Aytu BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ: AYTU), a specialty pharmaceutical
company focused on commercializing novel products that address
significant patient needs, and Neos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:
NEOS), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company developing and
manufacturing central nervous system-focused products, today
announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement
pursuant to which Neos will merge with a wholly owned subsidiary of
Aytu in an all-stock transaction.
Transaction DetailsUpon the effectiveness of
the merger (the “Merger”), Neos stockholders will be entitled to
receive 0.1088 shares of common stock of Aytu for each share of
Neos common stock held, after taking into account the one-for-ten
reverse split of Aytu’s common stock that was effected on December
8, 2020. The transaction will result in Neos stockholders owning
approximately 30% of the fully diluted common shares of Aytu. The
all-stock transaction is valued, on a fully diluted basis, at
approximately $44.9 million based on the 10-day volume weighted
average price of Aytu stock for the period ended December 9,
2020.
The boards of directors of both companies have approved the
transaction.
Strategic Rationale and
Financial Benefits of the
Transaction
The combined entity will have an increased footprint in the
prescription pediatric market, an established, growing multi-brand
ADHD portfolio addressing the $8.5 billion ADHD market and
significant combined revenue scale. For the 12-month period ending
September 30, 2020, Neos generated $57.0 million in revenues. On a
combined pro-forma basis for this same period, Aytu and Neos’
aggregate net revenue is over $100 million. In addition, this
Merger facilitates operational and commercial synergies that can be
harnessed to accelerate the path to profitability for the combined
entity, with estimated annualized cost synergies of approximately
$15.0 million beginning fiscal year 2022.
“This is a truly transformative transaction, elevating the newly
combined company to a $100 million revenue, leading specialty
pharmaceutical company positioned for what we expect to be an
accelerated path to profitability, continued revenue growth and
further business diversification,” said Josh Disbrow, Chief
Executive Officer of Aytu BioScience. “The combination of Neos with
the Aytu business further increases our footprint in an attractive
pediatric medicine market, following our acquisition of the Cerecor
pediatric Rx assets late last year. This transaction is an
excellent strategic fit with our market expansion plans and we
believe creates strong stockholder value.”
Mr. Disbrow continued, “This transaction increases Aytu’s
addressable market, adding the large and growing ADHD market, with
75.1 million scripts written annually. Importantly, and despite the
impact of COVID-19 on this market, Neos’ ADHD product growth
significantly outpaced the overall ADHD market in the third quarter
of 2020, with Adzenys XR-ODT prescriptions growing by 9.9 percent
and Cotempla XR-ODT prescriptions growing by 6.5 percent. Expanding
into ADHD with Neos is the ideal embodiment of Aytu’s strategy to
build a portfolio of best-in-class prescription therapeutics and
consumer health products competing in large markets.”
Neos’ Chief Executive Officer, Jerry McLaughlin, stated, “I
firmly believe Aytu BioScience is the right partner to continue the
exceptional work our team has done to build the ADHD franchise into
what it is today and to continue the development of NT0502 for the
treatment of sialorrhea. By leveraging the respective commercial
infrastructure of Neos and Aytu, including complementary sales call
points and our best-in-class patient support program, Neos
RxConnect, we expect continued growth of the product portfolio.
After a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives, the Board of
Directors of Neos believes that this merger represents the
highest-potential value creation opportunity for Neos
stockholders.”
Additional Information
The combined company will be led by Josh Disbrow, Chief
Executive Officer of Aytu and will be headquartered in Englewood,
Colorado. The board of the combined company will consist of six
members designated by Aytu and two members designated by Neos,
including Neos Chief Executive Officer and Director Jerry
McLaughlin and Neos Director Beth Hecht.
The Merger is currently expected to close by the second quarter
of 2021, subject to certain approvals by both Aytu and Neos
stockholders and the satisfaction of other customary closing
conditions.
As part of the transaction, Aytu has agreed to provide Neos with
access to up to $5.0 million cash for working capital needs for the
period prior to the closing of the Merger. In addition, upon
closing of the Merger, $15.0 million in principal of Neos’s
existing senior secured debt facility with affiliates of Deerfield
Management will be repaid, and Deerfield has agreed to allow the
remaining debt under the facility to remain outstanding with the
combined company following the Merger. Indebtedness under Neos’s
existing ABL agreement with Encina Business Credit will also remain
outstanding.
