evlo-20230711
0001694665false00016946652023-07-112023-07-11

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): July 11, 2023
https://cdn.kscope.io/6bf81b1cc69def6a7e9c889fc05da320-Evelo JPEG graphic for Workiva.jpg
EVELO BIOSCIENCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware001-3847346-5594527
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
(Commission
File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
620 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(617) 577-0300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock,
$0.001 par value per share
EVLONasdaq Global Select Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company  
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  



Item 1.01.     Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On July 11, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), Evelo Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) closed the previously announced private placement (the “Private Placement”) and entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the investors named therein.

The material terms of the Registration Rights Agreement are described in Item 1.01 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 10, 2023. Such description of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 7.01     Regulation FD Disclosure.

On July 12, 2023, the Company issued a press release, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, announcing the closing of the Private Placement.

The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 furnished hereunder, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Furthermore, the information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 furnished hereunder, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into the filings of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit
No.
 Description
10.1
 
99.1
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).




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 hereunto duly authorized.

EVELO BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Date: July 12, 2023By:/s/ Marella Thorell
Marella Thorell
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


Document
Exhibit 10.1
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 11, 2023 by and among Evelo Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the “Investors” named in the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2023, between the Company and each of the Investors identified on Schedule I attached thereto (the “Purchase Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1.Certain Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute.
1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute.
Investors” means each of the Investors identified in the Purchase Agreement who are party to this Agreement and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of any such Investor who is a subsequent holder of Registrable Securities.
Prospectus” means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.
Register,” “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.
Registrable Securities” means (i) the Shares and (ii) any other shares of Common Stock issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for or in replacement of the Shares, whether by merger, charter amendment or otherwise; provided, however, that any such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (and the Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of any, or file another, Registration Statement hereunder with respect thereto) upon the first to occur of (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities being declared effective by the SEC under the 1933 Act and such Registrable Securities having been disposed of by the holder thereof in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (B) such Registrable Securities having been sold in accordance with Rule 144 (or another exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act) and (C) such Registrable Securities becoming eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144.
Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-



effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.
Required Investors” means the Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities outstanding from time to time.
SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly available written or oral guidance of the SEC staff, or any comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff and (ii) the 1933 Act.
Shares” means, collectively, the shares of Common Stock purchased by the Investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
2.Registration.
(a)Registration Statements.
(i)Promptly following the Closing Date but no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities. Subject to any SEC comments, such Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution, substantially in the form and substance, set forth in Part III of the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire. Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities. Such Registration Statement shall not include any shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of any other holder without the prior written consent of the Required Investors. Such Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with Section 3(c) to the Investors prior to its filing or other submission. If a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate amount paid pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by such Investor for such Registrable Securities then held by such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the Filing Deadline for which no Registration Statement is filed with respect to the Registrable Securities. Such payments shall constitute the Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but shall not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. Such payments shall be made to each Investor in cash no later than five (5) Business Days after the end of each such 30-day period (the “Payment Date”). Interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on any such liquidated damages payments that shall not be paid by the Payment Date until such amount is paid in full.
(ii)The Company shall take reasonable efforts to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 if such form is available for use by the Company, provided that if at such time the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
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(b)Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses associated with each Registration Statement, including filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws and listing fees, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold. Except as provided in Section 6 hereof, the Company shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by holders of Registrable Securities in connection with the performance of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents.
(c)Effectiveness.
(i)The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statements declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. Not later than 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on the second Business Day following the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall file with the SEC, in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Company shall notify the Investors by facsimile or e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within one (1) Business Day, after any Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Investors with access to a copy of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby. Subject to Section 2(d), if (A) a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the 45th day after the initial filing of the Registration Statement (the “Effectiveness Deadline”), or (B) after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update such Registration Statement), but excluding any Allowed Delay (as defined below) or, if the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, for a period of twenty (20) days following the date on which the Company files a post-effective amendment to incorporate the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (a “Maintenance Failure”), then the Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor then holding Registrable Securities, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate amount paid pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by such Investor for such Registrable Securities then held by such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the date by which such Registration Statement should have been effective (the “Blackout Period”). Such payments shall constitute the Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but shall not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. The amounts payable as liquidated damages pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid in cash no later than five (5) Business Days after each such 30-day period following the commencement of the Blackout Period until the termination of the Blackout Period (the “Blackout Period Payment Date”). Interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on any such liquidated damages payments that shall not be paid by the Blackout Period Payment Date until such amount is paid in full.
(ii)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Company shall not be required to file a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or, if a Registration Statement has been filed but not declared effective by the SEC, request effectiveness of such Registration Statement, for a period of up to forty-five (45) days, if (A) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Company is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event the Board of Directors reasonably determines would require additional disclosure by the Company in the Registration Statement of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the
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reasonable determination of the Board of Directors, upon the advice of legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements, (B) the Company determines such registration would render the Company unable to comply with applicable securities laws, or (C) audited financial statements as of a date other than the fiscal year end of the Company would be required to be prepared; and (ii) the Company may, upon written notice to any holder of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement, suspend the use of any Registration Statement, including any Prospectus that forms a part of a Registration Statement, if (x) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Company is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event the Board of Directors reasonably determines would require additional disclosure by the Company in the Registration Statement of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors, upon the advice of legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements, or (y) the Company determines it must amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, in no event shall holders of Registrable Securities be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement for a period that exceeds 30 consecutive Trading Days or 60 total Trading Days in any 180-day period (any such suspension contemplated by this Section 2(c)(ii), an “Allowed Delay”). Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Company shall provide prompt notice to holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated hereby.
(d)Rule 415; Cutback. If at any time the SEC takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the 1933 Act (provided, however, the Company shall be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09) or requires any Investor to be named as an “underwriter,” the Company shall (i) promptly notify each holder of Registrable Securities thereof and (ii) make commercially reasonable efforts to persuade the SEC that the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering “by or on behalf of the issuer” as defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Investors is an “underwriter.” The Investors shall have the right to have its legal counsel, at such Investor’s expense, to review and oversee any registration or matters pursuant to this Section 2(d), including participation in any meetings or discussions with the SEC regarding the SEC’s position and to comment on any written submission made to the SEC with respect thereto. No such written submission with respect to this matter shall be made to the SEC to which any Investor’s counsel reasonably objects. In the event that, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2(d), the SEC refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from such Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Cut Back Shares”) and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the SEC may require to assure the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 415 (collectively, the “SEC Restrictions”); provided, however, that the Company shall not name any Investor as an “underwriter” in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent of such Investor (provided that, in the event an Investor
