424B5 1 achv-424b5.htm 424B5 achv-424b5.htm

 

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-229019

This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but the information in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell the securities, and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated May 24, 2021

Preliminary prospectus supplement

(To prospectus dated February 11, 2019) 

Shares of Common Stock

 

We are offering           shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ACHV.” On May 21, 2021, the last reported sales price for our common stock was $9.16 per share.

We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus supplement.

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE “RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE S-6 OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND IN THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed on the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

Per Share

 

Total

 

Public offering price

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Proceeds, before expenses, to Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

(1)

See “Underwriting” for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters.

We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to            additional shares of common stock. If the underwriters exercise their option in full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us will be $       and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $              .

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of common stock to purchasers on          , 2021. 

Sole Book-Running Manager

Oppenheimer & Co.

Lead Manager

Lake Street

The date of this prospectus supplement is          , 2021

 

 


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

Prospectus Supplement

 

Prospectus

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

About This Prospectus Supplement

This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference herein, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also adds to and updates the information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the additional information described in this prospectus supplement under “Where you can find more information.” This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent that any statement we make in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in the accompanying prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference therein, the statements made in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede those made in the accompanying prospectus and such documents incorporated by reference therein. However, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document with a later date that is incorporated by reference herein, the statement in the document having the later date modifies and supersedes the earlier statement.

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representation, other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, which together we sometimes refer to generally as the prospectus, or in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you. Neither we nor the underwriters take any responsibility for, and provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and any free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus supplement outside the United States. This prospectus supplement does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

Unless the context requires otherwise, in this prospectus the terms “Achieve,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Achieve Life Sciences, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein includes trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.

 

 

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Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, costs and expenses, interest rates, outcome of contingencies, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, business strategies, cost savings, objectives of management, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and other statements that are not historical facts. You can find many of these statements by looking for words like “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “could,” “plan,” “intend,” or similar expressions in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Examples of these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

our anticipated future capital requirements and the terms of any capital financing agreements;

 

progress and preliminary and future results of any clinical trials;

 

anticipated regulatory filings, requirements and future clinical trials;

 

the effects of COVID-19 on our business and financial results;

 

timing and plans for the expansion of our focus to address other methods of nicotine addiction;

 

timing and amount of future contractual payments, product revenue and operating expenses; and

 

market acceptance of our products and the estimated potential size of these markets.

These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from current expectations and projections. Factors that might cause such a difference include those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as those discussed in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 13, 2021 and other documents we have filed with the Commission that are incorporated herein by reference. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or, in the case of the accompanying prospectus and the documents referred to or incorporated by reference, the date of those documents.

All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus supplement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable U.S. securities law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

 

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Prospectus Supplement Summary

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully read the entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, including the risk factors and the financial statements and related notes included or incorporated by reference herein and therein. Some of the statements in this prospectus supplement constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Company Overview

We are a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline for smoking cessation and nicotine addiction.  Our primary focus is to address the global smoking and nicotine addiction epidemic, which is a leading cause of preventable death and is responsible for more than eight million deaths annually worldwide. We may expand our focus to address other methods of nicotine addiction such as e-cigarettes/vaping.

Our management team has significant experience in growing emerging companies focused on the development of under-utilized pharmaceutical compounds to meet unmet medical needs. We intend to use this experience to develop and ultimately commercialize cytisinicline either directly or via strategic collaborations.

Cytisinicline is an established smoking cessation treatment that has been approved and marketed in Central and Eastern Europe by Sopharma AD for over 20 years under the brand name Tabex™. We have an exclusive license and supply agreement with Sopharma for the development and commercialization of cytisinicline outside of Sopharma’s territories which are predominately located in Central and Eastern Europe. It is estimated that over 20 million people have used cytisinicline to help treat nicotine addiction, including over 2,700 smokers in investigator-conducted, Phase 3 clinical trials in Europe and New Zealand. These trials were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in September 2011 and December 2014 and the journal Addiction in March 2021.  

Cytisinicline is a naturally occurring, plant-based alkaloid from the seeds of the Laburnum anagyroides plant. Cytisinicline is structurally similar to nicotine and has a well-defined, dual-acting mechanism of action that is both agonistic and antagonistic. It is believed to aid in smoking cessation and the treatment of nicotine addiction by interacting with nicotine receptors in the brain by reducing the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms through agonistic effects on nicotine receptors and by reducing the reward and satisfaction associated with nicotine through antagonistic properties.  

In the third quarter of 2018, the United States Adopted Names Council adopted cytisinicline as the non-proprietary, or generic, name for the substance also known as cytisine.

Cytisinicline Ongoing Clinical Developments

In October 2020, we initiated the Phase 3 ORCA-2 clinical trial. ORCA-2 will evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3 mg cytisinicline dosed three times daily compared to placebo in 750 adult smokers at 17 clinical sites in the United States. ORCA-2 participants will be randomized to one of three study arms to determine the smoking cessation efficacy and safety profile of cytisinicline administered for either 6 or 12 weeks, compared to placebo. All subjects will receive standard behavioral support and will be assigned to one of the following groups:

 

Arm A: 12 weeks of placebo

 

Arm B: 6 weeks of cytisinicline, followed by 6 weeks of placebo

 

Arm C: 12 weeks of cytisinicline

The primary outcome measure of success in the ORCA-2 trial is biochemically verified continuous abstinence during the last 4 weeks of treatment in the 6 and 12-week cytisinicline treatment arms compared to placebo. Each treatment arm will be compared independently to the placebo arm, and the trial will be determined to be successful if either or both of the cytisinicline treatment arms

S-3


 

show a statistical benefit compared to placebo. Secondary outcome measures will be conducted to assess continued abstinence rates through 6 months from the start of study treatment. As a result of COVID-19, we initially experienced delays in enrolling subjects for the ORCA-2 trial, and currently expect enrollment to be complete in mid-2021.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated in California in October 1991 and subsequently reorganized as a Delaware corporation in March 1995. Our principal executive offices are located at 1040 West Georgia Street, Suite 1030, Vancouver, B.C. V6E 4H1, and our telephone number is (604) 210-2217.


S-4


 

 

THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered

       shares

Option to purchase additional shares

We have granted the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, to purchase up to         additional shares from us.

