SCHEDULE: ARK & Cathie Wood Boost CRISPR Therapeutics Stake

ARK Investment Management LLC and Catherine D. Wood have reported an aggregate beneficial ownership of 10.76% in CRISPR Therapeutics AG common stock.

Summary

• ARK Investment Management LLC and Catherine D. Wood jointly reported beneficial ownership of 9,786,973 shares of CRISPR Therapeutics AG common stock.
• This aggregate amount represents 10.76% of the class of securities.
• The filing is an Amendment No. 12 to a Schedule 13G, indicating an update to their previously reported ownership.
• The reporting persons certify that the shares were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of changing or influencing control of the issuer.
• ARK Investment Management LLC holds sole voting power over 9,115,198 shares and sole dispositive power over 9,786,973 shares.
• Catherine D. Wood holds shared voting power over 9,326,475 shares and shared dispositive power over 9,786,973 shares.
• ARK Innovation ETF, a series of a Delaware statutory trust, is identified as a client of ARK Investment Management LLC with an interest exceeding 5 percent in CRISPR Therapeutics AG securities.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The filing is a routine beneficial ownership disclosure. The significant stake held by a prominent investment firm like ARK Investment Management and Catherine D. Wood could be interpreted as a positive signal of confidence in CRISPR Therapeutics AG, hence a slightly positive score, but it provides no new operational or financial data.

Positives

• A prominent investment firm, ARK Investment Management LLC, and its CEO, Catherine D. Wood, maintain a significant beneficial ownership of 10.76% in CRISPR Therapeutics AG.
• The reporting persons certify that the shares were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of changing or influencing control of the issuer, indicating a passive investment stance.

Future Outlook

This filing is a beneficial ownership report and does not contain forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the issuer's future performance or outlook.

Management Comments

• To the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities.

Industry Context

CRISPR Therapeutics AG operates in the biotechnology sector, focusing on gene-editing technologies. ARK Investment Management, led by Catherine D. Wood, is known for its investment strategy targeting disruptive innovation, particularly in areas like genomics and biotechnology. This filing indicates ARK's continued significant conviction in CRISPR Therapeutics AG within this high-growth industry.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Provides transparency regarding a significant institutional holder and its passive investment intent.
• ARK Innovation ETF Investors: Identifies CRISPR Therapeutics AG as a significant holding within the ETF's portfolio.

Next Steps

• Future amendments to Schedule 13G will be filed if there are material changes in beneficial ownership.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Schedule 13G filing primarily discloses a significant, passive ownership stake by ARK Investment Management LLC and Catherine D. Wood in CRISPR Therapeutics AG. While the continued substantial holding by a prominent investment firm known for its focus on disruptive innovation could be viewed as a vote of confidence, the filing itself does not provide new operational, financial, or strategic information about CRISPR Therapeutics AG to warrant a 'buy' or 'sell' recommendation. Investors should 'hold' their current positions and await further fundamental updates or financial reports from the company for a more comprehensive investment decision.

Keywords

CRISPR Therapeutics, ARK Investment Management, Catherine D. Wood, Schedule 13G, Beneficial Ownership, Common Stock, Biotechnology, Gene Editing, Investment Adviser, ARK Innovation ETF