Titan Medical Inc. (“
Titan”) (TSX: TMD; OTC:
TMDIF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive
amalgamation agreement (the “
Amalgamation
Agreement”) dated March 17, 2024 with Conavi Medical Inc.
(“
Conavi”) to combine the companies in an
all-stock transaction. The combined company will focus on
continuing to commercialize Conavi’s Novasight Hybrid™ System
designed to guide common minimally invasive coronary procedures.
Under the terms of the Agreement, Titan will
acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Conavi (the
“Conavi Shares”) and in exchange Conavi
shareholders will be issued common shares of Titan (the
“Combined Entity Shares”). This transaction (the
“Transaction”) will constitute a reverse takeover
of Titan and will be carried out subject to the terms and
conditions outlined below.
In connection with the Transaction, Titan
expects to delist its common shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange
(the “TSX”) and apply to have them listed instead
on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”). The
Transaction is anticipated to close on or around July 15, 2024.
Conavi (www.conavi.com) is focused on designing,
manufacturing, and marketing imaging technologies to guide common
minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures. Its patented
Novasight Hybrid™ System is the first system to combine both
intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography
(OCT) to enable simultaneous and co-registered imaging of coronary
arteries (www.novasighthybrid.com). The Novasight Hybrid™ System
has 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;
and regulatory approval for clinical use from Health Canada,
China’s National Medical Products Administration, and Japan’s
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Conavi is organized under
the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and headquartered in
Toronto, Ontario.
“This planned merger comes at a pivotal moment
in the evolution of our company as we continue to advance the
Novasight Hybrid System, which provides simultaneous and
complementary data with which to better inform patient care, while
offering providers a more cost- and space-effective option when
purchasing intravascular imaging equipment,” said Conavi’s Chief
Executive Officer, Thomas Looby. “Gaining access to the public
capital markets will enhance our financial strength and fuel our
growth strategy, enabling us to unlock the full potential of our
hybrid imaging technology in the United States and globally.”
“This merger is the result of a thoughtful and
careful review of strategic options and reflects the continued
commitment of our management team and Board of Directors to deliver
value to shareholders,” commented Paul Cataford, Titan’s Interim
CEO and Board Chair. “Conavi is an exciting commercial-stage
company with groundbreaking technology and an accomplished
management team. We are confident in their ability to continue to
drive adoption of the Novasight Hybrid
System.”
Transaction Highlights
Provided the Transaction is completed in
accordance with the provisions of the Amalgamation Agreement (see
“Conditions to Completion of the Transaction Below”), the following
benefits are anticipated for the combined entity (the
“Combined Entity”):
- Strong Balance
Sheet (as a result of a concurrent financing) with institutional
investor support;
- Established
product development and manufacturing capability;
- Proven product
being commercialized in the coronary imaging space;
- A large and
diverse market opportunity addressed with a proprietary product
offering which provides patient benefit and a sustainable economic
value proposition to users; and
- Increasing
market traction and key opinion leader engagement.
Amalgamation Agreement
Background
The journey to this announcement started over 15
months ago, when Titan announced the commencement of a strategic
review process and the engagement of Raymond James Ltd.
(“Raymond James”) as financial advisor. With
limited cash resources and limited access to new capital, Titan
announced a series of cost-cutting measures to extend the runway
for the strategic review process. After outreach to over 40
potential counterparties and concerns expressed by potential
counterparties on Titan’s stage of development, financial
circumstances, and time to commercialization, Titan announced a
further cost reduction and a halt to all expenditures related to
the development of its ENOS single access robotic-assisted surgery
(“RAS”) system in February of 2023. To generate cash and avert the
possibility of insolvency, Titan also announced a strategic pivot
to asset sales and licensing of its IP. This pivot has proven
successful as Titan announced non-exclusive licensing and
intellectual property sales agreements with established players in
the RAS industry in May, June and August of 2023. Throughout 2023,
it was made clear to Titan that a merger with another RAS company
was not a viable option and Titan broadened its search for a merger
partner beyond RAS. This expanded search resulted in a number of
proposals and after careful evaluation, Titan’s management and
board of directors (the “Titan Board”) decided on
a merger with Conavi. The Titan Board is unanimous in
its decision to execute the Amalgamation Agreement and to recommend
this Transaction to its shareholders (the “Titan
Shareholders”).