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

       shares (or                shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full).

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, will be approximately $       million (or approximately $      million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund ongoing cytisinicline development, other clinical research and development and for working capital and general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds for the acquisition of, or investment in, technologies, intellectual property or businesses that complement our business, although we have no present commitments or agreements to this effect. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Risk factors

Investing in our common stock involves significant risks. You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, including the risk factors described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to purchase shares of our common stock.

Nasdaq Capital Market Symbol

“ACHV”

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 6,149,917 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and excludes the following:

 

465,842 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $28.48 per share;

 

11,250 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted after March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $9.90 per share;

 

53,481 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units outstanding as of March 31, 2021;

 

1,259,273 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $18.31 per share;

 

15,395 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans as of March 31, 2021; and

 

4,145 additional shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans after March 31, 2021.

Except as otherwise indicated all information in this prospectus supplement assumes no exercise of outstanding options or warrants, no vesting of restricted stock units, and no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock.

 

S-5


 

 

Risk Factors

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed below, the risk factors beginning on page 3 of the accompanying prospectus, as well as the risk factors discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, each of which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus in their entirety, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, and any related free writing prospectus. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations. The occurrence of any of these known or unknown risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

Risks Related to this Offering

Management will have broad discretion as to the use of proceeds from this offering and we may use the net proceeds in ways with which you may disagree.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management on the use of net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, delay the development of our product candidates and cause the price of our common stock to decline. See “Use of Proceeds” for a description of our proposed use of proceeds from this offering.

If you purchase shares of common stock sold in this offering you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution in your investment. You will experience further dilution if we issue additional equity securities in the future.

Since the price per share of our common stock being offered is higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock, you will suffer dilution with respect to the net tangible book value of the shares of common stock you purchase in this offering. Based on the public offering price of $             per share and our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021, if you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate dilution of $per share with respect to the net tangible book value of the common stock. Furthermore, if outstanding options or warrants are exercised, you could experience further dilution. See “Dilution” for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase shares of common stock in this offering.

A sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. If our stockholders sell, or the market perceives that our stockholders intend to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly.

We cannot predict what effect, if any, sales of our shares in the public market or the availability of shares for sale will have on the market price of our common stock. However, future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, including shares issued upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We also expect that significant additional capital may be needed in the future to continue our planned operations. To raise capital, we may sell common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner we determine from time to time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock.

In addition, we have a significant number of stock options outstanding, and may also choose to issue additional common stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, in the future in connection with a financing, an acquisition, a litigation settlement, employee arrangements or otherwise. In the event that the outstanding options are exercised, or that we make additional issuances of common stock or other convertible or exchangeable securities, you could experience additional dilution.

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Furthermore, we cannot assure you that we will be able to issue shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing our securities in the future may have rights superior to investors purchasing shares in this offering.

Our stock price is subject to market volatility.

The stock markets in general, and the markets for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks in particular, have experienced extreme volatility, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. Furthermore, the trading price of our common stock may be adversely affected by third-parties trying to drive down the market price. Short sellers and others, some of whom post anonymously on social media, may be positioned to profit if our stock declines and their activities can negatively affect our stock price. These broad market and industry factors may seriously harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance.

 

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Use of Proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, will be approximately $               million, or $          million if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full.

We intend to use net proceeds from this offering to fund ongoing cytisinicline development, other clinical research and development and for working capital and general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds for the acquisition of, or investment in, technologies, intellectual property or businesses that complement our business, although we have no present commitments or agreements to this effect.

Based on our planned use of the net proceeds of this offering, we estimate such funds, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, will be sufficient for us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditures into 2023.

The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the progress of our clinical trials and other development efforts and other factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. As a result, our management will have broad discretion over the uses of the net proceeds, if any, we receive in connection with securities offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds.

Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term or long-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.


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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination related to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors after considering our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors the board of directors deems relevant, and subject to the restrictions contained in any future financing instruments.


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Dilution

Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021 was approximately $27.2 million, or $4.43 per share. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets, less total liabilities, by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021. Dilution with respect to net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.

After giving effect to the sale ofshares of our common stock at the public offering price of $       per share of common stock and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021 would have been approximately $        million, or $       per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $       per share to existing stockholders and immediate dilution of $           per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering at the public offering price. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:

 

Public offering price per share

 

 

 

$

 

 

Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021

$

4.43

 

 

 

 

Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering

 

 

 

 

 

 

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dilution per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering

 

 

 

$

 

 

If the underwriters exercise their overallotment option in full, our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering would be $    per share and the dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering would be $     per share.

The foregoing tables and calculations are based on 6,149,917 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and excludes the following:

 

465,842 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $28.48 per share;

 

11,250 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted after March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $9.90 per share;

 

53,481 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units outstanding as of March 31, 2021;

 

1,259,273 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $18.31 per share;

 

15,395 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans as of March 31, 2021; and

 

4,145 additional shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans after March 31, 2021.

To the extent that outstanding options or warrants have been or may be exercised, or restricted stock units have vested or may vest, or other shares are issued, investors purchasing our common stock in this offering may experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to issue additional common stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, in the future. The issuance of these securities could result in further dilution for investors purchasing our common stock in this offering.

 

 

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UnderwritING

We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters named below.  Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. is acting as the sole book-running manager and representative of the underwriters.

 

The underwriting agreement provides for the purchase of a specific number of shares of common by each of the underwriters. The underwriters’ obligations are several, which means that each underwriter is required to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock, but is not responsible for the commitment of any other underwriter to purchase shares of common stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of shares of common stock set forth opposite its name below:

 

Underwriter

Number of
Shares

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

 

Lake Street Capital Markets LLC

 

Total

 

 

The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement (other than those covered by the option to purchase additional shares of common stock described below), if any are purchased. Under the underwriting agreement, if an underwriter defaults in its commitment to purchase shares of common stock, the commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated, depending on the circumstances.

 

The shares of common stock and offered hereby are expected to be ready for delivery on or about            , 2021 against payment in immediately available funds.

