Acquisition of Flame Biosciences |
3. Acquisition of Flame Biosciences Merger On January 17, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), Leap acquired 100% of the outstanding equity of Flame, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the Effective Date (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Leap, Fire Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Leap (“First Merger Sub”), Flame Biosciences LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Leap (“Second Merger Sub”), Flame, and the Stockholder Representative named therein. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, First Merger Sub merged with and into Flame, and Flame was the surviving corporation of such merger and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Leap (the “First Merger”). Immediately following the First Merger, Flame merged with and into Second Merger Sub, and Second Merger Sub was the surviving entity of such merger (together with the First Merger, the “Merger”). Pursuant to the Merger, Leap agreed to issue to the stockholders of Flame (the “Flame Stockholders”) 1,972,901 shares of common stock, and 136,248 shares of Series X Preferred Stock, which was a newly designated series of preferred stock that was intended to have economic rights equivalent to the common stock, but with limited voting rights, and issued to the warrant holders of Flame (the “Flame Warrant Holders”) the right to acquire 6,530 shares of common stock (the “January 2023 Common Stock Warrants”) and 443 shares of Series X Preferred Stock (the “January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants”). Each share of Series X Preferred Stock converted into 100 shares of common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2023, as a result of the one-for-ten reverse stock split approved by the stockholders and effected by the Board of Directors. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Leap held back approximately 15,604 Series X Preferred shares (the “Holdback Shares”), which converted into 1,560,400 shares of common stock out of the aggregate number of shares that the Flame Stockholders otherwise would be entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger so that Leap can have recourse to the Holdback Shares for purposes of satisfying certain claims for indemnification that Leap may have against the Flame Stockholders in connection with the Merger. In January 2024, Leap released the Holdback Shares to the Flame Shareholders. On June 16, 2023, the Company obtained Stockholder Approval to convert the Series X Preferred Stock into shares of its common stock, which occurred on June 21, 2023. The Company accounted for the acquisition of Flame as an asset acquisition allocating the purchase price under GAAP of $79,016 to net assets acquired. Although there is a presumption under SEC Rule 11-01(d) (“11-01(d)”) that when a legal entity is acquired, it represents a business acquisition, the Company concluded that, in this case, the transaction did not represent the acquisition of a business. After considering the criteria set forth in 11-01(d), the Company concluded that the acquisition of Flame by the Company was an acquisition of assets and not an acquisition of a business in accordance with 11-01(d). Specifically, the Company concluded that 1) the entity did not generate revenue and 2) there was not sufficient continuity of Flame’s operations prior to and following the transaction, in that no facilities, employees, sales force, distribution system, customer base, trade names or production techniques remained with the entity after the acquisition. Leap primarily acquired cash of $50,362, certain working capital items ($928) and a portfolio of clinical- and pre-clinical-stage intellectual property, in connection with the acquisition of Flame. The Company accounted for the acquisition of Flame by recording the cash and any other assets and liabilities of Flame on its condensed consolidated balance sheet at their historical carrying values, which approximates fair values. The remaining fair value of the consideration transferred was allocated to the in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) assets acquired. Certain transaction costs that were not deemed to meet the criteria of costs directly attributable to the issuance of securities were capitalized in accordance with ASC 805-50-30-1 and recognized as part of fair value of assets acquired. As the Company concluded that such IPR&D does not have an alternative future use, the relative fair value allocated to acquired IPR&D of $29,582 was expensed in research and development expenses within the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The following table summarizes the net assets acquired based on their estimated fair values as of January 17, 2023 (in thousands): | | | | Acquired IPR&D | | $ | 29,582 | Cash and cash equivalents | | | 50,362 | Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | (928) | Total acquisition value | | $ | 79,016 |
The fair value assigned to each component of the purchase consideration, including direct costs of the acquisition of $1,393, as of the Effective Date is set forth in the table below (in thousands, except share and per share amounts): | | | | | | | | | | | | Equivalent common | | | | | | Number of shares | | shares | | Fair Value | Leap common stock (par value $0.001 per share) | | 1,972,901 | | 1,972,901 | | $ | 9,805 | Leap Series X Preferred Stock (100:1) | | 136,248 | | 13,624,800 | | | 67,715 | Warrants on Leap common stock | | 6,530 | | 6,530 | | | 13 | Warrants on Leap Series X Preferred Stock (100:1) | | 443 | | 44,300 | | | 90 | Direct and incremental costs of the asset acquisition | | | | | | | 1,393 | | | | | | | | | Total | | | | 15,648,531 | | $ | 79,016 |
