UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE TO/A
(Amendment No. 2)
(Rule 13e-4)
Tender Offer Statement Under Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
STOKE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Name of Subject Company (Issuer) and Filing Person (Offeror))
Options to Purchase Common Stock, Par Value $0.0001 Per Share
(Title of Class of Securities)
86150R107
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Edward M. Kaye, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Stoke Therapeutics, Inc.
45 Wiggins Avenue
Bedford, Massachusetts 01730
(781) 430-8200
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Person)
Copies to:
| Stephen J. Tulipano Chief Financial Officer Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. 45 Wiggins Avenue Bedford, Massachusetts 01730 (781) 430-8200 |
Effie Toshav, Esq. Robert A. Freedman, Esq. Julia Forbess, Esq. Fenwick & West LLP 555 California Street San Francisco, California (415) 875-2300 |
| ☐ | Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. |
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:
| ☐ | third party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1. |
| ☒ | issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4. |
| ☐ | going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3. |
| ☐ | amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2. |
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer: ☐
If applicable, check the appropriate box(es) below to designate the appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon:
| ☐ | Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) |
| ☐ | Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) |
This Amendment No. 2 to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (together with any exhibits and annexes attached hereto, this “Amendment No. 2”), is filed by Stoke Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and amends and supplements the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2023 (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “Schedule TO”). The Schedule TO relates to an offer by the Company to certain employee optionholders, subject to specified conditions, to exchange some or all of their outstanding options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), for an award of restricted stock units of the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Exchange Eligible Options for New Restricted Stock Units dated November 2, 2023 (the “Exchange Offer”), attached as Exhibit (a)(1)(A) to the Schedule TO and incorporated herein by reference.
This Amendment No. 2 is being filed to reflect certain updates as described below. Except as otherwise set forth in this Amendment No. 2, the information set forth in the Schedule TO remains unchanged and is incorporated herein by reference to the extent relevant to the items in this Amendment No. 2. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Schedule TO. You should read this Amendment No. 2 together with the Schedule TO and the Exchange Offer.
Amendments to the Schedule TO
In Item 7 “Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration”, the response to Item 7(b) “Conditions” is restated as follows:
(b) Conditions. Not applicable.
Amendments to the Exchange Offer
The Exchange Offer and the corresponding Items of the Schedule TO into which such information is incorporated by reference are hereby amended as follows:
Summary Term Sheet - Questions and Answers.
Pages 9-10 of the Exchange Offer are amended and supplemented by replacing the first paragraph under “Q10. If I participate in the Exchange Offer, when will my New RSUs be granted?” with the following:
Unless we amend or terminate the Exchange Offer in accordance with its terms, we will promptly grant you New RSUs in exchange for Eligible Options with respect to which you properly made a valid election to tender (and did not validly revoke that election), effective as of the New RSU Grant Date, following the Expiration Time.
Offering Memorandum – Section 3. Procedures for Tendering Eligible Options.
Page 26 of the Exchange Offer is amended and supplemented by replacing the fourth paragraph under “Determination of Validity; Rejection of Eligible Options; Waiver of Defects; No Obligation to Give Notice of Defects.” with the following:
The Exchange Offer is a one-time offer, and we will strictly enforce the offer period, subject only to any extension of the Expiration Time that we may grant in our sole discretion. Subject to Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, we also reserve the right to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer or any defect or irregularity in any tender with respect to all Eligible Options or all Eligible Employees.
Offering Memorandum – Section 4. Withdrawal Rights.
Page 27 of the Exchange Offer is amended and supplemented by replacing the second paragraph in “Section 4. Withdrawal Rights.” with the following:
We will permit any Eligible Options tendered in the Exchange Offer to be withdrawn at any time during the period the Exchange Offer remains open. Please note that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, we expect to accept for exchange all Eligible Options properly tendered and not validly withdrawn by the Expiration Time. In addition, although we intend to accept all validly tendered Eligible Options promptly after the Expiration Time, due to certain requirements under U.S. securities laws, if we have not accepted your tendered Eligible Options by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 2, 2024 (which is the 40th business day following the commencement of the offer), you may withdraw your Eligible Options at any time thereafter but prior to our acceptance.
Offering Memorandum – Section 6. Conditions of the Exchange Offer.
