ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 19
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 19
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 19
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 19
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 19
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 21
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 25
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 26
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 26
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION 26
part III 27
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 27
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 35
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES 39
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 40
i
FORWARD
LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. The statements
contained in this report that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies
regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events
or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believe,”
“continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,”
“might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,”
“should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of
these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this report may include, for
example, statements about our:
● ability to complete our initial business combination;
● pool of prospective target businesses;
● the potential liquidity and trading of our securities;
● the lack of a market for our securities;
● financial performance following our initial public offering.
The
forward-looking statements contained in this report are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments
and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have
anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control)
or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions
prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake
no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as may be required under applicable securities laws and/or if and when management knows or has a reasonable basis on which
to conclude that previously disclosed projections are no longer reasonably attainable.
ii
part
I
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
General
Health
Sciences Acquisitions Corporation 2 (“HSAC2”) is a blank check company incorporated on May 25, 2020 as a Cayman
Islands exempted company. HSAC2 was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share
purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout
this annual report as our initial business combination. Although there is no restriction or limitation on what industry our target
operates in, it is our intention to pursue prospective targets that are focused on healthcare innovation. We anticipate targeting
companies domiciled in North America or Europe that are developing assets in the biopharma and medical technology sectors, which
aligns with our management team’s experience in healthcare investing and drug development.
Our
Sponsor and Competitive Advantages
HSAC
2 Holdings, LLC, our sponsor (the “sponsor”), is an affiliate of RTW Investments, LP, or RTW, a New York based
financial firm managing approximately $7.8 billion of regulatory assets under management, as of December 31, 2020. RTW
was formed in 2009 by Roderick Wong, MD, and has garnered a reputation as a leading capital provider to healthcare industry entrepreneurs
and academic investigators due to its investment expertise, deep industry relationships, benevolent activism, and long-standing track
record.
Our management team is led by Dr. Roderick
Wong and Dr. Naveen Yalamanchi, Portfolio Managers of RTW. Drs. Wong and Yalamanchi have more than 30 years of combined
experience in healthcare investing. Dr. Wong’s specialization lies within the biopharma area, and Dr. Yalamanchi’s
focus lies within the medical technology sector, including, but not limited to, device and diagnostic companies.
We
believe that our company’s philosophical alignment with RTW, and our ability to leverage the rigorous and comprehensive
scientific and financial analysis that RTW is known for, provides us with a strong competitive advantage. RTW focuses on identifying
transformational innovations across the life sciences space, specifically backing scientific programs that have the potential
to disrupt the current standard of care in their respective disease areas. RTW’s screening process has been honed by Dr. Wong
throughout his 16-year tenure as an investment management professional.
RTW
invests in healthcare companies across the public/private spectrum, supporting investments through multiple stages of their respective
life cycles. To date, RTW has not only delivered outstanding financial returns to investors but has also successfully supported
companies through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approval process and the commercialization of six commercially
available drugs.
RTW
is a full life-cycle investor and, as such, recognizes the importance of providing growth capital along with the support
of an experienced team, if and when needed, at any critical inflection point in an asset’s life cycle. RTW has engaged in
new company formations around licensing promising programs from both biotechnology companies and academic institutions and pairing
these programs with world-class management teams. An example of this is Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Rocket, a now publicly
traded gene therapy platform company (listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “RCKT”), where Dr. Wong
serves as Chairman and Dr. Yalamanchi serves as a director. Rocket has a pipeline of four clinical stage programs and one
pre-clinical stage program, each identified through RTW’s proprietary “data-first” screening process.
RTW has long-term trusted relationships
it can leverage for investment purposes. Since RTW’s inception, the firm has formed three publicly traded biopharma companies,
sponsored a special purpose acquisition company (Health Sciences Acquisitions Corporation), and listed a closed-ended fund
on the Specialist Fund Segment of the London Stock Exchange that trades under the ticker symbol “RTW”. Since 2015,
RTW has met with more than 300 private companies and invested in more than 30 private transactions. In 2019, RTW invested in nine
privately negotiated transactions, serving as the lead investor in five of the nine. In 2020, RTW invested in seventeen privately
negotiated transactions, serving as the lead investor in eight of the seventeen. The majority of RTW’s private investments
since 2015 have been as a lead or participant in financing rounds involving other active and well-connected investors in
the biopharma and medical technology sectors, illustrative of the value RTW places on syndicating deals with trusted co-investors whose
interest align with maximizing long-term value.