 

The underwriters are offering the shares of common stock subject to various conditions and may reject all or part of any order. The representative of the underwriters has advised us that the underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock directly to the public at the public offering prices set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. In addition, the representative may offer some of the shares of common stock to other securities dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of $      per share. After the shares of common stock are released for sale to the public, the representative may change the offering prices and other selling terms at various times.

 

The following table provides information regarding the amount of the discount to be paid to the underwriters by us, before expenses: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

Per

Share

Without Exercise of Option

 

With Full Exercise of Option

 

Public offering price

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 $

Underwriting discount

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 $

Proceeds to us (before expenses)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 $

 

We have also agreed, subject to certain conditions, to provide Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. with a right of first refusal to act as sole book-running underwriter, sole initial purchaser, sole placement agent, or sole selling agent, as the case may be, on any financing for us on or before            , 2021.

 

We estimate that our total expenses of the offering, excluding the estimated underwriting discount, will be approximately $            , which includes the fees and expenses for which we have agreed to reimburse the underwriters, provided that any such fees and expenses in excess of an aggregate of $50,000 will be subject to our prior written approval.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

We have granted an option to the underwriters, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, to purchase up toadditional shares of our common stock at the public offering price per share, less the underwriting discount. If the underwriters exercise all or part of this option, they will purchase shares of our common stock covered by the option at the public offering price per share that appears on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, less the underwriting discount. If this option is exercised in full, the total price to the public will be $       , and the proceeds (before expenses) to us will be $  . If the underwriters exercise this option, the underwriters will be obligated, subject to the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s amount reflected in the above table.

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We have agreed to a 90-day “lock-up” and our executive officers and directors have agreed to a 90-day “lock-up” with respect to shares of our common stock and other securities beneficially owned, including securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of our common stock. Subject to certain exceptions, during the applicable lock-up period following the date of this prospectus supplement, we and our executive officers and directors may not offer, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of these securities without the prior written consent of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

 

Until the distribution of the shares and is completed, SEC rules may limit the underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our common stock. However, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price. In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than it is required to purchase in this offering. "Covered" short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters' over-allotment option described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising its over-allotment option or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which it may purchase shares through the option granted to it under the underwriting agreement described above. "Naked" short sales are sales in excess of such over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the closing of this offering.

 

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters' purchases to cover short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the Nasdaq Capital Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

 

The underwriters may also engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of shares of our common stock in this offering and extending through the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker's bid, that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.

 

 

Electronic Delivery of Preliminary Prospectus Supplement: A preliminary prospectus supplement in electronic format may be delivered to potential investors by one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering. The preliminary prospectus supplement in electronic format will be identical to the paper version of such preliminary prospectus supplement. Other than the preliminary prospectus supplement in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part.

 

The underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they may receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, from time to time, the underwriters and their

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affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the accounts of customers, and hold on behalf of itself or its customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.  

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

 

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member state), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the relevant implementation date), an offer of our securities described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state other than:

 

 

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

 

to fewer than 100 or, if the relevant member state has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by us for any such offer; or

 

 

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

 

provided that no such offer of shares of our common stock shall require us or the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and our securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the relevant member state) and includes any relevant implementing measure in the relevant member state, and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

  

We and the underwriters have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of our securities through any financial intermediary on our or their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of our securities as contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of our securities, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of our securities on behalf of us or the underwriters.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, or the Order, or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person being referred to as a relevant person).

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and their contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

  

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

 

No prospectus or other disclosure document (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) of Australia, or Corporations Act) in relation to our securities has been or will be lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, or ASIC. This document has not been lodged with ASIC and is only directed to certain categories of exempt persons. Accordingly, if you receive this document in Australia you confirm and warrant that you are either:

 

 

a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act;

 

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a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(c) or (d) of the Corporations Act and that you have provided an accountant’s certificate to us which complies with the requirements of section 708(8)(c)(i) or (ii) of the Corporations Act and related regulations before the offer has been made;

 

 

a person associated with the company under section 708(12) of the Corporations Act; or

 

 

a “professional investor” within the meaning of section 708(11)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act, and to the extent that you are unable to confirm or warrant that you are an exempt sophisticated investor, associated person or professional investor under the Corporations Act any offer made to you under this document is void and incapable of acceptance; and

 

 

you warrant and agree that you will not offer any of our securities for resale in Australia within 12 months of those securities being issued unless any such resale offer is exempt from the requirement to issue a disclosure document under section 708 of the Corporations Act.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in France

 

Neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering material relating to our securities described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or of the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. These securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering material relating to our securities has been or will be:

 

 

released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or

 

 

used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of our securities to the public in France.

 

 

Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:

 

 

to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with articles L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier;

 

 

to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or

 

 

in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1°-or-2°-or 3° of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l’épargne).

 

Our securities may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Chile

 

Our securities are not registered in the Securities Registry (Registro de Valores) or subject to the control of the Chilean Securities and Exchange Commission (Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros de Chile). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and other offering materials relating to the offer of the securities do not constitute a public offer of, or an invitation to subscribe for or purchase, the shares in the Republic of Chile, other than to individually identified purchasers pursuant to a private offering within the meaning of Article 4 of the Chilean Securities Market Act (Ley de Mercado de Valores) (an offer that is not “addressed to the public at large or to a certain sector or specific group of the public”).

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

 

Our securities may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to

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“professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to our securities may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to our securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the State of Israel

 

In the State of Israel this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus shall not be regarded as an offer to the public to purchase securities under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, which requires a prospectus to be published and authorized by the Israel Securities Authority, if they comply with certain provisions of Section 15 of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, including, inter alia, if: (i) the offer is made, distributed or directed to not more than 35 investors, subject to certain conditions (the “Addressed Investors”); or (ii) the offer is made, distributed or directed to certain qualified investors defined in the First Addendum of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, subject to certain conditions (the “Qualified Investors”). The Qualified Investors shall not be taken into account in the count of the Addressed Investors and may be offered to purchase securities in addition to the 35 Addressed Investors. The company has not and will not take any action that would require it to publish a prospectus in accordance with and subject to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968. We have not and will not distribute this prospectus or make, distribute or direct an offer to subscribe for our securities to any person within the State of Israel, other than to Qualified Investors and up to 35 Addressed Investors.

