Unassociated Document
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Filed
by the Registrant
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þ
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant
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o
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Check the appropriate
box:
þ Preliminary
Proxy Statement
o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
o Definitive
Proxy Statement
o Definitive
Additional Materials
o Soliciting
Material Under Rule 14a-12
APEX
BIOVENTURES ACQUISITION CORPORATION
(Name of
Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ No
fee required.
o Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
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1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
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2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction
applies:
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3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was
determined):
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4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
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Fee paid previously
with preliminary materials.
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
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1)
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Amount
previously paid:
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2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement
No.:
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APEX
BIOVENTURES ACQUISITION CORPORATION
18 Farm
Lane
Hillsborough,
California 94010
To the stockholders of Apex
Bioventures Acquisition Corporation:
You are
cordially invited to attend a special meeting of stockholders of Apex
Bioventures Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) to be held on ___________,
2009. At this meeting, you will be asked to approve the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation of the Company since the Company will not be able to complete a
business combination within the time period required by the Company’s Second
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. As contemplated by the
Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the
Company’s initial public offering prospectus, upon dissolution, the Company
will, pursuant to a Plan of Liquidation, discharge its liabilities, wind up its
affairs and distribute to its public stockholders the net proceeds of the
Company’s initial public offering and a private placement of the Company’s
warrants that occurred immediately prior to the initial public offering. The
record date for the special meeting is______________, 2009. Record holders of
the Company’s common stock at the close of business on the record date are
entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the special
meeting.
This meeting is particularly
significant because stockholders must approve the Company’s dissolution and
liquidation in order for the Company to be authorized to distribute the proceeds
held in the trust account to the Company’s public stockholders. It is important
that you vote your shares at this special meeting.
The
Company was incorporated in Delaware on June 1, 2006 as a so-called blank check
company formed for the purpose of acquiring one or more domestic or foreign
operating businesses in the healthcare industry through a merger, capital stock
exchange, stock purchase or other similar business combination. A
registration statement for the Company’s initial public offering was declared
effective on June 7, 2007. On June 13, 2007, the Company consummated its initial
public offering of 7,500,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share
of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and one
warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of
Company common stock at an exercise price of $6.00 per share subject to the
terms of the applicable warrant agreement. The units began public trading on
June 8, 2007, and the Company’s common stock and warrants started trading
separately on June 20, 2007. Prior to the closing of the initial public
offering, the initial stockholders (as defined below) purchased 1,800,000
warrants, each of which entitles the holder to purchase one share of Company
common stock at $6.00 per share subject to the terms of the applicable warrant
agreement. These warrants were sold for $1.00 per warrant, generating gross
proceeds of $1.8 million for the Company. Proceeds of $67,330,000 from the
initial public offering and the sale of warrants to the initial stockholders
were placed in a trust account to be used in connection with a business
combination — or to be returned to the public stockholders if an initial
business combination was not completed within 18 months from the
consummation of the initial public offering, or within 24 months if a
letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement relating to a
business combination was executed by the Company within such 18-month period,
all as set forth in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation. In furtherance of its corporate purpose, on February
5, 2008, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Dynogen
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Dynogen, and certain other parties named
therein. However, the Company and Dynogen mutually agreed to
terminate the merger agreement on April 16, 2008, and the Company resumed its
search for a suitable business combination. The Company entered into
a second non-binding letter of intent on December 13, 2008 (which extended the
Company’s deadline to complete a business combination to June 13, 2009) and
continued its search for suitable business combinations, entering into two
additional non-binding letters of intent on January 28, 2009 and February 9,
2009. The Company and its legal counsel pursued due diligence and
drafted definitive agreements with respect to each of these three target
companies, but subsequently determined, for various reasons, not to proceed with
a definitive agreement with any of these targets. In light of current
market conditions and the limited time frame the Company has to complete a
business combination, on March 4, 2008, after careful consideration, the
Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors” or “Board”) determined to
terminate its search for a suitable business combination and is now proposing
the Company’s dissolution and Plan of Liquidation because the Company will not
consummate a business combination within the required time frame and the Company
is required to dissolve and liquidate as provided in its Second Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
The Plan
of Liquidation included as Annex A to the enclosed
proxy statement provides for the discharge of the Company’s liabilities and the
winding up of its affairs, including distribution to the current holders of
shares of Company common stock originally issued in its initial public offering,
which we refer to as the public stockholders, of the principal and accumulated
interest (net of any income tax or other tax obligations relating to the income
from the assets in the Trust Account) in the Trust Account (including
the deferred portion of the underwriters’ discount held in the
Trust Account following the consummation of the Company’s initial public
offering). The Company’s stockholders who purchased an aggregate of
2,156,250 shares of common stock issued prior to the Company’s initial
public offering, who we refer to collectively as the “initial stockholders”,
have waived their interest in any such distribution from the Trust Account
and will not receive any of it.
Stockholder
approval of the Company’s dissolution is required by Delaware law, under which
the Company is organized. Stockholder approval of the Plan of Liquidation is
designed to comply with relevant provisions of U.S. federal income tax
laws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s common stock
outstanding will be required to approve the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation.
Our Board of Directors has approved the Company’s dissolution, deems it
advisable and recommends that you approve the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation. The initial stockholders have advised the Company that they support
the Company’s dissolution, and they have agreed to vote in favor of its approval
pursuant to agreements entered into in connection with our initial public
offering. Our Board intends to approve the Plan of Liquidation, as required by
Delaware law, immediately following stockholder approval of the
dissolution.
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company had accrued and unpaid liabilities of
approximately $461,758 (excluding $2,070,000 of deferred underwriting discounts
and commissions payable that would be payable upon the consummation of a
business combination), and cash outside the Trust Account of approximately
$52,844 (excluding any amounts received in respect of a tax refund that it
intends to apply for), both of which the Company expects to reduce to zero in
connection with the winding down of its business. The $461,758 of
liabilities does not include approximately $941,124 of unpaid and unbilled legal
fees and disbursements as of December 31, 2008. The Company currently
has no accrued and unpaid income or other tax obligations relating to the income
from the assets in the Trust Account.
The
initial stockholders have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, on
a joint and several basis with all other initial stockholders, against any and
all loss, liability, claims, damage and expense whatsoever to which the Company
may become subject as a result of any claim by any vendor, service provider or
acquisition target, but only to the extent (a) such claims are made by
third parties who have not executed a waiver of rights or claims to the
Trust Account, and (b) necessary to ensure that any such loss,
liability, damage or expense does not reduce the amount of funds in the
Trust Account to be distributed to the Company’s public stockholders upon
the Company’s dissolution.
If the
initial stockholders fail to meet their obligations under Delaware law, public
stockholders could be required to return a portion of the distributions they
receive pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation up to their pro rata share of the
liabilities not so discharged, but not in excess of the total amounts received
by them from the Company. Since the initial stockholders’ obligations
are not collateralized or guaranteed, the Company cannot assure you that the
initial stockholders will perform their obligations, or that public stockholders
would be able to enforce these obligations.
After
careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Company’s Board of Directors
has determined that the Company’s dissolution is fair to and in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders, has declared it advisable, and
recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” the dissolution and Plan
of Liquidation proposal.
The Board
also recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” adoption of the proposal
to authorize the Company’s Board of Directors or its Chairman, in their
discretion, to adjourn or postpone the special meeting for further solicitation
of proxies, if there are not sufficient votes at the originally scheduled time
of the special meeting to approve the Company’s dissolution.
Enclosed
is a notice of special meeting and proxy statement containing detailed
information concerning the Plan of Liquidation and the special meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the
special meeting, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote your
shares.
I look
forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
APEX BIOVENTURES ACQUISTION
CORPORATION
18 Farm
Lane
Hillsborough,
California 94010
NOTICE OF SPECIAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD
___________, 2009
To the stockholders of Apex
Bioventures Acquisition Corporation:
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of stockholders of Apex Bioventures
Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at
10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on ____________, 2009, at the offices of Mintz,
Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., 666 Third Avenue, 25th Floor,
New York, New York 10017, for the sole purpose of considering and voting upon
the following proposals:
1. Dissolution
and Plan of Liquidation Proposal — to approve the dissolution of the
Company and the proposed Plan of Liquidation in, or substantially in, the form
of Annex A to the
accompanying proxy statement; and
2. Adjournment
Proposal — to authorize the Company’s Board of Directors or its Chairman,
in their discretion, to adjourn or postpone the special meeting for further
solicitation of proxies, if there are not sufficient votes at the originally
scheduled time of the special meeting to approve the foregoing
proposal.
Under
Delaware law and the Company’s bylaws, no other business may be transacted at
the meeting.
The Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on _______________, 2009 as the
date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive notice of and
vote at the special meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record
of the Company’s common stock on that record date are entitled to have their
votes counted at the special meeting or any adjournment. A list of stockholders
entitled to vote at the special meeting will be available for inspection at the
offices of the Company and at the special meeting.
Your vote is
important. Please sign, date and return your proxy card as
soon as possible to make sure that your shares are represented at the special
meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may also cast your vote in
person at the special meeting. If your shares are held in an account at a
brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank how to vote your
shares, or you may cast your vote in person at the special meeting by presenting
a proxy obtained from your brokerage firm or bank. Your failure to vote or instruct your
broker or bank how to vote will have the same effect as voting against the
Company’s dissolution and Plan of Liquidation.
THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF EACH
PROPOSAL.
By Order
of the Board of Directors,
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
APEX
BIOVENTURES ACQUISITION CORPORATION
18 Farm
Lane
Hillsborough,
California 94010
SPECIAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
A special
meeting of stockholders of Apex Bioventures Acquisition Corporation. (the
“Company”) will be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on _____________,
2009, at the offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., 666
Third Avenue, 25th Floor,
New York, New York 10017. At this important meeting, you will be
asked to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
1. Dissolution
and Plan of Liquidation proposal — to approve the dissolution of the
Company and the proposed Plan of Liquidation in, or substantially in, the form
of Annex A to this
proxy statement; and
2. Adjournment
proposal — to authorize the Company’s Board of Directors or its Chairman,
in their discretion, to adjourn or postpone the special meeting for further
solicitation of proxies, if there are not sufficient votes at the originally
scheduled time of the special meeting to approve the foregoing
proposal.
Under
Delaware law and the Company’s bylaws, no other business may be transacted at
the meeting.
This
proxy statement contains important information about the meeting and the
proposals. Please read it carefully and vote your shares.