Cowen is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to Aytu, and
Dorsey & Whitney LLP is acting as its legal counsel. MTS Health
Partners LP is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to Neos,
and Goodwin Procter LLP is acting as its legal counsel.
Conference Call Information
Aytu and Neos will jointly host a live conference call at 8:30
am ET today.
The conference call can be accessed by dialing:877-407-9124
(toll-free) 201-689-8584 (international)
The webcast will be accessible live and archived at the
following link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2142/39104
and on Aytu BioScience's website, within the Investors section
under Events & Presentations, at aytubio.com, for 90 days.
A replay of the call will be available for fourteen days. Access
the replay by calling 1-877-481-4010 (toll-free) or 919-882-2331
(international) and using the replay access code 39104.
About Aytu BioScience, Inc.
Aytu BioScience is a commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical
company focused on commercializing novel products that address
significant patient needs. Aytu currently markets a portfolio of
prescription products addressing large primary care and pediatric
markets. The primary care portfolio includes (i) Natesto®, the only
FDA-approved nasal formulation of testosterone for men with
hypogonadism (low testosterone, or "Low T"), (ii) ZolpiMist®, the
only FDA-approved oral spray prescription sleep aid, and (iii)
Tuzistra® XR, the only FDA-approved 12-hour codeine-based
antitussive syrup. The pediatric portfolio includes (i) Cefaclor, a
second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic suspension; (ii)
Karbinal® ER, an extended-release carbinoxamine (antihistamine)
suspension indicated to treat numerous allergic conditions; and
(iii) Poly-Vi-Flor® and Tri-Vi-Flor®, two complementary
prescription fluoride-based supplement product lines containing
combinations of fluoride and vitamins in various formulations for
infants and children with fluoride deficiency. Aytu also
distributes a COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid antibody test and rapid
antigen test. These tests are used separately in the rapid,
qualitative diagnostic assessment of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
Additionally, Aytu recently licensed worldwide rights to develop
the Healight™ technology platform. Healight is an investigational
medical device being studied as a prospective treatment for
COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.
Aytu operates a consumer health subsidiary, Innovus
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Innovus"), a specialty pharmaceutical
company commercializing, licensing and developing safe and
effective consumer healthcare products designed to improve men's
and women's health and vitality. Innovus commercializes numerous
novel consumer health products competing in large healthcare
categories including diabetes, men's health, sexual wellness,
respiratory health, and general wellness. The Innovus product
portfolio is commercialized through direct-to-consumer marketing
channels utilizing the company's proprietary Beyond Human®
marketing and sales platform.
Aytu's strategy is to continue building its portfolio of
revenue-generating Rx and consumer health products, leveraging its
focused commercial team and expertise to build leading brands
within large therapeutic markets. For more information visit
aytubio.com and visit innovuspharma.com to learn about Aytu's
consumer healthcare products.
About Neos Therapeutics
Neos Therapeutics, Inc. is a commercial-stage pharmaceutical
company developing and manufacturing central nervous system
(CNS)-focused products. Neos markets Adzenys XR-ODT® (amphetamine)
extended-release orally disintegrating tablets (see Full
Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING), Cotempla XR-ODT®
(methylphenidate) extended-release orally disintegrating tablets
(see Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING), and
Adzenys-ER® (amphetamine) extended-release oral suspension (see
Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING), all for the
treatment of ADHD. Neos also has a development candidate, NT0502,
for the treatment of sialorrhea in patients with neurological
conditions. Additional information about Neos is available at
www.neostx.com.
Additional Information about the Proposed Merger
Transaction and Where to Find It
This press release relates to the proposed merger transaction
pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as
of December 10, 2020, by and among Neos Therapeutics, Inc.
(“Neos”), Aytu Bioscience Inc. (“Aytu”), and Neutron Merger Sub,
Inc. In connection with the proposed merger transaction, Aytu
expects to file with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 that
will include a joint proxy statement of Aytu and Neos that also
constitutes a prospectus of Aytu, which joint proxy
statement/prospectus will be mailed or otherwise disseminated to
Aytu stockholders and Neos stockholders when it becomes available.