  

Qualified Investors may have to submit written evidence that they meet the definitions set out in of the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968. In particular, we may request, as a condition to be offered securities, that Qualified Investors will each represent, warrant and certify to us and/or to anyone acting on our behalf: (i) that it is an investor falling within one of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968; (ii) which of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 regarding Qualified Investors is applicable to it; (iii) that it will abide by all provisions set forth in the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 and the regulations promulgated thereunder in connection with the offer to be issued common stock; (iv) that the securities that it will be issued are, subject to exemptions available under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968: (a) for its own account; (b) for investment purposes only; and (c) not issued with a view to resale within the State of Israel, other than in accordance with the provisions of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968; and (v) that it is willing to provide further evidence of its Qualified Investor status. Addressed Investors may have to submit written evidence in respect of their identity and may have to sign and submit a declaration containing, inter alia, the Addressed Investor’s name, address and passport number or Israeli identification number.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

 

Our securities offered in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan. Our securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the account of any resident of Japan (including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), except (i) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and (ii) in compliance with any other applicable requirements of Japanese law.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of our securities may not be circulated or distributed, nor may our securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.

 

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Where our securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant party which is:

 

 

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

 

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of our securities and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired our securities pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

 

to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of our securities and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than $200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;

 

 

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or

 

 

where the transfer is by operation of law.

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Legal Matters

The validity of the common stock offered hereby and certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon by Fenwick & West LLP, Seattle, Washington. Certain legal matters with respect to the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for the underwriters by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, New York, New York.

Experts

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

Where You Can Find More Information

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus supplement, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits filed therewith. For further information about us and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the accompanying prospectus and registration statement of which it is a part and the exhibits filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus supplement regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the accompanying prospectus and the registration statement of which it is a part are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or the exhibits to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a copy of such contract or other document.

We file annual, quarterly and other periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including this registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Our Internet address is www.achievelifesciences.com. There we make available free of charge, on or through the investor relations section of our website, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the SEC. The information found on our website is not part of this prospectus and investors should not rely on any such information in deciding whether to invest.

 

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Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

The SEC and applicable law permits us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus information that we have or may in the future file with or furnish to the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information by referring you to those documents. You should read carefully the information incorporated herein by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We hereby incorporate by reference the following documents into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus:

 

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 11, 2021;

 

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2021;

 

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021 and May 13, 2021 (excluding any information furnished in such report under Item 2.02);  

 

our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 30, 2021; and

 

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-21243) filed with the SEC on September 27, 1995 (paper filing) under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Additionally, all documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement until the termination or completion of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (other than current reports or portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K, unless such current reports or portions thereof specifically reference their contents as being filed) from the respective dates of the filing of such documents. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost by writing, telephoning or e-mailing us at the following address, telephone number or e-mail address:

Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.

1040 West Georgia Street, Suite 1030

Vancouver, BC V6E 4H1

Tel: (604) 210-2217

Attn: Sandra Thomson

Copies of these filings are also available through the “Investors” section of our website at www.achievelifesciences.com. For other ways to obtain a copy of these filings, please refer to “Prospectus Summary-Available Information.”

 

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PROSPECTUS

$100,000,000

Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.

Common Stock, Preferred Stock,

Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights and Units

 

We may offer and sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights and units, or any combination thereof, with a total value of up to $100,000,000.

This prospectus provides a general description of securities we may offer and sell from time to time. Each time we sell those securities, we will provide their specific terms in a supplement to this prospectus. This prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read carefully this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before you invest in any securities. This prospectus is not an offer and may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

The aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $14.5 million, which was calculated based on 6,466,406 shares of outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates as of November 7, 2018, and a price per share of $2.25, the closing price of our common stock on November 7, 2018.  Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities pursuant to this registration statement with a value more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates in any 12-month period, so long as the aggregate market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $75.0 million. In the event that subsequent to the effective date of this registration statement, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $75.0 million, then the one-third limitation on sales shall not apply to additional sales made pursuant to this registration statement.  We have sold an aggregate amount of $7.1 million of securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the 12 calendar months prior to, and including, the date of this registration statement.

We may offer and sell these securities, from time to time, to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of offering. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ACHV.” On December 24, 2018, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.27 per share. None of the other securities we may offer are currently traded on any securities exchange. The applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any securities market or exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus.

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the information under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus before investing in our securities.  

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is February 11, 2019

 

 

 


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, from time to time, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, up to an aggregate dollar amount of $100,000,000, subject to any applicable limits prescribed by General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3. We have provided to you in this prospectus a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities under this shelf registration process, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. We may also add, update or change in the applicable prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement; provided that, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date (for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement), the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than the information and representations contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. If different information is given or different representations are made, you may not rely on that information or those representations as having been authorized by us. You may not imply from the delivery of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, nor from a sale made under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, that our affairs are unchanged since the date of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or that the information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or any sale of a security. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement may only be used where it is legal to sell the securities.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER AND SELL SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in this prospectus, the terms “Achieve Life Sciences,” “Achieve,” “the Company,” “Registrant,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Achieve Life Sciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, unless otherwise noted.

This prospectus includes trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. This prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference contains references to trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus and the information incorporated herein, including logos, artwork, and other visual displays, may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks or trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary may not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in securities. You should read the entire prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors” and the financial data and related notes and other information incorporated by reference, before making an investment decision.

Company Overview

We are a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to the global (excluding Central & Eastern Europe plus other territories) development and commercialization of cytisinicline for smoking cessation. Our focus is to address the global smoking health epidemic, which is a leading cause of preventable death and is responsible for approximately seven million deaths annually worldwide.

Cytisinicline is an established 25-day smoking cessation treatment that has been approved and marketed in Central and Eastern Europe by Sopharma AD for over 20 years under the brand name Tabex™. It is estimated that over 20 million people have used cytisinicline to help treat nicotine addiction, including over 2,000 patients in investigator-conducted, Phase 3 clinical trials in Europe and New Zealand. Both trials were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in September 2011 and December 2014, respectively.  

Cytisinicline is a naturally occurring, plant-based alkaloid from the seeds of the Laburnum anagyroides plant. Cytisinicline is structurally similar to nicotine and has a well-defined, dual-acting mechanism of action that is both agonistic and antagonistic. It is believed to aid in smoking cessation by interacting with nicotine receptors in the brain by reducing the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms through agonistic binding to nicotine receptors and by reducing the reward and satisfaction associated with smoking through antagonistic properties. The cytisinicline dosing schedule reflects that of an anti-addiction medication, with downward dose titration over a period of 25 days.