1
RTW’s
team is comprised of 36 individuals, a majority of whom have medical or advanced scientific training and/or legal or investment
banking experience, all of which enable a deeply differentiated approach to research, idea generation, and deal execution. Complementing
RTW’s outstanding scientific perspicacity and industry relationships is RTW’s business team, whose members bring valuable
experiences as a life sciences attorney, industry operators, consultants and investment bankers, who are actively engaging with
banks and academic institutions, sophisticated family offices and institutional investors, while cultivating strong relationships
and expanding our network of key contacts and syndicate partners. We believe the well-roundedness of the team, strengthened
by strong ties across industry, academia, banking platforms, and unaffiliated investor relationships, will enhance our management
team’s ability to source viable prospective target businesses, capitalize them, and ensure public-market readiness.
We
believe that our management team is equipped with the knowledge, experience, capital and human resources, and sustainable corporate
governance practices to pursue unique opportunities that will offer attractive risk-adjusted returns. In addition, we know
first-hand the burden placed on management teams of healthcare companies while they are simultaneously trying to advance
their programs and sell their vision to both investors and the board of directors. We are prepared to shoulder some of this burden
upfront, ultimately allowing our business combination partner to focus on creating value.
With
respect to the foregoing examples, past performance by our management team or RTW, including with respect to HSAC 1, is not
a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) that we will be able to identify
a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical record of our management’s
or RTW’s performance as indicative of our future performance.
Our
Experience with Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”)
RTW
sponsored Health Sciences Acquisitions Corporation’s (Nasdaq ticker: “HSAC”) $115 million initial public
offering in May 2019. In October 2019, HSAC announced its business combination with Immunovant Sciences, Ltd. (“Immunovant”),
a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on enabling normal lives for patients with autoimmune diseases. The closing
of the business combination was finalized and announced in December 2019, and the ordinary shares of the combined company,
Immunovant, Inc., were listed on Nasdaq under the ticker “IMVT”. HSAC and the subsequent business combination achieved
several important milestones. HSAC closed its business combination with Immunovant 216 days after the initial public offering.
Moreover, the HSAC-Immunovant SPAC achieved an IRR of 106% for common stock and warrant shareholders from initial public
offering to the closing of the business combination. Additionally, the business combination closed with zero redemptions from
shareholders. Dr. Wong served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of HSAC, Dr. Yalamanchi served as Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and a board member of HSAC, Alice Lee served as Vice President of Operations and as Secretary
and Treasurer of HSAC, and Stephanie Sirota served as Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Corporate Communications of HSAC.
Our
Board of Directors and Management
Roderick
Wong, MD, our President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our
board of directors, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since June 2020 and on our board since the company’s
inception. Dr. Wong has more than 16 years of healthcare investing experience. Since 2009, he has served as Managing
Partner and Chief Investment Officer of RTW, a healthcare-focused investment firm managing $4.4 billion in regulatory
assets under management. Prior to forming RTW, Dr. Wong was a Managing Director and sole Portfolio Manager for the Davidson
Kempner Healthcare Funds. Prior to joining Davidson Kempner, Dr. Wong held various healthcare investment and research roles
at Sigma Capital Partners and Cowen & Company. Dr. Wong served as Chairman of the board of directors of Health Sciences
Acquisitions Corporation (“HSAC”) and its Chief Executive Officer from January 2019 until December 2019.
Other current and previous directorships include: Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he serves as Chairman, a position he has
held since Rocket’s inception in July 2015; Attune Pharmaceuticals, a portfolio company of RTW, where he has served
as a director since June 2018; Avidity Biosciences, Landos Biopharma and Ji Xing Pharmaceuticals portfolio companies of RTW,
where he has served as director since 2019, and NiKang Therapeutics where he has served as a director since September 2020. Dr. Wong
previously served on the board of directors of Penwest Pharmaceuticals in 2010. He simultaneously received an MD from the University
of Pennsylvania Medical School and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BS in Economics from
Duke University. We believe that Dr. Wong is qualified to sit on our board due to his extensive experience in evaluating medical
and scientific assets in the biopharmaceutical industry and his expansive knowledge of extracting and delivering shareholder value
when serving in a board leadership position.
