SCHEDULE: Madryn Takes Venus Concept Private at $0.04/Share
Amendment to Schedule 13D
Madryn Asset Management completed a short-form merger, acquiring all outstanding common stock of Venus Concept Inc. for $0.04 per share, taking the company private.
Summary
- Madryn Asset Management, through its affiliated funds, has completed a series of transactions culminating in a short-form merger, resulting in 100% ownership of Venus Concept Inc.
- The process involved multiple debt-to-equity exchanges over several years, converting various convertible notes and senior indebtedness into preferred and common stock.
- On March 26, 2026, Madryn's Funds purchased 37,500,000 shares of common stock from Venus Concept Inc. for $1,500,000, at a price of $0.04 per share.
- Concurrently, Madryn acquired all shares of common and preferred stock, as well as convertible debt, held by EW Healthcare Partners and HealthQuest Partners II, L.P. for an aggregate of $2,600,000 and $755,646.90, respectively.
- On March 30, 2026, a short-form merger was consummated, converting each outstanding share of common stock not owned by Madryn into the right to receive $0.04 in cash.
- Following the merger, Venus Concept Inc.'s Certificate of Incorporation was amended to effect a 1000-to-1 reverse stock split and reduce the number of authorized shares.
- The company's existing board of directors resigned and was replaced by the board of directors of Venus Merger Holdings Corporation, the legal entity used by Madryn to consummate the merger.
Sentiment
Score: 2
Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a highly negative event for common shareholders, who were cashed out at a minimal value, reflecting the company's severe financial distress and the prioritization of debt and preferred equity holders.
Positives
- Madryn Asset Management has consolidated 100% ownership of Venus Concept Inc., providing full control over strategic and operational decisions.
- The take-private transaction eliminates the costs and complexities associated with being a publicly traded company, potentially streamlining operations.
- The restructuring allows Madryn to implement its vision for the company without public market pressures or minority shareholder concerns.
Negatives
- Common stockholders of Venus Concept Inc. were cashed out at a price of $0.04 per share, indicating a significant loss for prior public investors.
- The low cash-out price reflects a distressed valuation, suggesting the company faced severe financial challenges prior to the take-private.
Risks
- The common stock had little to no value for public shareholders due to the company's debt and liquidation preferences of preferred stock, leading to the low cash-out price.
- The company's financial position and strategic direction were under review, indicating underlying operational and financial challenges that necessitated the restructuring.
Future Outlook
Madryn Asset Management intends to continue taking an active role in working with Venus Concept Inc.'s management and board of directors on operational, financial, and strategic initiatives. Madryn will review its investment on an ongoing basis and may take further actions regarding its ownership, including potential acquisitions or dispositions of securities, or other corporate transactions, now as the sole owner of the private entity.
Management Comments
- Madryn discussed with the Company's board of directors its desire for the Company to reduce operational costs, including the potential delisting and deregistration of the Company's Common Stock.
- The price per share of $0.01 (in the initial March 2026 Proposal) reflected the little to no value of the expected distribution to the holders of Common Stock upon a liquidation of the Company's assets after taking into consideration the repayment of the Company's debt and other obligations and the liquidation preference associated with the currently outstanding shares of the Company's preferred stock.
Industry Context
StockSavvy.ai notes that this transaction represents a distressed take-private scenario, a common occurrence when a company faces significant financial challenges and a major lender or investor converts debt into equity to gain full control. Such moves often result in public common shareholders receiving minimal value, as the company's assets are primarily used to satisfy senior debt and preferred equity holders. This allows the new sole owner to restructure the business away from public scrutiny and the associated costs.
Comparison to Industry Standards
- The cash-out price of $0.04 per common share is indicative of a highly distressed valuation, aligning with outcomes seen in other companies undergoing similar debt-for-equity restructurings and subsequent take-private transactions.
- In such scenarios, common shareholders typically bear the brunt of financial distress, as senior creditors and preferred shareholders have priority in liquidation or restructuring events.
- This outcome is consistent with situations where a company's market capitalization has significantly eroded, and its debt obligations, coupled with preferred stock liquidation preferences, leave little to no residual value for common equity.
Management Changes
| Role | Previous Person | New Person | Effective Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Directors | Existing board of directors of Venus Concept Inc. | Board of directors of Venus Merger Holdings Corporation | March 30, 2026 | Consummation of the Short-form Merger, with Venus Merger Holdings Corporation becoming the sole owner. |
Corporate Governance
| Change Type | Description | Effective Date | Impact Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Incorporation Amendment | Effected a 1000-to-1 reverse stock split with respect to the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock. | March 30, 2026 | Significantly reduced the number of outstanding shares, typically done to increase per-share price and potentially facilitate delisting, though in this case, it's post-merger. |
| Certificate of Incorporation Amendment | Reduced the number of authorized shares of the Company. | March 30, 2026 | Streamlines the capital structure for the now-private entity and reflects the consolidated ownership. |
Related Party Transactions
- The various Exchange Agreements (2020, 2023, May 2024, September 2024, March 2025, June 2025, September 2025) between the Company and Madryn's Funds, involving the exchange of debt instruments for preferred stock and convertible notes.
