the Company is unable to provide assurance that operations can be maintained as planned prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:
risks associated with the Company’s development work, including any delays or changes to the timing, cost and success of our product development activities and clinical trials and plans;
risk of delays in FDA approval of Libervant, AQST-108 and our other drug candidates or failure to receive approval;
risk of our ability to demonstrate to the FDA “clinical superiority” within the meaning of the FDA regulations of our drug candidate Libervant relative to FDA-approved diazepam rectal gel and nasal spray products, including by establishing a major contribution to patient care within the meaning of FDA regulations relative to the approved products as well as risks related to other potential pathways or positions which are or may in the future be advanced to the FDA to overcome the seven year orphan drug exclusivity granted by the FDA for the approved nasal spray product of a competitor in the U.S. and there can be no assurance that we will be successful;
risk that a competitor obtains FDA orphan drug exclusivity for a product with the same active moiety as any of our other drug products for which we are seeking FDA approval and that such earlier approved competitor orphan drug blocks such other product candidates in the U.S. for seven years for the same indication;
risk that a competitor will obtain other FDA marketing exclusivity that blocks U.S. market access for Libervant;
risk inherent in commercializing a new product (including technology risks, financial risks, market risks and implementation risks and regulatory limitations);
risks and uncertainties concerning the royalty and other revenue stream of KYNMOBI™ (apomorphine), achievement of royalty targets worldwide or in any jurisdiction and certain other commercial targets required for contingent payments under the monetization transaction, and of sufficiency of net proceeds of the monetization transaction after satisfaction of and compliance with the 12.5% Senior Notes obligations, as applicable, and for funding the Company’s operations;
risk of development of our sales and marketing capabilities;
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risk of legal costs associated with and the outcome of our patent litigation challenging third-party at risk generic sale of our proprietary products and other litigation matters in which the Company is a party;
risk of sufficient capital and cash resources, including access to available debt and equity financing and revenues from operations, to satisfy all of our short-term and longer-term cash requirements and other cash needs, at the times and in the amounts needed;
risk of failure to satisfy all financial and other debt covenants and of any default;
risk related to government claims against Indivior for which we license, manufacture and sell Suboxone® and which accounts for the substantial part of our current operating revenues;
risk associated with Indivior’s cessation of production of its authorized generic buprenorphine naloxone film product, including the impact from loss of orders for the authorized generic product and risk of eroding market share for Suboxone and risk of sunsetting product;
risks related to the outsourcing of certain marketing and other operational and staff functions to third parties;
risk of the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product and product candidates; the success of any competing products, including generics;
risk of the size and growth of our product markets;
risks of compliance with all FDA and other governmental and customer requirements for our manufacturing facilities;
risks associated with intellectual property rights and infringement claims relating to the Company’s products;
risk of unexpected patent developments;
risk associated with the impact of existing and future legislation and regulatory provisions on product exclusivity;
legislation or regulatory actions affecting pharmaceutical product pricing, reimbursement or access;
claims and risks that may arise regarding the safety or efficacy of the Company’s products and product candidates;
risk of loss of significant customers;
risks related to legal proceedings including patent infringement, investigative and antitrust litigation matters;
changes in government laws and regulations;
risk of product recalls and withdrawals; and
uncertainties related to general economic, political, business, industry, regulatory and market conditions and other unusual items.
You should also read carefully the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and incorporated by reference herein from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.
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Any forward-looking statements that we make in or incorporate by reference into this prospectus speak only as of the date of such statement, and, except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.
For all forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We will receive no proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders. To the extent Warrants are exercised for cash, we will receive the exercise price thereof.
The Selling Stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and any similar expenses they incur in disposing of the Common Stock, if any, and any related legal expenses incurred by them. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the Common Stock covered by this prospectus, including all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws, listing application fees, printing expenses, transfer agent’s and registrar’s fees, costs of distributing prospectuses in preliminary and final form as well as any supplements thereto, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants and other persons retained by the Company.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our capital stock and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are summaries. You should also refer to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part.
General
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 250,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, all of which remains undesignated. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to our previous filings with the SEC and incorporated herein by reference.