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withholds such consent, the Company shall have no obligation hereunder to include any Registrable Securities of such Investor in any Registration Statement covering the resale thereof until such time as the SEC no longer requires such Investor to be named as an “underwriter” in such Registration Statement or such Investor otherwise consents in writing to being so named). Any cut-back imposed on the Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d) shall be allocated among the Investors on a pro rata basis and shall be applied first to any of the Registrable Securities of such Investor as such Investor shall designate, unless the SEC Restrictions otherwise require or provide or the Investors otherwise agree. No liquidated damages shall accrue as to any Cut Back Shares until such date as the Company is able to effect the registration of such Cut Back Shares in accordance with any SEC Restrictions applicable to such Cut Back Shares (such date, the “Restriction Termination Date”). From and after the Restriction Termination Date applicable to any Cut Back Shares, all of the provisions of this Section 2 (including the Company’s obligations with respect to the filing of a Registration Statement and its obligations to use reasonable efforts to have such Registration Statement declared effective within the time periods set forth herein and the liquidated damages provisions relating thereto) shall again be applicable to such Cut Back Shares; provided, however, that the date by which the Company is required to obtain effectiveness with respect to such Cut Back Shares shall be the 55th day immediately after the Restriction Termination Date.
(e)Other Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision herein or in the Purchase Agreement, (i) with respect to any Investor (as to such Investor only) the Filing Deadline and each Effectiveness Deadline for a Registration Statement shall be extended and any Maintenance Failure shall be automatically waived by no action of the Investors, in each case, without default by or liquidated damages payable by the Company to such Investor hereunder in the event that the Company’s failure to make such filing or obtain such effectiveness or a Maintenance Failure results from the failure of such Investor to timely provide the Company with information requested by the Company and necessary to complete a Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of the 1933 Act (in which case any such deadline would be extended, and a Maintenance Failure waived, with respect to all Registrable Securities until such time as the Investor provides such requested information), it being understood that the failure of such Investor to timely provide such information to the Company shall not affect the rights of other Investors herein, and (ii) in no event shall the aggregate amount of liquidated damages (or interest thereon) paid under this Agreement to any Investor exceed, in the aggregate, 5% of the aggregate purchase price of the Shares purchased by such Investor under the Purchase Agreement.
3.Company Obligations. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:
(a)use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective (and the prospectus contained therein available for use) pursuant to Rule 415 for resales by the Investors on a delayed or continuous basis at all times until (i) such time as there are no longer Registrable Securities held by the Investors or (ii) the fifth anniversary following the Closing Date (the “Effectiveness Period”) and advise the Investors promptly in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;
(b)prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby In the case of amendments and supplements to any
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Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a Current Report on Form 8-K, an Annual Report on Form 10-K, a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or any analogous report under the 1934 Act, the Company shall, if permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement;
(c)provide via email to the Investors who have supplied the Company with email addresses each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto not less than three (3) Trading Days prior to their filing with the SEC and reflect in each such document when so filed with the SEC such comments regarding the Investors and the plan of distribution as the Investors may reasonably and promptly propose no later than two (2) Trading Days after the Investors have been so furnished with copies of such documents as aforesaid;
(d)furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, if requested by such Investor, one (1) copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as each Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor (it being understood and agreed that such documents, or access thereto, may be provided electronically);
(e)use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness or the suspension of the qualification, or the loss of an exemption from qualification, of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;
(f)prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use reasonable best efforts to assist or cooperate with the Investors and their counsel in connection with their registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for the offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions reasonably requested by the Investors and do any and all other commercially reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the public offering or distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(f), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section 3(f), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(g)use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on The Nasdaq Global Market (or the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed);
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(h)promptly notify the Investors, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Prospectus contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing (provided that such notice shall not, without the prior written consent of an Investor, disclose any material non-public information regarding the Company), and as promptly as reasonably practicable, prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(i)otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the 1933 Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, promptly inform the Investors in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Investors are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the purpose of this subsection 3(i), “Availability Date” means the 45th day following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability Date” means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter); and
(j)with a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell shares of Common Stock to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to: (i) make and keep adequate current public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) six months after such date as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction by the holders thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect or (B) such date as there are no longer Registrable Securities; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1934 Act; (iii) furnish electronically to each Investor upon request, as long as such Investor owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act, (B) a copy of or electronic access to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail such Investor of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration and (iv) provide any legal opinions.
4.Due Diligence Review; Information. If any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in a Registration Statement as an “underwriter,” the Company shall, upon reasonable prior notice, make available, during normal business hours, for inspection and review by the Investors, advisors to and representatives of the Investors (who may or may not be affiliated with the Investors and who are reasonably acceptable to the Company) (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records, and all other corporate
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documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”) as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time period, to supply all such information reasonably requested by the Inspectors (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling such Investor and its accountants and attorneys to conduct such initial and ongoing due diligence solely for the purpose of establishing a due diligence defense to underwriter liability under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to such Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, except in the case such Records are sought in the course of an ordinary examination or inspection of the business or operations of such Investor or its Affiliates by such governmental body of competent jurisdiction, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investors’ ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Investors, or to advisors to or representatives of the Investors, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Investors, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review and any Investor wishing to obtain such information enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.
5.Obligations of the Investors.
(a)Each Investor shall deliver to the Company a Selling Stockholder Questionnaire prior to the Closing Date. Each Investor shall additionally furnish in writing to the Company such other information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least seven (7) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the additional information the Company requires from such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (the “Registration Information Notice”). An Investor shall provide such information to the Company no later than five (5)  Business Days following receipt of a Registration Information Notice if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. It is agreed and understood that it shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such
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Investor furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities.
(b)Each Investor, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
(c)Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of either (i) the commencement of an Allowed Delay pursuant to Section 2(c)(ii) or (ii) the happening of an event pursuant to Section 3(h) hereof, such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Investor is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made.
