Washington, D.C. 20549
Avid Bioservices, Inc.
This Schedule 14A filing consists of the following communications relating to the proposed acquisition of Avid Bioservices, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) by Space Finco, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Parent”), pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated November 6, 2024, by and among the Company, Parent and Space Mergerco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Each item included below was
first used or made available on November 6, 2024.
CDMO Transaction Employee Letter
Team,
I’m reaching out with an important update about our Company. Avid Bioservices has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by GHO Capital Partners and Ampersand
Capital Partners for $12.50 per share in cash in a transaction valued at $1.1 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, Avid common stock will no longer be publicly traded.
Avid was founded over 30 years ago as a company devoted to developing and manufacturing biologics. Since then, we have grown and evolved into a leading CDMO that provides
commercial biologics and other services to large pharmaceutical and biotech customers supporting patients around the world.
After years of investment and expansion, we believe that now is the right time to move forward as a private company with new owners that will support our next phase of
growth.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, GHO and Ampersand are experienced healthcare industry investors based in London and Boston, respectively. With a transatlantic focus,
GHO brings a collaborative approach to partnering with great companies like ours. GHO’s mission is to support innovation to deliver better, faster and more accessible healthcare to make a difference to patients, healthcare systems and society. GHO
has a deep understanding of the CDMO sector and an impressive track record in helping businesses in our sector drive value. Ampersand is a healthcare and pharma-focused private equity firm with more than 30 years of experience dedicated to the life
sciences sector.
GHO and Ampersand are acquiring Avid because they believe in our potential. With their combined sector specialism, strong track record of unlocking value and significant
industry experience, we will be able to build on and extend Avid’s commitment to producing the biologics that contribute to creating life-saving therapies.
Our ability to take this step from a position of strength is a testament to the Company’s strong foundation and the dedication of our employees. I’m incredibly grateful for
your contributions that have gotten us to this point, and I know that our employees will continue to drive our success going forward. I hope you share my excitement about the possibilities ahead.
Next Steps: Business as Usual
While we are announcing this transaction today, it is subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of transaction-related regulatory approvals and is expected to
close in the first quarter of 2025. Between now and then, it is business as usual at Avid. The best way that you can help is by staying focused on your day-to-day responsibilities and meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers by providing
them the service, high-quality products and reliability they expect from us.
We will keep you informed as we move forward, starting with a virtual town hall meeting today at 6:00 pm ET / 3:00 pm PT to discuss this announcement. An invitation will be
distributed separately. Members of the GHO and Ampersand teams are looking forward to talking with you then, as well. I encourage you all to join. In the meantime, you can read more about the transaction in the press release just issued on our
website, and below is an FAQ to answer questions you may have.
This news may lead to increased media interest in our company. Accordingly, please direct any inquiries from the media, stockholders or other external parties to Stephanie
Diaz at [****].
I appreciate your relentless commitment to our company and our customers and look forward to taking the next step on this journey.
Nick
Employee FAQ
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Who is GHO? Who is Ampersand? Why are they the right partners for Avid?
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GHO and Ampersand are outstanding partners for Avid Bioservices:
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With a transatlantic focus, GHO brings a collaborative approach to partnering with great companies like ours. GHO’s mission is to support innovation to deliver
better, faster and more accessible healthcare to make a difference to patients, healthcare systems and society. GHO has a deep understanding of the CDMO sector and an impressive track record in helping businesses in our sector drive value.
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Ampersand is a healthcare and pharma-focused private equity firm with more than 30 years of experience dedicated to the life sciences sector.
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We have gotten to know both GHO and Ampersand well leading up to our agreement.
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It is clear that they have great respect for Avid as a trusted provider of biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing services, and they look forward to
supporting the Company in unlocking our full potential.
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2. |
Why did Avid enter into this transaction? Why now?
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In evaluating this transaction, our Board considered a range of alternatives and determined that it provides our stockholders significant, immediate and certain
cash value for their shares while best positioning the business for the future.
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The per share purchase price represents:
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A 13.8% premium to Avid’s closing share price of $10.98 on November 6, 2024, the last full trading day prior to the transaction announcement; and
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A 21.9% premium to the Company’s 20-day volume-weighted average share price for the period ended November 6, 2024.
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This transaction equates to an enterprise value of approximately $1.1 billion, a 6.3x multiple to consensus FY2025E revenue.
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GHO and Ampersand bring sector specialism, strong track record of unlocking value and significant industry experience, and with them we will be able to build on and
extend Avid’s commitment to producing the biologics that contribute to creating life-saving therapies.