Common Stock
Outstanding Shares
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. The holders of our common stock do not have any cumulative voting rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Our common stock has no preemptive rights, conversion rights or other subscription rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Voting Rights
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. The affirmative vote of holders of at least 662/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock, voting as a single class, is required to amend certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation, including provisions relating to amending our bylaws, the classified board, the size of our board, removal of directors, director liability, vacancies on our board, special meetings, stockholder notices, actions by written consent and exclusive jurisdiction, provided, however, that this restriction shall not apply to, and such 662/3% vote shall not be required for, any such amendment, change or repeal approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the then current duly elected board of directors, in which case such action shall require only the vote of shareholders as required under Delaware law.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may apply to any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that our board of directors may declare out of funds legally available for that purpose on a non-cumulative basis. We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate we will declare or pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Further, any future debt agreements may also prohibit us form paying, or place restrictions on our ability to pay, dividends. Any return to stockholders will therefore be limited to the appreciation of their stock.
Liquidation
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
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Preferred Stock
As of January 8, 2021, we had no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of each wholly unissued series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding.
Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control that may otherwise benefit holders of our common stock and may adversely affect the market price of the common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. We have no current plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Our Bylaws
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of the company unless such takeover or change in control is approved by the board of directors.
These provisions include:
Classified Board. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors is elected each year. The classification of directors has the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors will be fixed exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by our board of directors.
Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Our certificate of incorporation and the bylaws also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can be called only by or at the direction of the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors. Stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting or to require the board of directors to call a special meeting.
Removal of Directors. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of at least 662/3% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast in an annual election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose. This requirement of a supermajority vote to remove directors could enable a minority of our stockholders to prevent a change in the composition of our board.
Advance Notice Procedures. Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting are only able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although the bylaws do not give the board of directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, the bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the company.
Super Majority Approval Requirements. The Delaware General Corporation Law generally provides that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless either a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws requires a greater percentage. A majority vote of our board of directors or the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662/3% of the total votes of the
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outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, are required to amend, alter, change or repeal the bylaws. In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662/3% of the total votes of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, are required to amend, alter, change or repeal, or to adopt any provisions inconsistent with, any of the provisions in our certificate of incorporation relating to amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and as described under “Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders”, “Classified Board” and “Removal of Directors” above. This requirement of a supermajority vote to approve amendments to our bylaws and certificate of incorporation could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such amendments.
Authorized but Unissued Shares. Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital and corporate acquisitions. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of our common stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in the best interests of us or our stockholders, our board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder or stockholder group. In this regard, our certificate of incorporation grants our board of directors broad power to establish the rights and preferences of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance may also adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of these holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of us.
Exclusive Forum. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the state or federal courts located in the State of Delaware are the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, or (iv) any other action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation described above. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with one or more actions or proceedings described above, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or Section 203. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.
Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions: before the stockholder became interested, the board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 75% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
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A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare. The transfer agent’s address is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10104, and its telephone number is (212) 805-7100.
Listing on the NASDAQ Global Market
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “AQST.”
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THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
As previously announced, on November 20, 2020, we closed a private placement of Warrants to purchase 143,000 shares of Common Stock. The Warrants include an obligation for the Company to use reasonable best efforts to register the Warrant Shares for resale with the SEC within 90 days of November 20, 2020 and granted customary piggyback registration rights to Warrant holders. The filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is pursuant to our obligations to register the resale of the Warrant Shares on behalf of certain of the Selling Stockholders under the Warrants.
In connection with registering the Warrant Shares on this registration statement, we are also registering certain Piggyback Shares as a result of piggyback registration requests from certain of the Holders. As described above, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, which covers shares of our common stock issued to the Holders. The Registration Rights Agreement, among other things, granted “piggyback” registration rights to the Holders and certain of our directors and officers. The total number of shares of common stock registered for resale in this prospectus pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is 16,000 shares.
We currently have no agreements, arrangements or understandings with the Selling Stockholders regarding the sale or other disposition of any of the shares. The shares of Common Stock covered hereby may be offered from time to time by the Selling Stockholders.
