Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrantý

Filed by a Party other than the Registranto

Check the appropriate box:

o

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

ý

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

 

Definitive Additional Materials

o

 

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

ý

 

No fee required.

o

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
         
  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
         
  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
         
  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
         
  (5) Total fee paid:
         

o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        
 
  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
         
  (3) Filing Party:
         
  (4) Date Filed:
         

Table of Contents

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This joint proxy statement/prospectus amends and restates the joint proxy statement/prospectus dated March 29, 2018, which was previously mailed to the stockholders of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the stockholders of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on or about April 2, 2018 in connection with the proposed strategic business combination of BioCryst and Idera in order to (1) revise the record date for the special meeting of Idera stockholders and the special meeting of BioCryst stockholders to May 29, 2018 and (2) revise the date of the special meeting of Idera stockholders and the special meeting of BioCryst stockholders to July 10, 2018.


LOGO

 

LOGO

MERGERS PROPOSED—YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

Dear Stockholders:

           TheAs previously disclosed, the BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("BioCryst") board of directors (the "BioCryst board") and the Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Idera") board of directors (the "Idera board") have unanimously approved and BioCryst and Idera have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 21, 2018 (the "merger agreement") with respect to a strategic business combination. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, (i) Island Merger Sub, Inc. ("Merger Sub A"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nautilus Holdco, Inc. ("Holdco"), which is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of BioCryst and a party to the merger agreement, will merge with and into Idera, with Idera surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (the "Idera merger"), and (ii) Boat Merger Sub, Inc. ("Merger Sub B"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco and a party to the merger agreement, will merge with and into BioCryst, with BioCryst surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (the "BioCryst merger" and together with the Idera merger, the "mergers"). Upon completion of the mergers, BioCryst and Idera, and their respective subsidiaries, will become wholly owned subsidiaries of Holdco and will operate as a combined company under the name Valenscion Incorporated.

           Upon completion of the mergers, each issued and outstanding share of Idera common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.20 shares of Holdco common stock (the "Idera exchange ratio"), and each issued and outstanding share of BioCryst common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.50 shares of Holdco common stock (the "BioCryst exchange ratio" and together with the Idera exchange ratio, the "exchange ratios"). The exchange ratios will not be adjusted for changes in the market price of either BioCryst common stock or Idera common stock between the date of signing of the merger agreement and completion of the mergers. Upon completion of the mergers, each issued and outstanding share of Idera preferred stock (with certain exceptions described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus) will be converted into the right to receive an amount of Holdco common stock based on its liquidation preference.

           Upon closing of the mergers, BioCryst stockholders (including holders of securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for shares of BioCryst common stock) immediately prior to the closing of the mergers will beneficially own approximately 51.6% of Holdco, and Idera stockholders (including holders of securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Idera common stock) immediately prior to the effective time of the mergers will beneficially own approximately 48.4% of Holdco, each calculated on a fully diluted basis using the treasury stock method. BioCryst and Idera will each hold a special meeting of its respective stockholders to consider the mergers. At the special meeting of BioCryst stockholders (the "BioCryst special meeting"), BioCryst stockholders will be asked to vote on a proposal to adopt the merger agreement, a proposal to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation that may become payable to BioCryst's named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the mergers, and a proposal to adjourn the BioCryst special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to adopt the merger agreement. At the special meeting of Idera stockholders (the "Idera special meeting"), Idera stockholders will be asked to vote on a proposal to adopt the merger agreement and a proposal to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation that may become payable to Idera's named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the mergers.

           Affiliates of Baker Bros. Advisors, LP ("Baker Brothers"), the beneficial owner of approximately 14% of issued and outstanding BioCryst common stock and approximately 18% of issued and outstanding Idera common stock, have agreed, among other things, to vote their shares of BioCryst common stock and Idera common stock in favor of the proposal to adopt the merger agreement at each of the BioCryst special meeting and Idera special meeting.