The
“record date” for the special meeting is ___________, 2009. Record holders of
the Company’s common stock at the close of business on the record date are
entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the special meeting. On the record
date, there were 10,781,250 shares of the Company’s common stock
outstanding, of which 8,625,000 were issued in the Company’s initial public
offering and 2,156,250 were issued to the Company’s initial stockholders,
including all of its directors and officers, before the initial public offering
(who we refer to as the “initial stockholders”), and each of which entitles its
holder to one vote per proposal at the special meeting. The Company’s warrants
do not have voting rights.
This
proxy statement is dated ____________, 2009 and is first being mailed to
stockholders on or about ________________, 2009.
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Page
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SUMMARY
OF THE PLAN OF LIQUIDATION
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CAUTION
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THE PLAN OF
LIQUIDATION
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THE
SPECIAL MEETING
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RISK
FACTORS
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THE
DISSOLUTION AND PLAN OF LIQUIDATION PROPOSAL
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THE
ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
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INFORMATION
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
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STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS
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DELIVERY
OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
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WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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ANNEX
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A —
Plan of Liquidation of Apex Bioventures Acquisition
Corporation
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A-1
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SUMMARY OF THE PLAN OF
LIQUIDATION
At the
special meeting, you will be asked to approve the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation of the Company, as contemplated by the Company’s Second Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
The
following describes briefly the material terms of the Company’s proposed
dissolution and Plan of Liquidation. This information is provided to assist
stockholders in reviewing this proxy statement and considering the proposed
dissolution and Plan of Liquidation, but does not include all of the information
contained herein and may not contain all of the information that is important to
you. To understand fully the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation being submitted
for stockholder approval, you should carefully read this proxy statement,
including the accompanying copy of the Plan of Liquidation attached as Annex A, in its
entirety.
If the
dissolution is approved, we will:
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file
a certificate of dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of
State;
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adopt
a Plan of Liquidation in, or substantially in, the form of Annex A to this proxy
statement by board action in compliance with Delaware
law;
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establish
a contingency reserve for the satisfaction of any known or potential
liabilities, consisting of the indemnification obligations of the initial
stockholders provided to the Company at the time of its initial public
offering; and
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pay
or adequately provide for the payment of our liabilities, including
(i) any existing liabilities for taxes and to creditors, including
providers of professional and other services, (ii) expenses of the
dissolution and liquidation, and (iii) the distribution of proceeds
of the Trust Account to the Company’s public stockholders in
accordance with the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.
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We expect
to make a liquidating distribution to the Company’s public stockholders from the
Trust Account as soon as practicable following the adoption of the Plan of
Liquidation by our Board of Directors, which in turn will follow the filing of
our certificate of dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State and
stockholder approval of the Company’s dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation. In addition to the assets currently in the Trust
Account, such public stockholders will also be entitled to share in any assets
outside of the Trust Account after the payment of the Company’s
liabilities. The Company’s assets currently outside of the Trust
Account, even if the Company obtains a tax refund that it intends to apply for,
are not expected to exceed the Company’s liabilities, including potential
liabilities to creditors who waived any claims against the Trust Account but who
may assert claims as to any amounts outside the Trust Account, and other
contingent or unknown liabilities that may arise. The Company may use
any assets outside of the Trust Account, including any tax refunds it may
receive, to repay advances made by the Company’s initial stockholders and pay
costs incurred while the Company was pursuing business combinations, including
fees payable to service providers such as accountants, lawyers and other
advisors and amounts payable to vendors. Accordingly, stockholders
should not have any expectation of receiving any amounts other than the amounts
currently in the Trust Account.
We are
currently negotiating with the Company’s creditors regarding the satisfaction of
the Company’s other liabilities, which we expect to accomplish, concurrently
with the liquidating distributions, through payments made from our remaining
cash reserves. The Company does not anticipate that any
creditor will make any claims with respect to amounts held in the Trust Account
and based on the actual funds available outside of the Trust Account, if any,
the Board of Directors will determine the appropriate amount of cash to be held
in reserve for potential claims or liabilities.
As a
result of the Company’s liquidation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
stockholders will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between
(i) the value of cash or other property distributed to them (including
distributions to any liquidating trust), less any known liabilities assumed by
the stockholder or to which the distributed property is subject, and
(ii) their tax basis in shares of the Company’s common stock. You should
consult your tax advisor as to the tax effects of the Plan of Liquidation and
the Company’s dissolution in your particular
circumstances.
Under
Delaware law, stockholders will not have dissenters’ rights in connection with
the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation.
Under
Delaware law, if we distribute to public stockholders the proceeds currently
held in the Trust Account, but fail to pay or make adequate provision for
our liabilities, each of the Company’s public stockholders could be held liable
for amounts due to the Company’s creditors to the extent of the stockholder’s
pro rata share of the liabilities not so discharged, but not in excess of the
total amount received by such stockholder.
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company had accrued and unpaid liabilities of
approximately $461,758 (excluding $2,070,000 of deferred underwriting discounts
and commissions payable that would be payable upon the consummation of a
business combination), and cash outside the Trust Account of approximately
$52,844 (excluding any amounts received in respect of a tax refund that it
intends to apply for), both of which the Company expects to reduce to zero in
connection with the winding down of its business. The $461,758 of
liabilities does not include approximately $941,124 of unpaid and unbilled legal
fees and disbursements as of December 31, 2008. The Company currently
has no accrued and unpaid income or other tax obligations relating to the income
from the assets in the Trust Account.
The
initial stockholders have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, on
a joint and several basis with all other initial stockholders, against any and
all loss, liability, claims, damage and expense whatsoever to which the Company
may become subject as a result of any claim by any vendor, service provider or
acquisition target, but only to the extent (a) such claims are made by
third parties who have not executed a waiver of rights or claims to the
Trust Account, and (b) necessary to ensure that any such loss,
liability, damage or expense does not reduce the amount of funds in the
Trust Account to be distributed to the Company’s public stockholders upon
the Company’s dissolution.
If the
initial stockholders fail to meet their indemnification obligations and there is
no other cash available to the Company at such time, under Delaware law the
Company’s public stockholders could be required to return a portion of the
distributions they receive pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation up to their pro
rata share of the liabilities not so discharged, but not in excess of the total
amounts received by them from the Company. Since the initial stockholders’
obligations are not collateralized or guaranteed, the Company cannot assure you
that the initial stockholders perform their obligations, or that the public
stockholders would be able to enforce these obligations.
If our
stockholders do not vote to approve our dissolution and Plan of Liquidation, our
Board of Directors will explore what, if any, alternatives are available for the
future of the Company. The Board believes, however, that there are no viable
alternatives to the Company’s dissolution and liquidation because the Company’s
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and initial public
offering prospectus contemplates that the Company has no choice but to liquidate
in these circumstances.
After
careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Company’s Board of Directors
has determined that the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation of the Company are
advisable, and are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders. The Board has approved such dissolution and Plan of Liquidation
and recommends that you approve them.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
proxy statement contains forward-looking statements, including statements
concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives and assumptions about
the value of the Company’s net assets, the anticipated liquidation value per
share of the Company’s common stock, and the timing and amounts of any
distributions of liquidation proceeds to stockholders. These statements are
often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as
“believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “will continue,” “anticipate,”
“estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “would” and similar words and phrases.
The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe
harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and includes this statement for
purposes of invoking those provisions. Forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause
the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or other subjects of
such statements, to differ materially from the Company’s expectations regarding
such matters expressed or implied by those statements. These factors include the
risks that we may incur additional liabilities, that the amount required for the
settlement of our liabilities could be higher than expected, the possibility
that our initial stockholders will not have the ability to satisfy their
indemnification obligations and that we may not meet the anticipated timing for
the dissolution or the consummation of the Plan of Liquidation, as well as the
other factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this
proxy statement. All of such factors could reduce the amount available for, or
affect the timing of, distributions to our stockholders, and could cause other
actual outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statements made in this proxy statement. You should therefore not place undue
reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes
that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in
this proxy statement are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future events or
results. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to
update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new
information becomes available or other events occur.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE
SPECIAL
MEETING AND THE PLAN OF
LIQUIDATION
These
questions and answers are only summaries of the matters they discuss. Please
read this entire proxy statement.
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Q.
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What
is being voted on at the special meeting?
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A.
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You
are being asked to vote upon proposals to:
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• Approve
the dissolution of the Company and the proposed Plan of Liquidation in, or
substantially in, the form of Annex A to this
proxy statement, which is sometimes referred to as the dissolution
proposal; and
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• Authorize
the Company’s Board of Directors or its Chairman, in their discretion, to
adjourn or postpone the special meeting for further solicitation of
proxies, if there are not sufficient votes at the originally scheduled
time of the special meeting to approve the dissolution proposal, which is
sometimes referred to as the adjournment proposal.
Under
Delaware law and the Company’s bylaws, no other business may be transacted
at the special meeting.
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Q.
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Why
is the Company proposing dissolution and liquidation?
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A.
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The
Company was incorporated in Delaware on June 1, 2006 to acquire, through a
merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or other similar
business combination, one or more domestic or international assets or an
operating business in the healthcare industry. The Company received net
proceeds of $65,300,000 from its initial public offering consummated on
June 13, 2007, and the sale of warrants to the initial stockholders in a
private placement. The net proceeds of $65,300,000 (plus an additional
$2,070,000 attributable to a deferred underwriters’ discount) were placed
in a trust account to be used in connection with a business combination or
to be returned to the Company’s public stockholders if an initial business
combination was not completed within 18 months from the consummation
of the initial public offering, or within 24 months if a letter of
intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement relating to a
business combination was executed by the Company within such 18-month
period, all as set forth in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation. In furtherance of its
corporate purpose, on February 5, 2008, the Company entered into a merger
agreement with Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Dynogen, and certain
other parties named therein. However, the Company and Dynogen
mutually agreed to terminate the merger on April 16, 2008 and the Company
resumed its search for a suitable business combination. The
Company entered into a second non-binding letter of intent on December 13,
2008 (which extended the Company’s deadline to complete a business
combination to June 13, 2009) and continued its search for suitable
business combinations, entering into two additional non-binding letters of
intent on January 28, 2009 and February 9, 2009. The Company
and its legal counsel pursued due diligence and drafted definitive
agreements with respect to each of these three target companies, but
subsequently determined, for various reasons, not to proceed with a
definitive agreement with any of these targets. In light of
current market conditions and the limited time frame the Company has to
complete a business combination, on March 4, 2008, after careful
consideration, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”
or “Board”) determined to terminate its search for a suitable business
combination and is now proposing the Company’s dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation because the Company will not consummate a business combination
within the required time frame and the Company is required to dissolve and
liquidate as provided in its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.