Transaction Terms
Under the terms of the Agreement, Titan will
effect a consolidation of the Titan Shares based on a ratio of
pre-consolidation shares to post-consolidation shares to be
mutually agreed upon (the “Consolidation”).
As a condition to the completion of the
Transaction, Conavi will complete a concurrent financing of
subscription receipts, the terms of which will be announced at a
later date (the “Concurrent Financing”), for
minimum gross proceeds of US$15 million up to a maximum of US$20
million. The subscription receipts are expected to convert into
Conavi Shares (“Subscription Receipts Shares”)
immediately prior to completion of the Transaction.
Following the Consolidation and the Concurrent
Financing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Titan will amalgamate with
Conavi, pursuant to which issued and outstanding post-Consolidation
Titan Shares will be issued to holders of Conavi Shares (including
the Subscription Receipts Shares) on the basis of an exchange ratio
to be determined using the pre-money valuation of Conavi of
US$69,840,000 (minus the amounts of certain trade payables and
Conavi’s transaction expenses) and a pre-transaction valuation of
Titan including an allocation of US$5,000,000 plus the amount of
cash held in Titan at the closing of the Transaction less certain
liabilities of Titan. However, the exchange ratio will be adjusted,
if necessary, strictly to the extent required to result in the
holders of Titan Shares prior to the closing of the Transaction
holding at least 10% of the Combined Entity Shares following
completion of the Transaction (including Combined Entity Shares
underlying certain options, warrants and RSUs, Subscription
Receipts Shares, and Combined Entity Shares issued in exchange for
Conavi Shares issued in any bridge financing completed by Conavi
prior to the completion of the Transaction).
In addition, the Combined Entity will establish
a new equity incentive plan for key employees, directors and
officers of the Combined Entity and will issue stock options in
exchange for the outstanding Conavi outstanding stock options under
the plan.
The parties to the Transaction are at arm’s
length.
Transaction Timetable
Titan intends to hold a special and annual
meeting of shareholders (the “Titan Shareholder
Meeting”), at which, among other things, the Titan
Shareholders will be asked to approve: (i) the change of name from
Titan Medical Inc. to Conavi Medical Inc., or such other name as
Conavi may determine and the Titan Board may approve, (ii) the
Consolidation, (iii) a new equity incentive plan for the Combined
Entity, and (iv) the Transaction. Copies of the management
information circular of Titan (the “Titan
Circular”), and certain related documents and agreements,
will be filed with the Canadian securities regulators and will be
available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under Titan’s profile at
least 21 days prior to the date of the Titan Shareholder
Meeting.
Recommendation by the Board of Directors
and Fairness Opinion
After consultation with its financial and legal
advisors, the Titan Board unanimously approved the entering into of
the Agreement and will recommend that Titan Shareholders vote in
favour of the Transaction at the Titan Shareholder Meeting. Raymond
James provided a fairness opinion to the board of directors of
Titan, stating that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon
and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications
stated in such opinion, the consideration payable pursuant to the
Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Titan
Shareholders.
Conditions to Completion of the
Transaction
The completion of the Transaction is subject to
the satisfaction of various conditions as are standard for a
transaction of this nature, including, but not limited to: (i)
receipt of all requisite regulatory, TSX, and TSXV approvals and
all government approvals, authorizations or consents; (ii) the
absence of any material change or change in a material fact or a
new material fact affecting Titan or Conavi; (iii) the approvals of
both the Titan Shareholders and the Conavi shareholders; (iv) the
completion of the Concurrent Financing for aggregate gross proceeds
of at least $15,000,000; (v) Titan having the net cash balance set
forth in the Agreement immediately prior to closing the
Transaction; and (vi) certain other conditions set forth in the
Agreement. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be
completed on the terms proposed above or at all.