           On or about April 2, 2018, Idera stockholders and BioCryst stockholders were mailed a joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the special meetings that were originally scheduled for May 9, 2018. On April 10, 2018, BioCryst and Idera announced the postponement of their respective special meetings, following investor feedback, to provide stockholders adequate time to consider new clinical data from Idera regarding its IMO-2125 program, which will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting being held June 1-5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Each of the BioCryst special meeting and the Idera special meeting will now be held on July 10, 2018. In connection with the postponed meeting dates, the revised record date for each of Idera and BioCryst is May 29, 2018.

           We cannot complete the mergers unless the BioCryst stockholders and Idera stockholders approve the respective proposals of each company with respect to the mergers as described above. Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of shares you own.Whether or not you expect to attend either special meeting in person, please submit a proxy to vote your shares as promptly as possible so that your shares may be represented and voted at the BioCryst special meeting or the Idera special meeting, as applicable. However, if you previously submitted a proxy for either the Idera special meeting or the BioCryst special meeting originally scheduled for May 9, 2018, which proxy has not subsequently been revoked, and are a holder of record on May 29, 2018 and you do not want to change or revoke your proxy, you do not need to take any action. Accordingly, Idera or BioCryst, as applicable, intend to vote such proxy at the respective special meeting on July 10, 2018, as directed by your previously submitted proxy.

           The BioCryst board has unanimously approved the merger agreement and determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the mergers, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of BioCryst and its stockholders. The BioCryst board unanimously recommends that BioCryst stockholders vote "FOR" the proposal to adopt the merger agreement, "FOR" the proposal to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation that may become payable to BioCryst's named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the mergers and "FOR" the proposal to adjourn the BioCryst special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to adopt the merger agreement.

           The Idera board has unanimously approved the merger agreement and determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the mergers, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Idera and its stockholders. The Idera board unanimously recommends that Idera stockholders vote "FOR" the proposal to adopt the merger agreement and "FOR" the proposal to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation that may become payable to Idera's named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the mergers.

           The obligations of BioCryst and Idera to complete the mergers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of several conditions set forth in the merger agreement. The accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus contains detailed information about BioCryst, Idera, the special meetings, the merger agreement and the mergers.BioCryst and Idera encourage you to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully and in its entirety, including the section entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 2122 of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

           We look forward to the successful combination of BioCryst and Idera.

Sincerely,   Sincerely,  

 

 

GRAPHICGRAPHIC



 

 

 

GRAPHICGRAPHIC


  Vincent J. Milano   Jon P. Stonehouse
  President and Chief Executive Officer   President and Chief Executive Officer
  Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.   BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

           Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved the mergers and other transactions described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus, nor have they approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this joint proxy statement/prospectus or determined if this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

           This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated March 29,May 30, 2018 and is first being mailed to Idera stockholders and BioCryst stockholders on or about April 2,June 4, 2018.


Table of Contents

LOGO

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
167 Sidney Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
(617) 679-5500

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held On May 9,July 10, 2018

To the Stockholders of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

        We are pleased to invite you to attend the special meeting of stockholders (the "Idera special meeting") of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Idera"), a Delaware corporation, which will be held at Idera's offices located at 505 Eagleview Boulevard, Suite 212, Exton, Pennsylvania 19341, on May 9,July 10, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes:

        The Idera special meeting was originally scheduled for May 9, 2018 but has been postponed and rescheduled for July 10, 2018, following investor feedback, to provide stockholders adequate time to consider new clinical data from Idera regarding its IMO-2125 program, which will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting being held June 1-5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.

Idera will transact no other business at the Idera special meeting except such business as stated in the notice of the Idera special meeting. Please refer to the joint proxy statement/prospectus of which this notice forms a part for further information with respect to the business to be transacted at the Idera special meeting.


Table of Contents

        Completion of the mergers is conditioned on, among other things, approval by the Idera stockholders of the proposal to adopt the merger agreement.

        The Idera board of directors (the "Idera board") has unanimously approved the merger agreement and determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the mergers, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Idera and its stockholders. The Idera board


Table of Contents

unanimously recommends that Idera stockholders vote "FOR" the proposal to adopt the merger agreement and "FOR" the proposal to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation that may become payable to Idera's named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the mergers.