Furthermore, we do not know when or in what amounts the Selling Stockholders may sell or otherwise dispose of the shares of Common Stock covered hereby. The Selling Stockholders might not sell any or all of the shares covered by this prospectus or may sell or dispose of some or all of the shares other than pursuant to this prospectus. Because the Selling Stockholders may not sell or otherwise dispose of some or all of the shares covered by this prospectus and because there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale or other disposition of any of the shares, we cannot estimate the number of the shares that will be held by the Selling Stockholders after completion of the offering. For purposes of the table below, we have assumed that the Selling Stockholders will have sold all of the shares covered by this prospectus upon completion of the applicable offering.
The table below presents information regarding the Selling Stockholders and the shares of our Common Stock that they may sell or otherwise dispose of from time to time under this prospectus. The percentage of beneficial ownership is based upon 33,619,796 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of November 2, 2020. Beneficial ownership is determined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities and includes any securities that grant the Selling Stockholder the right to acquire Common Stock within 60 days of November 2, 2020, including the Warrants. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Information in the table below is based on information provided by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders. Since the date on which it provided us with the information below, the Selling Stockholders may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of some or all of their shares in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The address of each of the Selling Stockholders, unless set forth below, is c/o Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc., 30 Technology Drive, Warren, NJ 07059.
 
Beneficial Ownership Before
This Offering(1)
 
Beneficial Ownership After This
Offering(3)
Selling Stockholder
Number of
Shares Owned
Percentage
of
Outstanding
Shares(2)
Shares Offered
Hereby
Number of Shares
Owned
Percentage
of
Outstanding
Shares(2)
Entities affiliated with Bracebridge Capital, LLC
459,216
1.3%
30,645(4)
428,571
1.3%
Entities affiliated with Madryn Asset Management
1,530,717
4.4%
102,145(5)
1,428,572
4.1%
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 1585 Broadway New York, NY 10036
153,067
*
10,210
142,857
*
Lori Braender
81,667(6)
*
14,000
67,667
*
Peter Boyd
92,848(7)
*
2,000
90,848
*
*
Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of our outstanding Common Stock.
(1)
Includes (a) shares of our Common Stock held by the applicable Selling Stockholder and (b) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
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or conversion of warrants or stock options that are currently exercisable or convertible or are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of November 2, 2020 beneficially owned by the applicable Selling Stockholder.
(2)
Based on a denominator equal to the sum of (a) 33,619,796 shares of our Common Stock outstanding on November 2, 2020, and (b) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of convertible securities that are currently exercisable or convertible or are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of November 2, 2020 beneficially owned by the applicable Selling Stockholder.
(3)
For purposes of this table, the Company assumes that all of the shares covered by this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Stockholders.
(4)
Consists of (i) 22,065 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by FFI Fund Ltd. (“FFI”), (ii) 4,905 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by FYI Ltd. (“FYI”), and (iii) 3,675 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Olifant Fund, Ltd. (“Olifant Fund” and, collectively with FFI and FYI, the “Bracebridge Capital Affiliated Entities”). Bracebridge Capital, LLC (“Bracebridge Capital”) is the investment manager of each of the Bracebridge Capital Affiliated Entities. Bracebridge Capital may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by the Bracebridge Capital Affiliated Entities. Bracebridge Capital disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of its respective pecuniary interest therein. The address of each of the Bracebridge Capital Affiliated Entities and Bracebridge Capital is 888 Boylston Street, Suite 1500, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8193.
(5)
Consists of (i) 37,794 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Madryn Health Partners, LP (“Madryn Health Partners”), and (ii) 64,351 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Madryn Health Partners (Cayman Master), LP (“Madryn Health Partners (Cayman)” and, together with Madryn Health Partners, the “Madryn Funds”). Madryn Asset Management, LP (“Madryn Asset Management”) is the investment advisor to each of the Madryn Funds. Madryn Health Advisors, LP (“Madryn Health Advisors”) is the general partner of each of the Madryn Funds. Each of Madryn Asset Management and Madryn Health Advisors may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by the Madryn Funds. Each of Madryn Asset Management and Madryn Health Advisors disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of its respective pecuniary interest therein. The address of each of Madryn Asset Management, Madryn Health Advisors and the Madryn Funds is 140 East 45th Street, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10017.