2
Naveen
Yalamanchi, MD, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has served as our Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer and as a member of our board of directors since June 2020. Dr. Yalamanchi has more than
15 years of healthcare investment and research experience. Since 2015, Dr. Yalamanchi has been a Partner and Portfolio
Manager at RTW. Prior to joining RTW, Dr. Yalamanchi was Vice President and Co-Portfolio Manager at Calamos Arista Partners,
a subsidiary of Calamos Investments, a position he held from September 2011 to 2015. Prior to joining Calamos Arista Partners,
Dr. Yalamanchi held various healthcare investment roles at Millennium Management and Davidson Kempner Capital Management,
where he worked with Dr. Wong. Dr. Yalamanchi graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BS in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and received an MD from the Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his surgical internship at UCLA
Medical Center. Dr. Yalamanchi served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HSAC from January 2019 until
December 2019. Other prior and current directorships include HSAC, where Dr. Yalamanchi served as a director from January 2019
until December 2019, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he served as a director since Rocket’s inception in July 2015,
and Ancora Heart, and Magnolia Medical Technologies, portfolio companies of RTW, where Dr. Yalamanchi serves as an observer
to the board of directors. We believe that Dr. Yalamanchi is qualified to sit on our board due to his years of experience
in the healthcare industry, as a clinician as well as an investor who possesses unique insight into medical technology and biotechnology
assets, in addition to his strong service to HSAC and Rocket stockholders.
Alice
Lee, JD, our Vice President of Operations, has served as our Vice President of Operations and as our Secretary and Treasurer
since June 2020. Ms. Lee has served as RTW’s Senior Counsel since October 2017 and Chief Compliance Officer
from February 2019 to February 2021 and has more than a decade of experience advising life sciences companies in corporate
and transactional matters. Prior to joining RTW, she most recently served as a senior associate in the Life Sciences practice
at Ropes & Gray LLP from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that, she worked in the Intellectual Property Transactions and Technology
practice at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP from 2010 to 2015, and she began her legal career in the Mergers & Acquisitions
practice at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Ms. Lee served as Vice President of Operations of HSAC from January 2019
until December 2019. Ms. Lee received her law degree from Columbia Law School, where she served as a Senior Editor of
Columbia Law Review and was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She earned an MS from Stanford University in Computer Science (with
an emphasis in Bioinformatics), completed two years of pre-clinical coursework at the Stanford University School of Medicine,
where she was an MD candidate, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude with a BA in Philosophy from Columbia University.
Prior to law school, Ms. Lee worked as a computational biologist at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research
Institute at the University of South Florida and co-authored “The promise of gene signatures in cancer diagnosis and
prognosis” included in the Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics and “Fundamentals of
Cancer Genomics and Proteomics” included in Surgery: Basic Science and Clinical Evidence. She also worked as a software
development engineer intern at Amazon.com. We believe Ms. Lee is additive to our executive team due to her depth of knowledge
across science and the law as it pertains to corporate and financial transactions in the life sciences space.
Stephanie
A. Sirota, our Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Corporate Communications, has served as our Vice President of
Corporate Strategy and Corporate Communications since June 2020. Ms. Sirota has served as RTW’s Chief Business
Officer since 2012 and as a Partner since 2014. Ms. Sirota is responsible for strategy and oversight of RTW’s business
development and strategic partnerships with counterparties including limited partners, banks and academic institutions. She is
also responsible for shaping the firm’s governance policies underscoring impact and sustainability. Ms. Sirota has
more than a decade of deal experience in financial services. Prior to joining RTW, from 2006 to 2010, she served as a director
at Valhalla Capital Advisors, a macro and commodity investment manager. From 2000 to 2003, Ms. Sirota worked in the New York
and London offices of Lehman Brothers, where she advised on various mergers & acquisitions, IPOs, and capital market
financing transactions with a focus on cross-border transactions for the firm’s global corporate clients. She began
her career on the Fixed Income trading desk at Lehman Brothers, structuring derivatives for municipal issuers from 1997 to 1999.