        The Idera board has fixed the close of business on March 22,May 29, 2018 as the Idera record date for determination of Idera stockholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Idera special meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of Idera common stock at the close of business on the Idera record date are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Idera special meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

        A list of the names of Idera stockholders of record will be available for 10 days prior to the Idera special meeting for any purpose germane to the special meeting during regular business hours, at the office of Idera's Assistant Secretary, 505 Eagleview Boulevard, Suite 212, Exton, Pennsylvania 19341. The Idera stockholder list will also be available at the Idera special meeting for examination by any stockholder present at such meeting.

        YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES THAT YOU OWN.    The mergers cannot be completed without the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Idera common stock entitled to vote on the merger agreement proposal as of the record date for the Idera special meeting.

        Whether or not you expect to attend the Idera special meeting in person, we urge you to submit a proxy to vote your shares as promptly as possible by either (1) logging on to www.investorvote.com/IDRA and following the instructions on your proxy card; (2) dialing 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) and listening for further directions; or (3) signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, so that your shares may be represented and voted at the Idera special meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee, including an employee benefit plan trustee, please follow the instructions on the voting instruction card furnished by the record holder, as appropriate. However, if you previously submitted a proxy for the Idera special meeting originally scheduled for May 9, 2018, which proxy has not subsequently been revoked, and are a holder of record on May 29, 2018 and you do not want to change or revoke your proxy, you do not need to take any action. Accordingly, Idera intends to vote such proxy at the Idera special meeting on July 10, 2018, as directed by your previously submitted proxy.

        The enclosed joint proxy statement/prospectus provides a detailed description of the mergers and the merger agreement as well as a description of the compensation that may become payable to Idera's named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the mergers. We urge you to read this joint proxy statement/prospectus, including any documents incorporated by reference, and the Annexes carefully and in their entirety. If you have any questions concerning the mergers or this joint proxy statement/prospectus, would like additional copies or need help voting your shares of Idera common stock, please contact Idera's proxy solicitor:

LOGO

105 Madison Avenue1407 Broadway, 27th Floor
New York, New York 1001610018
Stockholders May Call Toll-Free: 800-322-2885
Banks and Brokers May Call Collect: 212-929-5500
Email: proxy@mackenziepartners.com


Table of Contents

  By Order of the
Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Board of
Directors,

 

 

GRAPHIC


Louis J. Arcudi, III
Senior Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

 

 

Cambridge, Massachusetts
March 29,May 30, 2018

Table of Contents

LOGO

BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
4505 Emperor Blvd., Suite 200
Durham, North Carolina 27703

NOTICE OF 2018 SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held On May 9,July 10, 2018

To the Stockholders of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

        This is a notice that a special meeting of stockholders (the "BioCryst special meeting") of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("BioCryst"), will be held at BioCryst's corporate offices at 4505 Emperor Blvd., Suite 200, Durham, North Carolina 27703 on May 9,July 10, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes:

        The BioCryst special meeting was originally scheduled for May 9, 2018 but has been postponed and rescheduled for July 10, 2018, following investor feedback, to provide stockholders adequate time to consider new clinical data from Idera regarding its IMO-2125 program, which will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting being held June 1-5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.

BioCryst's board of directors (the "BioCryst board") unanimously (i) determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the mergers, are fair, advisable and in the best interests of BioCryst and its stockholders, (ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by BioCryst of the merger agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the mergers, and (iii) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of BioCryst approve the adoption of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. Accordingly, the BioCryst board recommends that BioCryst stockholders vote "FOR" the adoption of the merger agreement, "FOR" the approval on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation that may become payable to BioCryst's named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the


Table of Contents

mergers and "FOR" the adjournment of


Table of Contents

the BioCryst special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to adopt the merger agreement.

        April 4,May 29, 2018 has been fixed as the BioCryst record date for determination of BioCryst stockholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the BioCryst special meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of BioCryst common stock at the close of business on the BioCryst record date are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the BioCryst special meeting.

        A list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the BioCryst special meeting will be open to examination by any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the BioCryst special meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the BioCryst special meeting at the principal executive offices of BioCryst in Durham, North Carolina.

        YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES THAT YOU OWN.    The mergers cannot be completed without the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of BioCryst common stock entitled to vote on the merger agreement proposal as of the record date for the BioCryst special meeting.

