Although we closed our position in Avigen Inc (NASDAQ:AVGN) earlier this week, we’re keeping a watching brief on the stock. AVGN has now filed with the SEC the terms of the deal with MediciNova Inc (NASDAQ:MNOV), and they’re not as bad as the earlier report seemed to suggest. The deal has, however, attracted the ire of The Pennsylvania Funds, an AVGN shareholder, who has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all AVGN stockholders. The stock closed yesterday at $1.28, about $0.01 under our exit price. The terms of deal provide some downside protection and some upside optionality, and so are worth considering in some more detail, although probably not enough of either to persuade us to re-enter the stock. If the lawsuit gains traction and pushes the stock price down, however, AVGN might become attractive again.
About AVGN
We started following AVGN in December last year (see archived posts here) because it was a net cash stock and specialist biotechnology investor Biotechnology Value Fund (BVF) was pushing it to liquidate and return its cash to shareholders. Despite BVF’s failure to remove the board, we continued to maintain our position in AVGN because BVF won a number of important concessions from the board that made AVGN a much more attractive stock than it was when we started following it. We continuted to hold on when AVGN announced that it was back in negotiations with MediciNova, Inc, but closed the position for a 98.5% gain when the initial terms of the deal were announced.
The terms of the deal
The downside protection
Under the terms of the merger agreement AVGN shareholders will have the right to elect to receive an amount currently estimated by AVGN’s board at $1.24 per share in either cash or secured convertible notes to be issued by MNOV. Approximately $1.19 of the consideration will be paid at the closing, and approximately $0.05 will be paid at June 30, 2010. Both payments are subject to certain potential adjustments. The first payment is subject to adjustment based on activities related to the liquidation or sale of certain assets of AVGN in connection with the winding down of its operations prior to closing. The second payment is subject to upward adjustment based on savings in estimated expenses through closing and receipt of certain payments post-closing as well as downward adjustment in the event that closing liabilities exceed estimated liabilities through closing.
The upside optionality
The secured convertible notes will be convertible on the final business day of each month into shares of MNOV common stock at a conversion price of $6.80 per share, which conversion price is based on the volume-weighted average price of MNOV’s common stock as quoted on Nasdaq and the Osaka Securities Exchange over the 20 trading days prior to signing of the merger agreement. The convertible notes will mature on the 18-month anniversary of the closing of the merger, and the indenture governing the notes will include customary events of default and anti-dilution adjustments. Note that the last time MNOV traded above $6.80 was two years ago in August 2007.
The joint press release announcing the terms of the deal is set out below:
MediciNova and Avigen Enter Into Definitive Agreement for Business Combination
SAN DIEGO, Calif., and ALAMEDA, Calif., August 21, 2009 — MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq:MNOV) and the Hercules Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (Code Number:4875) and Avigen, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVGN), a biopharmaceutical company, today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which MediciNova’s wholly-owned subsidiary will merge with and into Avigen. Completion of the transaction will permit the combination of the companies’ broad neurological clinical development programs based on ibudilast (Avigen’s AV-411 and MediciNova’s MN-166).
Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been approved by both companies’ boards of directors, Avigen shareholders will have the right to elect to receive an amount currently estimated at approximately $1.24 per share in either cash or secured convertible notes to be issued by MediciNova. Approximately $1.19 of this consideration will be paid at the closing, and approximately $0.05 will be paid at June 30, 2010. As set forth in the merger agreement, both payments are subject to certain potential adjustments. The first payment is subject to adjustment based on activities related to the liquidation or sale of certain assets of Avigen in connection with the winding down of its operations prior to closing. The second payment is subject to upward adjustment based on savings in estimated expenses through closing and receipt of certain payments post-closing as well as downward adjustment in the event that closing liabilities exceed estimated liabilities through closing.
The secured convertible notes will be convertible on the final business day of each month into shares of MediciNova common stock at a conversion price of $6.80 per share, which conversion price is based on the volume-weighted average price of MediciNova’s common stock as quoted on Nasdaq and the Osaka Securities Exchange over the 20 trading days prior to signing of the merger agreement. The convertible notes will mature on the 18-month anniversary of the closing of the merger, and the indenture governing the notes will include customary events of default and anti-dilution adjustments.
In addition, Avigen’s stockholders will be entitled to one Contingent Payment Right (“CPR”) that will entitle holders under certain circumstances to a pro rata portion of one or more of the following: (1) in the event the first milestone payment of $6.0 million, or approximately $0.20 per share, under Avigen’s 2005 assignment agreement with Genzyme Corporation (“Genzyme Agreement”) is achieved in the 20 months following closing, a cash payment of the proceeds (to the extent such cash is received by MediciNova in the 20 months following closing); (2) in the event the Parkinson’s product reverts to MediciNova under the Genzyme Agreement and is subsequently sold, licensed or otherwise transferred, 50% of the proceeds received in cash in the 20 months following closing; and (3) the amount of money remaining in the plan trust established under Avigen’s management transition plan following termination of such trust. In each case, the payments will be net of any related out-of-pocket costs, damages, fines, penalties and expenses incurred by MediciNova. The CPRs will not be transferable except in limited circumstances.
Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D., MediciNova’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are excited about combining Avigen with MediciNova and believe that it presents a unique opportunity for shareholders of both companies, most notably, the ability to more fully take advantage of the opportunities that the ibudilast compound and analogs provide in a variety of indications and markets.”
“We believe the transaction reduces many of the uncertainties involved with dissolution and is in the best interests of our shareholders,” commented Andrew Sauter, Avigen’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer. “In addition, we believe that combining the two companies’ ibudilast programs will enhance the global development potential for the compound that could benefit patients with a range of neurological indications.”
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2009 and is subject to approval of Avigen’s stockholders and approval of MediciNova’s stockholders as well as other customary closing conditions. In addition, the closing is conditioned on the receipt of certain releases from Avigen’s directors (other than John K.A. Prendergast), Kenneth Chahine, Kirk Johnson and Andrew A. Sauter.
RBC Capital Markets Corporation is acting as financial advisor to Avigen and Cooley Godward Kronish LLP is serving as its legal counsel. Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (NYSE Amex: LTS) is acting as financial advisor to MediciNova, Euclidean Life Science Advisors is acting as its business advisor and Dechert LLP is serving as its legal counsel.
The AVGN press release disclosing the law suit is set out below:
On August 25, 2009, The Pennsylvania Funds filed a class action lawsuit in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda, purportedly on behalf of the stockholders of Avigen, Inc., against Avigen and its directors, alleging that Avigen’s directors breached their fiduciary duties to the stockholders of Avigen in connection with the proposed acquisition of Avigen by MediciNova, Inc. The complaint seeks to enjoin the defendants from completing the acquisition as currently contemplated.
Avigen and its directors intend to take all appropriate actions to defend the suit.
It is possible that additional similar complaints may be filed in the future. If this does occur, Avigen does not intend to announce the filing of any similar complaints unless they contain allegations that are substantially distinct from those made in the pending action.
Conclusion
With the terms of the deal announced by AVGN, we’re still happy to be out of the stock. The downside protection is subject to various adjustments, and the upside is wholly dependent on the performance of MNOV’s stock over $6.80, which is higher than the stock has traded since 2007. That said, it’s worth watching to the see the effect of the class action on the stock price, because there is a price at which the stock again becomes attractive.
Hat tip GR.
[Full Disclosure: We do not have a holding in AVGN. This is neither a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. All information provided believed to be reliable and presented for information purposes only. Do your own research before investing in any security.]
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Conclusion
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