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Q.
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How
will the liquidation of the Company be accomplished?
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A.
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The
liquidation of the Company will be effected pursuant to the terms of the
Plan of Liquidation. The Plan of Liquidation provides for the discharge of
the Company’s liabilities and the winding up of its affairs, including
distribution to its public stockholders of the principal and accumulated
interest held in the Trust Account (including the amount representing the
deferred portion of the underwriters’ fee held in the Trust Account
following the consummation of the initial public offering), net of any
income tax or other tax obligations on the income from the assets in the
Trust Account and interest income released to the Company to fund
working capital. In addition to the assets currently in the Trust Account,
such public stockholders will also be entitled to share in any assets
outside of the Trust Account after the payment of the Company’s
liabilities. The Company’s assets currently outside of the
Trust Account, even if the Company obtains a tax refund that it intends to
apply for, are not expected to exceed the Company’s liabilities, including
potential liabilities to creditors who waived any claims against the Trust
Account but who may assert claims as to any amounts outside the Trust
Account, and other contingent or unknown liabilities that may
arise. The Company may use any assets outside of the Trust
Account, including any tax refunds it may receive, to repay advances made
by the Company’s initial stockholders and pay costs incurred while the
Company was pursuing business combinations, including fees payable to
service providers such as accountants, lawyers and other advisors and
amounts payable to vendors. Accordingly, stockholders should
not have any expectation of receiving any amounts other than the amounts
currently in the Trust Account.
The
Company’s initial stockholders, who purchased an aggregate of
2,156,250 shares of Company common stock prior to the Company’s
initial public offering and who we refer to as the “initial stockholders”,
have waived their interests in any such liquidation distribution and will
receive none of it. Stockholder approval of the Company’s dissolution is
required by Delaware law, under which the Company is organized.
Stockholder approval of the Plan of Liquidation is designed to comply with
relevant provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws.
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s common stock outstanding
will be required to approve the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation. Our
Board of Directors has approved the Company’s dissolution, deems it
advisable and recommends that you approve the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation. The Board of Directors intends to approve the Plan of
Liquidation, as required by Delaware law, immediately following
stockholder approval of the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation.
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Q.
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How
do the Company’s initial stockholders intend to vote their shares at the
special meeting?
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A.
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The
Company’s initial stockholders have advised the Company that they support
the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation and pursuant to agreements entered
into in connection with our initial public offering, they have agreed to
vote for their approval, together with approval of the adjournment
proposal.
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Q.
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What
vote is required to adopt the proposals?
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A.
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Approval
of the Company’s dissolution and Plan of Liquidation will require the
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the Company’s common stock
outstanding. Approval of the adjournment proposal requires the affirmative
vote of holders of a majority of the Company’s common stock that are
represented in person or by proxy and are entitled to vote at the special
meeting.
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Q.
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Why
should I vote for the proposals?
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A.
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Stockholder
approval of the Company’s dissolution is required by Delaware law and
stockholder approval of the Plan of Liquidation is designed to comply with
relevant provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws. If the dissolution
and Plan of Liquidation are not approved, the Company will not be
authorized to dissolve and liquidate, and will not be authorized to
distribute the funds held in the Trust Account to the public
stockholders.
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Q.
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Who
is entitled to receive the liquidating distributions?
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A.
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The
record date for the holders of Company common stock entitled to receive
liquidating distributions will be the close of business on the date of the
filing of the certificate of dissolution of the Company. You must continue
to hold shares through such date to be entitled to receive a pro rata
portion of the Trust Account.
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Q.
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How
much will I be entitled to receive if the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation are approved?
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A.
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If
the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation is approved, the Company estimates
that each public stockholder who is a holder of record at such time on or
about the date that the certificate of dissolution is filed, will receive
approximately $7.57 of original principal of the Trust Account and
approximately $0.27 of accumulated interest (as of February 28, 2009 and
net of estimated applicable taxes), or $7.84 per public
share. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had approximately
$67,674,226 held in the Trust Account (including the deferred
underwriting fee). The amount of interest in the Trust Account
(net of applicable taxes) available for distribution to the holders of
public shares will be finally determined at the time of such distribution
and based on the Board of Directors determination of the appropriate
amount of cash to be held in reserve for potential claims or liabilities.
See “Risk Factors.”
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Q.
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What
happens if the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation are not
approved?
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A.
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If
the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation are not approved, the Company will
not be authorized to dissolve and liquidate, and will not be authorized to
distribute the funds held in the Trust Account to the public
stockholders. If sufficient votes to approve the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation are not available at the special meeting, or if a quorum is
not present in person or by proxy, our Board of Directors or our Chairman
may seek to adjourn or postpone the meeting to continue to seek such
approval.
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Q.
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If
the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation are approved, what happens
next?
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A.
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We
will:
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• file
a certificate of dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of
State;
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• adopt
the Plan of Liquidation by Board action in compliance with Delaware
law;
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• conclude
our negotiations with creditors and pay or adequately provide for the
payment of the Company’s liabilities;
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• distribute
the proceeds of the Trust Account to the public stockholders, less
any income or other tax obligations relating to the income from the assets
in the Trust Account; and
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• otherwise
effectuate the Plan of Liquidation.
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Q.
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If
I am not going to attend the special meeting in person, should I return my
proxy card instead?
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A.
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Yes.
In fact, whether or not you intend to attend the special meeting, after
carefully reading and considering the information in this proxy statement,
please complete and sign your proxy card. Then return it in the enclosed
envelope as soon as possible, so that your shares may be represented at
the special
meeting.
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Q.
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What
will happen if I abstain from voting or fail to vote at the special
meeting?
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A.
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If
you do not vote or do not instruct your broker how to vote, it will have
the same effect as voting against the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation
proposal but will have no effect on the adjournment proposal, assuming
that a quorum for the special meeting is present. If you “abstain” from
voting, it will have the same effect as voting against each of the
dissolution and Plan of Liquidation proposal and the adjournment
proposal.
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Q.
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What
do I do if I want to change my vote prior to the special
meeting?
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A.
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If
you give a proxy, you may revoke it at any time before it is exercised
by sending another proxy card with a later date or attending the
special meeting in person, revoking your proxy, and voting in
person.
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Q.
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If
my shares are held in “street name” by my broker, will my broker vote them
for me?
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A.
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No. Your
broker can vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to
vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares, following the
directions provided by your broker.
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Q.
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Can
I still sell my shares?
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A.
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Yes,
you may sell your shares at this time. If you sell shares before the
record date, or purchase shares after the record date, you will not be
entitled to vote those shares at the special meeting. In addition, you
will only be entitled to receive a pro rata portion of the
Trust Account with respect to those shares held by you as of the
record date for the distribution, which will be the date of the filing of
the certification of dissolution of the Company. Delaware law restricts
transfers of our common stock once a certificate of dissolution has been
filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, which we expect will occur
promptly after approval of the Company’s dissolution by stockholders at
the special meeting. Thereafter and until trading on the NYSE Amex is
halted through termination of registration or delisting, we believe that
any trades of the Company’s shares will be tracked and marked with a due
bill by The Depository Trust Company.
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Q.
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What
will happen to my warrants in connection with the dissolution and
liquidation of the Company?
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A.
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The
Company’s warrants will expire and become worthless upon dissolution of
the Company. No distributions will be made to warrant holders
pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation.
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Q.
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Who
can help answer my questions?
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A.
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If
you have questions, you may write or call Apex Bioventures Acquisition
Corporation, 18 Farm Lane, Hillsborough, California, 94010 (650) 344-3029,
Attention: K.Michael Forrest,
President.
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The
Company is furnishing this proxy statement to its stockholders as part of the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors for use at the special meeting
in connection with the proposed dissolution and Plan of Liquidation of the
Company. This proxy statement provides you with information you need to know to
vote or instruct your vote to be cast at the special meeting.
We will
hold the special meeting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on ___________,
2009, at the offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., 666
Third Avenue, 25th Floor,
New York, New York 10017, to vote on the proposals to approve the Company’s
dissolution and Plan of Liquidation and the adjournment proposal.
Purpose of the Special
Meeting
At the
special meeting, holders of the Company’s common stock will be asked to approve
the Company’s dissolution and Plan of Liquidation and the adjournment
proposal.
Recommendation of the Company’s Board
of Directors
The
members of the Company’s Board of Directors (i) have determined that the
proposed dissolution and Plan of Liquidation of the Company are advisable, and
are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,
(ii) have approved the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation and
(iii) recommend that the Company’s stockholders vote “FOR” the dissolution and Plan
of Liquidation.
The Board
of Directors also recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” adoption of the
adjournment proposal to permit the Company’s Board of Directors or its Chairman,
in their discretion, to adjourn or postpone the special meeting for further
solicitation of proxies, if there are not sufficient votes at the originally
scheduled time of the special meeting to approve the dissolution
proposal.
The
special meeting has been called only to consider approval of the dissolution and
Plan of Liquidation proposal and the adjournment proposal. Under Delaware law
and the Company’s bylaws, no other business may be transacted at the special
meeting.
Record Date; Who Is Entitled to
Vote
The
record date for the special meeting is ___________, 2009. Record holders of the
Company’s common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled
to vote or have their votes cast at the special meeting. On the record date,
there were 10,781,250 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding, of
which 8,625,000 were originally issued in the Company’s initial public offering
and 2,156,250 were issued prior to our initial public offering and are held by
our initial stockholders. Each share of the Company’s common stock entitles its
holder to one vote per proposal at the special meeting. The Company’s warrants
do not have voting rights.
The
initial stockholders have advised the Company that they will vote “FOR” the Company’s
dissolution and Plan of Liquidation and “FOR” the adjournment
proposal.
A
majority of the Company’s common stock outstanding, present in person or by
proxy, will be required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
at the special meeting, other than adjournment to seek a quorum. Approval of the
dissolution and Plan of Liquidation proposal will require the affirmative vote
of holders of a majority of the Company’s common stock outstanding. Approval of
the adjournment proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of a
majority of the Company’s common stock present or represented by proxy at the
special meeting and entitled to vote.
ABSTAINING FROM VOTING OR NOT VOTING,
EITHER IN PERSON OR BY PROXY OR BY VOTING INSTRUCTION, WILL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT
AS A VOTE AGAINST THE DISSOLUTION AND PLAN OF LIQUIDATION
PROPOSAL.
Each
share of common stock that you own in your name entitles you to one vote per
proposal. Your proxy card shows the number of shares you own.