The Securities We May Offer

With this prospectus, we may offer common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights and units, or any combination of the foregoing. The aggregate offering price of securities that we offer with this prospectus will not exceed $100,000,000, subject to any applicable limits prescribed by General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3. Each time we offer securities with this prospectus, we will provide offerees with a prospectus supplement that will contain the specific terms of the securities being offered. The following is a summary of the securities we may offer with this prospectus.

Common Stock

We may offer shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Preferred Stock

We may offer shares of our preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, in one or more series. Our board of directors will determine the dividend, voting, conversion and other rights of the series of shares of preferred stock being offered.

Debt Securities

We may offer general obligations, which may be secured or unsecured, senior or subordinated and convertible into shares of our common stock or preferred stock. In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities together as the “debt securities.” The senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of our other indebtedness that is not subordinated. The subordinated debt securities will be entitled to payment only after payment on our senior debt. In addition, the subordinated debt securities will be effectively subordinated to creditors. Our board of directors will determine the terms of each series of debt securities being offered.

We will issue the debt securities under an indenture or indentures between us and a trustee. In this document, we have summarized general features of the debt securities from the indentures. We encourage you to read the indentures, which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

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Warrants

We may offer warrants for the purchase of debt securities, shares of preferred stock or shares of common stock. Our board of directors will determine the terms of the warrants.

Subscription Rights

We may offer subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We may issue subscription rights independently or together with other securities. Our board of directors or a committee designated by our board of directors will determine the terms of the subscription rights.

Units

We may offer units consisting of some or all of the securities described above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or debt securities. The terms of these units will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The description of the terms of these units in the related prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete. You should refer to the applicable form of unit and unit agreement for complete information with respect to these units.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated in California in October 1991 and subsequently reorganized as a Delaware corporation in March 1995. Our principal executive offices are located at 400 – 1001 W. Broadway, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6H 4B1, and our telephone number is (604) 736-3678.

In August 2017, our company, then named OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., completed its merger, or the Arrangement, with Achieve, as contemplated by the Merger Agreement between the companies. We then changed our name to Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. As a result of the Arrangement, Achieve became our wholly owned subsidiary. Achieve was formed in 2015 as a Delaware corporation and has one direct wholly-owned subsidiary, Extab Corporation, a Delaware corporation, which was formed in 2009. Extab Corporation in turn has one direct wholly-owned subsidiary, Achieve Pharma UK Limited, a United Kingdom company, which was formed in 2009.

 

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including in (i) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018, and (ii) other documents we file with the SEC that are deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which may be amended, supplemented, or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and are required to file annual, quarterly, and other reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC.  The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and various other of our information. You may also inspect the documents described herein at our principal executive offices, 1001 W. Broadway, Suite 400, Vancouver, BC V6H 4B1, during normal business hours.

Our Internet address is www.achievelifesciences.com. There we make available free of charge, on or through the investor relations section of our website, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information found on our website is not part of this prospectus and investors should not rely on any such information in deciding whether to invest.

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INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supercede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of any offering of securities made by this prospectus:

 

 

 

our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 033-80623) for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018, including certain information incorporated by reference therein from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders filed with the SEC on April 19, 2018;

 

 

 

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (File Nos. 033-80623) for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2018 and amended on May 23, 2018, and for the quarters ended June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2018 and November 7, 2018, respectively;

 

 

 

our current reports on Form 8-K (File Nos. 033-80623) filed with the SEC on January 24, 2018, May 23, 2018, June 20, 2018, September 21, 2018, September 28, 2018, and October 1, 2018;

 

 

 

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-21243) filed with the Commission on September 27, 1995 (paper filing) under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

 

 

filings we make with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement.

Upon written or oral request, we will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of such documents that are incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this prospectus incorporates). Written or oral requests for copies should be directed to Achieve Life Sciences, Inc., 1001 W. Broadway, Suite 400, Vancouver, BC V6H 4B1, Attn: Sandra Thomson, telephone number (604) 736-3678.

Any statement contained in this prospectus, or in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated by reference, shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not, except as so modified or superseded, constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and documents incorporated herein by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, costs and expenses, interest rates, outcome of contingencies, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, business strategies, cost savings, objectives of management and other statements that are not historical facts. You can find many of these statements by looking for words like “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “could,” “plan,” “intend,” or similar expressions in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Examples of these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

 

 

progress and preliminary and future results of clinical trials conducted by us or our collaborators;

 

 

 

anticipated regulatory filings and requirements and future clinical trials conducted by us or our collaborators;

 

 

 

timing and amount of future contractual payments, product revenue and operating expenses;

 

 

 

market acceptance of our products and the estimated potential size of these markets; and

 

 

 

our anticipated future capital requirements and the terms of any capital financing agreements.

These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from current expectations and projections. Factors that might cause such a difference include those discussed in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, as well as those discussed in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or, in the case of documents referred to or incorporated by reference, the date of those documents.

All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable U.S. securities law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds to us from the sale of our securities under this prospectus. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include funding research and development, sales and marketing activities, increasing our working capital, reducing indebtedness, acquisitions or investments in businesses, products, or technologies that are complementary to our own and capital expenditures. We will set forth in the prospectus supplement our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term, long-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them, and may also sell the securities to investors directly or through agents. We will name any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We have reserved the right to sell or exchange securities directly to investors on our own behalf in jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so. We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

 

 

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

 

 

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

 

 

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

 

 

at negotiated prices.

We may solicit directly offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus. We may also designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. We will name in a prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis, and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal for resale at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

If we utilize an underwriter in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter at the time of sale and we will provide the name of any underwriter in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we, or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement any compensation we pay to underwriters, dealers, or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions, or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers. Underwriters, dealers, and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers, and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimburse them for certain expenses. We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of our securities under this prospectus an option to purchase additional securities to cover any over-allotments in connection with the distribution.

