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Kent Lake Responds to Quanterix's Post-Effective Amendment and Akoya's Superior $1.40-per-Share Alternative Proposal
QTRXQuanterix(QTRX) Prnewswire·2025-05-23 18:21

Core Viewpoint - Kent Lake PR LLC, holding approximately 6.9% of Quanterix Corporation's outstanding common stock, criticizes Quanterix's pursuit of Akoya Biosciences, particularly in light of Akoya's unsolicited all-cash offer of $1.40 per share, which represents a 22% premium over Akoya's 30-day VWAP and Quanterix's implied offer price under the Amended Merger Agreement [1][2]. Group 1: Merger Agreement and Financial Implications - Quanterix's Amended Merger Agreement commits the company to pay $20 million in cash and issue 8.4 million new shares, which is viewed as a misguided approach to acquiring Akoya [2]. - Quanterix's current share price of approximately $4.75 reflects a significant discount to its net cash position, indicating investor concerns over potential value destruction from the merger [3]. - The enterprise value of Quanterix is reported to be negative $80 million, raising questions about the viability of the merger and the company's financial health [7]. Group 2: Shareholder Sentiment and Board Actions - The Quanterix Board is urged to reconsider its strategy regarding the Akoya acquisition, as pursuing an alternative proposal could jeopardize the company's balance sheet [4][6]. - There is a strong indication that Quanterix shareholders do not support the merger terms, as expressed by Dr. Toloue, who noted that major stockholders have concerns about the deteriorating market conditions [9]. - Kent Lake PR calls for the Quanterix Board to allow Akoya to accept a superior proposal without increasing the purchase consideration, emphasizing that any increase would breach fiduciary duty [8]. Group 3: Future Projections and Risks - Dr. Toloue's projections for the combined company to break even in 2026 are viewed skeptically, as the companies are currently burning over $80 million, and achieving promised synergies of $55 million would still leave a deficit [5]. - The anticipated NIH budget cuts in 2026 further complicate the outlook for significant revenue growth, making reliance on such projections risky [5].