PRTC's Akili Enters Into Merger Agreement
PureTech's founded entity Akili to merge with Virtual Therapeutics in all-cash deal at $0.4340 per share.
- Akili share purchase price $0.4340 per share
- Premium to May 28, 2024 close 4%
- Premium to April 29, 2024 close 85%
- PureTech's Akili shareholding as of May 7, 2024 12,527,477 shares
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PureTech Founded Entity Akili Interactive and Virtual Therapeutics Announce Entering Into Definitive Merger Agreement to Establish Leading Digital Health Company
Akili to operate as wholly owned subsidiary of Virtual Therapeutics
PureTech Health plc (Nasdaq: PRTC, LSE: PRTC) ("PureTech" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company, noted today that its Founded Entity, Akili, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKLI), a leading digital therapeutics company, and Virtual Therapeutics, a company focused on improving mental health at scale using engaging, immersive games, announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement to form a diversified, leading digital health company.
As of May 7, 2024, PureTech owned 12,527,477 of the outstanding shares of Akili common stock.
The full text of the announcement from Akili and Virtual Therapeutics is as follows:
Virtual Therapeutics, Akili Interactive Enter Into Definitive Merger Agreement to Establish Leading Digital Health Company
Akili to operate as wholly owned subsidiary of Virtual Therapeutics
Kirkland, Wash., and Boston, Mass.- Virtual Therapeutics, a company focused on improving mental health at scale using engaging, immersive games, and Akili, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKLI), a leading digital therapeutics company, today announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement to form a diversified, leading digital health company.
Under the terms of the agreement, Akili shareholders will receive $0.4340 per share of common stock in cash. The per share purchase price represents an approximately 4% premium to Akili's closing stock price on May 28, 2024 and an approximately 85% premium to Akili's closing price on April 29, 2024, the last trading day prior to Akili's public announcement that it was evaluating potential strategic alternatives. Following completion of the transaction, the combined organization will operate as Virtual Therapeutics, a privately held company, with Akili operating as a wholly owned subsidiary.
"In today's global mental health crisis, patients deserve access to clinically validated solutions that address their specific needs. We have been able to advance multiple solutions on our platform since founding Virtual Therapeutics, and we look forward to taking a significant step forward through this merger," said Dan Elenbaas, co-founder and CEO of Virtual Therapeutics. "The team at Akili has been successful in applying clinical and scientific rigor to bring new products forward, and we believe their expertise will complement our efforts. Together, we can build a company that brings these behavioral services to as many patients as possible - regardless of where they are or barriers that exist for them today."
"Akili ran a thorough strategic process and we believe that this transaction represents Akili's commitment to delivering value to the Akili stockholder," added Matt Franklin, Chief Executive Officer of Akili. "Virtual Therapeutics has been built by a team with decades of success in the gaming industry and elected to focus their expertise to help solve the growing mental health crisis. Combining our proven track record developing and deploying rigorously validated mobile digital therapeutics with Virtual Therapeutics' robust portfolio of VR-based mental health solutions and gaming expertise, we aim to create a compelling platform to address mental health needs across several high-impact indications."
Transaction Details
The transaction, approved by both of Virtual Therapeutics' and Akili's board of directors, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to certain closing conditions, including the tender of a majority of Akili shares into a tender offer to be launched by Virtual Therapeutics and Akili having not less than a specified amount of cash-on-hand, depending on the closing time. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
Upon completion of the transaction, Akili's common stock will no longer be listed on any public stock exchange.
Advisors
TD Cowen is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Goodwin Procter LLP is acting as legal counsel to Akili. Baker & McKenzie LLP is acting as legal counsel to Virtual Therapeutics.
About Akili
Akili is pioneering the development of cognitive treatments through game-changing technologies. Akili's approach of leveraging technologies designed to directly target the brain establishes a new category of medicine - medicine that is validated through clinical trials like a drug or medical device but experienced like entertainment. Akili's platform is powered by proprietary therapeutic engines designed to target cognitive impairment at its source in the brain, informed by decades of research and validated through rigorous clinical programs. Driven by Akili's belief that effective medicine can also be fun and engaging, Akili's products are delivered through captivating action video game experiences. For more information, please visit www.akiliinteractive.com.
About Virtual Therapeutics
Virtual Therapeutics is a digital health company delivering scalable, accessible, affordable, and personalized solutions for mental health and mental fitness. Leveraging extensive expertise as game developers, the company crafts and curates rich, appealing experiences that combine proven therapeutic techniques with modern gameplay mechanisms to delight and engage users. Virtual Therapeutics uses powerful cloud-based platform to gather and analyze various data streams to continuously measure, validate, and report effectiveness, seamlessly deploy and maintain its solutions, and provide users and partners with a truly turnkey experience. For more information, visit https://www.vthera.com/.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
The tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Akili referenced in this document has not yet commenced. This document is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities of Akili, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that Parent, Purchaser or Akili will file with the SEC. The solicitation and offer to buy the common stock of Akili will only be made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase and related tender offer materials that Parent and Purchaser intend to file with the SEC. At the time the tender offer is commenced, Parent and Purchaser will file with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, and thereafter Akili will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC with respect to the tender offer. AKILI'S STOCKHOLDERS AND OTHER INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 BECAUSE THEY WILL EACH CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT HOLDERS OF AKILI SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE TENDER OFFER. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal, certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will be made available to all stockholders of Akili at no expense to them and will also be made available for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional copies may be obtained for free by contacting either Parent or Akili. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Akili will be available free of charge on Akili's website at www.Akiliinteractive.com or by contacting Akili's Investor Relations Department at InvestorRelations@Akiliinteractive.com or PR@Akiliinteractive.com.
In addition to the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, Akili files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. Akili's filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
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