On November 5, 2024 Avid Bioservices, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDMO) ("Avid" or the "Company"), a dedicated biologics contract development and manufacturing organization ("CDMO") working to improve patient lives by providing high quality development and manufacturing services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, GHO Capital Partners LLP ("GHO") and Ampersand Capital Partners ("Ampersand") reported they have entered into a definitive merger agreement for Avid to be acquired by funds managed by GHO and Ampersand in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion (Press release, Avid Bioservices, NOV 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234647786]).

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Under the terms of the merger agreement, GHO and Ampersand would acquire all the outstanding shares held by Avid’s stockholders for $12.50 per share in cash. The per share purchase price represents a 13.8% premium to Avid’s closing share price of $10.98 on November 6, 2024, the last full trading day prior to the transaction announcement, and a 21.9% premium to the Company’s 20-day volume-weighted average share price for the period ended November 6, 2024. This transaction equates to an enterprise value of approximately $1.1 billion, a 6.3x multiple to consensus FY2025E revenue.

"Since our founding, Avid Bioservices’ business has grown by evolving to meet our customers’ broad range of development and manufacturing needs. After years of investment and expansion, now is the right time to move forward as a private company with new owners that will support our next phase," stated Nick Green, president and CEO of Avid Bioservices. "In evaluating this transaction, our Board considered a range of alternatives and determined that it provides our stockholders significant, immediate and certain cash value for their shares. Partnering with GHO Capital and Ampersand Capital Partners allows us to build on our strong foundation by accessing their significant knowledge base, network and capital to position the business for the future with our customers."

"We are excited to announce this recommended cash acquisition of Avid," said Alan MacKay and Mike Mortimer, Managing Partners of GHO. "As experienced CDMO industry investors, GHO brings deep expertise and experience to support Avid’s management team going forward. Our mission at GHO is to make healthcare better, faster, and more accessible and at the heart of this is enabling efficient, high-quality manufacturing of innovative treatments. Avid exemplifies this perfectly – the Company operates in high-growth markets, producing complex biologics for leading pharmaceutical and biotech innovators at both the clinical and commercial stages. Avid’s recent investments, both in capacity and its exemplary team, position it strongly for future growth. We look forward to working with the Avid team to unlock the Company’s full potential through our established playbook of expanded offerings, talent investment and greater geographic reach."

"Avid has long been a trusted provider of biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing services, and we have tremendous respect for its team’s expertise, its broad spectrum of customized services and its strong regulatory track record. We look forward to leveraging our deep industry experience, focused strategy, and collaborative approach to drive growth," said, David Anderson, General Partner of Ampersand.

Transaction Details

The transaction, which was unanimously approved by the Avid Board of Directors, is currently expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Avid’s stockholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. The companies will continue to operate independently until the proposed transaction is finalized.

Upon completion of the transaction, Avid common stock will no longer be listed on any public stock exchange. The Company will continue to operate under the Avid name and brand.

Advisors

Moelis & Company LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Avid, and Cooley LLP is serving as legal counsel to Avid. William Blair & Company, LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal counsel to GHO and Ampersand.