There are
two ways to vote your shares at the special meeting:
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You can vote by signing and
returning the enclosed proxy card. If you vote by proxy
card, the person whose name is listed on the proxy card will vote your
shares as you instruct on the proxy card. If you sign and return the proxy
card, but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares
will be voted as recommended by the Company’s Board “FOR” the dissolution
and Plan of Liquidation proposal and “FOR” the adjournment
proposal. Votes received after a matter has been voted upon at the special
meeting will not be counted.
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You can attend the special
meeting and vote in person. We will give you a ballot at
the special meeting. However, if your shares are held in the name of your
broker, bank or another nominee, you must present a proxy from the broker,
bank or other nominee. That is the only way we can be sure that the
broker, bank or nominee has not already voted your
shares.
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Adjournment or
Postponement
If the
adjournment proposal is approved at the special meeting, the Company may adjourn
or postpone the special meeting if necessary to solicit further proxies. In
addition, the Company may adjourn or postpone the special meeting as set forth
in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or
bylaws or as otherwise permitted by law.
Who Can Answer Your Questions About
Voting Your Shares
If you
have any questions about how to vote or direct a vote in respect of your common
stock, you may call K. Michael Forrest, the Company’s President, at (650)
344-3029.
No Additional Matters May Be
Presented at the Special Meeting
The
special meeting has been called only to consider the adoption of the dissolution
and Plan of Liquidation proposal and the adjournment proposal. Under the
Company’s bylaws, other than procedural matters incident to the conduct of the
meeting, no other matters may be considered at the special meeting if they are
not included in the notice of the special meeting.
Revoking Your Proxy and Changing Your
Vote
If you
give a proxy, you may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by doing any
one of the following:
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You
may send another proxy card with a later date; or
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You
may attend the special meeting, revoke your proxy, and vote in
person.
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If your
shares are held in “street name,” consult your broker for instructions on how to
revoke your proxy or change your vote. If an executed proxy card is returned by
a broker or bank holding shares that indicates that the broker or bank does not
have discretionary authority to vote on the proposals, the shares will be
considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum, but will not be considered to have been voted on the proposals. Your
broker or bank will vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to
vote by following the information provided to you by your
broker.
Abstentions and Broker
Non-Votes
If your
broker holds your shares in its name and you do not give the broker voting
instructions, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, your broker may
not vote your shares on any of the proposals to be considered at the special
meeting. This is referred to as a “broker non-vote.” Broker non-votes are
considered present for the purpose of establishing a quorum for purposes of the
special meeting. If you do not vote or do not instruct your broker how to vote,
it will have the same effect as voting against the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation proposal but it will have no effect on the adjournment proposal. If
you abstain from voting, it will have the same effect as voting against each of
the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation proposal and the adjournment
proposal.
Under
Delaware law, stockholders are not entitled to dissenters’ rights in connection
with the Company’s dissolution and Plan of Liquidation.
The
Company is soliciting proxies on behalf of the Company’s Board of Directors.
This solicitation is being made by mail but the Company and its directors,
officers, employees and consultants may also solicit proxies in person or by
telephone or other electronic means. These persons will not be paid for doing
this.
The
Company has not hired a firm to assist in the proxy solicitation process but may
do so if it deems this assistance desirable. The Company will pay all fees and
expenses related to the retention of any proxy solicitation
firm.
The
Company will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries
to forward its proxy materials to their principals and to obtain their authority
to execute proxies and voting instructions. The Company will reimburse them for
their reasonable expenses.
Information
concerning the holdings of certain of the Company’s stockholders is set forth
under “Beneficial Ownership of Securities.”
You
should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with all of the
other information included in this proxy statement, before you decide whether to
vote or instruct your vote to be cast to adopt the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation proposal and the adjournment proposal.
We may not meet
the anticipated timing for the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation.
Promptly
following the special meeting, if our stockholders approve the Company’s
dissolution and Plan of Liquidation, we intend to file a certificate of
dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State and wind up our business
promptly thereafter. We expect that we will make the liquidation distribution of
the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders as soon as
practicable following the filing of our certificate of dissolution with the
Delaware Secretary of State after approval of the dissolution by the
stockholders. We do not expect that there will be any additional assets
remaining for distribution to stockholders after payment, provision for payment
or compromise of our liabilities and obligations. There are a number of factors
that could delay our anticipated timetable, including:
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delays
in the payment, or arrangement for payment or compromise, of our remaining
liabilities or obligations;
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lawsuits
or other claims asserted against us; and
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unanticipated
legal, regulatory or administrative
requirements.
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We may not be
able to settle all of our obligations to creditors.
We have
obligations to creditors. The Plan of Liquidation takes into account all of our
known obligations and our best estimate of the amount reasonably required to
satisfy them. As part of the winding up process, we are in the process of
settling these obligations with our creditors. We cannot assure you that we will
be able to settle all of these obligations or that they can be settled for the
amounts we have estimated. If we are unable to reach agreement with a creditor
relating to an obligation, that creditor may seek to collect it, including
through litigation. The initial stockholders have agreed to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, on a joint and several basis with all other initial
stockholders, against any and all loss, liability, claims, damage and expense
whatsoever to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by
any vendor, service provider or acquisition target, but only to the extent
(a) such claims are made by third parties who have not executed a waiver of
rights or claims to the Trust Account, and (b) necessary to ensure
that any such loss, liability, damage or expense does not reduce the amount of
funds in the Trust Account to be distributed to the Company’s public
stockholders upon the Company’s dissolution. If the initial stockholders do not
satisfy these obligations, such creditors may seek to recover such claims from
the Company’s stockholders within three years of the Company’s
dissolution.
If our reserves
for payments to creditors are inadequate, each stockholder may be liable to our
creditors for a pro rata portion of their claims up to the amount distributed to
such stockholder by us.
Pursuant
to Delaware law, we will continue to exist for three years after the dissolution
becomes effective in order to complete the winding up of our affairs. If we fail
to provide adequately for all our liabilities, each of our stockholders could be
liable for payment to our creditors of the stockholder’s pro rata portion of
such creditors’ claims up to the amount distributed to such stockholder in the
liquidation.
We
cannot assure you that claims will not be made against the Trust Account,
the result of which could impair or delay its distribution to the public
stockholders.
The Company currently has little
available funds outside the Trust Account, and must make arrangements with
vendors and service providers with respect to any outstanding liabilities. The
Company’s creditors may seek to satisfy their claims from funds in the
Trust Account if the initial stockholders do not perform any required
indemnification obligations. This could further reduce a stockholder’s
distribution from the Trust Account, or delay stockholder
distributions.
Recordation of
transfers of our common stock on our stock transfer books will be restricted as
of the date fixed by the Board for filing the certificate of dissolution, and
thereafter it generally will not be possible for stockholders to change record
ownership of our stock.
After
dissolution, Delaware law will prohibit transfers of record of our common stock
except by will, intestate succession or operation of law. We believe, however,
that after dissolution any trades of shares of our common stock held in “street
name” will be tracked and marked with a due bill by The Depository
Trust Company.
Our Board of
Directors may delay implementation of the Plan of Liquidation, even if
dissolution is approved by our stockholders.
Even if the Company’s dissolution is
approved by our stockholders, our Board of Directors has reserved the right, in
its discretion, to delay implementation of the Plan of Liquidation if it
determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders. The Board is currently unaware of any circumstances under which it
would do so.
If our
stockholders do not approve the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation, no
assurances can be given as to how or when, if ever, amounts in the Trust Account
will be distributed to our stockholders.
The Company’s Second Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Trust Account
proceeds will be distributed to the public stockholders upon the liquidation and
dissolution of the Company and Delaware law requires that the stockholders
approve such liquidation and dissolution. If the Company’s stockholders do not
approve the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation, the Company will not have the
requisite legal authority to distribute the Trust Account proceeds to
stockholders. In such case, no assurance can be given as to how or when, if
ever, such amounts will be distributed.
THE DISSOLUTION AND PLAN OF
LIQUIDATION PROPOSAL
Our Board
of Directors is proposing the Company’s dissolution and Plan of Liquidation for
approval by our stockholders at the special meeting. The Board has approved the
Company’s dissolution, declared it advisable and directed that it be submitted
for stockholder approval at the special meeting. The Board has also approved the
Plan of Liquidation and directed that it be submitted for stockholder approval,
and, as required by Delaware law, intends to re-approve it immediately following
stockholder approval of the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation and the filing
of a certificate of dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State. A copy of
the Plan of Liquidation is attached as Annex A to this proxy
statement.
After
approval of the Company’s dissolution, we anticipate that our activities will be
limited to actions we deem necessary or appropriate to accomplish, among other
things, the following:
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filing
a certificate of dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State and,
thereafter, remaining in existence as a non-operating entity for three
years;
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adopting
a Plan of Liquidation in, or substantially in, the form of Annex A to this
proxy statement by Board action in compliance with Delaware
law;
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establishing
a contingency reserve for the satisfaction of known or potential
liabilities, consisting of the indemnification obligations of the initial
stockholders provided to the Company at the time of the Company’s initial
public offering;
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giving
the trustee of the Trust Account notice to commence liquidating the
investments constituting the Trust Account and turning over the
proceeds to the Company’s transfer agent for distribution according to the
Plan of Liquidation;
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as
provided in the Plan of Liquidation, paying, or providing for the payment
of, our known liabilities in accordance with Delaware law, which
liabilities include (i) any existing liabilities for taxes and to
creditors, including providers of professional and other services,
(ii) expenses of the dissolution and liquidation, and (iii) our
obligations to the public stockholders in accordance with the Company’s
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation;
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if
there are insufficient assets to satisfy our known and unknown
liabilities, paying all such liabilities according to their priority and,
among claims of equal priority, ratably to the extent of assets legally
available therefor;
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winding
up our remaining business activities;
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complying
with SEC filing requirements, for so long as we are required to do
so; and
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making
tax and other regulatory filings.
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Following
dissolution, although it does not currently expect to do so, our Board of
Directors may, at any time, engage third parties to complete the liquidation
pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation. In addition, although it does not presently
anticipate that it will be necessary to do so since we do not have any material
assets outside the Trust Account, the Board will be authorized to establish a
liquidating trust to complete the Company’s liquidation. The Company intends to
pursue any applicable federal or state tax refunds arising from business
activities from inception through dissolution. The Company may use any assets
outside of the Trust Account, including any tax refunds it may receive, to repay
advances made by the Company’s initial stockholders and pay costs incurred while
the Company was pursuing business combinations, including fees payable to
service providers such as accountants, lawyers and other advisors and amounts
payable to vendors. Accordingly, stockholders should not have any expectation of
receiving any amounts other than the amounts currently in the Trust
Account.