The securities we offer under this prospectus may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their option to purchase additional securities. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

 

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We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and they may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in these sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. The financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

We will file a prospectus supplement to describe the terms of any offering of our securities covered by this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will disclose:

 

 

 

the terms of the offer;

 

 

 

the names of any underwriters, including any managing underwriters, as well as any dealers or agents;

 

 

 

the purchase price of the securities from us;

 

 

 

the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;

 

 

 

any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

 

 

the nature of the underwriters’ obligations to take the securities;

 

 

 

any over-allotment or other options under which underwriters, if any, may purchase additional securities from us;

 

 

 

any underwriting discounts, commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation, and any commissions paid to agents;

 

 

 

in a subscription rights offering, whether we have engaged dealer-managers to facilitate the offering or subscription, including their name or names and compensation;

 

 

 

any securities exchanges or markets on which such securities may be listed;

 

 

 

any public offering price; and

 

 

 

other facts material to the transaction.

We will bear all or substantially all of the costs, expenses, and fees in connection with the registration of our securities under this prospectus. The underwriters, dealers, and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consists of 155,000,000 shares. Those shares consist of 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.001 per share. As of September 30, 2018, there were 4,901,095 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. In addition, as of September 30, 2018, we had reserved, pursuant to various plans, 1,294,091 shares of our common stock for issuance upon exercise of stock options and settlement of restricted stock units by our employees, directors, officers and consultants, of which 665,585 were reserved for outstanding options, 15,156 were reserved for outstanding restricted stock units and 613,350 were available for future equity grants.

As of September 30, 2018, there were warrants outstanding to purchase an aggregate of 3,173,764 shares of our common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $8.57 per share. Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ACHV.”

The following description summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. This summary is, however, subject to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. For greater detail about our capital stock, please refer to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

Common Stock

Voting Rights. For all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share registered in his or her name. Except as may be required by law and in connection with some significant actions, such as mergers, consolidations, or amendments to our certificate of incorporation that affect the rights of stockholders, holders of our common stock vote together as a single class. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors, which means that, subject to any rights to elect directors that are granted to the holders of any class or series of preferred stock, a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect a director.

Liquidation. In the event we are liquidated, dissolved or our affairs are wound up, after we pay or make adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities, each holder of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets that remain, subject to any rights that are granted to the holders of any class or series of preferred stock.

Dividends. Subject to preferential dividend rights of any other class or series of stock, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, including dividends of our stock, as and when declared by our board of directors, subject to any limitations imposed by law and to the rights of the holders, if any, of our preferred stock. We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. We do not anticipate paying periodic cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any future determination about the payment of dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our earnings, if any, capital requirements, operating and financial conditions and on such other factors as the board of directors deems relevant.

Other Rights and Restrictions. Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock, all shares of our common stock have equal dividend, distribution, liquidation and other rights, and have no preference, appraisal or exchange rights, except for any appraisal rights provided by Delaware law. Furthermore, holders of our common stock have no conversion, sinking fund or redemption rights, or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws do not restrict the ability of a holder of our common stock to transfer his or her shares of our common stock.

The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which we may designate and issue in the future.

Listing. Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ACHV.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

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Preferred Stock

The following description of preferred stock and the description of the terms of any particular series of preferred stock that we choose to issue hereunder and that will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement are not complete. These descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the certificate of designation relating to that series. The rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series will be fixed by the certificate of designation relating to that series.

The board of directors has the authority, without stockholder approval, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of the shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

 

 

the number of shares constituting that series;

 

 

 

dividend rights and rates;

 

 

 

voting rights;

 

 

 

conversion terms;

 

 

 

rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions); and

 

 

 

rights of the series in the event of liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

All shares of preferred stock offered hereby will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have any preemptive or similar rights. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction that might involve a premium price for holders of the shares or which holders might believe to be in their best interests.

We will set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the series of preferred stock being offered the following items:

 

 

 

the title and stated value of the preferred stock;

 

 

 

the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share, and the offering price of the preferred stock;

 

 

 

the dividend rate(s), period(s), and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation applicable to the preferred stock;

 

 

 

whether dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock will accumulate;

 

 

 

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for the preferred stock;

 

 

 

the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;

 

 

 

the provision for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock;

 

 

 

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange;

 

 

 

the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into common stock, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation) and conversion period;

 

 

 

voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

 

 

 

a discussion of any material and/or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

 

 

 

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our affairs;

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any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our affairs; and

 

 

 

any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations, or restrictions of the preferred stock.

The transfer agent and registrar for any series of preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description of the terms of the debt securities summarizes some general terms that will apply to the debt securities. The description is not complete, and we refer you to the indentures which we filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

General

The debt securities will be either our senior debt securities or our subordinated debt securities. We will issue our debt securities under one or more separate indentures between us and a trustee. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. A copy of the form of each type of indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indentures may be supplemented by one or more supplemental indentures. We refer to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture, together with any supplemental indentures, as the “indentures” throughout the remainder of this prospectus.

The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. The indentures provide that debt securities may be issued up to the principal amount that we authorize from time to time. The senior debt securities will be secured or unsecured and will have the same rank as all of our other indebtedness that is not subordinated. The subordinated debt securities will be secured or unsecured and will be subordinated and junior to all senior indebtedness. The terms of the indentures do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us, but those provisions may be included in the documents that include the specific terms of the debt securities.

We may issue the debt securities in one or more separate series of senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of debt securities being offered will specify the particular amounts, prices and terms of those debt securities. These terms may include:

 

 

 

the title of the debt securities;

 

 

 

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

 

 

if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies, including the euro and other composite currencies, in which payments on the debt securities will be payable and whether the holder may elect payment to be made in a different currency;

 

 

 

the date or dates when payments on the principal must be made or the method of determining that date or dates;

 

 

 

interest rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable and the maturity;

 

 

 

the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions;

 

 

 

the places where payments may be made and the manner of payments;

 

 

 

any mandatory or optional redemption provisions;

 

 

 

any subordination provisions;

 

 

 

the denominations in which debt securities will be issued;

 

 

 

the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount;

 

 

 

the currency or currencies of payment of principal or interest and the period, if any, during which a holder may elect to pay in a currency other than the currency in which the debt securities are denominated;

 

 

 

if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any;

 

 

 

whether the debt securities will be secured or unsecured;

 

 

 

whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more global securities in temporary or definitive form;

 

 

 

whether and on what terms we will pay additional amounts to holders of the debt securities that are not United States persons in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether and on what terms we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts;

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the certificates or forms required for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form;

 

 

 

the trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars of the debt securities;

 

 

 

any deletions of, or changes or additions to, the events of default or covenants;

 

 

 

conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments to those prices and rates; and

 

 

 

any other specific terms of the debt securities.