(6)
Consists of (a) 25,000 shares held by Lori Braender directly and (b) 56,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.
(7)
Consists of (a) 52,239 shares held by Peter Boyd directly and (b) 40,609 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.
Details on the relationships of each of Mr. Boyd and Ms. Braender with the Company are included in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020, and are incorporated by reference herein.
Each time the Selling Stockholders sell any shares of Common Stock offered by this prospectus, they are required to provide you with this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement, if any, containing specific information about the Selling Stockholders and the terms of the shares of Common Stock being offered in the manner required by the Securities Act.
No offer or sale may occur unless the registration statement that includes this prospectus has been declared effective by the SEC and remains effective at the time the Selling Stockholders offer or sell shares of Common Stock. We are required, under certain circumstances, to update, supplement or amend this prospectus to reflect material developments in our business, financial position and results of operations and may do so by an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement or a future filing with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
This prospectus also covers any additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable in connection with the shares being registered by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares of Common Stock.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the shares of Common Stock issued to the Selling Stockholders to permit the resale of these shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders, although we will receive the proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants, if exercised for cash. The Selling Stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. The shares may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions, on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale:
in the over-the-counter market;
in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;
through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
privately negotiated transactions;
short sales;
sales pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act;
broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such security at a stipulated price per security;
a combination of any such methods of sale; or
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
If the Selling Stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the shares or otherwise, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of our common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The Selling Stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of our common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The Selling Stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of our common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or other applicable provisions of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of Selling Stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as Selling Stockholders under this prospectus. The Selling Stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of our common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under
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the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of our common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of our common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the Selling Stockholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.
Under the securities laws of some states, the shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
There can be no assurance that the Selling Stockholders will sell any or all of the shares registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
The Selling Stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, or Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of our common stock by the Selling Stockholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of our common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares.
We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, that the Selling Stockholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the Selling Stockholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, or the Selling Stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the Selling Stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the Selling Stockholders specifically for use in this prospectus or we may be entitled to contribution.
Once sold under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the issuance of the Common Stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Dechert LLP.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and for each of the quarters in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2019 consolidated financial statements refers to a change in the method of accounting for revenue from contracts with customers as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and its exhibits. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to herein are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference.
We file electronically with the SEC annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other information and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Copies of these reports, proxy and information statements and other information may be obtained by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
We make available, free of charge and through our Internet web site at www.aquestive.com, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to any such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Copies of our Code of Ethics and our Corporate Governance Guidelines may be accessed free of charge by visiting our website at www.aquestive.com under “Investors” at “Corporate Governance: Governance Documents” or by requesting a copy via an e-mail addressed to investorrelations@aquestive.com or by written request addressed to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices. To the extent required by applicable law and regulation, we intend to post on our website any amendment to, or waiver under, a provision of the Code of Ethics that applies to our executive officers and directors within the time period required. The information set forth on, or connected to, our website is expressly not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The SEC file number for the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is 001-38599. The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain important information that you should read about us.
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this document:
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 11, 2020;
our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020;
our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, as filed with the SEC on May 5, 2020, August 4, 2020 and November 4, 2020;
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our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 12, 2020, March 20, 2020, April 20, 2020, April 24, 2020, June 18, 2020, November 3, 2020, November 18, 2020, November 23, 2020, December 17, 2020 and January 7, 2021, to the extent the information in such reports is filed and not furnished; and
the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on July 20, 2018, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description.
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus all documents (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items) that are filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, or (ii) after the date of this prospectus but prior to the termination of the offering. These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You should direct any requests for documents to Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 30 Technology Drive, Warren, NJ 07059; telephone: (908) 941-1900.
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this document will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the document to the extent that a statement contained in this document or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this document modifies or supersedes the statement.
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