Sharecare enters into definitive agreement to be acquired by Altaris
Sharecare (Nasdaq: SHCR), a digital health company, will be acquired by Altaris, an investment firm specializing in healthcare. Sharecare shareholders will receive $1.43 per share in cash, a premium of 85% over the closing price on June 20, 2024, and 87% over the 90-day average. The transaction will make Sharecare a privately held company, delisting it from Nasdaq. The merger aims to enhance Sharecare's innovation and service delivery. The deal, endorsed by Sharecare's Board and a Special Committee, is expected to close in H2 2024, pending shareholder and regulatory approval. Jeff Arnold will remain executive chairman, and Brent Layton will continue as CEO.
- Shareholders to receive $1.43 per share in cash, representing an 85% premium over the closing price on June 20, 2024.
- Transaction provides immediate and significant cash value to stockholders.
- Sharecare to benefit from Altaris’ healthcare industry expertise and increased capital.
- Sharecare becomes a privately held company, offering strategic and operational flexibility.
- Endorsement by a Special Committee and Sharecare’s Board of Directors.
- Delisting from Nasdaq may reduce stock liquidity for current shareholders.
Insights
The acquisition of Sharecare by Altaris offers significant immediate cash value to stockholders, with a price of
From a financial perspective, such a premium indicates strong confidence from Altaris in Sharecare's potential and the intrinsic value of its virtual health platform. Sharecare becoming a privately held company might reduce public scrutiny and provide more room for strategic maneuvers under Altaris’ stewardship.
For short-term investors, the acquisition provides a direct financial gain, especially for those who purchased shares at lower prices. Long-term investors might lose potential gains from future growth as the company will no longer be publicly traded.
While the transaction delivers immediate financial benefits, the long-term implications for the company's growth trajectory under private ownership are uncertain. Investors should weigh these immediate returns against the potential value Sharecare might have achieved independently over time.
This acquisition underscores the increasing convergence of healthcare and technology and Altaris' focus on this sector highlights the strategic value of Sharecare's digital health platform. The platform’s ability to integrate various aspects of healthcare—benefitting providers, employers and patients—aligns well with industry trends towards holistic and comprehensive care solutions.
By leveraging Altaris' capital and expertise, Sharecare may gain enhanced capabilities to innovate and expand its offerings, potentially driving broader adoption and improved patient outcomes. This could reinforce Altaris' position in the healthcare market by having a robust digital health solution in its portfolio.
However, being privately held might limit public insights into Sharecare's innovations and performance, making it harder for stakeholders to gauge ongoing developments. It’s essential to monitor how Altaris plans to integrate and scale Sharecare's technology into its overall strategy.
The legal intricacies of this acquisition are noteworthy. The involvement of multiple legal advisors, including Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Kirkland & Ellis, ensures due diligence and compliance with regulatory frameworks, which is important for a transaction of this scale. The absence of a financing condition suggests that this deal is well-structured and backed by solid financial planning.
The special committee's role in evaluating alternatives and recommending this deal suggests a thorough vetting process aimed at protecting shareholder interests. This transparency is important for maintaining investor trust and ensuring that the transaction proceeds smoothly through the necessary approvals.
However, investors should be aware of regulatory hurdles that could delay the closing. The ongoing involvement of Jeff Arnold and the current leadership team indicates stability and continuity, which can be reassuring for partners and clients amid the transition.
Sharecare shareholders to receive
Transaction will deliver significant immediate cash value to stockholders upon closing, best positions Sharecare to continue to deliver exceptional service to clients and drive innovation
ATLANTA, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sharecare (Nasdaq: SHCR), the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Altaris, LLC, an investment firm exclusively focused on the healthcare industry.
Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, Sharecare stockholders will receive
Sharecare’s comprehensive and data-driven virtual health platform is designed to help people, providers, employers, health plans, government organizations, and communities optimize individual and population-wide health and well-being. Across all three of its business channels, Sharecare delivers value to the healthcare system by improving access and outcomes for patients, imperatives that are clearly aligned with Altaris’ investment strategy and focus.
Jeff Arnold, Sharecare’s founder and executive chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “After embarking on a deliberate process to maximize stockholder value and best position Sharecare for continued growth and success, we carefully evaluated a variety of options. Our Board of Directors determined that this transaction is in the best interests of Sharecare and its stockholders and, upon closing, will deliver significant, immediate, and certain value to our stockholders."
Arnold added, “With Altaris as a partner, we are excited to continue executing on Sharecare’s mission with the benefit of their deep healthcare industry expertise, as well as increased capital and strategic and operational flexibility to continue providing industry-leading solutions to our customers across our three channels.”
“Today’s announcement not only delivers value for Sharecare’s stockholders but also will result in exciting opportunities for our employees and customers,” said Brent Layton, CEO of Sharecare. “This transaction is an important step forward to enable the continued growth and evolution of Sharecare, and further strengthens us as we deploy our innovative technology across the healthcare sector.”