Ms. Sirota served as Vice President of Corporate Strategy of HSAC from January 2019 until December 2019. Other
current directorships include RTW Venture Fund Limited (LSE: “RTW”), where Ms. Sirota has served as a director
since October 2019. Ms. Sirota graduated with honors from Columbia University and also received an MS from the Columbia
Graduate School of Journalism. She has contributed to Fortune Magazine and ABCNews.com. Ms. Sirota is a supporter of the
arts, science, and children’s initiatives. She serves as Co-Chairman of the Council of the Phil at the New York
Philharmonic. She also serves as President of RTW Charitable Foundation. We believe Ms. Sirota is additive to our executive team
based on her extensive investor relations, strategic partnerships and corporate development background, and experience with the
HSAC team in our prior transaction.
3
Pedro
Granadillo has served as our director since August 2020. Mr. Granadillo has nearly 50 years of biopharmaceutical
industry experience with expertise in human resources, manufacturing, quality control, and corporate governance. From 1970 until
his retirement in 2004, Mr. Granadillo held multiple leadership roles at Eli Lilly and Company, including Senior Vice President
of Global Manufacturing and Human Resources and a member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Granadillo currently serves on the
board of directors of Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a position he has held since January 2018. Mr. Granadillo has previously
served on the boards of directors at Haemonetics Corporation from 2004 to 2019, Dendreon Corporation, Nile Therapeutics and Noven
Pharmaceuticals, as well as NPS Pharmaceuticals, which was sold to Shire for $5.2 billion in 2015. Mr. Granadillo is
also a co-founder and board member of Neumentum Pharmaceuticals, a private non opioid pain company. Mr. Granadillo graduated
from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. We believe that Mr. Granadillo’s qualifications
to sit on our board include his depth of knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and his many years of experience serving on
the boards of directors of healthcare companies. We especially believe that Mr. Granadillo’s expertise in human resources
and corporate governance are key areas where he will add value.
Carsten
Boess has served as our director since August 2020. Mr. Boess currently serves and has served as a director for
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since January 2016, Avidity Biosciences since April 2020, and Achilles Therapeutics since April 2020.
Previously, Mr. Boess was the Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. from August
2015 until February 2020. Before Kiniksa, Mr. Boess was the Chief Financial Officer at Alexion Pharmaceuticals from 2004
to 2005 and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Synageva BioPharma Corp. from 2011 until the company’s
acquisition by Alexion Pharmaceuticals in 2015. Previously, Mr. Boess served in multiple roles with increasing responsibility
at Insulet Corporation, including Chief Financial Officer from 2006 to 2009 and Vice President of International Operations from
2009 to 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Boess served as Executive Vice President of Finance at Serono Inc. from 2005 to 2006. In
addition, he was a member of the Geneva-based World Wide Executive Finance Management Team while at Serono. Mr. Boess
also held several financial executive roles at Novozymes of North America and Novo Nordisk in France, Switzerland and China. During
his tenure at Novo Nordisk, he served on Novo Nordisk’s Global Finance Board. Mr. Boess received a Bachelor’s
degree and Master’s degree in Economics and Finance, specializing in Accounting and Finance from the University of Odense,
Denmark. We believe Mr. Boess’ corporate governance, business, and board experience will add value.
Stuart
Peltz, PhD has served as our director since August 2020. Dr. Peltz founded PTC Therapeutics in 1998 and has served as
Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors since the company’s inception. Prior to founding PTC, Dr.
Peltz was a Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School,
Rutgers University. Dr. Peltz currently serves as a director of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and serves on BIO’s
Emerging Companies Section Governing Board. Dr. Peltz received a Ph.D. from the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research at the
University of Wisconsin. We believe Mr. Peltz’s expertise as a biotech executive will add value.
Michael
Brophy has served as our director since August 2020. Mr. Brophy has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Natera
since February 2017. Previously, Mr. Brophy served as Natera’s Senior Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations
since September 2016, and prior to that, as Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations since September 2015.
