**Exhibit 10.1 **
**TENDER AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT **
This TENDER AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 26, 2026, is entered into by and among argenx BV, a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap) organized under Belgian law (“Parent”), Avena Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent (“Purchaser”), and the undersigned stockholders of Forte Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) (each, a “Stockholder” and, if applicable, collectively, the “Stockholders”). All terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Stockholder is the record or beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the number of shares of Company Common Stock set forth on such Stockholder’s signature page (all such shares of Company Common Stock set forth on such Stockholder’s signature page, together with any shares of Company Common Stock that are hereafter issued to or otherwise acquired or beneficially owned (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, but excluding any shares of Company Common Stock issuable with respect to Company Options or Company RSUs that are not exercised or vested, as applicable) by any Stockholder prior to the valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section*** 5.2*, including for the avoidance of doubt any shares of Company Common Stock acquired by such Stockholder upon the exercise of Company Options or vesting of Company RSUs after the date hereof, but excluding any securities Transferred in accordance with Section*** 4.1*, in each case as of the applicable time of determination, being referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution hereof, Parent, Purchaser and the Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended from time to time pursuant to the terms thereof, the “Merger Agreement”), which provides, among other things, for Purchaser to commence an offer to purchase (the consummation of which is subject to the Offer Conditions) all of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, and, following completion of the Offer, for the Merger of Purchaser with and into the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement; and
WHEREAS, as a condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, and as an inducement and in consideration for Parent and Purchaser to enter into the Merger Agreement, each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, and on such Stockholder’s own account with respect to the Subject Shares, has agreed to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
**ARTICLE I **
**AGREEMENT TO TENDER AND VOTE **
Section 1.1 Agreement to Tender. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby agrees to validly and irrevocably tender or cause to be validly and irrevocably tendered in the Offer all of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Offer, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances (as defined below). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as promptly as practicable after, but in no event following the later of (x) seven (7) business days after, the commencement (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) of the Offer (or in the case of any shares of Company Common Stock acquired by such Stockholder subsequent to such seventh (7thth) business day, as promptly as practicable after the acquisition of such shares), as the case may be (but, if such shares are acquired prior to the expiration of the Offer, in no event later than expiration of the Offer) and (y) the delivery of a letter of transmittal with respect to such Holder’s Shares complying with the terms of the Offer, each Stockholder shall deliver or cause to be delivered pursuant to the terms of the Offer (a) in the case of Subject Shares represented by a certificate, a letter of transmittal with respect to all of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares complying with the terms of the Offer, together with the certificate(s) (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) representing all such Subject Shares that are certificated or (b) in the case of a Shares held in book-entry form, written instructions to such Stockholder’s broker, dealer or other nominee that such Subject Shares be tendered, including a reference to this Agreement, and requesting delivery of an
“agent’s message” (or such other evidence, if any, of transfer as the Paying Agent may reasonably request) with respect to such Subject Shares, and (c) all other documents or instruments required by the terms of the Offer in order to effect the valid tender of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares in accordance with the terms of the Offer and the Merger Agreement. Each Stockholder agrees that, once any of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares are tendered in accordance with the terms hereof, such Stockholder will not withdraw and will cause not to be withdrawn such Subject Shares from the Offer at any time, unless and until this Agreement shall have been validly terminated in accordance with Section*** 5.2*. For clarity, no Stockholder shall be required, for purposes of this Agreement, to exercise any unexercised Company Options held by such Stockholder and nothing herein shall prohibit such Stockholder from exercising any equity award held by such Stockholder.
