UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 26, 2024
ARYA SCIENCES ACQUISITION CORP IV
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands
| 001-40122
| 98-1574672
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
51 Astor Place, 10th Floor
New York, NY | | 10003
|
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
(212) 284-2300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:
☒
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share
| | ARYD
| | The Nasdaq Capital Market
|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 3.01. | Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing. |
As previously disclosed, ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp IV (“ARYA”) received a notice from the staff of the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Listing Department”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) on January 29, 2024, stating that ARYA failed to hold an annual meeting of shareholders within twelve months of the end of its fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(a).
Additionally, as previously disclosed, ARYA received a notice from the staff of the Listing Department of Nasdaq indicating that, unless ARYA timely requests a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”), trading of ARYA’s securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market would be suspended due to ARYA’s non-compliance with Nasdaq IM-5101-2, which requires that a special purpose acquisition company complete one or more business combinations within 36 months of the effectiveness of its initial public offering registration statement. ARYA timely requested a hearing before the Panel to request sufficient time to complete ARYA’s previously disclosed proposed business combination (the “Business Combination”) with Adagio Medical, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Adagio”). Such hearing request resulted in a stay of the suspension or delisting action.
Subsequently, on March 26, 2024, ARYA received an additional and separate notice from the staff of the Listing Department of Nasdaq formally notifying ARYA that the deficiency under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(a) serves as an additional and separate basis for delisting and that the Panel will consider such additional matter at ARYA’s upcoming hearing (currently scheduled on April 25, 2024) to render a determination on ARYA’s continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market.
There can be no assurance that ARYA will be able to satisfy Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, obtain a favorable determination of the Panel on ARYA’s ability to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and maintain compliance with other Nasdaq listing requirements.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”) may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or ARYA’s, Adagio’s or Aja Holdco, Inc.’s (prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, “ListCo,” and following the consummation of the Business Combination, “New Adagio”) future financial or operating performance. For example, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including post-Business Combination fully diluted equity value, the anticipated enterprise value of New Adagio, expected ownership in New Adagio, projections of market opportunity and market share, the capability of Adagio’s or New Adagio’s business plans including its plans to expand, the sources and uses of cash from the Business Combination, any benefits of Adagio’s partnerships, strategies or plans as they relate to the Business Combination, anticipated benefits of the Business Combination and expectations related to the terms and timing of the Business Combination, Adagio’s expected pro forma cash, Adagio’s or New Adagio’s expected cash runway through 2025 or statements related to Adagio’s or New Adagio’s funding gap, funded business plan or use of proceeds, or other metrics or statements derived therefrom, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “propose,” “seek,” “should,” “strive,” “will,” or “would” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may be beyond the control of ARYA, Adagio or New Adagio and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by ARYA and its management, Adagio and its management and New Adagio and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain. Each of ARYA, Adagio and New Adagio caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. There will be risks and uncertainties described in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Business Combination, which is expected to be filed by ListCo with the SEC, and described in other documents filed by ARYA or New Adagio from time to time with the SEC. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Neither ARYA nor Adagio can assure you that the forward-looking statements in this Current Report will prove to be accurate.
In addition, new risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it may not be possible to identify and accurately predict the potential impacts of any such risks and uncertainties that may arise in the future. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of negotiations and any subsequent definitive agreements with respect to the Business Combination; (2) the outcome of any potential litigation, government or regulatory proceedings that may be instituted against ARYA, Adagio, New Adagio or others; (3) the inability to complete the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of ARYA, to obtain financing to complete the Business Combination or to satisfy other conditions to closing; (4) the amount of redemption requests made by ARYA’s public shareholders; (5) changes to the proposed structure of the Business Combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the Business Combination; (6) delays in obtaining, adverse conditions in, or the inability to obtain regulatory approvals, or delays in completing regulatory reviews, required to complete the Business Combination; (7) the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards prior to or following the consummation of the Business Combination, to regain compliance with any stock exchange listing standards prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, and to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market prior to the consummation of the Business Combination; (8) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Adagio or New Adagio as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; (9) Adagio’s ability to remain compliant with the covenants of its existing debt, including any convertible or bridge financing notes; (10) New Adagio’s ability to remain compliant with the covenants of, and other obligations under, the senior secured convertible notes that will be issued in connection with the closing of the Business Combination; (11) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of New Adagio to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (12) costs related to the Business Combination; (13) risks associated with changes in applicable laws or regulations and Adagio’s or New Adagio’s international operations and operations in a regulated industry; (14) the possibility that Adagio or New Adagio may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (15) Adagio’s or New Adagio’s use of proceeds, post-Business Combination fully diluted equity value or fully diluted enterprise value, expected pro forma cash, expected cash runway or funding gap, estimates of expenses and profitability; and (16) the other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in ARYA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents filed, or to be filed, with the SEC by ARYA or New Adagio. There may be additional risks that ARYA, Adagio or New Adagio do not presently know or that ARYA, Adagio or New Adagio currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may materially differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of ARYA, Adagio and New Adagio.
Nothing in this Current Report should be regarded as a representation or warranty by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved, in any specified time frame, or at all. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made in this Current Report. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. Neither ARYA, Adagio nor New Adagio undertakes any duty to update these forward-looking statements.
In connection with the Business Combination, ListCo intends to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 containing a preliminary proxy statement of ARYA and a preliminary prospectus of ListCo, and after the Registration Statement is declared effective, ARYA expects to mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus related to the Business Combination to its shareholders. The proxy statement/prospectus will contain important information about the Business Combination and the other matters to be voted upon at ARYA’s shareholder meeting to be held to approve the Business Combination. ARYA and ListCo may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the Business Combination. This Current Report does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the Business Combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the Business Combination. Before making any voting or other investment decisions, shareholders of ARYA and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the Business Combination, as these materials will contain important information about ARYA, Adagio and the Business Combination. After the Registration Statement becomes effective, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the Business Combination will be mailed to shareholders of ARYA as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination. Shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp IV, 51 Astor Place, 10th Floor, New York, New York, 10003, Attention: Secretary, ARYA4@perceptivelife.com.
INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Participants in the Solicitation
ARYA and its respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from ARYA’s shareholders with respect to the Business Combination. A list of the names of ARYA’s directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in ARYA is contained in ARYA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC and is available free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp IV, 51 Astor Place, 10th Floor, New York, New York, 10003, Attention: Secretary, ARYA4@perceptivelife.com. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Business Combination when available. Investors, security holders and other interested persons of ARYA, Adagio and New Adagio are urged to carefully read in their entirety the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents that will be filed with the SEC, when they become available, because they will contain important information about the Business Combination. Also see above under the heading “Additional Information.”
Adagio and New Adagio, and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of ARYA in connection with the Business Combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the Business Combination will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Business Combination when available.
No Offer and Non-Solicitation
This Current Report does not constitute (i) a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Business Combination or (ii) an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase any securities of ARYA, Adagio or New Adagio, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Dated: March 28, 2024 | |
| | |
| | ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp IV |
| | |
| | By: | /s/ Michael Altman | |
| | Name: | Michael Altman |
| | Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