Concurrently with signing the Agreement, the
directors and officers of Conavi have agreed to support the
proposed Transaction and have either entered into or are expected
to enter into lock-up agreements with Titan to vote in favour of
the Transaction at the special meeting of Conavi
shareholders. All of the directors and officers of
Titan have agreed to support the proposed Transaction and have each
entered into lock-up agreements with Conavi to vote in favour of
the Transaction at the Titan Shareholder Meeting.
The Combined Entity
TSXV Listing
The Combined Entity is expected to be a Tier 1
technology issuer under the policies of the TSXV. In connection
with the application to list the Combined Entity Shares on the
TSXV, the Titan Circular will be prepared using the Form 3D1
Information Required in an Information Circular for a Reverse
Take-Over and will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com
under Titan’s profile once finalized.
10% Shareholder
It is anticipated that immediately following the
Transaction, the only shareholder that will hold greater than 10%
of the issued and outstanding Combined Entity shares will be
Carlyle Services Limited Liability Company.
Officers and Directors of the Combined
Entity
Concurrent with the completion of the
Transaction, all officers and certain directors of Titan will
resign and be replaced by nominees and appointees put forth by
Conavi.
Advisors and Counsel
In connection with the Transaction, Raymond
James Ltd. is acting as financial advisor to Titan and Borden
Ladner Gervais LLP is acting as legal counsel to Titan.
Mintz LLP is acting as legal counsel to
Conavi.
About Titan Medical
Titan Medical Inc. (TSX: TMD; OTC: TMDIF), a
medical technology company incorporated under the Business
Corporations Act (Ontario) and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario,
has developed an expansive patent portfolio related to the
enhancement of robotic assisted surgery (RAS), including through a
single access point, and is currently focused on evaluating new
opportunities to further develop and license its intellectual
property.
Cautionary Note
Completion of the Transaction is subject to a
number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance
and shareholder approval of both Conavi and Titan. The Transaction
cannot close until the required shareholder approvals are obtained.
There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as
proposed or at all.
Investors are cautioned that, except as
disclosed in the management information circular to be prepared in
connection with the Transaction, any information released or
received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or
complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities
of Titan should be considered highly speculative.
This news release shall not constitute an offer
to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in
any jurisdiction.
The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of
the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved
the contents of this news release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S.
securities laws, which reflect the current expectations of
management of Titan’s future growth, results of operations,
performance and business prospects and opportunities.
Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always,
identified by words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”,
“anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”,
“potential for” and similar expressions, although these words may
not be present in all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements that appear in this release may include, without
limitation, references to: Titan evaluating new opportunities to
further develop and license its intellectual property, the
anticipated closing date and completion of the Transaction on the
terms as announced or at all, the execution of lock-up agreements
by certain directors and officers of Conavi, the expected timing
and matters to be considered at the Titan Shareholder Meeting, the
anticipated benefits of the Transaction, completion of the
Concurrent Financing, matters related to the expected business of
the Combined Entity, and the delisting of the Titan Shares from the
TSX and the listing of the Combined Entity on the TSXV.
These forward-looking statements reflect
management’s current beliefs with respect to future events, and are
based on information currently available to management that, while
considered reasonable by management as of the date on which the
statements are made, are inherently subject to significant
business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies
which could result in actions, events, conditions, results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from those
projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions
and many factors could cause Titan’s actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions
include, but are not limited to, Titan’s ability to retain key
personnel; its ability to execute on its business plans and
strategies; its ability to continue to license some or all its
intellectual property to third parties and receive any material
consideration and other factors listed in the “Risk Factors”
section of Titan’s Annual Information Form for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2022 (which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.com).
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or
should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove
incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements may vary
materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements contained in this news release. These factors should be
considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.
Although the forward-looking statements
contained in the news release are based upon what management
currently believes to be reasonable assumptions and Titan has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements
to differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements, Titan cannot assure prospective investors that actual
results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these
forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Titan
expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, investors
should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All
the forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the
foregoing cautionary statements.
ContactTitan Medical
Inc. Conavi
Medical Inc.Chien
Huang Stephen
KilmerChief Financial Officer
Investor
Relationsinvestors@titanmedicalinc.com
stephen@kilmerlucas.com
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