Section 1.2 Agreement to Vote. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, during the time this Agreement is in effect, at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, in which the vote, consent or other approval of the stockholders of the Company is sought with respect to the Offer, the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any Acquisition Proposal, such Stockholder shall, in each case to the fullest extent that such Stockholder’s Subject Shares are entitled to vote thereon: (a) appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause all such Subject Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of determining a quorum; and (b) be present (in person or by proxy) and vote (or cause to be voted) all of its Subject Shares (i) against any Acquisition Proposal (other than the Merger and the other Transactions), (ii) against any change in membership of the Board of Directors that is not recommended or approved by the Board of Directors, and (iii) against any other proposed action, agreement or transaction involving the Company that is intended, or would reasonably be expected, to prevent, materially impair, or materially delay the consummation of the Offer, the Merger or the other Transactions. Each Stockholder shall retain at all times the right to vote such Stockholder’s Subject Shares in such Stockholder’s sole discretion, and without any other limitation, on any matters other than those set forth in this Section*** 1.2* that are at any time or from time to time presented for consideration to the Company’s stockholders generally.
**ARTICLE II **
**REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS **
Each Stockholder represents and warrants, on its own account with respect to the Subject Shares, to Parent and Purchaser as to such Stockholder on a several basis, that:
Section 2.1 Authorization; Binding Agreement. To the extent such Stockholder is not an individual, such Stockholder is duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the Legal Requirements of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or constituted (to the extent such concepts are recognized in such jurisdiction) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within such Stockholder’s entity powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary entity actions on the part of such Stockholder. Such Stockholder has full power and authority to execute, deliver and comply with its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Purchaser, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Stockholder enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited against the Company by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights or remedies in general as from time to time in effect or (ii) generally and by general principals of equity and subject to any conflict with the federal securities laws. No other action of such Stockholder is necessary to authorize this Agreement.
Section 2.2 Non-Contravention. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by such Stockholder with any provisions herein will (a) if such Stockholder is not an individual, violate, contravene or conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or other similar governing documents) of such Stockholder, (b) require any consent, approval, order, authorization, action or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Person on the part of such Stockholder, except for compliance with listing requirements and the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other United States or federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (c) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provisions of, or require any consent, waiver or approval or result in a default or loss of a benefit (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration or any event that, with the giving of notice, the passage of time
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or otherwise, would constitute a default or give rise to any such right) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract or other legally binding instrument or obligation to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder or any of its assets may be bound, (d) result (or, with the giving of notice, the passage of time or otherwise, would result) in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on any Subject Shares of such Stockholder (other than one created by Parent or Purchaser), or (e) violate any Legal Requirement or judgment applicable to such Stockholder or by which any of its Subject Shares are bound (except as may be required by applicable federal or state securities laws), except as would not, in the case of each of clauses (a) through (e), reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or materially impair the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise adversely impact such Stockholder’s ability to comply with such Stockholder’s obligations hereunder. No trust of which such Stockholder is a trustee requires the consent of any beneficiary to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 2.3 Ownership of Subject Shares; Total Shares. As of the date hereof, such Stockholder is, and (except with respect to any Subject Shares Transferred in accordance with Section*** 4.1* hereof or accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer) at all times during the Agreement Period (as defined below) will remain, the record or beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), as is the case on the date hereof, of all such Stockholder’s Subject Shares and has good and marketable title to all such Subject Shares free and clear of any Encumbrances, except for (a) any such Encumbrance that may be imposed pursuant to (i) this Agreement and (ii) any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act or any state securities law, (b) community property interests under applicable Legal Requirement and (c) any Encumbrance that would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or materially impair the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise adversely impact such Stockholder’s ability to comply with such Stockholder’s obligations hereunder (collectively, “Permitted Encumbrances”). The number of Subject Shares, Company Options and Company RSUs listed on such Stockholder’s signature page hereto are the only shares of Company Common Stock, Company Options and Company RSUs, as applicable, beneficially owned or owned of record by such Stockholder as of the date hereof. Other than such Subject Shares, Company Options and Company RSUs, such Stockholder does not own any other interests in, options to purchase or rights to subscribe for or otherwise acquire any securities of the Company and has no interest in or voting rights with respect to any Company Common Stock.
