Lois Voelz

Cooley advised the special committee of the board of directors of Crown Bioscience International, a global drug discovery and development services, company on its merger agreement with JSR Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The merger is expected to close before the end of second quarter of 2018.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Crown Bioscience will merge into and become an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of JSR and be delisted from the Taipei Exchange. The strategic merger integrates Crown Bioscience’s leading translational technology platform providing drug target validation, efficacy testing and patient response characterization with JSR’s in vitro diagnostic solutions, GMP manufacturing capabilities and worldwide distribution networks.

“We are excited to join the JSR family of companies through this innovation-driven strategic partnership,” said Dr. Jean-Pierre Wery, Crown Bioscience’s CEO. “Crown Bioscience’s core competencies in preclinical and translational research combined with JSR’s global footprint, diagnostic solutions and manufacturing capabilities will provide a fully integrated solution to help biopharmaceutical companies get drugs and diagnostics to market more efficiently.”

Crown Bioscience, which trades on the Taipei Exchange under the ticker “6554,” is a global drug discovery and development solutions company providing translational platforms to advance oncology, inflammation and metabolic disease research. With an extensive portfolio of relevant models and predictive tools, Crown Bioscience enables clients to deliver superior clinical candidates.

Cooley advised Hyliion, provider of electrified powertrain solutions for Class 8 commercial vehicles, on its agreement to combine with Tortoise, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company or SPAC. The transaction, expected to close in Q3, will drive Hyliion’s corporate expansion and further the development and commercialization of its powertrain solutions, along with the support of the company’s robust network of industry partners. Partners Garth Osterman, David Peinsipp and Kristin VanderPas led the Cooley team advising Hyliion on the agreement.  

Cooley advised Group Nine Media, the parent company of Thrillist, NowThis, The Dodo and Seeker, on its agreement to acquire PopSugar, a leading digital lifestyle brand for women. Partners Peyton Worley and David Silverman led the Cooley team.

Cooley advised leading global IT services provider ConvergeOne on its agreement to combine with Forum Merger Corporation, allowing ConvergeOne to become a public company, with an anticipated initial enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion. Cooley partners Mehdi Khodadad and John McKenna led the team advising ConvergeOne.