- The Stock Purchase Agreement (March 2026 Company SPA) where Madryn's Funds purchased 37,500,000 shares of Common Stock from the Company.
- The Securities Purchase Agreement (March 2026 EW SPA) where Madryn's Funds purchased preferred stock and convertible notes from EW Healthcare Partners.
- The Securities Purchase Agreement (March 2026 HealthQuest SPA) where Madryn's Funds purchased common and preferred stock from HealthQuest Partners II, L.P.
- The Contribution and Exchange Agreement between Madryn's Funds and Venus Merger Holdings Corporation, where Funds transferred all shares to Merger Holdings in exchange for 100% equity interests.
Stakeholder Impact
- Common shareholders: Negatively impacted, as their shares were converted into a low cash amount of $0.04 per share, reflecting a significant loss on their investment.
- Madryn Asset Management (and its Funds): Positively impacted, gaining 100% control of Venus Concept Inc., allowing for full strategic and operational flexibility without public market constraints.
- Employees: Potential for operational changes and restructuring under new private ownership, which could impact employment.
- Creditors: Madryn, as a former significant lender, has converted much of its debt into equity, consolidating its position and effectively becoming the primary creditor/owner.
Next Steps
- Madryn Asset Management will continue to review its investment in Venus Concept Inc. on an ongoing basis.
- Madryn intends to take an active role in working with the company's management and board on operational, financial, and strategic initiatives.
- The company's Certificate of Incorporation has been amended to effect a 1000-to-1 reverse stock split and reduce authorized shares, and the board has been replaced, indicating internal restructuring for the now-private entity.
Key Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| October 11, 2016 | Venus Concept Ltd. entered into a credit agreement with Health Partners LP. |
| November 7, 2019 | Merger between Restoration Robotics, Inc. and Venus Concept Ltd.; Venus Concept Inc. joined the Credit Agreement. |
| December 8, 2020 | Securities Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (2020 Exchange Agreement) dated. |
| December 9, 2020 | Funds acquired $26,695,110.54 aggregate principal amount of 2020 Convertible Notes. |
| January 18, 2024 | EW Convertible Notes originally issued by the Company to EW. |
| October 4, 2023 | Funds entered into the 2023 Exchange Agreement, exchanging 2020 Convertible Notes for 2023 Convertible Notes and Series X Preferred Stock. |
| May 3, 2024 | Reporting Persons delivered a nonbinding transaction proposal to the Company for debt and equity capital structure restructuring. |
| May 24, 2024 | Funds entered into the May 2024 Exchange Agreement, exchanging $35,000,000 of senior indebtedness for Series Y Preferred Stock. |
| June 25, 2025 | Company's shareholders approved the issuance of common stock underlying various convertible securities. |
| September 26, 2024 | Funds entered into the September 2024 Exchange Agreement, exchanging $15,000,000 of senior indebtedness for Series Y Preferred Stock. |
| March 31, 2025 | Funds entered into the March 2025 Exchange Agreement, exchanging 2023 Convertible Notes for March 2025 Convertible Notes and Series Y Preferred Stock. |
| June 30, 2025 | Funds entered into the June 2025 Exchange Agreement, exchanging March 2025 Convertible Notes for June 2025 Convertible Notes and Series Y Preferred Stock. |
| September 30, 2025 | Funds entered into the September 2025 Exchange Agreement, exchanging June 2025 Convertible Notes for Series Y Preferred Stock. |
| December 1, 2026 | Expiration date for the Warrants. |
| January 13, 2026 | Madryn discussed with the Company's board its desire to reduce operational costs, including potential delisting and deregistration. |
| March 13, 2026 | Madryn and HealthQuest Partners II, L.P. reached an agreement for Madryn's purchase of HealthQuest's shares. |
| March 16, 2026 | Madryn and EW Healthcare Partners, L.P. reached an agreement for Madryn's purchase of EW's preferred stock and convertible debt. |
| March 17, 2026 | Non-Binding Summary of Terms (HealthQuest Term Sheet and EW Term Sheet) dated; Reporting Persons delivered March 2026 Proposal to the Company. |
| March 26, 2026 | Funds purchased 37,500,000 shares of Common Stock from the Company for $1,500,000; Funds purchased shares and notes from EW and HealthQuest. |
| March 30, 2026 | Reporting Persons consummated the Short-form Merger. |
| September 26, 2027 | First installment payment due for EW purchase. |
| March 26, 2028 | Second installment payment due for EW purchase. |
| September 26, 2028 | Third installment payment due for EW purchase. |
| March 26, 2029 | Fourth installment payment due for EW purchase. |
Keywords
Venus Concept, Madryn Asset Management, Schedule 13D, Short-form Merger, Take-private, Convertible Notes, Preferred Stock, Delisting, Deregistration, Equity Financing, Debt Restructuring
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