Section 2.4 Voting Power. Such Stockholder has full voting power with respect to all such Stockholder’s Subject Shares, and full power of disposition, full power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein and full power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with respect to all such Stockholder’s Subject Shares. None of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares are subject to any stockholders’ agreement, proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of such Subject Shares, except as provided pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 2.5 Reliance. Such Stockholder has been represented by or had the opportunity to be represented by independent counsel of his, her or its own choosing and has had the right and opportunity to consult with his, her or its attorney, and to the extent, if any, that such Stockholder desired, such Stockholder availed himself, herself or itself of such right and opportunity. Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Purchaser are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of and compliance with this Agreement.
Section 2.6 Absence of Litigation. With respect to such Stockholder, as of the date hereof, there is no Legal Proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, threatened against such Stockholder or any of such Stockholder’s properties or assets (including any shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by such Stockholder) that could reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or materially impair the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise materially impair such Stockholder’s ability to comply with such Stockholder’s obligations hereunder.
Section 2.7 Brokers. No broker, finder, financial advisor, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission from the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Stockholder.
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**ARTICLE III **
**REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER **
Parent and Purchaser represent and warrant to the Stockholders that:
Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification. Each of Parent and Purchaser is a duly organized and validly existing corporation in good standing under the Legal Requirements of the jurisdiction of its organization.
Section 3.2 Authority for this Agreement. Each of Parent and Purchaser has all requisite entity power and authority to execute, deliver and comply with its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary entity action on the part of each of Parent and Purchaser, and no other entity proceedings on the part of Parent and Purchaser are necessary to authorize this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and Purchaser and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Stockholders, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and Purchaser, enforceable against each of Parent and Purchaser in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principals of equity.
**ARTICLE IV **
**ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS **
Each Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that until the valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section*** 5.2*:
Section 4.1 No Transfer. Except as provided hereunder or under the Merger Agreement, from and after the date hereof and until this Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with Section*** 5.2*, such Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) create or permit to exist any Encumbrance, other than Permitted Encumbrances, on any of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares, (b) transfer, sell (including short sell), assign, gift, hedge, pledge, grant a participation interest in, hypothecate or otherwise dispose (whether by sale, liquidation, dissolution, dividend or distribution) of, or enter into any derivative arrangement with respect to (collectively, “Transfer”), any of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares, or any right or interest therein (or consent to any of the foregoing), (c) enter into any Contract with respect to any Transfer of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares or any interest therein, (d) grant or permit the grant of any proxy, power-of-attorney or other authorization or consent in or with respect to any such Stockholder’s Subject Shares, (e) deposit or permit the deposit of any of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares or (f) take or permit any other action that would in any way prevent, materially delay or materially impair the compliance with such Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby, otherwise make any representation or warranty of such Stockholder herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect, or have the effect of preventing or disabling such Stockholder from complying with any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any action taken in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void ab initio. Each Stockholder hereby authorizes Parent to direct the Company to impose stop orders to prevent the Transfer of any Subject Shares on the books of the Company in violation of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) any Stockholder that is an individual may Transfer Subject Shares (i) to any member of such Stockholder’s immediate family, (ii) to a trust for the sole benefit of such Stockholder or any member of such Stockholder’s immediate family, the sole trustees of which are such Stockholder or any member of such Stockholder’s immediate family, (iii) by will or under the laws of intestacy upon the death of such Stockholder or (iv) to a partnership, limited liability company or other type of entity of which the Stockholder or its immediate family are the legal and beneficial owners of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests, (y) any Stockholder may Transfer Subject Shares to any Affiliate of such Stockholder and (z) any Subject Shares surrendered to the Company in respect of payment of the exercise price upon exercise of Company Options or for the withholding due upon such exercise shall not be Subject Shares for purposes of this Agreement, and no restriction set forth in this Agreement shall apply to such Transfer; provided that, other than in the case of clause (z) or any Transfer pursuant to clause (x)(iii), such Transfer shall be permitted only if all of the representations and warranties in this Agreement with respect to such Stockholder would be true and correct at the time of such Transfer and the transferee shall have executed and delivered to Parent and Purchaser a counterpart to this Agreement pursuant to which such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and agree and acknowledge that such Person shall constitute a Stockholder for all purposes of this Agreement. If any involuntary Transfer of any of such
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Stockholder’s Subject Shares in the Company shall occur (including, but not limited to, a sale by such Stockholder’s trustee in any bankruptcy, or a sale to a purchaser at any creditor’s or court sale), the transferee (which term, as used herein, shall include any and all transferees and subsequent transferees of the initial transferee) shall take and hold such Subject Shares subject to all of the restrictions, liabilities and rights under this Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect until valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section*** 5.2*. Each Stockholder agrees that it shall not, and shall cause each of its affiliates not to, become a member of a “group” (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) for the purpose of taking any actions inconsistent with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Stockholder may make Transfers of its Subject Shares as Parent may agree in writing in its sole discretion. Each Stockholder shall notify Parent as promptly as practicable in writing of the number of any additional shares of Company Common Stock, Company Options or Company RSUs of which such Stockholder acquires record or beneficial ownership on or after the date hereof (other than as a result of exercise of Company Options or vesting of Company RSUs after the date hereof).