Prior to joining Natera, Mr. Brophy served in the investment banking division at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank where he
focused on advising corporate clients in the life science tools and diagnostics sector. Mr. Brophy holds an MBA from the
University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the United States Air Force Academy. We believe
Mr. Brophy’s expertise in the biopharma industry and investment banking will add value.
4
Industry
Opportunity
The
innovation boom. We are living in an era where we are witnessing innovation accelerating at a breakneck
speed with unparalleled opportunities for value creation. Globally, biotech markets are growing rapidly. According to Global Market
Insights, the global biotech market is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 9.9% from 2019 to 2025.
We are seeing validated technologies, such as those derived from DNA and RNA science, that can effectively deliver solutions across
large swaths of diseases, resulting in companies with highly efficient development engines. We believe there is an opportunity
to offer outstanding risk-adjusted returns to shareholders by building companies that possess unique and heretofore unrecognized
growth opportunities that will benefit by capitalization, proactive skilled management, and supportive and sustainable governance
practices.
Genetic
therapies are on the rise. Cheap genetic information has revolutionized the discovery process, which
is yielding validated drug targets at an unprecedented rate. The first human genome sequence was completed in 2001, and the cost
per genome exceeded $95 million, with an overall cost to the U.S. government in excess of $3.0 billion. According to
the National Human Genome Research Institute, the cost to sequence a human genome fell to approximately $1,000 in 2019. This reduction
in cost has fueled tremendous productivity. According to data from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the number
of patents has inflected upward since 2010, which is translating into more new drugs in company pipelines. Technological applications
are also creating platforms of addressable diseases, increasing bandwidth and enabling companies to target more diseases with
superior scientific accuracy and cleaner safety profiles than in previous generations of drug development.
The
FDA reported a surge in investigational new drug (“IND”) applications for cell and gene therapy products. As of January
2020, there were more than 900 such applications on file with the FDA, and the agency anticipates it will receive more than 200
IND additional applications annually. The FDA predicts that it will be approving 10 to 20 cell and gene therapy products per year
by 2025. We expect this trend to not only continue, but for genetically targeted therapies to become a substantial proportion
of new therapies over the next decade. Further supportive dynamics come from the FDA and peer country regulatory bodies. While
the United States leads the way in healthcare innovation, regulatory bodies across Europe, Japan, and recently China are
enabling accelerated review programs resulting in faster approvals for therapies for conditions with unmet needs.
Although
genetically validated targets can sometimes be addressed by existing traditional approaches, such as small molecules and antibodies,
in specific tissues it is hard to beat the speed and ease in which DNA and RNA based medicines can be developed. Gene therapies
also carry the potential for a one-time cure and RNA medicines for infrequent injections. The market for gene therapy companies
has been growing. According to Capital IQ, at the beginning of 2013, there were five publicly traded gene therapy companies with
a total market capitalization of approximately $1.1 billion, while at the end of 2019 there were 31 publicly traded gene
therapy companies with a total market capitalization of approximately $52 billion (which includes the $3 billion paid
by Astellas to acquire Audentes, the $877 million paid by Biogen to acquire Nightstar Therapeutics, the $4.9 billion
paid by Roche to acquire Spark Therapeutics, and the $8.6 billion paid by Novartis to acquire AveXis). During the same six-year period,
according to Capital IQ, the number of publicly traded RNA medicine companies grew from eight companies with a total capitalization
of approximately $3.8 billion to 23 companies with a total market capitalization of approximately $65 billion.
A
lag in the market’s value recognition and COVID-19 impact. While strong scientific developments
have been accelerating over the last several years and we believe are likely to continue for the next decade or longer, the market
has been somewhat slow to recognize and reward these developments. While the rest of the broader equity markets steadily marched
upward more or less since the 2008 financial crises, publicly traded healthcare companies often found themselves under pressure
due to a negative narrative stemming from the drug pricing debate.