If any debt securities are sold for any foreign currency or currency unit or if any payments on the debt securities are payable in any foreign currency or currency unit, the prospectus supplement will contain any restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to the debt securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.

Some of the debt securities may be issued as original issue discount debt securities. Original issue discount securities may bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates and will be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount and may bear no or below market interest. The applicable prospectus supplement will also contain any special tax, accounting or other information relating to original issue discount securities other kinds of debt securities that may be offered, including debt securities linked to an index or payable in currencies other than United States dollars.

Senior Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on senior debt securities will rank on a parity with all of our other indebtedness that is not subordinated.

Subordinated Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on subordinated debt securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our unsubordinated debt, including senior debt securities. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subordinated debt securities the subordination terms of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the subordinated debt securities. We will also state in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.

Registrar and Paying Agent

The debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange at the corporate trust office of the security registrar or at any other office or agency that we maintain for those purposes. In addition, the debt securities may be presented for payment of principal, interest and any premium at the office of the paying agent or at any office or agency that we maintain for those purposes.

Global Securities

We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates that will be deposited with a depositary we will identify in a prospectus supplement. We may issue global debt securities in either temporary or definitive form. We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any series of debt securities in the prospectus supplement.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

 

 

 

the conversion or exchange price;

 

 

 

the conversion or exchange period;

 

 

 

provisions regarding the convertibility or exchangeability of the debt securities, including who may convert or exchange;

 

 

 

events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price;

 

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provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities; and

 

 

 

any anti-dilution provisions, if applicable.

Registered Global Securities

Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

 

 

by the depositary for that registered global security to its nominee;

 

 

 

by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or

 

 

 

by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement involving any portion of the series represented by a registered global security.

We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities:

 

 

 

ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for that registered global security, these persons being referred to as “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants;

 

 

 

upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants;

 

 

 

any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited; and

 

 

 

ownership of beneficial interest in that registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for that registered global security for interests of participants and on the records of participants for interests of persons holding through participants.

The laws of some states may require that specified purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that registered global security, the depositary or that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as stated below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

 

 

 

will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;

 

 

 

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form; and

 

 

 

will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the indenture.

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owners of the

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registered global security. None of us, the trustee or any other of our agents or agents of the trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or stops being a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In that event, we will issue debt securities of the series in a definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in the name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, will instruct the trustee.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

Under the terms of the indentures, we may consolidate or merge with another company, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all our assets to another company, if:

 

 

 

we are the continuing entity; or

 

 

 

(i) we are not the continuing entity, (ii) the successor entity is organized under the laws of the United States of America and expressly assumes all payments on all of the debt securities and the performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the applicable indenture, and (iii) the merger, sale of assets or other transaction must not cause a default on the debt securities and we must not already be in default.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise provided for in the prospectus supplement, the term “event of default,” when used in the indentures means any of the following:

 

 

 

failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable; however, if we extend an interest payment period under the terms of the debt securities, the extension will not be a failure to pay interest;

 

 

 

failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

 

 

 

failure to perform other covenants for 60 days after notice that performance was required;

 

 

 

certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company; or

 

 

 

any other event of default provided in the applicable resolution of our board of directors or the supplemental indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities.

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. If an event of default relating to the payment of interest, principal or any sinking fund installment involving any series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each affected series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately.

If an event of default relating to the performance of other covenants occurs and is continuing for a period of 60 days after notice of that event of default, or if any other event of default occurs and is continuing involving all of the series of senior debt securities,

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then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the series of senior debt securities may declare the entire principal amount of all of the series of senior debt securities due and payable immediately.

Similarly, if an event of default relating to the performance of other covenants occurs and is continuing for a period of 60 days after notice, or if any other event of default occurs and is continuing involving all of the series of subordinated debt securities, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the series of subordinated debt securities may declare the entire principal amount of all of the series of subordinated debt securities due and payable immediately.

If, however, the event of default relating to the performance of other covenants or any other event of default that has occurred and is continuing is for less than all of the series of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, then, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of each affected series of the senior debt securities or the subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, may declare the entire principal amount of all debt securities of that affected series due and payable immediately. The holders of not less than a majority, or any applicable supermajority, in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series may, after satisfying conditions, rescind and annul any of the above-described declarations and consequences involving the series.

If an event of default relating to events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all of the debt securities outstanding, and any accrued interest, will automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

Each indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under each indenture unless:

 

 

 

the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of default and continuance of that default;

 

 

 

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series have requested that the trustee institute the action;

 

 

 

the requesting holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity for expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;

 

 

 

the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request; and

 

 

 

the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series.

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by an officer of our company, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of an indenture.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We can discharge or defease our obligations under the indentures as stated below or as provided in the prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are scheduled for redemption, within one year. We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or United States government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.

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Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time, which we refer to as “defeasance.” We may also be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indentures, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration, which we refer to as “covenant defeasance.” We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

 

 

 

we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or United States government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal, premium, if any, and interest on all outstanding debt securities of the series;

 

 

 

we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that (i) in the case of covenant defeasance, the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize;

 

 

 

 

income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance, and will be subject to tax in the same manner and at the same times as if no covenant defeasance had occurred and (ii) in the case of defeasance, either we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or there has been a change in applicable United States federal income tax law, and based on that ruling or change, the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to tax in the same manner as if no defeasance had occurred; and

 

 

 

in the case of subordinated debt securities, no event or condition will exist that, based on the subordination provisions applicable to the series, would prevent us from making payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any of the applicable subordinated debt securities at the date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above or at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the deposit date.

Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indentures as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.

Modification of the Indenture

Except as provided in the prospectus supplement, each indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to:

 

 

 

secure any debt securities;

 

 

 

evidence the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations and the conversion of any debt securities into the capital stock of that successor corporation, if the terms of those debt securities so provide;

 

 

 

add covenants for the protection of the holders of debt securities;

 

 

 

cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the indenture;

 

 

 

establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series; and

 

 

 

evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee.