Section 4.2 No Exercise of Appraisal Rights. Such Stockholder forever waives and agrees not to exercise any appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights, including pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, in respect of such Stockholder’s Subject Shares that may arise in connection with the Merger.
Section 4.3 Documentation and Information. Such Stockholder consents to and hereby authorizes the Company, Parent and Purchaser to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, including Schedule 14D-9, and any press release or other disclosure document that Parent, the Company or Purchaser reasonably determines to be necessary in connection with the Offer, the Merger and any of the other Transactions, in each case regarding such Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Subject Shares, the existence of this Agreement, the nature of such Stockholder’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement and any other information that Parent or the Company reasonably determines is required to be disclosed by Legal Requirement, and such Stockholder acknowledges that Parent and Purchaser may, in Parent’s sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Body. Such Stockholder agrees to promptly give the Company, Parent or the Purchaser any information it may reasonably request for the preparation of any such disclosure documents, and such Stockholder agrees to promptly notify the Company, Parent and Purchaser of any required corrections with respect to any information supplied by such Stockholder specifically for use in any such disclosure document, if and to the extent it becomes aware that any such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect.
Section 4.4 Adjustments. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction with respect to the capital stock of the Company affecting the Subject Shares, the terms of this Agreement shall apply to the resulting securities.
Section 4.5 Waiver with Respect to Certain Actions. Each Stockholder hereby agrees not to commence or participate in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against the Company, Parent, Purchaser, any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective successors, directors or officers relating to the negotiation, execution or delivery of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or the other Transactions, including any such claim (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the acceptance of the Offer or the Merger) or (b) alleging a breach of any duty of the Board of Directors in connection with the Merger Agreement, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or hereby.
Section 4.6 Notices of Certain Events. Each Stockholder shall notify Parent of any development occurring after the date hereof that causes, or that would reasonably be expected to cause, any breach of any of the representations and warranties of such Stockholder set forth in ARTICLE*** II*.
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**ARTICLE V **
**MISCELLANEOUS **
Section 5.1 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any Party under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly delivered, given and received (a) upon receipt when delivered by hand, (b) two business days after being sent by registered mail or by courier or express delivery service or (c) upon transmission if sent by email (provided no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto); provided, that in each case the notice or other communication is sent to the physical address or email address set forth beneath the name of such Party below (or to such other physical address or email address as such Party shall have specified in a written notice given to the other Parties):
if to Parent or Purchaser (or following the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation):
argenx BV
Industriepark-Zwijnaarde 7
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
Attention: Corporate Legal
Email: [Redacted]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Freshfields US LLP
3 World Trade Center
175 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
Attention: Damien Zoubek, Oliver J. Board
Email: damien.zoubek@freshfields.com, oliver.board@freshfields.com
if to the Company (prior to the Effective Time):
Forte Biosciences, Inc.