During
the 2019 and 2020 U.S. Democratic Party presidential primaries, the healthcare debate focused on re-testing Americans’
interest in a single payer system but failed in developing the concept into a mainstay of the democratic platform. The threat
of a dramatic change to the current system of public and private insurance has somewhat dissipated and it remains to be seen whether
the COVID-19 pandemic may shift the discourse from drug pricing to public health matters.
Going
forward, we believe the healthcare sector is in a strong position relative to other industries, as attention to COVID-19 related
therapies and vaccines has reignited investor interest across therapeutic areas, preventative vaccines, and healthcare IT (testing
and tracing), allowing innovative companies to attract capital through both private and public financings.
5
IPO
dynamics are favorable. According to Capital IQ, in 2018 and 2019, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals
companies raised more than $13 billion in initial public offerings on U.S. exchanges, more than twice the proceeds from 2016
and 2017 combined, suggesting market demand for value-creating investments. However, despite the current level of IPO activity,
the amount raised by biotech companies in initial public offerings is a fraction of the amount raised in the private market. According
to Capital IQ Data, as of June 2020, there are approximately 12,200 biotechnology companies globally, only 1,389 of which
are currently publicly traded. Compared to the approximately $19 billion raised in IPOs by the biotech industry from 2016
to 2019, there has been more than $40 billion raised in private offerings during the same period. Therefore, there is a significant
pool of private companies at a given stage that are or will be looking to go public. We believe SPACs provide an additional option
with several advantages for a privately held biotech looking to become publicly listed, such as a secured balance sheet despite
the market sentiment at the time of becoming public, a strong shareholder base and an efficient process.
Acquisition
Strategy
Our
acquisition strategy is to identify an untapped opportunity within our target industry and offer a public-ready business
a facility through which to enter the public sphere accessing capital markets and advancing its priorities. We believe that our
management team’s and directors’ experiences in evaluating assets through investing and company building will enable
us to source the highest quality targets. Our selection process will leverage the relationships of our management team with industry
captains, leading venture capitalists, private equity and hedge fund managers, respected peers, and our network of investment
banking executives, attorneys, and accountants. Together with this network of trusted partners, we intend to capitalize the target
business and create purposeful strategic initiatives in order to achieve attractive growth and performance targets.
We
will focus on targeting companies in the most innovative subsectors within the broader healthcare complex where emerging technologies
in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical technologies are engendering explosive growth in drug development.
Investment
Criteria
We
intend to focus on companies that possess under-researched and underappreciated asset(s) poised for significant growth once
adequately capitalized.
Consistent
with our strategy, we have identified the following criteria to evaluate prospective target businesses. Although we may decide
to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the criteria described below, it is our
intention to acquire companies that we believe:
6
● will offer attractive risk-adjusted equity returns for our shareholders.
We
intend to seek to acquire a target on terms and in a manner that leverage our experience. We expect to evaluate a company based
on its potential to successfully achieve regulatory approval and commercialize its product(s). We also expect to evaluate financial
returns based on (i) risk-adjusted peak sales potential, (ii) the growth potential of pipeline products and the
scientific platform, (iii) the ability to accelerate growth via other options, including through the opportunity for follow-on acquisitions,
and (iv) the prospects for creating value through other initiatives. Potential upside, for example, from the growth in the
target business’s earnings or an improved capital structure, will be weighed against any identified downside risks.
Competitive
Strengths
We
believe our competitive strengths to be the following:
Status
as a public company
We
believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company,
we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination.
In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their shares of stock, shares or other equity interests in
the target business for shares of our shares or for a combination of shares of our shares and cash, allowing us to tailor the
consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. We believe target businesses might find this method a more certain and cost-effective method
to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional
expenses incurred in marketing, roadshow and public reporting efforts that will likely not be present to the same extent in connection
with a business combination with us. Furthermore, once the business combination is consummated, the target business will have
effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete
the offering, as well as general market conditions that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the
target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent
with shareholders’ interests than it would have as a privately held company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting
a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
While
we believe that our status as a public company will make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may
view the inherent limitations in our status as a blank check company, such as our lack of an operating history and our requirements
to seek shareholder approval of any proposed initial business combination and provide holders of public shares the opportunity
to convert their shares into cash from the trust account, as a deterrent and may prefer to effect a business combination with
a more established entity or with a private company.