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company had accrued and unpaid liabilities of
approximately $461,758 (excluding $2,070,000 of deferred underwriting discounts
and commissions payable that would be payable upon the consummation of a
business combination), and cash outside the Trust Account of approximately
$52,844 (excluding any amounts received in respect of a tax refund that it
intends to apply for), both of which the Company expects to reduce to zero in
connection with the winding down of its business. The $461,758 of
liabilities does not include approximately $941,124 of unpaid and unbilled legal
fees and disbursements as of December 31, 2008. The Company currently
has no accrued and unpaid income or other tax obligations relating to the income
from the assets in the Trust Account.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS APPROVED,
AND RECOMMENDS THAT OUR STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR”, THE DISSOLUTION AND PLAN OF
LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY.
Dissolution under Delaware
Law. Section 275 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
provides that a corporation may dissolve upon a majority vote of the board of
directors of the corporation followed by a favorable vote of holders of a
majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote. Following such approval, the
dissolution is effected by filing a certificate of dissolution with the Delaware
Secretary of State. Once a corporation is dissolved, its existence is
automatically continued for a term of three years, but solely for the purpose of
winding up its business. The process of winding up includes:
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prosecution
and defense of any lawsuits;
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settling
and closing of any business;
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disposition
and conveyance of any property;
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discharge
of any liabilities; and
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distribution
of any remaining assets to the stockholders of the
corporation.
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Principal Provisions of the
Plan. Liquidation is expected to commence as soon as
practicable after approval of the Company’s dissolution by stockholders at the
special meeting. We do not anticipate that we will solicit any further votes of
our stockholders with respect to the Plan of Liquidation. Subject to the
payment, or the provision for payment, of our liabilities, we expect to
distribute to our public stockholders the amounts to which they are entitled
under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
consisting of the amount of the Trust Account at the record date for the
holders of the Company’s common stock entitled to receive liquidating
distributions, less any income or other tax obligations relating to the income
from assets in the Trust Account. After the first liquidating distribution,
if the Company determines that it has any material assets beyond the amount
distributed, we will make one or more additional liquidating
distributions.
Record Date For Liquidating
Distributions. The record date for the holders of the
Company’s common stock entitled to receive liquidating distributions will be the
close of business on the date of the filing of the certificate of dissolution of
the Company.
Contingency
Reserve. We generally are required, in connection with our
dissolution, to provide for payment of our liabilities. We intend to pay or
provide for payment of all our known liabilities promptly after approval of the
Plan of Liquidation, and to set aside a contingency reserve, consisting of the
indemnification obligations of the initial stockholders. We believe that the
initial stockholders will adequately satisfy all of our liabilities. Once we
have established a contingency reserve, we would distribute to stockholders any
portion thereof that our Board deems no longer to be required, although because
of the nature of our limited assets and liabilities, we do not expect that any
such distributions will be made.
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company had accrued and unpaid liabilities of
approximately $461,758 (excluding $2,070,000 of deferred underwriting discounts
and commissions payable that would be payable upon the consummation of a
business combination), and cash outside the Trust Account of approximately
$52,844 (excluding any amounts received in respect of a tax refund that it
intends to apply for), both of which the Company expects to reduce to zero in
connection with the winding down of its business. The $461,758 of
liabilities does not include approximately $941,124 of unpaid and unbilled legal
fees and disbursements as of December 31, 2008. The Company currently
has no accrued and unpaid income or other tax obligations relating to the income
from the assets in the Trust Account.
The
initial stockholders have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, on
a joint and several basis with all other initial stockholders, against any and
all loss, liability, claims, damage and expense whatsoever to which the Company
may become subject as a result of any claim by any vendor, service provider or
acquisition target, but only to the extent (a) such claims are made by
third parties who have not executed a waiver of rights or claims to the
Trust Account, and (b) necessary to ensure that any such loss,
liability, damage or expense does not reduce the amount of funds in the
Trust Account to be distributed to the Company’s public stockholders upon
the Company’s dissolution. The Company currently has no accrued and unpaid
income or other tax obligations relating to the income from the assets in the
Trust Account.
As of
February 28, 2009, the Company had approximately $67,674,226 held in
the Trust Account (including the deferred underwriting fee). If a
liquidation were to have occurred on such date, the Company estimates that the
entire amount of approximately $67,674,226, or approximately $7.84 per share,
held in the Trust Account would have been distributed to the public
stockholders. However, we cannot assure you that the amount actually available
for distribution will not be reduced, whether as a result of the claims of
additional creditors, the failure of the initial stockholders to satisfy any
required indemnification obligations, or otherwise.
We will
discontinue recording transfers of shares of our common stock on the date of our
dissolution. Thereafter, certificates representing shares of our common stock
will not be assignable or transferable on our books, except by will, intestate
succession or operation of law. After that date, we will not issue any new stock
certificates, except in connection with such transfers or as replacement
certificates.
Our Conduct Following Approval of
the Dissolution and Adoption of the Plan of Liquidation. Our
directors and officers will not receive any compensation, other than
reimbursement for expenses, for the duties that each performs in connection with
our dissolution or under the Plan of Liquidation. Following approval of our
dissolution by our stockholders at the special meeting, our activities will be
limited to adopting the Plan of Liquidation, winding up our affairs, taking such
actions as we believe may be necessary, appropriate or desirable to preserve the
value of our assets, and distributing our assets in accordance with the Plan of
Liquidation.
We will
indemnify our officers, directors and agents in accordance with our Second
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws for actions taken
in connection with winding up our affairs. Our obligation to indemnify such
persons may be satisfied out of our remaining assets, which we expect will be
limited to the initial stockholders’ indemnification obligations. The Board and
the trustees of any liquidating trust may obtain and maintain such insurance as
they believe may be appropriate to cover our indemnification obligations under
the Plan of Liquidation. We may obtain or maintain insurance for the benefit of
our officers and directors and the trustees of any liquidating trust provided
that any related costs shall be paid from funds outside of the Trust
Account.
Potential Liability of
Stockholders. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, in
the event we fail to create adequate reserves for liabilities, or should such
reserves be insufficient to satisfy the aggregate amount ultimately found
payable in respect of our expenses and liabilities, each stockholder could be
held liable for amounts due to creditors to the extent of the amounts that such
stockholder received from us and from any liquidating trust under the Plan of
Liquidation. Each stockholder’s exposure to liability is limited to his, her or
its pro rata portion of the amounts due to creditors and is capped, in any
event, at the amount of the distribution actually received by such stockholder.
In addition, a creditor could seek an injunction to prevent us from making
distributions under the Plan of Liquidation, which could delay and/or diminish
distributions to stockholders.
Stock
Certificates. Stockholders should not forward their stock
certificates before receiving instructions to do so. After such instructions are
sent, stockholders of record must surrender their stock certificates to receive
distributions, pending which their pro rata share of the Trust Account may
be held in trust, without interest and subject to escheat laws. If a stock
certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the holder may be required to
furnish satisfactory evidence of the loss, theft or destruction, together with a
surety bond or other indemnity, as a condition to the receipt of any
distribution.
Exchange Act
Registration. Our common stock, warrants and units currently
trade on the NYSE Amex (formerly the American Stock Exchange) under the trading
symbols “PEX,” “PEX.W” and “PEX.U,” respectively. After dissolution, because we
will discontinue recording transfers of our common stock and in view of the
significant costs involved in compliance with reporting requirements and other
laws and regulations applicable to public companies, the Board intends to apply
to terminate the Company’s registration and reporting requirements under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. After dissolution, trading in the common stock
on the NYSE Amex would terminate.
Liquidating
Trusts. Although the Board does not believe it will be
necessary, we may transfer any of our remaining assets to one or more
liquidating trusts, the purpose of which would be to serve as a temporary
repository for the trust property prior to its disposition or distribution to
our stockholders. Any liquidating trust would be evidenced by a trust agreement
between the Company and the person(s) the Board chooses as
trustee(s).
Sales of
Assets. The Plan of Liquidation gives the Board the authority
to sell all of our remaining assets, although the Company’s assets outside the
Trust Account are immaterial. Any such sale proceeds may be reduced by
transaction expenses, and may be less for a particular asset than if we were not
in liquidation. We do not expect any material asset sales to
occur.
Absence of Appraisal
Rights. Stockholders are not entitled to appraisal rights in
connection with the Company’s dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation.
Regulatory
Approvals. We do not believe that any material United States
federal or state regulatory requirements must be met or approvals obtained in
connection with our dissolution or the Plan of Liquidation.
Treatment of
Warrants. There will be no distribution from the
Trust Account with respect to the Company’s warrants.
Payment of
Expenses. In the discretion of our Board of Directors, we may
pay brokerage, agency, professional and other fees and expenses to any person in
connection with the implementation of the Plan of
Liquidation.
Votes Required and Board
Recommendation. Approval of the Company’s dissolution and Plan
of Liquidation requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number
of votes entitled to be cast by all shares outstanding on the record date. The
holders of common stock will vote on the matter of the approval of the Company’s
dissolution and Plan of Liquidation, with each holder entitled to one vote per
share on the matter.
The Board
of Directors believes that the Company’s dissolution and Plan of Liquidation are
in the best interests of our stockholders. The Board has approved the
dissolution and recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the dissolution and Plan
of Liquidation proposal. Our initial stockholders, including all of our
directors and officers, who hold, as of the record date, an aggregate of
2,156,250 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding, have entered
into agreements in connection with our initial public offering pursuant to which
they agreed to vote “FOR” the dissolution and Plan
of Liquidation proposal. See “Beneficial Ownership of
Securities.”
