sale of the shares of common stock will execute and deliver a registration rights agreement requiring the combined company to register the resale of the shares of common stock issued in the offering.
In order to facilitate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and asset purchase agreement, ReShape entered into an agreement with a majority of the holders of its outstanding series C preferred stock that will, subject to and contingent upon the completion of the merger and the asset sale, reduce the liquidation preference of the series C preferred stock from $26.2 million to the greater of (i) $1 million, (ii) 20% of the purchase price paid for the asset sale and (iii) the excess of ReShape’s actual net cash at the effective time of the merger over the minimum net cash required as a condition to the closing of the merger as set forth in the merger agreement. The series C preferred stock would automatically terminate at the effective time of the merger, except for the right to receive the reduced liquidation preference.
“Through the orchestration of the merger agreement with Vyome Therapeutics and the simultaneous asset purchase agreement with Biorad, we were able to maximize stockholder value,” stated Paul F. Hickey, President and Chief Executive Officer of ReShape Lifesciences. “After reviewing various strategic alternatives and engaging in discussions with a number of other potential merger and acquisition candidates, our board of directors has unanimously recommended the merger with Vyome and simultaneous asset sale to Biorad, which we believe is a compelling opportunity for our stockholders to benefit from the potential of the combined company after the merger. We also appreciate the willingness of our series C preferred stockholders to significantly reduce their liquidation preference, which will permit our common stockholders to recognize the potential value of the merger. We are truly excited about the value we are delivering to our stockholders.”
“We have no debt and a clean capital structure and are positioning Vyome for success in the public markets. We intend to continue addressing the unmet needs of patients suffering from immuno-inflammatory diseases and building a broader platform that leverages our comparative advantage in the U.S.-India innovation corridor,” said Krishna K. Gupta, current Director of Vyome and to be appointed Chairman of the combined company.
Venkat Nelabhotla, President & Chief Executive Officer of Vyome, stated, “We are confident in our ability to potentially build significant value with our pipeline of novel local agent drugs for significant unmet needs, supported by a robust patent portfolio, effective drug development strategies, and prudent capital deployment, that can potentially help maximize value.”
Completion of the merger and the asset sale are subject to certain closing conditions, including, among other things, approval by the stockholders of ReShape, the Securities and Exchange Commission declaring effective ReShape’s registration statement registering the shares to be issued in connection to the merger, and the Nasdaq Stock Market's approval of the continued listing of the combined company in connection with the completion of the merger.
Maxim Group LLC is serving as financial advisor to ReShape in connection with the transactions and Fox Rothschild LLP is acting as its legal counsel. Chardan is serving as financial advisor to Vyome for the merger and Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP is acting as its legal counsel.
About Vyome Therapeutics
Vyome Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage specialty pharmaceutical company working to treat immuno-inflammatory diseases including rare indications of unmet need with next-generation therapeutic solutions. Its portfolio of therapeutic assets are identified and developed to address validated targets with novel formulations for site-targeted applications. Vyome has assembled a world-class team of scientific and business development experts, leveraging its comparative advantage in the Indian innovation corridor; its team has a track record of conducting scientific research recognized in top US journals, developing