We believe that by eliminating the need for each company to build a comprehensive antibody discovery engine, we can unlock innovation and value across a broad network of partners. Many emerging and established life sciences companies have been built around technologies that focus on a single or a limited number of steps in the discovery process, including antigen design, transgenic animal platforms, single-cell analysis, sequencing, bioinformatics, and proprietary assays. We believe our comprehensive, biologically-driven technology platform provides the industry with a cutting-edge solution for all critical components of the antibody discovery continuum. By providing leading antibody discovery solutions to the industry, we aim to increase the probability of success, reduce costs and shorten development timelines for our partners.
Background
We were initially incorporated as Avista Public Acquisition Corp. II (“APAC”), an exempted company in the Cayman Islands, on February 5, 2021. On October 31, 2022, APAC filed a notice of deregistration with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies, together with the necessary accompanying documents, and filed a certificate of incorporation and a certificate of corporate domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, under which APAC was domesticated and continues as a Delaware corporation (the “Domestication”), and in connection with which APAC changed its name to “OmniAb, Inc.”
On November 1, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), we consummated the previously announced merger pursuant to that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among us (formerly known as APAC), Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (“Ligand”), OmniAb Operations, Inc. (formerly known as OmniAb, Inc.) (“Legacy OmniAb”), and Orwell Merger Sub Inc. (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Legacy OmniAb, with Legacy OmniAb becoming our wholly owned subsidiary (the “Business Combination” and, collectively with the other transactions described in the Merger Agreement, the “Transactions”). On the Closing Date, and in connection with the closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”), we changed our name to OmniAb, Inc.
Unless the context otherwise requires, “we,” “us,” “our,” “OmniAb” and the “Company” refer to OmniAb, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as APAC), and its subsidiaries following the Closing. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “APAC” refer to Avista Public Acquisition Corp. II prior to the Closing. All references herein to the “Board” refer to the board of directors of the Company.
As contemplated by the Merger Agreement:
(a) on October 31, 2022, as a result of and upon the effective time of the Domestication, each of APAC’s then issued and outstanding (i) Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 (“APAC Class A Ordinary Shares”) were automatically exchanged, on a one-for-one basis, into common stock of OmniAb, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), (ii) Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 (“APAC Class B Ordinary Shares”) were automatically exchanged, on a one-for-one basis, into Common Stock, (iii) warrants were automatically exchanged, on a one-for-one basis, into warrants to acquire one share of Common Stock (“OmniAb Warrants”) pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, dated August 9, 2022 (the “Warrant Agreement”), between APAC and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”), as warrant agent, as amended by the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, dated November 1, 2022, by and among OmniAb, Continental and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., and (iv) units were separated into one share of Common Stock and one-third of one OmniAb Warrant;
(b) on November 1, 2022, in accordance with the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2022, by and among APAC, Ligand and Legacy OmniAb (the “Separation Agreement”), Ligand transferred the Legacy OmniAb business, including certain related subsidiaries of Ligand, to Legacy OmniAb and made a contribution to the capital of Legacy OmniAb of $1,840,240, after deducting certain transaction and other expenses reimbursable by Legacy OmniAb (the “Separation”);