Shares
represented by proxy cards received in time for the special meeting that are
properly signed, dated and returned without specifying choices will be voted
“FOR” this proposal and
the “FOR” adjournment
proposal.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences. The following is a discussion of material United
States federal tax consequences of the Plan of Liquidation to the Company and to
current holders of Company common stock and warrants issued in our initial
public offering. This discussion assumes that stockholders and warrant holders
are “U.S. holders” (as defined below), and hold their Company common stock
and warrants as capital assets, within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This discussion does not address all aspects
of United States federal taxation that may be relevant to a particular
stockholder or warrant holder in light of the holder’s individual investment or
tax circumstances. In addition, this discussion does not address (a) United
States gift or estate tax laws, (b) state, local or non-U.S. tax
consequences, (c) the special tax rules that may apply to certain
stockholders, including without limitation, banks, insurance companies,
financial institutions, broker-dealers, taxpayers who have elected
mark-to-market accounting, taxpayers that are subject to the alternative minimum
tax, tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies, real estate investment
trusts, taxpayers whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, or
United States expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States,
(d) the special tax rules that may apply to a stockholder that acquires,
holds, or disposes of Company securities as part of a straddle, hedge,
constructive sale, or conversion transaction or other integrated investment, or
(e) the special tax rules that may apply with respect to a stockholder that
has acquired Company securities as compensation or in exchange for the
provisions of services. Additionally, the discussion does not consider the tax
treatment of partnerships (or other entities treated as partnerships for
U.S. federal income tax purposes) or other pass-through entities or persons
who hold Company units, common stock or warrants through such
entities.
This
discussion is based on current provisions of the Code, final, temporary and
proposed United States Treasury Regulations, judicial opinions, and published
positions of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), all as in effect on the date
hereof and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or change,
possibly with retroactive effect. The Company has not sought, and will not seek,
any ruling from the IRS or any opinion of counsel with respect to the tax
consequences discussed herein, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will
not take a position contrary to the tax consequences discussed below or that any
position taken by the IRS would not be sustained.
As used
in this discussion, the term “U.S. holder” means a person that is a
beneficial owner of Company securities and that is, for United States federal
income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United
States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in the United
States or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the
District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to
United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a
trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more
U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the
trust, or (B) it has in effect a valid election to be treated as a
U.S. person.
The tax
treatment of a partnership and each partner thereof will generally depend upon
the status and activities of the partnership and such partner. A stockholder or
warrant holder that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal
income tax considerations applicable to it and its partners of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of our units, common stock and
warrants.
STOCKHOLDERS AND WARRANT HOLDERS ARE
URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO
THEM IN CONNECTION WITH OUR DISSOLUTION AND PLAN OF LIQUIDATION, INCLUDING TAX
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF FOREIGN, FEDERAL, STATE,
LOCAL AND OTHER APPLICABLE TAX LAWS AND THE EFFECT OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGES IN
THE TAX LAWS. NON U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS
REGARDING THEIR PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES.
Consequences to the
Company
The
Company may recognize gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of
any of its assets pursuant to its liquidation to the extent of the difference
between the amount realized on such sale (or the fair market value of the asset)
and its tax basis in such asset.
Consequences to
Stockholders
Gain or Loss on
Liquidation
Amounts
received by stockholders pursuant to the liquidation will be treated as full
payment in exchange for their shares of our common stock. As a result of our
liquidation, a stockholder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the
difference between (i) the value of cash or other property distributed to
such stockholder (including distributions to any liquidating trust), less any
known liabilities assumed by the stockholder or to which the distributed
property is subject, and (ii) such stockholder’s tax basis in the shares of
our common stock.
A
stockholder’s gain or loss will be computed on a “per share” basis, so that gain
or loss is calculated separately for blocks of stock acquired at different dates
or for different prices. Each liquidation distribution will be allocated
proportionately to each share of stock owned by a stockholder, and will be
applied first to recover a stockholder’s tax basis with respect to such share of
stock. Gain will be recognized in connection with a liquidation distribution
allocated to a share of stock only to the extent that the aggregate value of all
liquidation distributions received by a stockholder with respect to that share
exceeds such stockholder’s tax basis for that share. Any loss generally will be
recognized only when a stockholder receives our final distribution to
stockholders, and then only if the aggregate value of the liquidation
distributions with respect to a share of stock is less than the stockholder’s
tax basis for that share. Any payments by a stockholder in satisfaction of any
Company contingent liability not covered by our contingency reserve generally
would produce a loss in the year paid. Generally, gain or loss recognized by a
stockholder in connection with our liquidation will be capital gain or loss, and
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the share has been held for more than
one year, and short-term capital gain or loss if the share has not been held for
more than one year. Long-term capital gain of non-corporate taxpayers may be
subject to more favorable tax rates than ordinary income or short-term capital
gain. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to various
limitations.
Although
we anticipate that such a transfer is unlikely, if we transfer assets to a
liquidating trust for the benefit of the stockholders, we intend to structure
any such liquidating trust as a grantor trust of the stockholders, so that
stockholders will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as first
having constructively received their pro rata share of the property transferred
to the trust and then having contributed such property to the trust. In the
event that one or more liquidating trusts are formed, the stockholders generally
will receive notice of the transfer(s). The amount of the deemed distribution to
the stockholders generally will be reduced by the amount of any known
liabilities assumed by the liquidating trust or to which the transferred
property is subject. A liquidating trust qualifying as a grantor trust is itself
not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Our former stockholders, as owners
of the liquidating trust, would be required to take into account for
U.S. federal income tax purposes their respective allocable portions of any
future income, gain or loss recognized by such liquidating trust, whether or not
they have received any actual distributions from the liquidating trust with
which to pay any tax on such tax items. As a result, stockholders will not be
taxable when distributions are actually made by the liquidating trust and if in
fact stockholders never receive an amount previously treated as income as a
distribution from the liquidating trust, the stockholders will get a loss
deduction. Stockholders would receive annual statements from the liquidating
trust reporting their respective allocable shares of the various tax items of
the trust.
The gross
amount of any distribution paid pursuant to the liquidation to a stockholder
that fails to provide the appropriate certification in accordance with
applicable United States Treasury Regulations generally will be reduced by
backup withholding at the applicable rate (currently 28%). Back-up withholding
generally will not apply to payments made to some exempt recipients such as
corporations or financial institutions or to a stockholder who furnishes a
correct taxpayer identification number or provides a certificate of foreign
status and provides certain other required information.
Backup
withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts that are withheld under the backup
withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the stockholder’s United
States federal income tax liability, if any, provided that certain required
information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner. Stockholders should
consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding in
their particular circumstance and the availability of and procedure for
obtaining an exemption from backup withholding under current United States
Treasury Regulations.
Consequences to Warrant
Holders
Since no
distributions will be made to warrant holders pursuant to the Plan of
Liquidation, a holder of our warrants should recognize a capital loss equal to
such warrant holder’s tax basis in the warrant in the tax year in which such
warrant becomes worthless (or expires). Because the Company failed to consummate
a business combination, the Company warrants did not become exercisable and will
expire worthless.
The
adjournment proposal allows the Company’s Board of Directors or its Chairman, in
their discretion, to adjourn or postpone the special meeting for further
solicitation of proxies, if there are not sufficient votes at the originally
scheduled time of the special meeting to approve the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation proposal.
Consequences if the Adjournment
Proposal is Not Approved. If an adjournment proposal is
presented at the meeting and is not approved by the stockholders, the Company’s
Board of Directors may not be able to adjourn the special meeting to a later
date in the event, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes
at the time of the special meeting to approve the dissolution and Plan of
Liquidation. In such event, the Company will not be able to dissolve and
liquidate.
Required
Vote. Approval of the adjournment proposal will require the
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the Company’s common stock present
or represented by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote on the
proposal.
THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS THAT OUR STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE ADJOURNMENT
PROPOSAL.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
COMPANY
General. The
Company was incorporated in Delaware on June 1, 2006 as a blank check company
formed to acquire, through a merger, capital stock exchange, stock purchase,
asset acquisition or other similar business combination, one or more domestic or
international assets or an operating business in the healthcare
industry. A registration statement for the Company’s initial public
offering was declared effective on June 7, 2007. On June 13, 2007, the Company
consummated its initial public offering of 8,625,000 units, with each unit
consisting of one share of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and
one redeemable common stock purchase warrant. Each warrant sold in the initial
public offering entitled the holder to purchase from the Company one share of
common stock at an exercise price of $6.00 subject to the terms of the warrant
agreement. The units began public trading on June 7, 2007, and the
Company’s warrants and common stock have traded separately since June 20,
2007.
Offering Proceeds Held in
Trust. The Company received net proceeds of $67,330,000 from
the Company’s initial public offering consummated on June 13, 2007, and the sale
of warrants to the initial stockholders in a private placement. The net proceeds
of $67,330,000 (plus an additional $2,070,000 attributable to a deferred
underwriters’ discount) were placed in the Trust Account. The initial
public offering proceeds held in the Trust Account were to be used in
connection with a business combination or returned to the Company’s public
stockholders if an initial business combination was not completed within
18 months from the consummation of the initial public offering, or within
24 months if a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive
agreement relating to a business combination was executed by the Company within
such 18-month period, all as set forth in the Company’s Second Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation. In furtherance of its
corporate purpose, on February 5, 2008, the Company entered into a merger
agreement with Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Dynogen, and certain other
parties named therein. However, the Company and Dynogen mutually
agreed to terminate the merger agreement on April 16, 2008, and the Company
resumed its search for a suitable business combination. The Company
entered into a second non-binding letter of intent on December 13, 2008 (which
extended the Company’s deadline to complete a business combination to June 13,
2009) and continued its search for suitable business combinations, entering into
two additional non-binding letters of intent on January 28, 2009 and February 9,
2009. The Company and its legal counsel pursued due diligence and
drafted definitive agreements with respect to each of these three target
companies, but subsequently determined, for various reasons, not to proceed with
a definitive agreement with any of these targets. In light of current
market conditions and the limited time frame the Company has to complete a
business combination, on March 4, 2008, after careful consideration, the
Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors” or “Board”) determined to
terminate its search for a suitable business combination and is now proposing
the Company’s dissolution and Plan of Liquidation because the Company will not
consummate a business combination within the required time frame and the Company
is required to dissolve and liquidate as provided in its Second Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Because
the Company will not complete a business combination within the required time
frame set forth in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, the Company is presenting the dissolution and Plan of Liquidation
proposal at the special meeting as more fully set forth in this proxy statement.
If such proposal is approved, the Company will be dissolved and, in accordance
with the Plan of Liquidation, will distribute to all of its public stockholders,
in proportion to their respective equity interests, an aggregate sum equal to
the amount in the Trust Account, inclusive of any interest, net of any
income or other tax obligations relating to the income from the assets in the
Trust Account. The Company’s initial stockholders, including all of its
directors and officers, have waived their rights to participate in any
liquidation distribution with respect to shares of common stock owned by them
immediately prior to the initial public offering. There will be no distribution
from the Trust Account with respect to the Company’s
warrants.