(d)Each Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement.
6.Indemnification.
(a)Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and its officers, directors, stockholders, members, managers, partners, trustees, employees, advisors and agents and other representatives, successors and assigns, and each other Person, if any, who controls such Investor (within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act) and the officers, directors, stockholders, partners, members, managers, trustees, advisors and employees of each such controlling Person (each, an “Indemnified Person”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, obligations, claims, damages, liabilities, contingencies, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs (including, without limitation, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of defense and investigation), amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, “Claims”) incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an Indemnified Person is or may be a party thereto (“Indemnified Damages”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or any violation of this Agreement (collectively, “Violations”); provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Claim arises out of or is based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Investor or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus and was reviewed and approved in writing by such Investor
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expressly for use in the Registration Statement, (ii) the use by an Investor of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Investor in writing that such Prospectus is outdated or defective or (iii) an Investor’s failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented), if required (and not exempted) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities.
(b)Indemnification by the Investors. Each Investor agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) against any Claim or Indemnified Damages resulting from any Violations, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information regarding such Investor and furnished in writing by such Investor to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto and was reviewed and approved in writing by such Investor expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of an Investor be greater than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such Investor in connection with a claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages such Investor has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission) received by such Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c)Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (A) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (B) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person or (C) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such person); and provided, further that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or conditioned, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.
(d)Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Claim in such
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proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to contribution from any person not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In no event shall the contribution obligation of a holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.
7.Miscellaneous.
(a)Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Investors; provided that (i) this Agreement may not be amended with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor unless such amendment applies to all Investors in the same fashion and (ii) the consent of each Investor is required for any amendment to Sections 2.1(a)(i), 2.1(c)(i), 2.1(c)(ii), Section 5, Section 6 or the definition of “Registrable Securities.” The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Investors; provided that any such action or omission that complies with the foregoing, but that disproportionately and adversely affects the rights and obligations of any Investor relative to the comparable rights and obligations of the other Investors shall require the prior written consent of such adversely affected Investor or each Investor, as applicable.
(b)Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made as set forth in Section 5.4 of the Purchase Agreement.
(c)Assignments and Transfers by Investors. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Investors and their respective successors and permitted assigns. An Investor may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more persons its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Investor to such person, provided that (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights and delegate such obligations and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (A) the name and address of such transferee or assignee and (B) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement and (vi) unless the transferee or assignee is an Affiliate of, and after such transfer or assignment continues to be an Affiliate of, such Investor, the amount of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned to such transferee or assignee represents at least $5.0 million of Registrable Securities (based on the then-current market price of the Common Stock).
(d)Assignments and Transfers by the Company. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
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consent of the Required Investors, provided, however, that in the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar business combination transaction in which the Common Stock is converted into the equity securities of another Person, from and after the effective time of such transaction, such Person shall, by virtue of such transaction, be deemed to have assumed the obligations of the Company hereunder, the term “Company” shall be deemed to refer to such Person and the term “Registrable Securities” shall be deemed to include the securities received by the Investors in connection with such transaction unless such securities are otherwise freely tradable by the Investors after giving effect to such transaction.
(e)Benefits of the Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
(f)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. ESIGN Act of 2000 or the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
(g)Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
(h)Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law which renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
(i)Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.
(j)Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto and thereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. The Transaction Documents supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
(k)Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the
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internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof (other than Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law). Each party agrees that all Actions or Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Action or Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such Action or Proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such Proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Action or Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.
(l)Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Investors and the Company will be entitled to seek specific performance under the Transaction Documents.
(m)Interpretation. Wherever required by the context of this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa, and references to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to refer to such agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time. All article, section, paragraph or clause references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such parts of this Agreement, and all exhibit, annex, letter and schedule references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such exhibits, annexes, letters and schedules to this Agreement. In addition, the word "or" is not exclusive; the words "including," "includes," "included" and "include" are deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation"; and the terms "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision.
(n)Independent Nature of Investors’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Investor hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor hereunder, and no Investor shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Investor hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such
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claim, with respect to such obligations or transactions. Each Investor shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The use of a single agreement with respect to the obligations of the Company contained was solely in the control of the Company, not the action or decision of any Investor, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Investor. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement is between the Company and an Investor, solely, and not between the Company and the Investors collectively and not between and among Investors.
(o)Non-Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, the Company covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, stockholder, general or limited partner or member of the Investors or of any affiliates or assignees thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future director, officer, employee, stockholder, general or limited partner or member of the Investors or of any affiliates or assignees thereof, as such for any obligation of the Investors under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