In addition, subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Company may also (i) pay Contingent Merger Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement) that may become payable if, and only if, certain assets of Flame related to Flame’s FL-101 program and/or FL-103 program are sold after the consummation of the Merger pursuant to the FL-101/103 Disposition Agreement (as defined in the Merger Agreement), which Contingent Merger Consideration shall be 80% of the after-tax net proceeds of such sale, if any, and the payment thereof is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and (ii) issue pursuant to the Merger additional shares of Series X Preferred Stock or common stock as a result of any applicable post-closing purchase price adjustment in the event that Flame’s actual Company Net Cash (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as of the Effective Date is determined to be greater than Flame’s estimated Company Net Cash as of the closing. Sale of FL - 101/FL - 103 to AlmataBio, Inc. On December 6, 2023 the Company sold certain IPR&D assets previously acquired from Flame related to Flame’s FL - 101/FL - 103 program, including permits, clinical trial material, clinical data, and related identified contracts, such as licensing, research, clinical trials, and various other agreements. The Company received total consideration in the form of a non - refundable closing date cash payment of $500. Pursuant to the terms of the asset purchase agreement, the Company is entitled to receive milestone payments of up to $70,000 upon achievement of certain regulatory approval and sales milestones specified in the asset purchase agreement. The IPR&D assets sold related to Flame’s FL - 101/FL - 103 program did not meet the definition of a business and had a carrying value of $0 at the time of the sale. In addition, the Company estimated the likelihood of receiving any milestone payments to be remote. As such, management elected the most likely amount method to determine the transaction price of the sale, which included the non - refundable closing date cash payment of $500 and future milestone payments of $0. Therefore, the Company recognized a non - operating gain in other income for the difference between the amount of non - refundable consideration received of $500 and the carrying value of $0 during the year ended December 31, 2023. In the event of a change in circumstances, such that it becomes likely that the Company will receive milestone payments, the Company will recognize income for the change in transaction price in the period in which the transaction price changes. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred various qualified expenses, such as legal fees, consulting and general and administrative expenses in connection with the sale of Flame’s FL - 101 program. Such expenses exceeded the non - refundable consideration received of $500, and therefore, the Company was not obligated to pay Contingent Merger Consideration to the Flame Stockholders. Series X Preferred Stock Pursuant to the Merger, the Company agreed to issue 136,248 shares of Series X Preferred Stock to Flame Stockholders and January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants for 443 shares of Series X Preferred Stock to Flame Warrant Holders. The Company obtained Stockholder Approval during the three months ended June 30, 2023 to convert each issued share of Series X Preferred Stock and each share of Series X Preferred Stock issuable pursuant to the January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants into 100 shares of its common stock. The Series X Preferred Stock was converted to common stock on June 21, 2023. January 2023 Common Stock Warrants and January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants In January 2023, pursuant to the Merger, the warrants held by the Flame Warrant Holders became exercisable for 6,530 shares of Leap’s common stock (the “January 2023 Common Stock Warrants”). The January 2023 Common Stock Warrants have an exercise price of $6.78 per share and expire in February 2025. The January 2023 Common Stock Warrants qualify for equity classification. Also in January 2023, pursuant to the Merger, the warrants held by the Flame Warrant Holders became exercisable for 443 shares of Series X Preferred Stock (the “January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants”). Upon obtaining Stockholder Approval for the conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock and the one-for-ten reverse stock split, each share of Series X Preferred Stock converted into 100 shares of Common Stock. The January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants have an exercise price of $6.78 per share and expire in February 2025. The Company initially recorded the January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants as a liability on the Effective Date and the warrant liability was subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date and on the date on which Stockholder Approval to convert shares of Series X Preferred Stock into shares of common stock was obtained. On June 21, 2023, after obtaining stockholder approval for the conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock into common stock, the January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants were reclassified from liability to equity. Changes in the fair value of the warrant liability are recognized as gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded a gain of $50 in its condensed consolidated statement of operations.
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