Page 29 of the Exchange Offer is amended and supplemented by replacing the first sub-bullet of the third bullet under the first paragraph in “Section 6. Conditions of the Exchange Offer.” with the following:
| • | any general suspension of trading in securities on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system or in the over-the-counter market; |
Page 30 of the Exchange Offer is amended and supplemented by replacing the sixth bullet under the first paragraph in “Section 6. Conditions of the Exchange Offer” with the following:
| • | any changes occur in our business, financial condition, assets, income, operations, prospects or stock ownership that, in our reasonable judgment, cause or may cause material harm to Stoke Therapeutics; |
Page 30 of the Exchange Offer is amended and supplemented by replacing the seventh bullet under the first paragraph in “Section 6. Conditions of the Exchange Offer” with the following:
| • | Any event or events occur that have resulted or may result, in our reasonable judgment, in a material impairment of the retentive value of the New RSUs to be exchanged in accordance with the terms of Exchange Offer to Stoke Therapeutics; and |
Offering Memorandum – Section 9. Information Concerning Stoke Therapeutics; Financial Information.
Page 33 of the Exchange Offer is amended and supplemented by replacing the first paragraph under “Section 9. Information Concerning Stoke Therapeutics; Financial Information—Financial Information.” with the following:
This Offering Memorandum should be read in conjunction with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, beginning on page 83 and 105, respectively, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-38938) for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2023 (our “Annual Report”), and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-38938) for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 (beginning on page 16 and 4, respectively), June 30, 2023 (beginning on page 16 and 4, respectively) and September 30, 2023 (beginning on page 18 and 4, respectively), filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023, August 7, 2023 and November 7, 2023, respectively (our “Quarterly Reports”), which are incorporated herein by reference. On October 30, 2023, the closing price of our common stock as reported on Nasdaq was $3.57 per share. Our book value per share as of September 30, 2023 was $3.91, which is the date as of the most recent balance sheet incorporated herein by reference.
Set forth below are summary consolidated statements of operations data and summary consolidated balance sheet data presented as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, which should be read in conjunction with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report and summary consolidated balance sheet data as of September 30, 2023, which should be read in conjunction with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on November 7, 2023, each of which is incorporated herein by reference as set forth above.
| Year Ended December 31, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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| Consolidated statements of operations data |
2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Revenue |
$ | 12,405 | $ | — | $ | 5,978 | $ | 9,137 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
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| Research and development |
77,837 | 54,168 | 60,453 | 56,777 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative |
38,924 | 31,897 | 30,712 | 29,540 | ||||||||||||
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| Total operating expenses |
116,761 | 86,065 | 91,165 | 86,317 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations |
(104,356 | ) | (86,065 | ) | (85,187 | ) | (77,180 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income (expense): |
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| Interest income (expense), net |
3,122 | 120 | 7,321 | 1,643 | ||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net |
167 | 140 | 125 | 125 | ||||||||||||
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| Total other income (expense) |
3,289 | 260 | 7,446 | 1,768 | ||||||||||||
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| Net loss |
$ | (101,067 | ) | $ | (85,805 | ) | $ | (77,741 | ) | $ | (75,412 | ) | ||||
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| Net loss per share—basic and diluted |
$ | (2.60 | ) | $ | (2.34 | ) | $ | (1.78 | ) | $ | (1.95 | ) | ||||
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| Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted |
38,897,442 | 36,739,269 | 43,669,987 | 38,716,615 | ||||||||||||
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| Comprehensive loss: |
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| Net loss |
$ | (101,067 | ) | $ | (85,805 | ) | $ | (77,741 | ) | $ | (75,412 | ) | ||||
| Other comprehensive loss: |
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| Unrealized loss on market able securities |
(1,007 | ) | (168 | ) | 1,0288 | (1,535 | ) | |||||||||
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| Total other comprehensive loss |
$ | (1,007 | ) | $ | (168 | ) | $ | 1,028 | $ | (1,535 | ) | |||||
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| Comprehensive loss |
$ | (102,074 | ) | $ | (85,973 | ) | $ | (76,713 | ) | $ | (76,947 | ) | ||||
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| Consolidated balance sheet data | September 30, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
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| Total current assets |
$ | 230,019 | $ | 244,070 | $ | 229,218 | ||||||
| Total assets |
$ | 239,889 | $ | 256,067 | $ | 238,865 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities |
$ | 25,201 | $ | 31,394 | $ | 17,139 | ||||||
| Total liabilities |
$ | 66,890 | $ | 71,218 | $ | 21,088 | ||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) |
$ | 172,999 | $ | 184,849 | $ | 217,777 | ||||||
Offering Memorandum – Section 10. Interests of Directors and Executive Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning Our Securities.