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3. |
What does it mean to become a private company? What are the benefits?
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Becoming a private company means that, if the transaction is completed, Avid Bioservice’s stock will no longer be listed or traded on Nasdaq, and we will cease to
be an SEC-reporting company.
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This means we will effectively have two new owners instead of many public investors. This structure will provide us the flexibility to redirect resources toward our
business, instead of toward the requirements that come with being a public company.
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While this is a change in the Company’s ownership structure, we do not expect it to change our strategy or business priorities.
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Prior to closing, we will continue to operate the business as usual with a focus on meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers by providing them the service,
high-quality products and reliability they expect from us.
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What does this transaction mean for Avid team members?
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Fundamentally, this transaction is about building on Avid’s many strengths, including our talented employees. We believe this will result in even greater success
for our Company and our people over time.
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Avid stockholders, including employees who own stock, have the opportunity to receive significant, immediate and certain cash value for their shares.
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While our announcement is big news, it is important to keep in mind that until the transaction is completed it is business as usual.
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The best way that you can help is by staying focused on your day-to-day responsibilities and meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers by providing them the
service, high-quality products and reliability they expect from us.
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Until the transaction is closed, we will continue to operate as a publicly held company.
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What should I tell customers about the transaction?
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If customers have questions, you should assure them that it is business as usual, and their contracts and company contacts remain the same.
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You can note that we remain focused on meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers by providing them the service, high-quality products and reliability they
expect from us.
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It is important that you do not provide any information that is not publicly available and consistent with the information provided to you.
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6. |
What do I do if I am contacted by the media or other third parties?
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Please direct any inquiries from the media, stockholders or other external parties to Stephanie Diaz at [****].
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7. |
When will I receive more information? Who can I go to if I have any questions?
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If you have any questions, please send them to Demetrice Tillman at [****].
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We will keep you informed of developments as we move toward completing the transaction in the weeks and months ahead.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
The Company intends to file a proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to a special meeting
of stockholders to be held in connection with the proposed transaction. Promptly after filing the definitive proxy statement with the SEC, the Company will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at
the special meeting to consider the proposed transaction. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME
AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain, free of charge, the preliminary and definitive versions of the proxy statement, any amendments or supplements thereto, and any other relevant documents filed by the
Company with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the preliminary and definitive versions of the proxy statement, any amendments or supplements thereto, and any other relevant
documents filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction will also be available, free of charge, at the Company’s investor relations website (https://ir.avidbio.com/sec-filings). The information provided on, or
accessible through, our website is not part of this communication, and therefore is not incorporated herein by reference.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers is available in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on August
28, 2024 (the “Annual Meeting Proxy Statement”). Please refer to the sections captioned “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors and Management,” “Director Compensation,” and “Executive Compensation-Outstanding Equity
Awards at Fiscal Year-End” in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement. To the extent holdings of such participants in the Company’s securities have changed since the amounts described in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, such changes have been
reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC: Form 4, filed by Nicholas Stewart Green on October 11, 2024, Form 4, filed by Richard A. Richieri on October 11,
2024, Form 4, filed by Matthew R. Kwietniak on October 11, 2024, and Form 4, filed by Matthew R. Kwietniak on October 15, 2024. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect
interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction when they become available. Free copies of the
Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, the definitive proxy statement related to the proposed transactions and such other materials may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” which include, but are not limited to, all statements that do not relate solely
to historical or current facts, such as statements regarding the Company’s expectations, intentions or strategies regarding the future, or the completion or effects of the proposed sale of Avid to GHO and Ampersand. In some cases, these statements
include words like: “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “objective,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue” and “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms, or
other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company’s expectations and
beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances, including but not
limited to risks and uncertainties related to: the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction that could delay the consummation of the proposed transaction or cause the
parties to abandon the proposed transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement entered into in connection with the proposed transaction; the possibility that
the Company’s stockholders may not approve the proposed transaction; the risk that the parties to the merger agreement may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related to disruption
of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the Company’s common stock; the risk of any
unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction; and the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of
the Company to retain and hire key personnel and to maintain relationships with customers, vendors, partners, employees, stockholders and other business relationships and on its operating results and business generally. Additional risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s most recent filings with the SEC,
including the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2024 and any subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed with the SEC from time to time and available at http://www.sec.gov.
The forward-looking statements included in this information statement are made only as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no
obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.