DDDD 4d Pharma Plc

TIDMDDDD

RNS Number : 6002G

4d Pharma PLC

26 November 2020

4D pharma files Registration Statement on Form F-4 with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Leeds, UK - 26 November 2020 - In connection with the proposed merger of 4D pharma plc (AIM: DDDD) ("4D" or the " Company") and Longevity Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: LOAC) ("Longevity"), a NASDAQ-listed Special Purpose Acquisition Company announced on 22 October 2020, 4D has today filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-250986) (the "Registration Statement") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company expects to launch a new American Depositary Receipt programme and will apply to admit its American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") for trading on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol 'LBPS'. The ADSs will, subject to the approval of 4D shareholders, be offered to Longevity shareholders as consideration under the terms of the merger. The Registration Statement includes a proxy statement of Longevity that also constitutes a prospectus of 4D under SEC rules.

The Registration Statement has not yet become effective. The filing of the Registration Statement does not affect the statutory pre--emption rights of shareholders in the Company.

Further announcements will be made in due course.

About 4D pharma

Founded in February 2014, 4D pharma is a world leader in the development of Live Biotherapeutics, a novel and emerging class of drugs, defined by the FDA as biological products that contain a live organism, such as a bacterium, that is applicable to the prevention, treatment or cure of a disease. 4D has developed a proprietary platform, MicroRx(R), that rationally identifies Live Biotherapeutics based on a deep understanding of function and mechanism.

4D Pharma's Live Biotherapeutic products (LBPs) are orally delivered single strains of bacteria that are naturally found in the healthy human gut. The Company has six clinical programmes, namely a Phase I/II study of MRx0518 in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in solid tumours, a Phase I study of MRx0518 in a neoadjuvant setting for patients with solid tumours, a Phase I study of MRx0518 in patients with pancreatic cancer, a Phase I/II study of MRx-4DP0004 in asthma, a Phase II study of MRx-4DP0004 in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, and Blautix(R) in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which has completed a successful Phase II trial. Preclinical-stage programmes include candidates for CNS disease such as Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The Company has a research collaboration with MSD, a tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, to discover and develop Live Biotherapeutics for vaccines.

In October 2020 4D Pharma announced its intention to merge with Longevity Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: LOAC), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), and seek a NASDAQ listing. The merger is expected to be completed and the NASDAQ listing of 4D Pharma American Depositary Shares (ADSs) under the ticker symbol 'LBPS' is currently expected to become effective in early 2021, subject to approval of 4D shareholders and Longevity shareholders, and the SEC review process.

For more information, visit https://www.4dpharmaplc.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains "forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this announcement are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements usually relate to future events and anticipated revenues, earnings, cash flows or other aspects of our operations or operating results. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "foresee," "should," "would," "could," "may," "estimate," "outlook" and similar expressions, including the negative thereof. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations, beliefs and assumptions concerning future developments and business conditions and their potential effect on the Company. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that it anticipates.

All of the Company's forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties some of which are significant or beyond its control and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's historical experience and its present expectations or projections. The foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect the Company's business, including those described the documents filed by the Company with the SEC should be carefully considered. The Company wishes to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of its forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

Additional Information about the Transaction and Where to Find it

This press release is being made in respect of a proposed business combination involving 4D and Longevity. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The proposed transaction will be submitted to the shareholders of 4D and Longevity for their consideration. The Registration Statement includes a preliminary prospectus with respect to 4D's ordinary shares and ADSs to be issued in the proposed transaction and a proxy statement of Longevity in connection with the merger. The information in the Registration Statement is not complete and may be changed. 4D may not sell the ordinary shares referenced in the Registration Statement until the Registration Statement becomes effective. The prospectus/proxy statement has been provided to the Longevity shareholders. 4D and Longevity also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction.

This press release is not a substitute for any prospectus, proxy statement or any other document that 4D or Longevity may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders are urged to read the Registration Statement and, when they become available, any other relevant documents that will be filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC's website ( www.sec.gov ). In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement (when they become available) and other documents filed with the SEC without charge, at the SEC's website ( www.sec.gov ) or by calling +1-800-SEC-0330.

Participants in the Solicitation

Longevity and its directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Longevity's shareholders with respect to the proposed transaction. Information regarding Longevity's directors and executive officers is available in its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2020, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2020. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation relating to the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests is contained in the Registration Statement.

4D and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Longevity in connection with the proposed transaction. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed transaction is included in the Registration Statement.

Enquiries:

 
 4D pharma plc 
 Duncan Peyton , Chief Executive Officer                                                  Tel: +44 (0)113 895 0130 
 
 N+1 Singer Advisory LLP (Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker to 4D 
 pharma 
 plc) 
 Phil Davies/Sandy Fraser/Iqra Amin                                                       Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000 
 Tom Salvesen (Corporate Broking) 
 
   Bryan Garnier & Co. Limited (Joint Broker to 4D pharma plc)                            Tel: +44 (0)20 7332 2500 
   Dominic Wilson / Phil Walker 
 
 
 Chardan Capital Markets, LLC (US financial adviser to 4D pharma plc and Longevity 
 Acquisition 
 Corporation) 
 Shai Gerson                                                                              Tel: +1 646 465 9008 
 
 Image Box PR (PR adviser to 4D pharma plc) 
 Neil Hunter/Michelle Boxall                                                              Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 4685 
 
 

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November 26, 2020 02:09 ET (07:09 GMT)