        Whether or not you expect to attend the BioCryst special meeting in person, we urge you to submit a proxy to have your shares voted as promptly as possible by either: (1) logging on to the website shown on your proxy card and following the instructions to vote online; (2) dialing the toll-free number shown on your proxy card and following the instructions to vote by phone; or (3) signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, so that your shares may be represented and voted at the BioCryst special meeting. If your shares are held in a BioCryst plan or in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions on the voting instruction form furnished by the plan trustee or administrator, or such broker, bank or other nominee, as appropriate. However, if you previously submitted a proxy for the BioCryst special meeting originally scheduled for May 9, 2018, which proxy has not subsequently been revoked, and are a holder of record on May 29, 2018 and you do not want to change or revoke your proxy, you do not need to take any action. Accordingly, BioCryst intends to vote such proxy at the BioCryst special meeting on July 10, 2018, as directed by your previously submitted proxy.

        The enclosed joint proxy statement/prospectus provides a detailed description of the mergers and the merger agreement as well as a description of the compensation that may become payable to BioCryst's named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the mergers. We urge you to read this joint proxy statement/prospectus, including any documents incorporated by reference, and the Annexes carefully and in their entirety. If you have any questions concerning the mergers or this joint proxy statement/prospectus, would like additional copies or need help voting your shares of BioCryst common stock, please contact BioCryst's proxy solicitor:

LOGO

Innisfree M&A Incorporated
501 Madison Avenue, 20th floor
New York, New York 10022
Stockholders May Call Toll Free: 888-750-5834
Banks & Brokers May Call Collect: 212-750-5833

  By Order of the
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Board of
Directors,

 

 

GRAPHIC


Alane P. Barnes
Corporate Secretary

 

 

Durham, North Carolina
March 29,May 30, 2018

Table of Contents


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        This joint proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Idera") and BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("BioCryst") from other documents that are not included in or delivered with this joint proxy statement/prospectus. This information is available to you without charge upon your request. You can obtain the documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus free of charge by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the appropriate company's proxy solicitor at the following addresses and telephone numbers:

If you are an Idera Stockholder: If you are a BioCryst Stockholder:

LOGO

 

LOGO

105 Madison Avenue1407 Broadway, 27th Floor

 

501 Madison Avenue, 20th floor
New York, New York 1001610018 New York, New York 10022
Stockholders May Call Toll-Free: 800-322-2885 Stockholders May Call Toll Free: 888-750-5834
Banks & Brokers May Call Collect: 212-929-5500 Banks & Brokers May Call Collect: 212-750-5833
Email: proxy@mackenziepartners.com  

        You may also obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus without charge through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") website at www.sec.gov. In addition, you may obtain copies of documents filed by Idera with the SEC by accessing Idera's website at www.iderapharma.com under the tab "Investors" and then under the heading "SEC Filings." You may also obtain copies of documents filed by BioCryst with the SEC by accessing BioCryst's website at www.biocryst.com under the tab "Investors" and then under the heading "SEC Documents."

        We are not incorporating the contents of the websites of the SEC, Idera, BioCryst or any other entity into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. We are providing the information about how you can obtain certain documents that are incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus at these websites only for your convenience.

        If you would like to request any documents, please do so by May 2,July 3, 2018 in order to receive them before the special meetings.

        For a more detailed description of the information incorporated by reference in this joint proxy statement/prospectus and how you may obtain it, see "Where You Can Find More Information" beginning on page 169172 of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.


Table of Contents


ABOUT THIS JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

        This joint proxy statement/prospectus, which forms part of a registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC by Holdco, constitutes a prospectus of Holdco under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the shares of Holdco common stock to be issued to Idera stockholders and BioCryst stockholders pursuant to the mergers. This joint proxy statement/prospectus also constitutes a joint proxy statement for both Idera and BioCryst under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). It also constitutes a notice of meeting with respect to the special meeting of Idera stockholders (the "Idera special meeting") and a notice of meeting with respect to the special meeting of BioCryst stockholders (the "BioCryst special meeting").