Each indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of all series of senior debt securities or of subordinated debt securities then outstanding and affected, voting as one class, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected:

 

 

 

extend the stated maturity of any debt security;

 

 

 

reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;

 

 

 

reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest;

 

 

 

reduce any amount payable on redemption;

 

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change the currency in which the principal, unless otherwise provided for a series, premium, if any, or interest is payable;

 

 

 

reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;

 

 

 

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due; or

 

 

 

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture for any such series.

Concerning the Trustee

Each indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indentures separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under the indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by that trustee only on the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indentures may resign or be removed from one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities of a series may be effected by the trustee for that series at an office or agency designated by the trustee of that series.

If the trustee becomes a creditor of our company, each indenture places limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of debt securities then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee concerning the applicable series of debt securities, so long as the direction:

 

 

 

would not conflict with any rule of law or with the applicable indenture;

 

 

 

would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another holder of the debt securities; and

 

 

 

would not involve any trustee in personal liability.

Each indenture provides that if an event of default occurs, is not cured and is known to any trustee, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would use in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the exercise of the trust’s power. The trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they have offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee.

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

Each indenture provides that no incorporator and no past, present or future stockholder, officer or director of our company or any successor corporation in those capacities will have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or such indenture.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

General

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, preferred stock or common stock, or any combination thereof. Warrants may be issued independently or together with our debt securities, preferred stock, or common stock and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants. The warrant agent will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. This summary of certain provisions of the warrants is not complete. For the terms of a particular series of warrants, you should refer to the prospectus supplement for that series of warrants and the warrant agreement for that particular series.

Debt Warrants

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to purchase debt securities will describe the terms of the debt warrants, including the following:

 

 

 

the title of the debt warrants;

 

 

 

the offering price for the debt warrants, if any;

 

 

 

the aggregate number of the debt warrants;

 

 

 

the designation and terms of the debt securities, including any conversion rights, purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants;

 

 

 

if applicable, the date from and after which the debt warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable;

 

 

 

the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities, or other property;

 

 

 

the dates on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and expire;

 

 

 

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the debt warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

 

 

whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;

 

 

 

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

 

 

if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

 

 

 

the antidilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any;

 

 

 

the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants;

 

 

 

any provisions with respect to the holder’s right to require us to repurchase the warrants upon a change in control or similar event; and

 

 

 

any additional terms of the debt warrants, including procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise, and settlement of the debt warrants.

Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations. Debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payment of principal or any premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise.

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Equity Warrants

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants to purchase our common stock or preferred stock will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:

 

 

 

the title of the warrants;

 

 

 

the offering price for the warrants, if any;

 

 

 

the aggregate number of warrants;

 

 

 

the designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

 

 

 

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each security;

 

 

 

if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;

 

 

 

the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the exercise price for the warrants;

 

 

 

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and expire;

 

 

 

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

 

 

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

 

 

if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

 

 

 

the antidilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

 

 

the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;

 

 

 

any provisions with respect to holder’s right to require us to repurchase the warrants upon a change in control or similar event; and

 

 

 

any additional terms of the warrants, including procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise, and settlement of the warrants.

Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled:

 

 

 

to vote, consent, or receive dividends;

 

 

 

receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or

 

 

 

exercise any rights as stockholders of Achieve.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

We may issue subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. These subscription rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we offer, if any, will, to the extent applicable, include specific terms relating to the offering, including some or all of the following:

 

 

 

the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

 

 

 

the exercise price payable for our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of the subscription rights;

 

 

 

the number of subscription rights to be issued to each stockholder;

 

 

 

the number and terms of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities which may be purchased per each subscription right;

 

 

 

the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

 

 

 

any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights;

 

 

 

the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire;

 

 

 

the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to the extent the securities are fully subscribed; and

 

 

 

if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement which may be entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. We urge you to read the applicable subscription rights certificate and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of some or all of the securities described above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or debt securities. The terms of these units will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The description of the terms of these units in the related prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete. You should refer to the applicable form of unit and unit agreement for complete information with respect to these units.

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

The following paragraphs summarize certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the DGCL and to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are on file with the SEC as exhibits to documents previously filed by us. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our certificate of incorporation limits the personal liability of our directors to Achieve and our stockholders to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The inclusion of this provision in our certificate of incorporation may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their duty of care.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include a number of provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes in control of our company, including the following:

 

 

 

only the chairman of the board, the chief executive office, the president or a majority of our board of directors may call special meetings of stockholders, and the business transacted at special meetings of stockholders is limited to the business stated in the notice of such meetings;

 

 

 

advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders, including certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice;

 

 

 

our board of directors may designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock;

 

 

 

unless otherwise required by our bylaws, our certificate of incorporation or by law, our board of directors may amend our bylaws without stockholder approval; and

 

 

 

only our board of directors may fill vacancies on our board of directors.

In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with an “interested stockholder,” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which a person became an “interested stockholder,” unless:

 

 

 

prior to such date the board of directors of the corporation approved either the “business combination” or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder”;

 

 

 

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder,” the “interested stockholder” owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of voting shares outstanding (but not the voting shares owned by the “interested stockholder”) those shares owned (1) by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

 

 

at or subsequent to such time the “business combination” is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of a least 66 23% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the “interested stockholder.”

A “business combination” includes mergers, stock or asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the “interested stockholders.” An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. Although Section 203 permits us to elect not to be governed by its provisions, we have not made this election. As a result of the application of Section 203, our potential acquirers may be discouraged from attempting to effect an acquisition transaction with us, thereby possibly depriving holders of our securities of certain opportunities to sell or otherwise dispose of such securities at above-market prices pursuant to such transactions.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Fenwick & West LLP, Seattle, Washington, will issue an opinion about certain legal matters with respect to the securities. Any underwriters or agents will be advised about legal matters relating to any offering by their own counsel.

EXPERTS

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

 

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                                      Shares of Common Stock

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

Sole Book-Running Manager

Oppenheimer & Co.

Lead Manager

Lake Street

                       , 2021