As of
February 28, 2009, the Company had approximately $67,674,226 held in
the Trust Account (including the deferred underwriting fee). If a
liquidation were to have occurred on such date, the Company estimates that the
entire amount of approximately $67,674,226, or approximately $7.84 per share,
held in the Trust Account would have been distributed to the public
stockholders. However, we cannot assure you that the amount actually available
for distribution will not be reduced, whether as a result of the claims of
additional creditors, the failure of the initial stockholders to satisfy any
required indemnification obligations, or otherwise.
Facilities. The
Company does not own any real estate or other physical properties. The Company’s
headquarters are located at 18 Farm Lane, Hillsborough, California,
94010. Apex Bioventures, LLC, an affiliate of K. Michael Forrest, the
Company’s President and one of the Company’s directors, currently provides
office space to the Company and has agreed that it will make such office space
as the Company may require from time to time available at no
cost.
Employees. The
Company currently has three officers, all three of whom are also members of its
board of directors. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific
number of hours to Company matters and intend to devote only as much time as
they deem necessary to the Company’s affairs. The Company has no
employees.
Periodic Reporting and Audited
Financial Statements. The Company has registered its
securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and has reporting
obligations, including the requirement to file annual and quarterly reports with
the SEC. The Company has filed, with the SEC, an Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 and
Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2007 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and
September 30, 2007 and March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and
September 30, 2008.
Legal
Proceedings. There are no pending legal proceedings to which
the Company is a party.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF
SECURITIES
As of
March 31, 2009, the Company’s initial stockholders, including all of its
directors and officers, beneficially owned and were entitled to vote
2,156,250 shares, or 20%, of the Company’s common stock. The following
table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the
Company’s common stock, as of March 31, 2009, by its officers, directors and
each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of
any class of its voting securities. Unless otherwise indicated by footnote, the
address for each listed stockholder is c/o Apex Bioventures Acquisition
Corporation, 18 Farm Lane, Hillsborough, California 94010.
|
|
Beneficial
ownership of
Apex
common stock as of
February
27, 2009
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner
|
|
Number
of
Shares(1)
|
|
|
Percent
of Class
|
|
Darrell
J. Elliott(2)(3)
1763
Orkney Place, North Vancouver, BC, V7H 2Z1
|
|
|
268,858 |
|
|
|
2.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K.Michael
Forrest(2)
18
Farm Lane, Hillsborough, CA 94010
|
|
|
472,803 |
|
|
|
4.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gary
E. Frashier(2)(4)
215
West Bandera Road, Suite 114, Boerne, TX 78006
|
|
|
359,790 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
J. Easton(2)
525
E. 80th
Street, New York, New York 10075
|
|
|
397,310 |
|
|
|
3.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
J. Chandler(2)
2916
Thomas Smith Lane, Williamsburg, VA 23185
|
|
|
126,313 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nancy
T. Chang(2)
10301
Stella Link, Houston, TX, 77025
|
|
|
183,951 |
|
|
|
1.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony
J. Sinskey(2)
Department
of Biology, Room 68-370A
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
Cambridge,
MA 02139
|
|
|
97,474 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
L. Van Nostrand(2)
Mariners
Circle, West Islip, NY 11795
|
|
|
152,277 |
|
|
|
1.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deutsche
Bank AG(5)
Theodor-Heuss-Allee
70
60468
Frankfurt am Main
Federal
Republic of Germany
|
|
|
1,121,888 |
|
|
|
10.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HBK
Investments L.P.(6)
2101
Cedar Springs Road, Suite 700
Dallas,
TX 75201
|
|
|
1,078,100 |
|
|
|
9.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
QVT
Financial LP(7)
1177
Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor
New
York, New York 10036
|
|
|
916,236 |
|
|
|
8.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Polar
Securities Inc.(8)
2372
Bay Street, 21st floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2W9, Canada
|
|
|
789,679 |
|
|
|
7.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pacific
Assets Management, LLC(9)
11601
Wilshire Blvd, Suite 2180
Los
Angeles, CA 90025
|
|
|
796,766
|
|
|
|
7.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weiss
Asset Management LLC(10)
29
Commonwealth Ave, 10th Floor
Boston,
MA 02116
|
|
|
877,300 |
|
|
|
8.1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bulldog
Investors, Philip Goldstein and Andrew Dakos(11)
60
Heritage Drive
Pleasantville,
NY 10570
|
|
|
564,300 |
|
|
|
5.2 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (eight
individuals)
|
|
|
2,058,776 |
|
|
|
19.1 |
%(12) |
(1)
|
These
amounts do not include the shares of common stock underlying the warrants
purchased by our directors and executive officers in a private placement
immediately prior to our initial public
offering.
|
(2)
|
Each
of the noted individuals is a director of
Apex.
|
(3)
|
These
shares are held by Invivos Limited Partners, a British Columbia limited
partnership. Ninety-nine percent of the limited partnership
interests of Invivos Limited Partners are held collectively by
Mr.Elliott’s wife and children. The remaining 1% is held by
Invivos Partners, Ltd., a British Columbia corporation. Mr.
Elliott, in turn, owns 100% of the capital stock of Invivos Partners,
Ltd. Accordingly, Mr. Elliott holds voting and dispositive
power over all of the shares of common stock, but disclaims any pecuniary
interest therein.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Frashier holds all of these shares of our common stock through Treasure
Road Partners, Ltd., a Texas family limited partnership, of which he and
his wife, Giva H. Frashier, are the sole owners (on an equal basis) and
managers. Accordingly, Mr. Frashier and his wife share voting
and dispositive power over these
shares.
|
(5)
|
Information
based on Schedule 13G by Deutsche Bank AG on February 9,
2009.
|
(6)
|
Information
based on Schedule 13G filed by HBK Investments L.P., HBK Services LLC, HBK
Partners II L.P., HBK New York LLC, HBK Management LLC, and HBK Master
Fund L.P., on January 26, 2009.
|
(7)
|
Information
based on Schedule 13G filed by QVT Financial LP, QVT Financial GP LLC, QVT
Fund LP, and QVT Associates GP LLC on January 28, 2009. As
disclosed in such Schedule 13G, QVT Financial LP is the investment manager
for QVT Fund LP, QVT Financial GP LLC is the general partner of QVT
Financial LP, and QVT Associates GP LLC is the general partner of QVT Fund
LP.
|
(8)
|
Information
based on Schedule 13G filed by Polar Securities Inc. and North Pole
Capital Master Fund on February 14, 2008. As disclosed in such
Schedule 13G, Polar Securities Inc. is the investment advisor for North
Pole Capital Master Fund and a number of discretionary accounts over which
it has voting and dispositive
power.
|
(9)
|
Information
based on Schedule 13G filed by Jonathan M. Glaser, Daniel Albert David,
Roger Richter, Pacific Assets Management, LLC, Pacific Capital Management,
Inc., and JMG Triton Offshore Fund, Ltd. on February 17,
2009. As disclosed in such Schedule 13G, Pacific Assets
Management, LLC is the investment advisor to JMG Triton Offshore Fund,
Ltd. and Pacific Capital Management, Inc., is a member of Pacific Assets
Management, LLC. Mr. Glaser, Mr. David and Mr. Richter are
control persons of Pacific Assets Management, LLC and Pacific Capital
Management, Inc.
|
(10)
|
Information
based on Schedule 13G filed by Weiss Asset Management LLC, Weiss Capital
LLC, and Andrew M. Weiss, Ph.D. As disclosed in such Schedule
13G, Mr. Weiss is the managing member of Weiss Asset Management LLC and
Weiss Capital LLC.
|
(11)
|
Information
based on Schedule 13G filed by Bulldog Investors, Philip Goldstein and
Andrew Dakos on March 23, 2009. Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Dakos are
the principals of Bulldog
Investors.
|
(12)
|
The
percentage of beneficial ownership of officers and directors is less than
20% due to the resignation of one of our initial stockholders, Donald B.
Rix, from the board of directors. An affiliate of Dr.
Rix purchased 97,474 shares of our common stock prior to the
Company’s initial public offering and such affiliate continues to hold
such shares, representing 0.9% of the Company, through the date of this
proxy statement.
|
Beneficial
ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Unless otherwise noted, we believe that all
persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to
all shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by
them.
None of
our initial stockholders, including all of our directors and officers, will
receive any portion of the liquidation proceeds with respect to common stock
owned by them prior to our initial public offering.
