As previously disclosed, on August 3, 2022, ChemoCentryx, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ChemoCentryx”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among ChemoCentryx, Amgen Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Amgen”), and Carnation Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of which Merger Sub will be merged with and into ChemoCentryx (the “Merger”), with ChemoCentryx surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen.
Also as previously disclosed, the special meeting of ChemoCentryx’s stockholders to vote on a proposal to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement is currently scheduled for October 18, 2022 (the “Special Meeting”).
The consummation of the Merger is conditioned upon, among other things, the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period (or any extension thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”). Effective as of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 16, 2022, the waiting period under the HSR Act expired with respect to the Merger.
ChemoCentryx and Amgen anticipate that the Merger will be consummated promptly following the date of the Special Meeting, subject to receipt of the required approval of ChemoCentryx’s stockholders at the Special Meeting and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Additional Information
This report may be deemed solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of ChemoCentryx by Amgen. On September 14, 2022, ChemoCentryx filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a definitive proxy statement and has filed or may file with the SEC other relevant documents with respect to a special meeting of the stockholders of ChemoCentryx to approve the proposed Merger. Investors of ChemoCentryx are urged to read the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials carefully and in their entirety because they do or will, when filed, contain important information about ChemoCentryx, Amgen and the proposed Merger. Investors may obtain a free copy of these materials and other documents filed by ChemoCentryx with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, at ChemoCentryx’s website at https://chemocentryx.com or by sending a written request to ChemoCentryx at 835 Industrial Road, Suite 600, San Carlos, CA 94070, Attention: Legal.
Participants in the Solicitation
ChemoCentryx and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in soliciting proxies from its stockholders in connection with the proposed Merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of ChemoCentryx’s stockholders in connection with the proposed Merger is set forth in ChemoCentryx’s definitive proxy statement for its special stockholders meeting. Additional information regarding these individuals and any direct or indirect interests they may have in the proposed Merger may be set forth in subsequent documents to be filed with the SEC and which can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend on or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “outlook,” “could,” “target,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “should,” “may,” “assume” and “continue” as well as variations of such words and similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future, and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about the potential benefits of the proposed acquisition of ChemoCentryx by Amgen (the “proposed transaction”); the prospective performance and outlook of ChemoCentryx’s business, performance and opportunities; any potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected as a result of the proposed transaction; the ability of the parties to complete the proposed transaction and the expected timing of completion of the proposed transaction; as well as any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.