COMPANY:
EVELO BIOSCIENCES, INC.
By:Simba Gill
Name: Simba Gill
Title: President and CEO







IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
Alyeska Master Fund, LP
By:/s/ Jason Bragg
Name: Jason Bragg
Title: CFO Alyeska Investment Group








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
Bard Worldwide Holdings Limited
By:/s/ Elena Nikolaou
Name: Elena Nikolaou
Title: Director








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
Fidelity Growth Company Commingled Pool
By: Fidelity Management Trust Company, as Trustee
By:/s/ Colm Hogan
Name: Colm Hogan
Title: Authorized Signatory








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust: Fidelity Growth Company K6 Fund
By:/s/ Colm Hogan
Name: Colm Hogan
Title: Authorized Signatory








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust: Fidelity Growth Company Fund
By:/s/ Colm Hogan
Name: Colm Hogan
Title: Authorized Signatory








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust: Fidelity Series Growth Company Fund
By:/s/ Colm Hogan
Name: Colm Hogan
Title: Authorized Signatory








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
Fidelity Select Portfolios: Biotechnology Portfolio
By:/s/ Colm Hogan
Name: Colm Hogan
Title: Authorized Signatory








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
FLAGSHIP VENTURES FUND IV, L.P.

By: Flagship Ventures Fund IV General Partner LLC
Its General Partner
By:/s/ Charles Carelli
Name: Charles Carelli
Title: Authorized Signatory








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
NUTRITIONAL HEALTH LTP FUND, L.P.

By: Nutritional Health LTP Fund General Partner LLC
Its General Partner
By:/s/ Charles Carelli
Name: Charles Carelli
Title: Authorized Signatory








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
FLAGSHIP PIONEERING FUND VII, L.P.

By: Flagship Pioneering Fund VII General Partner LLC
Its General Partner
By:/s/ Charles Carelli
Name: Charles Carelli
Title: Authorized Signatory








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
Rimu Capital, Ltd.
By:/s/ Harold McPike
Name: Harold McPike
Title: Director








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:
SMRS-TOPE LLC

By: HVST-TOPE LLC
       Its Managing Member

By: HarbourVest Partners, L.P.
       Its Manager

By: HarbourVest Partners, LLC
        Its General Partner
By:/s/ Matthew H. Cheng
Name: Matthew H. Cheng
Title: Principal




Document
Exhibit 99.1
Evelo Biosciences Closes $25.5 Million Private Placement
Restructures and reduces secured debt with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation
Appoints two new members and decreases size of Board of Directors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evelo Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:EVLO) (the “Company” or “Evelo”), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a novel platform of orally delivered inflammation-resolving medicines acting on the small intestinal axis (SINTAX), today announces that it closed the previously announced private placement, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $25.5 million from the sale of 11,025,334 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $2.31 per share. The offering was led by Evelo’s founder, Flagship Pioneering, with participation from other existing and new investors. Net proceeds from the private placement will be used to fund completion of the Company’s ongoing Phase 2a trial of EDP2939 in moderate psoriasis, to pay down approximately $5 million of debt and for general corporate purposes.

