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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tikvah Management LLC, a shareholder with approximately 1.5% stake in Quanterix Corp. (NASDAQ: QTRX), has publicly announced its intention to vote against the company’s proposed merger with Akoya Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKYA). The investment firm, a significant shareholder since 2018, stated Monday that it does not believe the merger serves the best interests of Quanterix’s shareholders. Akoya, currently valued at $87.43 million, has seen its stock rise nearly 9% over the past week.
The announcement aligns with concerns raised by other investors who have spoken against the deal, citing issues such as the undervaluation of Quanterix shares and a potential decrease in the company’s cash reserves post-merger. According to InvestingPro data, while Akoya maintains a healthy liquidity position with a current ratio of 2.61, the company has been rapidly burning through cash, which could impact the combined entity’s financial stability. Tikvah also highlighted its view of Quanterix’s business as superior to that of Akoya.
Tikvah has indicated that its stance could change if there are significant new developments regarding the proposed merger. This decision comes as Quanterix prepares for a Special Meeting of shareholders to vote on the merger.
The disagreement from Tikvah adds to the scrutiny the deal is facing from the investment community. Quanterix and Akoya have yet to respond publicly to Tikvah’s statement.
This report is based on a press release statement from Tikvah Management LLC.
In other recent news, Akoya Biosciences reported its fourth-quarter results for 2024, which aligned with both Canaccord Genuity’s and FactSet’s consensus estimates. The company’s revenue decline in this period was primarily due to a reduction in instrument revenue, attributed to capital purchasing constraints. Despite these challenges, Akoya nearly achieved cash flow breakeven and saw a sequential decrease in cash burn. In the merger arena, Akoya’s acquisition by Quanterix is moving forward, with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act waiting period having expired, marking a significant regulatory milestone. Piper Sandler downgraded Akoya’s stock rating from Overweight to Neutral, reflecting the proposed acquisition value, which is based on a stock exchange ratio with Quanterix shares. The merger is anticipated to be completed in the second quarter of 2025, subject to shareholder approvals and other customary conditions. Meanwhile, Kent Lake PR LLC, a significant Quanterix shareholder, has expressed opposition to the merger, citing concerns over valuation and potential financial impacts. Quanterix aims to create an integrated solution for biomarker detection through this merger, expecting significant cost synergies and enhanced growth opportunities. The merger terms include Akoya shareholders receiving 0.318 shares of Quanterix stock for each Akoya share, with the transaction expected to close in 2025.
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