Aytu and Neos also plan to file other relevant documents with the
SEC regarding the proposed merger transaction.
INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IF AND WHEN THEY
BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER TRANSACTION.
You may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents (if and when they
become available) filed by Aytu or Neos with the SEC at the SEC’s
website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Aytu with
the SEC will be available free of charge on Aytu’s website at
www.aytubio.com or by contacting Aytu’s Investor Relations at
james@haydenir.com. Copies of the documents filed by Neos with the
SEC will be available free of charge on Neos’ website at www.
investors.neostx.com or by contacting Neos’ Investor Relations at
(972) 408-1300.
Certain Information Regarding Participants
Aytu and Neos and their respective directors, executive officers
and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the
proposed merger transaction. You can find information about Aytu’s
executive officers and directors in Aytu’s definitive proxy
statement filed with the SEC on March 4, 2020 in connection with
Aytu’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. You can find
information about Neos’ executive officers and directors in Neos’
definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 21, 2020 in
connection with Neos’ 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.
Additional information regarding the interests of such potential
participants will be included in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the
SEC if and when they become available. You may obtain free copies
of these documents from Aytu or Neos using the sources indicated
above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the
solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, nor a solicitation
of any vote or approval with respect to the proposed merger
transaction or otherwise. No offering of securities shall be made
except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section
10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)
and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Forward-Looking Statement This press release
includes 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, or the Exchange Act. All
statements other than statements of historical facts contained in
this press release, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are generally written in the future tense and/or are
preceded by words such as ''may,'' ''will,'' ''should,''
''forecast,'' ''could,'' ''expect,'' ''suggest,'' ''believe,''
''estimate,'' ''continue,'' ''anticipate,'' ''intend,'' ''plan,''
or similar words, or the negatives of such terms or other
variations on such terms or comparable terminology. All statements
other than statements of historical facts contained in this
presentation, are forward-looking statements, including but not
limited to any statements regarding the expected timetable for
completing the proposed transaction, the results, effects, benefits
and synergies of the proposed transaction, future opportunities for
the combined company, future financial performance and condition,
guidance and any other statements regarding Aytu’s or Neos’ future
expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions,
assumptions or future events or performance. These statements are
just predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause the actual events or results to differ materially.
These risks and uncertainties include, among others: failure to
obtain the required votes of Neos’ shareholders or Aytu’s
shareholders to approve the transaction and related matters, the
risk that a condition to closing of the proposed transaction may
not be satisfied, that either party may terminate the merger
agreement or that the closing of the proposed transaction might be
delayed or not occur at all, potential adverse reactions or changes
to business or employee relationships, including those resulting
from the announcement or completion of the transaction, the
diversion of management time on transaction-related issues, the
ultimate timing, outcome and results of integrating the operations
of Aytu and Neos, the effects of the business combination of Aytu
and Neos, including the combined company's future financial
condition, results of operations, strategy and plans, the ability
of the combined company to realize anticipated synergies in the
timeframe expected or at all, changes in capital markets and the
ability of the combined company to finance operations in the manner
expected, regulatory approval of the transaction, risks relating to
gaining market acceptance of our products, obtaining reimbursement
by third-party payors, the potential future commercialization of
the combined company’s product candidates, the anticipated start
dates, durations and completion dates, as well as the potential
future results, of the combined company’s ongoing and future
clinical trials, the anticipated designs of the combined company’s
future clinical trials, anticipated future regulatory submissions
and events, the combined company’s anticipated future cash position
and future events under current and potential future collaboration.
We also refer you to (i) the risks described in ''Risk Factors'' in
Part I, Item 1A of Aytu’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the
other reports and documents it files with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and (ii) the Risk Factors set forth in Neos’
Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed
with the SEC and in the other filings Neos makes with the SEC from
time to time.
Contact for Investors:James CarbonaraHayden
IR(646) 755-7412james@haydenir.com
1 Based on unaudited combined pro-forma net revenues for the two
companies for the twelve-month period ending September 30, 2020
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