Simba Gill, Ph.D., Evelo’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased to secure this financing which provides cash runway past our upcoming Phase 2a trial readout of EDP2939 in moderate psoriasis, expected early in the fourth quarter of this year. EDP2939 is our next-generation product targeting the small intestinal axis (SINTAX) which builds on the previously reported positive Phase 2 dose ranging study of our first generation product (EDP1815) in mild to moderate psoriasis. We believe EDP2939 has the potential for greater activity versus EDP1815, given that it is a purified and higher concentration microbial extracellular vesicle based product which is delivered in a faster release capsule and which better targets the upper part of the small intestine. EDP2939 has the potential, if approved, to be a foundational product for the global treatment of mild and moderate psoriasis patients. Positive Phase 2 data in the ongoing study could also open up potential in other Th17 inflammatory diseases, including many types of arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other chronic inflammatory diseases.”

In conjunction with the financing, the Company restructured its existing secured debt with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation (“Horizon”). The principal balance of the loan was reduced by $10 million with the Company paying down $5 million of the loan and Horizon converting $5 million of the loan into equity (at the same price per share as that paid by investors in the private placement). Evelo has agreed to pay down up to an additional $10 million of the loan and Horizon has agreed to convert up to an additional $10 million of the loan to equity, in each case concurrent with future equity financings of the Company.

Concomitant with the financing, Evelo appointed Jeff Moore and Alec Reynolds to its Board of Directors (the “Board”). Jeff is a Senior Vice President at Flagship and brings more than 25 years of financial and operations experience building life science companies and has served in several senior financial and operational roles for a number of public and private companies. Jeff began his career with Price Waterhouse in its Emerging Growth Company practice providing audit and advisory services to private and public life science and technology companies. Alec is the Chief Operating Officer of Flagship’s Pioneering Medicines initiative. Prior to joining Flagship, Alec held senior roles at Celgene, leading teams across operational, clinical, and regulatory areas, and also served as the global project leader for Revlimid in Multiple Myeloma which became a $10 billion revenue per year product. Prior to Celgene, Alec worked at the U.S. Treasury, The Carlyle Group, and Morgan Stanley. With Jeff and Alec joining the Board, four current directors, Theo Melas-Kyriazi, John Hohneker, Iain McInnes and Julie McHugh, have stepped down, reducing the size of the Board to seven directors. Dr. Hohneker and Dr. McInnes will continue as clinical and scientific advisors to the Company.



Robert Rosiello, Evelo’s Chairman, commented, “We welcome Jeff and Alec to the Board. Their experiences in developing clinical programs through approval and in building biotech companies will be valuable to us as we move to our next stage of growth. We thank Julie, Theo, John and Iain for having helped us enormously over many years from our origin to where we are today.”
“We also want to thank Horizon who has been a strong partner to us through the current challenging macro financial markets. We are pleased to have the continued strong support of our founding investor, Flagship Pioneering, as well as other existing and new investors,” continued Mr. Rosiello. “We look forward to our planned Phase 2 clinical data release later this year.”
About Evelo Biosciences

Evelo Biosciences is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a novel platform of orally delivered anti-inflammatory medicines acting on the small intestinal axis, SINTAX, with systemic therapeutic effects. The small intestine plays a central role in governing inflammation throughout the body. The Company’s product candidates are pharmaceutical preparations of single strains of microbes or their extracellular vesicles ("EVs"). Evelo’s vision is to create therapies that are effective, safe, well-tolerated, and affordable to improve the lives of the billions of people living with inflammatory diseases. If shown to be effective in inflammatory disease mediated by the Th1, Th2 or Th17 inflammatory pathways, these same investigational medicines could be effective in additional inflammatory diseases, such as psoriatic and other forms of arthritis, asthma, allergy, and inflammatory bowel disease.

For more information, please visit www.evelobio.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s intended use of net proceeds from the private placement; statements concerning its cash runway; statements concerning the expected timing and advancement of, and data results from, trials and clinical studies involving its product candidates; statements concerning the Company’s focus on its EV platform and the clinical development of EDP2939; statements concerning the prospects of its platform or product candidates; and statements concerning the restructuring of the Company’s secured debt and potential future pay down and conversion of debt to equity. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause Evelo’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Evelo’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2023 and its other filings with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While Evelo may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause its views to change.

Contacts

Investors:



ir@evelobio.com

Media:
media@evelobio.com