        You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this joint proxy statement/prospectus. This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated March 29,May 30, 2018. You should not assume that the information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than that date. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of the incorporated document. Neither our mailing of this joint proxy statement/prospectus to Idera stockholders or BioCryst stockholders nor the issuance by Holdco of shares of common stock pursuant to the merger agreement will create any implication to the contrary.

        This joint proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, or the solicitation of a proxy in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation. Information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding Idera has been provided by Idera and information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding BioCryst has been provided by BioCryst.

        All references in this joint proxy statement/prospectus to "Idera" refer to Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation; all references in this joint proxy statement/prospectus to "BioCryst" refer to BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation; all references to "Holdco" refer to Nautilus Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of BioCryst formed for the sole purpose of becoming the parent entity of each of Idera and BioCryst following the mergers; all references to "Merger Sub A" refer to Island Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco formed for the sole purpose of effecting the Idera merger; all references to the "Idera merger" refer to the merger of Merger Sub A with and into Idera, with Idera as the surviving entity, continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco; all references to "Merger Sub B" refer to Boat Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco formed for the sole purpose of effecting the BioCryst merger; all references to the "BioCryst merger" refer to the merger of Merger Sub B with and into BioCryst, with BioCryst as the surviving entity, continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco; and all references to "mergers" refers, collectively, to the Idera merger and BioCryst merger. Unless otherwise indicated or as the context requires, all references in this joint proxy statement/prospectus to "we," "our" and "us" refer to Idera and BioCryst collectively; and, unless otherwise indicated or as the context requires, all references to the "merger agreement" refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 21, 2018, by and among BioCryst, Idera, Holdco, Merger Sub A and Merger Sub B, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Holdco, following completion of the mergers, is sometimes referred to in this joint proxy statement/prospectus as the "combined company," "Valenscion Incorporated" or "Valenscion."


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 Page 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

  v 

SUMMARY

  
1
 

The Companies

  1 

The Mergers

  2 

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers

  4 

Recommendation of the Idera Board

  4 

Recommendation of the BioCryst Board

  5 

Opinion of Idera's Financial Advisor—Goldman Sachs

  5 

Opinion of BioCryst's Financial Advisor—J.P. Morgan

  5 

Interests of Idera Directors, Executive Officers and Certain of their Affiliates in the Mergers

  6 

Interests of BioCryst Directors and Executive Officers in the Mergers

  6 

Holdco Board, Management and Certain Governance Matters Following the Mergers

  7 

Regulatory Clearances Required for the Mergers

  7 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Holdco

  7 

Completion of the Mergers

  87 

The Merger Agreement

  8 

Voting and Support Agreements

  1211 

Accounting Treatment

  12 

No Appraisal Rights

  12 

Litigation Related to the Mergers

  12 

Risk Factors

  12 

Comparison of Rights of Idera Stockholders, BioCryst Stockholders and Holdco Stockholders

  1312 

Listing of Holdco Common Stock; De-Listing and Deregistration of Idera Stock and BioCryst Stock

  13 

The Idera Special Meeting

  13 

The BioCryst Special Meeting

  1413 

SUMMARY HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA

  
15
 

Summary Historical Financial Data of Idera

  15 

Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data of BioCryst

  17 

UNAUDITED EQUIVALENT AND COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA

  
1819
 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

  
1920
 

RISK FACTORS

  
2122
 

Risk Factors Relating to the Mergers

  2122 

Risk Factors Relating to the Combined Company Following the Mergers

  2829 

Other Risk Factors of Idera and BioCryst

  3132 

THE COMPANIES

  
3233
 

THE BIOCRYST SPECIAL MEETING

  
3435
 

Date, Time and Place

  3435 

Purpose of the BioCryst Special Meeting

  3435 

Recommendation of the BioCryst Board

  3435 

Attendance at the BioCryst Special Meeting

  3536 

BioCryst Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote

  3536 

BioCryst Voting and Support Agreement

  3637 

Voting by BioCryst's Directors and Executive Officers

  3637 

i


 
 Page 

Quorum

  3637 

Required Vote

  3637 

How to Vote

  3738 

Shares Held in Street Name

  3839 

Proxies and Revocation

  3840 

Tabulation of Votes

  3940 

Solicitation of Proxies

  3940 

Adjournments

  3940 

Householding of Special Meeting Materials

  3941 

Questions and Additional Information

  4041 

BIOCRYST PROPOSALS

  
4142
 

BioCryst Proposal 1: The BioCryst Merger Proposal

  4142 

BioCryst Proposal 2: The BioCryst Merger-Related Compensation Proposal

  4142 

BioCryst Proposal 3: The BioCryst Adjournment Proposal

  4243 

THE IDERA SPECIAL MEETING

  
4344
 

Date, Time and Place

  4344 

Purpose of the Idera Special Meeting

  4344 

Recommendation of the Idera Board

  4344 

Idera Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote

  4344 

Idera Voting and Support Agreement

  4445 

Voting by Idera's Directors and Executive Officers

  4445 

Quorum

  4445 

Required Vote

  4445 

Failure to Vote, Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions

  4546 

How to Vote

  4546 

Voting of Idera Common Stock Held in Street Name

  4647 

How Proxies are Counted

  4648 

Revocation of Proxies

  4748 

Tabulation of Votes

  4749 

Solicitation of Proxies

  4749 

Adjournments

  4849 

Householding of Special Meeting Materials

  4849 

Questions and Additional Information

  4850 

IDERA PROPOSALS

  
4951
 

Idera Proposal 1: The Idera Merger Proposal

  4951 

Idera Proposal 2: The Idera Merger-Related Compensation Proposal

  4951 

THE MERGERS

  
5153
 

Effects of the Mergers

  5153 

Background of the Mergers

  5254 

Idera's Reasons for the Mergers; Recommendation of the Idera Board

  6567 

BioCryst's Reasons for the Mergers; Recommendation of the BioCryst Board

  6971 

Certain Financial Forecasts Utilized by the Idera Board and Idera's Financial Advisor in Connection with the Mergers

  7476 

Certain Financial Forecasts Utilized by the BioCryst Board and BioCryst's Financial Advisor in Connection with the Mergers

  7880 

Important Information about the Financial Forecasts

  8183 

Opinion of Idera's Financial Advisor—Goldman Sachs

  8284 

Opinion of BioCryst's Financial Advisor—J.P. Morgan

  9294 

ii


 
 Page 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Holdco

  9799 

Interests of Idera Directors, Executive Officers and Certain of their Affiliates in the Mergers

  9799 

Idera Stockholder Advisory Vote on Merger-Related Compensation for Idera's Named Executive Officers Proposal

  101103 

Interests of Biocryst Directors and Executive Officers in the Mergers

  104106 

Employee Benefits

  110112 

BioCryst Stockholder Advisory Vote on Merger-Related Compensation for BioCryst's Named Executive Officers Proposal

  110112 

Holdco Board, Management and Certain Governance Matters Following the Mergers

  112114 

Regulatory Clearances Required for the Mergers

  112114 

Listing of Holdco Common Stock

  113115 

De-Listing and Deregistration of Idera Stock

  113115 

De-Listing and Deregistration of BioCryst Stock

  113115 

No Appraisal Rights

  113115 

Litigation Related to the Mergers

  113115 

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

  
114116
 

Terms of the Mergers; Merger Consideration

  114116 

Completion of the Mergers

  115117 

Exchange of Shares in the Mergers

  115117 

Representations and Warranties

  116118 

Conduct of Business Pending the Effective Time

  118120 

No Solicitation of Competing Proposals

  121123 

Changes in Board Recommendations

  122124 

Efforts to Obtain Required Stockholder Votes

  123125 

Efforts to Complete the Mergers

  124126 

Governance Matters After the Mergers

  125127 

Employee Benefits Matters

  125127 

Treatment of Idera Stock Options and Warrants

  126128 

Treatment of BioCryst Stock Options and RSUs

  127129 

Treatment of Equity Plans and Employee Stock Purchase Plans

  127129 

Compensation Actions between Signing of Merger Agreement and Completion of Mergers

  128130 

Other Covenants and Agreements

  128130 

Conditions to Completion of the Mergers

  129131 

Termination of the Merger Agreement

  131133 

Expenses and Termination Fees; Liability for Breach

  132134 

Amendments, Extensions and Waivers

  134136 

Parties in Interest

  134136 

Specific Performance

  134136 

U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGERS

  
135137
 

General

  136138 

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers to U.S. Holders of BioCryst Common Stock and Idera Common Stock