Whether
or not the dissolution is approved, the Company does not expect to have an
annual meeting of stockholders after the special meeting. Therefore,
the Company is not providing instructions as to how stockholders can make
proposals for future meetings.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO
STOCKHOLDERS
Pursuant
to the rules of the SEC, the Company and services that it employs to deliver
communications to its stockholders are permitted to deliver to two or more
stockholders sharing the same address a single copy of the proxy statement. Upon
written or oral request, the Company will deliver a separate copy of the proxy
statement to any stockholder at a shared address who wishes to receive separate
copies of such documents in the future. Stockholders receiving multiple copies
of such documents may likewise request that the Company deliver single copies of
such documents in the future. Stockholders may notify the Company of their
requests by calling or writing us at 18 Farm Lane, Hillsborough, California,
94010, (650) 344-3029, Attn: K. Michael Forrest, President.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION
The
Company files reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC as
required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You may read and
copy reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company with
the SEC at its public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549-1004. You may obtain information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You
may also obtain copies of the materials described above at prescribed rates by
writing to the SEC, Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549-1004. The Company files its
reports, proxy statements and other information electronically with the SEC. You
may access information on the Company at the SEC web site containing reports,
proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that
file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
Information
and statements contained in this proxy statement or any annex are qualified in
all respects by reference to the copy of the relevant contract or other annex
filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference into this document. This
proxy statement incorporates important business and financial information about
the Company that is not included in or delivered with the document. This
information is available without charge to security holders upon written or oral
request. If you would like such information or additional copies of this proxy
statement, or if you have questions about the Plan of Liquidation, you should
contact:
Apex
Bioventures Acquisition Corporation
Hillsborough,
California 94010
APEX
BIOVENTURES ACQUISITION CORPORATION
(DISSOLVED DELAWARE
CORPORATION)
This Plan
of Liquidation (or “Plan”) of Apex Bioventures Acquisition Corporation (the
“Company”) is dated this ___ day of __________,
2009
WHEREAS,
the dissolution of the Company was duly authorized by its Board of Directors and
stockholders, and the Company was dissolved on ___________, 2009 by the filing
of a Certificate of Dissolution with the Office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware;
WHEREAS,
the Company elects to adopt a plan of distribution pursuant to
Section 281(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
“DGCL”);
WHEREAS,
the Company has paid or otherwise satisfied or made reasonable provision to pay
or otherwise satisfy all claims and obligations of the Company known to the
Company, including conditional, contingent, or unmatured contractual claims
known to the Company, other than the following:
1. Fees
and expenses in connection with legal, accounting, financial advisory and other
services rendered prior to the date hereof, all as shown on the Company’s
unaudited interim financial statements at and for the period ending December 31,
2008, and liabilities and obligations incurred or to be incurred after such date
to vendors or other persons for services rendered or products sold to the
Company (such as fees and expenses in connection with legal, accounting,
financial and other professional services rendered or to be rendered in
connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Company and the
winding-up of its business and affairs) (collectively, the “Vendor
Obligations”);
2. Liabilities
for federal and state income taxes (“Tax Liabilities”);
3. Repayment
of advances made to the Company by its Initial Stockholders (as defined below)
(the “Stockholder Loans”); and
4. The
Company’s obligations to holders of its common shares issued in its initial
public offering (the “Public Stockholders”) to distribute the proceeds of the
trust account (“IPO Trust”) established in connection with the Company’s initial
public offering (“IPO”) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of
the Company as provided in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation and its IPO prospectus;
WHEREAS,
there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings to which the Company is a
party;
WHEREAS,
there are no facts known to the Company indicating that claims that have not
been made known to the Company or that have not arisen are likely to become
known to the Company or to arise within ten years after the date of
dissolution; and
WHEREAS,
the Company’s founders, Invivos Limited Partners, K. Michael Forrest, Treasure
Road Partners Ltd., Robert J. Easton, Anthony Sinskey, John J. Chandler, Robert
L. Van Nostrand, Nancy T. Chang and Rix Clinical Laboratories Ltd. (the “Initial
Stockholders”), have reaffirmed, and by their adoption of this Plan such
individuals do hereby reaffirm their respective obligations to the Company,
under and pursuant to those several Insider Letter Agreements with the Company’s
IPO underwriters (the “ILA”) entered into in connection with the IPO, to
indemnify the Company, subject to the provisions of the ILA, for its debts to
any acquisitive target, vendor for service provider that did not execute a
waiver, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the IPO
Trust will not be reduced;
NOW
THEREFORE, the Company adopts the following Plan, which shall constitute a plan
of distribution in accordance with Section 281(b) of the
DGCL:
1. PAYMENT OF LIABILITIES AND
OBLIGATIONS. The Company shall, as soon as practicable
following the adoption of this Plan by the Board of Directors and the Company’s
stockholders and the filing of a Certificate of Dissolution of the Company in
accordance with Delaware law, (a) pay in full the Tax Liabilities (which
payments may be made from the IPO Trust) and (b) pay or provide for the
payment in full or in such other amount as shall be agreed upon by the Company
and the relevant creditor as to each of the Vendor Obligations and the
Stockholder Loans.
2. CONTINGENCY
RESERVE. There being no facts now known to the Company,
suggesting that any unknown claims or obligations of the Company or claims that
have not arisen against the Company exist or might arise, the Company shall
retain the indemnification obligations to the Company referred to in the sixth
recital hereof as provision for any and all such claims and
obligations.
3. AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS AND
DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors and the officers of the
Company shall continue in their positions for the purpose of winding up the
affairs of the Company as contemplated by Delaware law. The Board of Directors
may appoint officers, hire employees and retain independent contractors in
connection with the winding up process, and is authorized to pay such persons
compensation for their services, provided that no current officer or director of
the Company shall receive any compensation for his services as aforesaid, and
that any such compensation to such other persons shall be fair and reasonable
and consistent with disclosures made to the Company’s stockholders in connection
with the adoption of this Plan. Adoption of this Plan by holders of a majority
of the voting power represented collectively by the outstanding shares of the
Company’s common stock shall constitute the approval of the Company’s
stockholders of the Board of Director’s authorization of the payment of any such
compensation. The adoption of the Plan by the holders of the Company’s common
stock shall constitute full and complete authority for the Board of Directors
and the officers of the Company, without further stockholder action, to do and
perform any and all acts and to make, execute and deliver any and all
agreements, conveyances, assignments, transfers, certificates and other
documents of any kind and character that the Board of Directors or such officers
deem necessary, appropriate or advisable (i) to dissolve the Company in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and cause its withdrawal from
all jurisdictions in which it is authorized to do business; (ii) to sell,
dispose, convey, transfer and deliver the assets of the Company; (iii) to
satisfy or provide for the satisfaction of the Company’s obligations in
accordance with Section 281(b) of the DGCL; and (iv) to distribute all
of the remaining funds of the Company to the holders of the Company’s common
stock in complete cancellation or redemption of its stock, subject to
Section 9 below.
4. CONVERSION OF ASSETS INTO CASH OR
OTHER DISTRIBUTABLE FORM. Subject to approval by the Board of
Directors, the officers, employees and agents of the Company shall, as promptly
as feasible, proceed to collect all sums due or owing to the Company, to sell
and convert into cash any and all corporate assets and, out of the assets of the
Company, to pay, satisfy and discharge or make adequate provision for the
payment, satisfaction and discharge of all debts and liabilities of the Company
pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 above, including all expenses of the sale of
assets and of the dissolution and liquidation provided for by this
Plan.
5. RECOVERY OF
ASSETS. In the event that the Company (or any trustee or
receiver for the Company appointed pursuant to Section 279 of the DGCL)
shall recover any assets or funds belonging to the Company, such funds shall
first be used to satisfy any claims against or obligations of the Company, and
to the extent any assets or funds remain thereafter, shall be distributed to the
stockholders of the Company in accordance with and subject to the terms of the
Company’s certificate of incorporation and the DGCL, and further subject to such
terms and conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company (or any trustee or
receiver for the Company) may deem appropriate; provided, however, that nothing
herein shall be deemed to preclude the Company (or any trustee or receiver for
the Company) from petitioning any court of competent jurisdiction for
instructions as to the proper distribution and allocation of any such assets or
funds that may be recovered by or on behalf of the
Company.
6. PROFESSIONAL FEES AND
EXPENSES. It is specifically contemplated that the Board of
Directors may authorize the payment of a retainer fee to a law firm or law firms
selected by the Board of Directors for legal fees and expenses of the Company,
including, among other things, to cover any costs payable pursuant to the
indemnification of the Company’s officers or members of the Board of Directors
provided by the Company pursuant to its certificate of incorporation and bylaws
or the DGCL or otherwise, and may authorize the payment of fees to an accounting
firm or firms selected by the Board of Directors for services rendered to the
Company. In addition, in connection with and for the purpose of implementing and
assuring completion of this Plan, the Company may, in the sole and absolute
discretion of the Board of Directors, pay any brokerage, agency and other fees
and expenses of persons rendering services to the Company in connection with the
collection, sale, exchange or other disposition of the Company’s property and
assets and the implementation of this Plan.
7. INDEMNIFICATION. The
Company shall continue to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and
agents in accordance with its certificate of incorporation and bylaws and any
contractual arrangements, for actions taken in connection with this Plan and the
winding up of the affairs of the Company. The Board of Directors, in its sole
and absolute discretion, is authorized to obtain and maintain insurance as may
be necessary, appropriate or advisable to cover the Company’s obligations
hereunder, including, without limitation, directors’ and officers’ liability
coverage.
8. LIQUIDATING
TRUST. The Board of Directors may, but is not required to,
establish and distribute assets of the Company to a liquidating trust, which may
be established by agreement in form and substance determined by the Board of
Directors with one or more trustees selected by the Board of Directors. In the
alternative, the Board of Directors may petition a Court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of one more trustees to conduct the liquidation
of the Company, subject to the supervision of the Court. Whether appointed by an
agreement or by the Court, the trustees shall in general be authorized to take
charge of the Company’s property, and to collect the debts and property due and
belonging to the Company, with power to prosecute and defend, in the name of the
Company or otherwise, all such suits as may be necessary or proper for the
foregoing purposes, and to appoint agents under them and to do all other acts
which might be done by the Company that may be necessary, appropriate or
advisable for the final settlement of the unfinished business of the
Company.
9. LIQUIDATING
DISTRIBUTIONS. Liquidating distributions shall be made from
time to time after the adoption of this Plan to the holders of record, at the
close of business on the date of the filing of the Certificate of Dissolution of
the Company, of outstanding shares of common stock of the Company. All
distributions made from assets in the IPO Trust shall be made exclusively to the
Public Stockholders pro rata in accordance with the respective number of IPO
Shares then held of record by the Public Stockholders, and any other
distributions (if any) shall be made pro rata in accordance with the respective
number of shares then held of record by all of the Company’s stockholders;
provided that, in the case of all distributions of assets held in the IPO Trust
or otherwise, in the opinion of the Board adequate provision has been made for
the payment, satisfaction and discharge of all known, unascertained or
contingent debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company (including costs
and expenses incurred and anticipated to be incurred in connection with the
complete liquidation of the Company). All determinations as to the time for and
the amount of liquidating distributions shall be made in the exercise of the
absolute discretion of the Board and in accordance with Section 281 of the
DGCL. As provided in Section 12 below, distributions made pursuant to this
Plan shall be treated as made in complete liquidation of the Company within the
meaning of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
10. AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION OF
PLAN. If for any reason the Board of Directors determines that
such action would be in the best interests of the Company, it may amend or
modify this Plan and all action contemplated thereunder, notwithstanding
stockholder approval of this Plan, to the extent permitted by the DGCL;
provided, however, that the Company will not amend or modify this Plan under
circumstances that would require additional stockholder approval under the DGCL
and/or the federal securities laws without complying with such
laws.
11. CANCELLATION OF STOCK AND STOCK
CERTIFICATES. Following the dissolution of the Company, the
Company shall no longer permit or effect transfers of any of its stock, except
by will, intestate succession or operation of law.
12. LIQUIDATION UNDER CODE
SECTIONS 331 AND 336. It is intended that this Plan shall
be a plan of complete liquidation of the Company in accordance with the terms of
Sections 331 and 336 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”). This Plan shall be deemed to authorize the taking of such action as, in
the opinion of counsel for the Company, may be necessary to conform with the
provisions of said Sections 331 and 336 and the regulations promulgated
thereunder, including, without limitation, the making of an election under Code
Section 336(e), if applicable.
13. FILING OF TAX
FORMS. The appropriate officers of the Company are authorized
and directed, within 30 days after the effective date of this Plan, to
execute and file a United States Treasury Form 966 pursuant to
Section 6043 of the Code and such additional forms and reports with the
Internal Revenue Service as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with
this Plan and the carrying out thereof.