| (ii) | In April 2019, Novo Holdings A/S purchased 7,480,590 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock of the Issuer for $1.00259507 per share and an aggregate purchase price of approximately $7.5 million. The purchase price for these shares was paid from the working capital of Novo Holdings A/S. |
Prior to its IPO, the Issuer effected a8-for-1 reverse stock split. Each share of Series A convertible preferred stock converts automatically into one share of Common Stock upon the completion of the Issuer’s IPO.
On July 22, 2019, the closing date of the IPO:
| (i) | Novo Holdings A/S acquired an aggregate of 1,870,147 shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock that occurred automatically upon the closing of the IPO; and |
| (ii) | Novo Holdings A/S purchased 575,000 shares of Common Stock from the underwriters at $15.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $8,625,000 pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement among the Issuer and the several underwriters for the IPO. The purchase price of these purchased shares was paid by Novo Holdings A/S from its working capital. |
Following these purchases in the IPO, Novo Holdings A/S held a total of 2,445,147 shares of Common Stock.
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction |
The acquisitions of Issuer securities made by Novo Holdings A/S, as described in this Schedule 13D, were for investment purposes. Novo Holdings A/S intends to review its investments in the Issuer on a continuing basis and any actions Novo Holdings A/S might undertake will be dependent upon its review of numerous factors from time to time, including, but not limited to: an ongoing evaluation of the Issuer’s business, financial condition, operations and prospects; price levels of the Issuer’s securities; general market, industry and economic conditions; the relative attractiveness of alternative business and investment opportunities; and other future developments. Novo Holdings A/S may, at any time and from time to time, acquire additional securities of the Issuer, or retain or sell all or a portion of the securities of the Issuer then held, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
Tiba Aynechi, Ph.D. is employed as a partner at Novo Ventures (US), Inc. and was designated to the board of directors of the Issuer by Novo Holdings A/S in November 2018. Dr. Aynechi is not deemed to be a beneficial owner of the securities held by Novo Holdings A/S. Dr. Aynechi may engage in communications with the Issuer’s other directors and members of management, and stockholders and third parties regarding the corporate governance, business, operations, strategy or future plans (including proposed corporate transactions of a significant nature) of the Issuer, including any plans or proposals regarding the same.
Other than as described herein, Novo Holdings A/S currently does not have any plans or proposals that relate to, or would result in, any of the matters listed in Items 4(a)–(j) of Schedule 13D, although, depending on the factors discussed herein, Novo Holdings A/S may review or reconsider or change its purpose or formulate different plans, strategies or proposals with respect thereto at any time.
Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer |
(a) Novo Holdings A/S beneficially owns 2,445,147 shares of Common Stock (the “Novo Shares”) representing approximately 10.62% of the Issuer’s outstanding shares of Common Stock, based upon 23,015,769 shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock outstanding after the Issuer’s IPO, as reported in the Issuer’s prospectus (Form 424B4) filed with the SEC July 18, 2019.
(b) Novo Holdings A/S is a Danish limited liability company wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Novo Holdings A/S, through its Board of Directors (the “Novo Board”), has the sole power to vote and dispose of the Novo Shares. The Novo Board may exercise voting and dispositive control over the Novo Shares with approval by a majority of the Novo Board. As such, no individual member of the Novo Board is deemed to hold any beneficial ownership or reportable pecuniary interest in the Novo Shares.
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