Transaction
flexibility
We
offer a target business a variety of options such as providing the owners of a target business with shares in a public company
and a public means to sell such shares, providing cash for shares, and providing capital for the potential growth and expansion
of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to consummate our initial
business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to
use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its
needs and desires. However, since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not taken any steps to
secure third-party financing and it may not be available to us.
7
Competitive
Weaknesses
We
believe our competitive weaknesses to be the following:
Limited
Financial Resources
Our
financial reserves are relatively limited when contrasted with those of venture capital firms, leveraged buyout firms and operating
businesses competing for acquisitions. In addition, our financial resources could be reduced because of our obligation to convert
shares held by our public shareholders as well as any tender offer we conduct.
Limited
technical and human resources
As
a blank check company, we have limited technical and human resources. Many venture capital funds, leveraged buyout firms and operating
businesses possess greater technical and human resources than we do and thus we may be at a disadvantage when competing with them
for target businesses.
Delay
associated with shareholder approval or tender offer
We
may be required to seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination. If we are not required to obtain shareholder
approval of an initial business combination, we will allow our shareholders to sell their shares to us pursuant to a tender offer.
Both seeking shareholder approval and conducting a tender offer will delay the consummation of our initial business combination.
Other companies competing with us for acquisition opportunities may not be subject to similar requirement or may be able to satisfy
such requirements more quickly than we can. As a result, we may be at a disadvantage in competing for these opportunities.
Effecting
Our Initial Business Combination
General
We
are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business until we complete a business combination.
We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of our initial offering, our shares, debt or a combination of these in effecting
our initial business combination. Our initial business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company which
does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares. In the alternative,
we may seek to consummate a business combination with a company that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development
or growth. While we may seek to effect simultaneous business combinations with more than one target business, we will probably
have the ability, as a result of our limited resources, to effect only a single business combination.
Sources
of Target Businesses
While
we have not yet identified any initial business combination candidates, we believe based on our management’s business knowledge
and past experience that there are numerous business combination candidates. We anticipate that target business candidates will
be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity
funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be
brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources
may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis. Our officers and
directors, as well as their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through
their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows
or conventions. We may engage professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions or mergers in the
future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s
length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. Except for the $10,000 per month administrative services fee, in no
event will our initial shareholders or any of the members of our management team be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee
or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business
combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). We have no present intention to enter into a business combination
with a target business that is affiliated with any of our initial shareholders or director nominees. However, we are not restricted
from entering into any such transactions and may do so if (1) such transaction is approved by a majority of our disinterested
and independent directors (if we have any at that time) and (2) we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking
firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.
8
Selection
of a Target Business and Structuring of Our Initial Business Combination
Subject
to our management team’s fiduciary duties and the limitation that one or more target businesses have an aggregate fair market
value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriter’s fees and taxes payable on
the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination,
as described below in more detail, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a
prospective target business. Therefore, the fair market value of the target business will be calculated prior to any conversions
of our shares in connection with a business combination and therefore will be a minimum of $128,000,000 in order to satisfy the
80% test. While the fair market value of the target business must satisfy the 80% test, the consideration we pay the owners of
the target business may be a combination of cash (whether cash from the trust account or cash from a debt or equity financing
transaction that closes concurrently with the business combination) or our equity securities. The exact nature and amount of consideration
would be determined based on negotiations with the target business, although we will attempt to primarily use our equity as transaction
consideration. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial
business combination. We have not established any specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target
businesses.
To
the extent we effect our initial business combination with a financially unstable company or an entity in its early stage of development
or growth, including entities without established records of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent
in the business and operations of financially unstable and early stage or potential emerging growth companies. Although our management
will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not properly ascertain or assess all significant
risk factors. In evaluating a prospective target business, our management may consider a variety of factors, including one or
more of the following:
● financial condition and results of operations;
● growth potential;
● brand recognition and potential;
● return on equity or invested capital;
● market capitalization or enterprise value;
● experience and skill of management and availability of additional personnel;
● capital requirements;
● competitive position;
● barriers to entry;
● stage of development of the products, processes or services;
● existing distribution and potential for expansion;
● impact of regulation on the business;
9
● regulatory environment of the industry;
● costs associated with effecting the business combination;
● macro competitive dynamics in the industry within which the company competes.
