Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM
1A: Risk Factors
Please
carefully consider the factors discussed below and the factors identified in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022, and our subsequent filings with
the SEC, that could materially affect our business and financial condition and could cause results to differ materially from those
expressed in forward-looking statements contained in this Report or other reports filed with the SEC. The risks described below
and in the above reports are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently
deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Please also see “Special
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above.
44
Our
business, financial condition and operating results could be negatively affected as a result of actions by activist investors.
An
activist stockholder (the “Activist”) submitted a notice to our Board, purporting to nominate two nominees to our three-member
Board at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We informed the Activist that our Board determined its purported notice of nomination
was invalid, as it did not comply with our Amended and Restated Bylaws. We initiated a lawsuit against the Activist, the Activist’s
two nominees, and four additional individuals–all of whom we believe to be acting as a group to attempt to effectuate a takeover
of our Board without registering as a group pursuant to U.S. securities laws and some of whom we believe have committed other unlawful
actions. The Activist subsequently sued AIM and each of our board members in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, seeking
a declaratory judgment that the purported notice of nominations was valid and certain injunctive relief. The Delaware Chancery Court
denied the Activist’s motion on October 28, 2022, and the Activist announced on November 2, 2022, that it did not intend to appeal
the decision. Had the Activist prevailed in its lawsuit, we most likely would have been involved in a proxy contest for control of our
Board, despite the deficiencies in the Activist’s purported notice of nominations. Even though we prevailed in the Delaware litigation,
the litigation and the campaign by the Activist and those with whom the Activist is acting in concert against us has, and will have,
likely diverted the time and energies of management and required us to incur substantial expense, possibly causing a decrease in stockholder
value.
A
proxy contest and related litigation, along the lines discussed above, could have a material adverse effect on us for the following reasons:
●
Activist
investors may attempt to effect changes in our governance and strategic direction or to acquire control over the Board or AIM. In
particular, if the Activist is successful in its litigation and subsequent proxy contest, it may gain control of the Board.
●
While
we welcome the opinions of all stockholders, responding to proxy contests and related litigation by activist investors is likely
to be costly and time-consuming, disrupt our operations, and potentially divert the attention of our Board, management team and other
employees away from their regular duties and the pursuit of business opportunities to enhance stockholder value.
●
Perceived
uncertainties as to our future direction as a result of potential changes to the composition of the Board may lead to the perception
of a change in the strategic direction of the business, instability or lack of continuity, which may cause concern to our existing
or potential strategic partners, customers, employees and stockholders; may be exploited by our competitors; may result in the loss
of potential business opportunities or limit our ability to timely initiate or advance clinical trials; and may make it more difficult
to attract and retain qualified personnel and business partners.
●
Proxy
contests and related litigation by activist investors could cause significant fluctuations in our stock price based on temporary
or speculative market perceptions or other factors that do not necessarily reflect the underlying fundamentals and prospects of our
business.
ITEM
2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None
ITEM
3: Defaults upon Senior Securities
None.
ITEM
4: Mine Safety Disclosures
Not
Applicable.