23andMe Special Committee responds to CEO’s take-private proposal
2024年8月2日 - 9:00PM
The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of 23andMe Holding
Co. (Nasdaq: ME), a leading human genetics and biopharmaceutical
company, today sent the following letter to Anne Wojcicki, Chief
Executive Officer, Co-Founder, and Chair of the Board of Directors
of 23andMe, in response to Ms. Wojcicki’s previously disclosed
preliminary non-binding indication of interest to acquire all of
the outstanding shares of 23andMe not owned by her or her
affiliates or any other stockholder that she invites to roll over
their shares for cash consideration of $0.40 per share of Class A
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock:
Dear Anne,
We are writing in
response to your preliminary, conditional, non-binding proposal
dated July 29, 2024.
We are disappointed
with the proposal for multiple reasons, including because it
provides no premium to the closing price per share on Wednesday,
July 31st, it lacks committed financing, and it is conditional in
nature. Accordingly, we view your proposal as insufficient and not
in the best interest of the non-affiliated shareholders. Therefore,
we are not prepared to move forward under the terms provided.
Importantly, we request that you immediately withdraw your stated
intent to oppose any alternative transaction so that we can fully
assess whether there is interest from third parties in a
transaction that would maximize value for all shareholders.
Our expectation after
months of work was that you would submit a fully-financed,
fully-diligenced, actionable proposal that is in the best interests
of the non-affiliated shareholders. We understand that your
potential sources of financing continue to analyze the opportunity
and to do their due diligence. We further understand that these
financing sources may be in a position in two weeks to present the
opportunity to their respective investment committees. With that in
mind, the Special Committee is prepared to provide you and your
potential investors with a limited amount of additional time to
submit a revised proposal in line with our expectation.
That revised proposal
should not be subject to further diligence, and should be
accompanied by fully committed financing, including an equity
commitment letter(s) on customary terms, that would fully finance
the potential transaction. In addition, your revised proposal
should not contemplate that the unaffiliated shareholders would
bear the cost of your deal expenses. And any revised proposal must
continue to be conditioned irrevocably upon the approval of the
Special Committee and a majority of the unaffiliated shareholders
(as we understand your current proposal is, from your letter and
prior communications).
In the absence of a
revised offer at a more appropriate price per share that meets the
other requirements set forth above, we will pursue other
alternatives in striving to maximize value for all shareholders. In
that regard, given both the lack of certainty regarding a path
forward with you and your potential investors and the current
liquidity position of the Company, in parallel with your work to
submit a revised bid, we intend to immediately begin the process of
engaging a consultant to advise the Special Committee on a revised
business plan that would provide the Company with a path to a more
sustainable financial profile and achieving profitability. In your
capacity as CEO, we expect your full support in these efforts.
Very truly,
Special Committee
There can be no assurance that the foregoing
will result in any particular outcome, and 23andMe does not intend
to comment further on these matters until 23andMe determines that
additional disclosure is appropriate or required by law.
Wells Fargo is serving as financial advisor to
the Special Committee, and Dechert LLP is serving as legal advisor
to the Special Committee.
About 23andMe
23andMe is a genetics-led consumer healthcare
and biopharmaceutical company empowering a healthier future. For
more information, please visit www.23andMe.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of
historical fact, included or incorporated in this press release,
including statements regarding 23andMe’s strategy, are
forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "anticipates,"
"estimates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "may," "could,"
"should," "potential," "likely," "projects," “predicts,”
"continue," "will," “schedule,” and "would" or, in each case, their
negative or other variations or comparable terminology, are
intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These
forward-looking statements are predictions based on 23andMe’s
current expectations and projections about future events and
various assumptions. 23andMe cannot guarantee that it will actually
achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its
forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance
on 23andMe’s forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (many of which
are beyond the control of 23andMe), or other assumptions that may
cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject
generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from
time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the
Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and as revised and updated by
our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
The statements made herein are made as of the date of this press
release and, except as may be required by law, 23andMe undertakes
no obligation to update them, whether as a result of new
information, developments, or otherwise.
Contact: press@23andme.com
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