3060 Pegasus Park Drive, Building 6,
Dallas, Texas 75247
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Email: [Redacted]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
One Market Plaza, Spear Tower, Suite 3300
San Francisco, California 94105
Attn: Robert Ishii; Remi Korenblit
Email: rishii@wsgr.com; rkorenblit@wsgr.com
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
12235 El Camino Real
San Diego, California 92130
Attention: Dan Koeppen
Email: dkoeppen@wsgr.com
Section 5.2 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate automatically with respect to a Stockholder, without any notice or other action by any Person, upon the first to occur of (a) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (b) the Effective Time, (c) the termination of this Agreement by written notice from Parent to the Stockholders or (d) any amendment or change to the Merger Agreement or the Offer that is effected without Stockholder’s consent that decreases the amount, or changes the form, of consideration payable to all stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement (provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (d) shall not apply to any increase in the consideration payable in the Offer that does not reduce the cash consideration payable in the Offer) (the period from the date hereof through such time being referred to as the “Agreement Period”). Upon the valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Section*** 5.2*, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided, however, that (x) nothing set forth in
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this Section*** 5.2* shall relieve any party from liability for any willful and material breach of this Agreement prior to termination hereof, (y) the provisions of Section*** 4.5* and this Article*** V* shall survive any valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Section*** 5.2* and (z) Parent shall cause Purchaser to promptly return or caused to be returned to the Stockholder any Stockholder Subject Shares tendered by the Stockholder.
Section 5.3 Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties. No failure on the part of any party to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any party in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy. No single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy. No party shall be deemed to have waived any claim arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such party and any such waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure. The rights and remedies provided herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by any Legal Requirement.
Section 5.4 Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in connection herewith and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such fees and expenses, whether or not the Offer or the Merger is consummated.
Section 5.5 Entire Agreement; Counterparts. This Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the other documents and certificates delivered pursuant hereto, constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among or between any of the parties and their respective Affiliates, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, including by DocuSign, facsimile or by email with .pdf attachments, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.
Section 5.6 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party (including by operation of law, by merger or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, that Parent or Purchaser may assign any of their respective rights and obligations to one or more Affiliates at any time, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent or Purchaser of its obligations hereunder.
Section 5.7 Applicable Legal Requirements; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; Remedies.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof. Any claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (whether based in contract, tort or otherwise), including any counterclaim, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the actions of any party in the negotiation, administration, performance and enforcement hereof or thereof, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof. In any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally (i) consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of (A) the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware and any state appellate court therefrom, (B) if (but only if) such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware sitting in New Castle County and any state appellate court therefrom or (C) if (but only if) the courts in clauses (A) and (B) lack subject matter jurisdiction, the United States District Court sitting in New Castle County in the State of Delaware and any appellate court therefrom (collectively, the “Delaware Courts”); (ii) agrees not to attempt to deny or defeat such jurisdiction by motion or otherwise request for leave from any such court; (iii) consents to service of process by first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the address at which such party is to receive notice in accordance with Section 5.1; (iv) agrees not to commence any such action or proceeding except in the Delaware Courts; (v) agrees that any claim in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in the
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Delaware Courts, (vi) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the jurisdiction or laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Courts and (vii) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in the Delaware Courts. Each party agrees that service of process upon such party in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be effective if notice is given by overnight courier at the address such party is to receive notice in accordance with Section 5.1. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Legal Requirements; provided, however, that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any party’s rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, such final trial court judgment.
(b) The parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any Stockholder did not perform any of the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise breached any such provisions. It is accordingly agreed that Parent and Purchaser shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance, or other equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the courts described in Section*** 5.7(a)* without proof of damages or otherwise, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon Parent and Purchaser will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by Legal Requirement or equity upon Parent or Purchaser, and the exercise by Parent or Purchaser of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. Each Stockholder agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that Parent or Purchaser has an adequate remedy at law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. Each Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that Parent or Purchaser, in seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section*** 5.7(b)*, shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.
(c) EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE), INCLUDING ANY COUNTERCLAIM, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE MERGER AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF. EACH PARTY (I) MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION*** 5.7*.
Section 5.8 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 5.9 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.
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Section 5.10 Construction.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa; the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine genders.
