Filed by Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
Commission File No.:
001-36352
Subject Company: Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Commission File No.:
000-30929
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
Commission
File No.:
001-36352
Date: November 13, 2018
The following
e-mail
was sent to all employees of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc., on November 13, 2018.
Dear HIFsters,
I want to thank you once again for your
dedication during these past months. Your focus and commitment since the announcement of our proposed merger with Keryx has positioned us well to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities that can result from this transaction.
If you are an Akebia shareholder, you have likely already received the proxy materials about the merger, including a letter from our Chairperson of the Board,
Muneer Satter, explaining why the Akebia Board of Directors has unanimously recommended for shareholders to support the merger. Im attaching Muneers letter, so that all employees can read his perspective, regardless of whether you own
shares.
The deadline to vote on the merger-related shareholder proposals by internet or telephone is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on December 10, 2018
which is fast approaching. I urge those of you who are shareholders to vote today
FOR
the shareholder proposals, set forth on the proxy card you received, by internet or telephone toll-free. Alternatively, you may also vote by
signing, dating and returning the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope that was provided to you. If voting via mail, please ensure that you mail your proxy card so that it is received before December 11
th
, the Special Meeting date.
Your vote is important
, no matter how few or how many shares you own
.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please contact the firm assisting us on this matter, MacKenzie Partners, by calling toll-free
at (800)
322-2885
or via email at
proxy@mackenziepartners.com
.
Together with Keryx, we will create a
fully-integrated company focused on developing and delivering therapies to patients with kidney disease. I firmly believe this will enable us to positively impact peoples lives, and I could not be more excited about what lies ahead.
Thank you for your continued support of Akebia and our plans for the future.
Yours truly,
John P. Butler
President and Chief Executive Officer
Additional Information
and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger, Akebia has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a
Registration Statement on Form
S-4,
which, as amended, includes a final prospectus with respect to the shares of Akebias common stock to be issued in the proposed merger and a definitive joint proxy
statement of Keryx and Akebia with respect to the proposed merger. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on October 30, 2018 and the definitive joint proxy statement was mailed or otherwise made available to Keryxs
and Akebias respective stockholders on October 31, 2018. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, KERYXS AND AKEBIAS RESPECTIVE STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IN ITS ENTIRETY AND ANY OTHER
DOCUMENTS FILED BY EACH OF AKEBIA AND KERYX WITH THE SEC IN