These
criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Our management may not consider any of the above criteria in evaluating a prospective
target business. The retention of our officers and directors following the completion of any business combination will not be
a material consideration in our evaluation of a prospective target business.
Any
evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors
as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business
objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we will conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass,
among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other
information which is made available to us. This due diligence review will be conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated
third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties.
The
time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination
remain to be determined. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business
with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available
to otherwise complete a business combination.
Fair
Market Value of Target Business
Pursuant
to Nasdaq listing rules, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses having an aggregate fair
market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriter’s
fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account), which we refer to as the 80% test, at the time of the execution
of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, although we may structure a business combination with one or more
target businesses whose fair market value significantly exceeds 80% of the trust account balance. Therefore, the fair market value
of the target business will be calculated prior to any conversions of our shares in connection with a business combination and
therefore will be a minimum of $128,000,000 in order to satisfy the 80% test. While the fair market value of the target business
must satisfy the 80% test, the consideration we pay the owners of the target business may be a combination of cash (whether cash
from the trust account or cash from a debt or equity financing transaction that closes concurrently with the business combination)
or our equity securities. The exact nature and amount of consideration would be determined based on negotiations with the target
business, although we will attempt to primarily use our equity as transaction consideration. If we are no longer listed on Nasdaq,
we will not be required to satisfy the 80% test.
We
currently anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business
or businesses. We may, however, structure a business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we
acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management
team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company
owns 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise owns a controlling interest in the target sufficient
for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company
owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own
a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business
combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange
for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100%
controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders
immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our
initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned
or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what
will be valued for purposes of the 80% test. In order to consummate such an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of
our debt or equity securities to the sellers of such businesses and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering
of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any
such fund-raising arrangement and have no current intention of doing so. The fair market value of the target will be determined
by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential
sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has
a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another
independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect
to the satisfaction of such criteria. We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm,
or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire,
as to the fair market value if our board of directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80%
threshold. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our
officers, directors or other initial shareholders and are therefore required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment
banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view, we may ask
that banking firm to opine on whether the target business met the 80% fair market value test. Nevertheless, we are not required
to do so and could determine not to do so without consent of our shareholders.
10
Lack
of Business Diversification
We
expect to complete only a single business combination, although this process may entail simultaneous business combinations with
several operating businesses. Therefore, at least initially, the prospects for our success may be entirely dependent upon the
future performance of a single business operation. Unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business
combinations of entities operating in multiple industries or multiple areas of a single industry, it is probable that we will
not have the resources to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses. By
consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
If
we determine to simultaneously consummate our initial business combination with several businesses and such businesses are owned
by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous
closings of the other combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination.
With a business combination with several businesses, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs
with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations and the additional risks associated with the subsequent
assimilation of the operations and services or products of the target companies in a single operating business.
Limited
Ability to Evaluate the Target Business’ Management Team
Although
we intend to scrutinize the management team of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our
initial business combination, our assessment of the target business’ management team may not prove to be correct. In addition,
the future management team may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore,
the future role of our officers and directors, if any, in the target business following our initial business combination remains
to be determined. While it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory
positions with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full time efforts to
our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after
the consummation of our initial business combination if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection
with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination
and could provide for them to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our ordinary shares for services they would
render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. While the personal and financial interests of our key
personnel may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, their ability to remain with the company
after the consummation of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or
not we will proceed with any potential business combination. Additionally, our officers and directors may not have significant
experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
11
Following
our initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target
business. We may not have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that any such additional managers we do recruit will
have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Shareholder
Approval of Business Combination
In
connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination
at a general meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless
of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate
amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity
to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount
equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable),
in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders have agreed,
pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share
of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will
be structured so that each shareholder may tender any or all of his, her or its public shares rather than some pro rata portion
of his, her or its shares. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or
will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us based on a variety of factors such as