Transaction Details
A special committee (the "Special Committee") of the Board of Directors of Sharecare (the "Board"), comprised solely of independent directors, carefully evaluated Altaris’ proposal and alternatives thereto. Following this process, the Special Committee determined that the transaction is in the best interests of Sharecare and its stockholders, and acting upon the recommendation of the Special Committee, the Board approved the merger agreement and the transaction, and will recommend that the Company's stockholders approve both the adoption of the merger agreement and the transaction on the terms set forth in the merger agreement.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Sharecare stockholders and the receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
Arnold has agreed to vote his shares in favor of the transaction, and will roll over substantially all of his existing equity and continue to be a significant shareholder following this transaction. In addition, Arnold will continue to serve as executive chairman and Layton as CEO, and Sharecare’s current executive leadership team is expected to continue in their roles following the close of the transaction.
Advisors
Houlihan Lokey and MTS Health Partners are acting as financial advisors to the Special Committee, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as legal advisor to the Special Committee.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisor to Altaris.
King & Spalding LLC is acting as legal advisor to Jeff Arnold.
About Sharecare
Sharecare is the leading digital health company that helps people – no matter where they are in their health journey – unify and manage all their health in one place. Our comprehensive and data-driven virtual health platform is designed to help people, providers, employers, health plans, government organizations, and communities optimize individual and population-wide well-being by driving positive behavior change. Driven by our philosophy that we are all together better, at Sharecare, we are committed to supporting each individual through the lens of their personal health and making high-quality care more accessible and affordable for everyone. To learn more, visit www.sharecare.com.
About Altaris
Altaris is an investment firm exclusively focused on the healthcare industry. Altaris seeks to build market-leading companies that deliver innovation and efficiency to the healthcare system, with the ultimate goal of improving access and outcomes for patients. Altaris is headquartered in New York City and manages ~
Contacts:
Media:
Jen Martin Hall
jen@sharecare.com
Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “outlook,” “target,” “reflect,” “on track,” “foresees,” “future,” “may,” “deliver,” “will,” “shall,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms, other comparable terminology (although not all forward-looking statements contain these words), or by discussions of strategy, plans, or intentions. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain.
Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction, including the benefits of the proposed transaction and the anticipated timing of consummation of the proposed transaction. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner, or at all; (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including, without limitation, the receipt of stockholder and regulatory approvals; (iii) unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the proposed transaction; (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transaction on the Company’s plans, business relationships, operating results and operations; (v) potential difficulties retaining employees as a result of the announcement and pendency of the proposed transaction; (vi) the response of customers, channel partners and suppliers to the announcement of the proposed transaction; (vii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; and (viii) legal proceedings, including those that may be instituted against the Company, its board of directors, its executive officers or others following the announcement of the proposed transaction. Descriptions of some of the other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Furthermore, if the forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication relates to the proposed transaction involving Sharecare, Inc. (“Sharecare”). In connection with the proposed transaction, Sharecare will file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Sharecare’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”). This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or for any other document that Sharecare may file with the SEC and send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. The proposed transaction will be submitted to Sharecare’s stockholders for their consideration. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, SHARECARE’S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Sharecare’s stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the Proxy Statement, as well as other filings containing information about Sharecare, without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Copies of the Proxy Statement and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Sharecare, Inc., 255 East Paces Ferry Road NE, Suite 700, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, Attention: Investor Relations, investors@sharecare.com, or from Sharecare’s website www.sharecare.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
Sharecare and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Sharecare’s directors and executive officers is available in Sharecare’s proxy statement for the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2024 (the “Annual Meeting Proxy Statement”). Please refer to the sections captioned “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation” and “Stock Ownership” in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement. To the extent holdings of such participants in Sharecare’s securities have changed since the amounts described in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, such changes have been reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC: Form 4, filed by Jeffrey T. Arnold on May 17, 2024; Form 4, filed by Dawn Whaley on May 17, 2024; Form 4, filed by Justin Ferrero on May 17, 2024; Form 4, filed by Carrie Ratliff on May 17, 2024; Form 4, filed by Michael Blalock on May 17, 2024; Form 4, filed by Colin Daniel on May 17, 2024; Form 4, filed by Jeffrey A. Allred on June 12, 2024; Form 4, filed by John Huston Chadwick on June 12, 2024; Form 4, filed by Kenneth R. Goulet on June 12, 2024; Form 4, filed by Brent D. Layton on June 12, 2024; Form 4, filed by Rajeev Ronanki on June 12, 2024; Form 4, filed by Rajeev Ronanki on June 18, 2024; Form 4, filed by Kenneth R. Goulet on June 18, 2024; Form 4, filed by Colin Daniel on June 18, 2024; Form 4, filed by Carrie Ratliff on June 18, 2024; Form 4, filed by Veronica Mallett on June 18, 2024; Form 4, filed by Jeffrey Sagansky on June 18, 2024; Form 4, filed by John Huston Chadwick on June 18, 2024; Form 4, filed by Justin Ferrero on June 18, 2024; Form 4, filed by Nicole Torraco on June 18, 2024; and Form 4, filed by Alan G. Mnuchin on June 18, 2024. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction when they become available. Free copies of the Proxy Statement and such other materials may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
FAQ
What is the acquisition price per Sharecare (SHCR) share?
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