(b) The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(c) As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “date hereof” when used in this Agreement shall refer to the date of this Agreement. The terms “or”, “any” and “either” are not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. With respect to any grant of rights to, in or under any intellectual property, the word “license” or “licenses” shall be deemed to include “sublicense” or “sublicenses,” as applicable.
(d) Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Sections” are intended to refer to Sections of this Agreement.
(e) The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless business days are specified. If any action is to be taken or given on or by a particular calendar day, and such calendar day is not a business day, then such action may be deferred until the next business day.
(g) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined herein.
(h) References herein to any statute includes all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(i) Any statute defined or referred to herein means such statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including by succession of comparable successor statutes.
Section 5.11 Further Assurances. Each Stockholder will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Legal Requirements and regulations, to comply with its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 5.12 Capacity as Stockholder. Each Stockholder signs this Agreement solely in such Stockholder’s capacity as a stockholder of the Company, and not, if applicable, in such Stockholder’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company. Nothing herein shall in any way restrict a director or officer of the Company in the taking of any actions (or failure to act) in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company, or in the exercise of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer of the Company, or prevent or be construed to create any obligation on the part of any director or officer of the Company from taking any action in his or her capacity as such director or officer, and no action taken in any such capacity as an officer or director of the Company shall be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall be
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understood to relieve any party to the Merger Agreement of any obligation under, or of any liability for breach of any provision of, the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other agreement or document executed or delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, nothing in this Agreement or any such other agreement or document shall: (a) release, waive, discharge, compromise, settle or affect any rights or claims that Stockholder or its Affiliates may have for (i) indemnification, advancement of expenses, contribution or reimbursement under any applicable law, the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of any person or party, any agreement or arrangement providing for such indemnification, advancement, contribution or reimbursement, or any insurance policy covering Stockholder or any of its Affiliates, (ii) any breach of or default under this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or any other agreement or document executed or delivered by Parent or Purchaser, (iii) any rights under this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, or (iv) any rights or claims that are expressly reserved, acknowledged or granted by this Agreement or any other agreement or document executed or delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; or (b) limit, impair or affect any rights or claims that Stockholder and/or its Affiliates may have against any other person or party arising out of or relating to any matter, event, circumstance, action, omission, transaction or occurrence that is outside the transactions contemplated hereby or the subject matter of this Agreement or any other agreement or document executed or delivered in connection therewith.
Section 5.13 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall not survive the Effective Time or the valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section*** 5.2*.
Section 5.14 No Agreement Until Executed. This Agreement shall not be effective unless and until (a) the Merger Agreement is executed by all parties thereto and (b) this Agreement is executed by all parties hereto.
Section 5.15 No Ownership Interest. Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent or Purchaser any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to the Subject Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Subject Shares shall remain vested in and belong to Stockholder, and neither Parent nor Purchaser shall have any authority to manage, direct, restrict, regulate, govern, or administer any of the policies or operations of the Company as a result of this Agreement or exercise any power or authority to direct Stockholder in the voting of any of the Subject Shares, except as otherwise provided herein.
Section 5.16 Stockholder Obligation Several and Not Joint. The obligations of each Stockholder hereunder shall be several and not joint, and no Stockholder shall be liable for any breach of the terms of this Agreement by any other Stockholder. Further, Parent and Purchaser agree that no Stockholder will be liable for claims, losses, damages, liabilities or other obligations of, or incurred by, the Company resulting from the Company’s breach of the Merger Agreement except to the extent that breach of such Stockholder’s obligations hereunder was also involved in such breach by the Company.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature Pages Follow.]
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The parties are executing this Agreement on the date set forth in the introductory clause.
| PARENT: | ||
| ARGENX BV | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| PURCHASER: | ||
| AVENA MERGER SUB INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
[Signature Page to Tender and Support Agreement]
The parties are executing this Agreement on the date set forth in the introductory clause.
| STOCKHOLDER: | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Email: | ||
| Address: |
| Company Securities Owned: |
| Company Common Stock: |
| Company Options: |
| Company RSUs: |