Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specific in the SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Per Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), the term disclosure controls and procedures means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (“certifying officers”) have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of December 31, 2023. Our certifying officers concluded that, as a result of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting as described below, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2023.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financing Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on the evaluation under that framework and applicable SEC rules, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2023 as a result of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting as described below.
Our certifying officers concluded that the Company did not have an effective risk assessment over complex transactions due to the lack of sufficient and qualified resources. This led to a deficiency in the design and implementation of controls to review data inputs used in the valuation of financial instruments. The material weaknesses resulted in a restatement of our financial statements as described in the Explanatory Note to the Quarterly Report Form 10Q/A filed on March 29, 2024.
Additionally, as previously disclosed, on July 21, 2023, AEON completed a Merger with Old AEON and Merger Sub, pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Old AEON, with Old AEON surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AEON. Prior to the Merger, Priveterra was a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more target businesses. As a result, previously existing internal controls are no longer applicable or comprehensive enough as of the assessment date considering the Company’s operations prior to the Merger were insignificant compared to those of the Post-Combination Company. The design and implementation of internal controls over financial reporting for the Post-Combination Company has required and will continue to require significant time and resources from management and other personnel.
Based on our assessment, we have continued to identify a material weakness in connection with Priveterra’s internal controls around the interpretation and accounting for extinguishment of a significant contingent obligation as of December 31, 2022 that were not effectively designed or maintained.
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Remediation Status of Material Weaknesses in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We plan to enhance our processes by designing and implementing controls to review the results of valuations and estimates, including the completeness and accuracy of relevant data elements included in the valuation or estimate. We also plan to engage additional qualified resources and/or hire additional staff to ensure these incremental controls are properly implemented.
Management continues to be actively engaged to take steps to remediate the material weaknesses, including transition of financial reporting responsibilities from Priveterra to AEON and enhanced processes to identify and appropriately apply applicable accounting requirements to better evaluate and understand the nuances of the complex accounting standards that apply to our consolidated financial statements, providing enhanced access to accounting literature, research materials and documents, and increased communication among our personnel and third-party professionals with whom we consult regarding complex accounting applications.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management has continued to take action to remediate the material weaknesses during the annual period ended December 31, 2023. However, the material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until management designs and implements effective controls that operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are effective.
Other than described above, there has not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the year to which this Report relates that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations of Internal Controls
Our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud due to inherent limitations of internal controls. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Item 9B. Other Information
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or a “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” (in each case, as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information regarding director, officers and corporate governance is incorporated by reference to the information under the caption “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” that will be included in the AEON Biopharma, Inc. 2024 Proxy Statement.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information regarding executive compensation is incorporated by reference to the information under the caption “Executive Compensation” that will be included in the AEON Biopharma, Inc. 2024 Proxy Statement.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information regarding beneficial ownership and related stockholder matters are incorporated by reference to the information under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Related Stockholder Matters” that will be included in the AEON Biopharma, Inc. 2024 Proxy Statement.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
The information regarding related party transactions and director independence are incorporated by reference to the information under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Director Independence” that will be included in the AEON Biopharma, Inc. 2024 Proxy Statement.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information regarding principal accountant fees and services is incorporated by reference to the information under the caption “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” that will be included in the AEON Biopharma, Inc. 2024 Proxy Statement.
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Documents filed as part of this Form 10-K.
(1) Financial Statements: See Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for a list of financial statements.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules: All schedules omitted are inapplicable or the information required is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K: The information called for by this paragraph is set form in Item 15(b) below.
(b) Exhibits: See Exhibit Index
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No.
Description
2.1*
Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2022, by and among Priveterra Acquisition Corp., Priveterra Merger Sub, Inc. and AEON Biopharma, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 8-K filed by Priveterra Acquisition Corp. with the SEC on December 13, 2022)
2.1(a)*
Amendment No. 1 to Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2023, by and among Priveterra Acquisition Corp., AEON Biopharma, Inc. and Priveterra Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 8-K filed by Priveterra Acquisition Corp. with the SEC on May 1, 2023)
3.1
Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of AEON Biopharma, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on July 27, 2023)
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of AEON Biopharma, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on July 27, 2023)
4.1
Warrant Agreement between Priveterra Acquisition Corp. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of February 8, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 10-K filed by Priveterra Acquisition Corp. with the SEC on March 28, 2022)
4.2
Specimen Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 10-K filed by Priveterra Acquisition Corp. with the SEC on March 28, 2022)
4.3
Form of Senior Secured Convertible Note, by and among AEON Biopharma, Inc., Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. and AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 19, 2024)
10.1 +
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc. and Marc Forth (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on July 27, 2023)
10.2 +
Employment Agreement, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc. and Chad Oh (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on July 27, 2023)
10.3 +
Employment Agreement, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc. and Alex Wilson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on July 27, 2023)
10.4 +
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 21, 2023, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc. and the stockholders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on July 27, 2023)
10.5
Termination Agreement, dated March 18, 2024, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc. and ACM ARRT J LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 19, 2024)
10.6
Termination Agreement, dated March 18, 2024, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc. and Polar Multi-Strategy Fund (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 19, 2024)
10.7
Subscription Agreement, dated March 19, 2024, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc., Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. and AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 19, 2024)
10.8
Security Agreement, dated March 19, 2024, by and among AEON Biopharma, Inc., Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. and AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 19, 2024)
10.9
Guaranty, dated March 19, 2024, by and between Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. and AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 19, 2024)
10.10
Fourth Amendment to License and Supply Agreement, dated March 19, 2024, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc. and Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 19, 2024)
10.11
Consulting Agreement, by and between AEON Biopharma, Inc. and Eric Carter, M.D., dated January 30, 2020, and amended on January 30 2020 and September 30, 2020
31.1†
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2†
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1†
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2†
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
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97†
AEON Biopharma, Inc. Policy for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation
101.INS†
XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH†
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL†
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF†
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB†
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE†
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104†
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
†
Filed herewith.
*
The annexes, schedules, and certain exhibits to this Exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted annex, schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.
+
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
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SIGNATURES
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, duly authorized.
Date: March 29, 2024
AEON BIOPHARMA, INC.
By:
/s/ Marc Forth
Name:
Marc Forth
Title:
President, Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Marc Forth and Peter Reynolds as such individual’s true and lawful attorney in fact and agent with full power of substitution, for such individual in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney in fact, proxy and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney in fact, proxy and agent, or the individual’s substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Marc Forth
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
March 29, 2024
Marc Forth
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Peter Reynolds
Chief Financial Officer
March 29, 2024
Peter Reynolds
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Jost Fischer
Chairman of the Board
March 29, 2024
Jost Fischer
/s/ Shelley Thunen
Director
March 29, 2024
Shelley Thunen
/s/ Robert Palmisano
Director
March 29, 2024
Robert Palmisano
/s/ Eric Carter
Director
March 29, 2024
Eric Carter
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