Page 33 of the Exchange Offer is amended and supplemented by replacing “Section 10. Interests of Directors and Executive Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning Our Securities.” with the following:
The table below sets forth the beneficial ownership of each of our current executive officers and directors of options outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and the percentage of total options outstanding beneficially owned by them, based on the total number of outstanding options (i.e., whether or not eligible for exchange), which was 9,467,860 as of September 30, 2023. The table also sets forth the beneficial ownership of each of our current executive officers of Eligible Options owned as of September 30, 2023 and the percentage of Eligible Options outstanding beneficially owned by them, based on the total number of Eligible Options, which was 4,088,108 as of September 30, 2023. Our executive officers will be eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer, provided that they are Eligible Participants at the Expiration Time. Non-employee directors are not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer.
| Name |
Number of Options Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Total Outstanding Options |
Number of Eligible Options Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Total Outstanding Eligible Options |
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| Executive Officers |
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| Edward M. Kaye, M.D. |
1,587,806 | 16.77 | % | 442,841 | 10.83 | % | ||||||||||
| Huw M. Nash, Ph.D. |
626,418 | 6.62 | % | 143,494 | 3.51 | % | ||||||||||
| Barry S. Ticho, M.D., Ph.D. |
341,148 | 3.60 | % | 143,494 | 3.51 | % | ||||||||||
| Stephen J. Tulipano, CPA |
339,639 | 3.59 | % | |
143,494 |
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3.51 | % | ||||||||
| Jonathan Allan |
110,512 | 1.17 | % | |
95,163 |
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2.33 | % | ||||||||
| Non-Employee Directors |
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| Jennifer C. Burstein, CPA |
76,982 | 0.81 | % | — | — | |||||||||||
| Seth L. Harrison, M.D. |
76,982 | 0.81 | % | — | — | |||||||||||
| Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D. |
126,516 | 1.34 | % | — | — | |||||||||||
| Arthur A. Levin, Ph.D. |
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93,462 |
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0.99 | % | — | — | |||||||||
| Garry E. Menzel, Ph.D. |
62,205 | 0.66 | % | — | — | |||||||||||
| Ian F. Smith |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Julie Anne Smith |
62,205 | 0.66 | % | — | — | |||||||||||
| Arthur Tzianabos, Ph.D. |
93,943 | |
0.99 |
% |
— | — | ||||||||||
Except as otherwise described in this Exchange Offer, or in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report, and other than outstanding stock option and other equity awards granted to our directors, executive officers and other employees and consultants pursuant to our various equity plans, which are described in the notes to our financial statements as set forth in our Annual Report, neither we nor, to our knowledge, any of our executive officers or directors, any person controlling us or any executive officer or director of such control person, is a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to any of our securities, including, but not limited to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding concerning the transfer or voting of securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss or the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations.
During the 60-day period prior to the date of this Offering Memorandum, we have not granted any options that are Eligible Options, and no Eligible Options have been exercised. During such 60-day period, neither we, nor, to the best of our knowledge, any member of our Board or any of our executive officers, nor any of our affiliates, has engaged in any transaction involving the Eligible Options.
| Item 12. | Exhibits. |
| * | Previously filed. |
SIGNATURES
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
| STOKE THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Stephen J. Tulipano | |
| Stephen J. Tulipano | ||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||
Dated: November 17, 2023
Exhibit (a)(1)(D)
As an Eligible Employee in Stoke Therapeutics’ Exchange Program to exchange Eligible Options for New RSUs (restricted stock units), we are pleased to inform you that the Exchange Offer is still open and you can make or change your election(s) until the Exchange Offer expires at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on December 1, 2023.
To access the Exchange Program Website and view updated information regarding your Eligible Options and make your election(s), you will first need to register at the following website.
| • | https://equitysolutions.aon.com/UWSO/Participant/Account/Register |
| • | Provide the following registration code when prompted: |
| • | Complete your registration using your work email address (@stoketherapeutics.com) |
If you have already registered, log in using the URL above with the username and password you created when you registered.
Please understand that we cannot advise you on whether you should participate in the Exchange Program. Participation in the Exchange Program is entirely your decision and at your discretion, and you should decide whether to participate based on your personal circumstances and preferences. We strongly recommend that you closely review the Offer to Exchange materials, attend an employee education session and consult with your tax and financial advisors to address any questions you may have as you decide whether to participate.
The Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in Stoke Therapeutics, Inc.’s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO and the exhibits attached thereto, as amended from time to time, including the Offer to Exchange and the Offering Memorandum, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available free of charge at www.sec.gov or on the Exchange Offer website located at https://equitysolutions.aon.com/UWSO/Participant/. You should read these written materials carefully because they contain important information about the Exchange Offer, including risks related thereto.
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