  136138 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

  137139 

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

  
138140
 

SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF IDERA AND BIOCRYST

  
139141
 

Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information

  139141 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements

  140142 

iii


 
 Page 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of DecemberMarch 31, 20172018

  141143

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

144 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

  142145 

Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements

  143146 

COMPARATIVE STOCK PRICE DATA AND DIVIDENDS

  
151154
 

Stock Prices

  151154 

Dividends

  151154 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF BIOCRYST

  
152155
 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF IDERA

  
155158
 

DESCRIPTION OF HOLDCO CAPITAL STOCK

  
159161
 

Description of Holdco Common Stock

  159161 

Description of Holdco Blank Check Preferred Stock

  160162 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

  160162 

COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF IDERA STOCKHOLDERS, BIOCRYST STOCKHOLDERS AND HOLDCO STOCKHOLDERS

  
162164
 

NO APPRAISAL RIGHTS

  
167169
 

LEGAL MATTERS

  
167169
 

EXPERTS

  
167169
 

Idera

  167169 

BioCryst

  167169 

FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

  
167169
 

Idera

  167169 

BioCryst

  168170 

OTHER MATTERS

  
168171
 

Other Matters Presented at the Special Meetings

  168171 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

  
169172
 

Annex A—Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 21, 2018

  A-1 

Annex B—Opinion of Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC

  B-1 

Annex C—Opinion of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  C-1 

Annex D—Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Holdco

  D-1 

Annex E—Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Holdco

  E-1 

iv


Table of Contents


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

        The following are some questions that you, as a stockholder of Idera or a stockholder of BioCryst, may have regarding the mergers and the other matters being considered at the special meetings and the answers to those questions. Idera and BioCryst urge you to carefully read the remainder of this joint proxy statement/prospectus because the information in this section does not provide all the information that might be important to you with respect to the mergers and the other matters being considered at the special meetings. Additional important information is also contained in the Annexes to, and the documents incorporated by reference into, this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

Q:    Why am I receiving this joint proxy statement/prospectus?prospectus and a new proxy card?

A:
As previously disclosed, BioCryst and Idera have agreed to a strategic business combination pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement that is described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the merger agreement is included as Annex A to this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

Q:    What should I do if I already voted using the proxy card sent in the joint proxy statement/prospectus that was mailed on or around April 2, 2018?

A:
If you previously submitted a proxy for either the Idera special meeting or the BioCryst special meeting originally scheduled for May 9, 2018, which proxy has not subsequently been revoked, and are a holder of record on May 29, 2018, BioCryst and Idera, as applicable, intend to vote such proxy at the respective special meeting on July 10, 2018, as directed by the previously submitted proxy by you. Accordingly, if you have already submitted a proxy, you do not need to take any action unless you want to change or revoke your proxy.

v


Table of Contents

Q:    What will stockholders receive in the mergers?

A:
Idera Stockholders:    If the mergers are completed, (i) holders of Idera common stock will receive 0.20 shares of Holdco common stock for each share of Idera common stock they hold at the effective time of the mergers (the "Idera exchange ratio") and (ii) holders of Idera preferred stock will receive for each share of Idera preferred stock they hold at the effective time of the mergers, that number of shares of Holdco common stock equal to (a) $1.00 divided by the 20-trading-day average trading price of Idera common stock, ending with the trading day prior to the third day prior to the closing date, multiplied by (b) 0.20. Holders of Idera common stock and Idera preferred stock will not receive any fractional shares of Holdco common stock in the mergers. Instead, Idera stockholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Holdco common stock that the holders of Idera common stock and Idera preferred stock would otherwise have been entitled to receive.

Q:    What is the value of the merger consideration?

A:
BioCryst stockholders and Idera stockholders will receive a fixed number of shares of Holdco common stock in the BioCryst merger and the Idera merger, respectively, rather than a number of shares of Holdco common stock with a particular fixed market value. Because the exchange ratios are fixed and will not be adjusted to reflect any changes in the market prices of BioCryst common stock or Idera common stock, the market value of the Holdco common stock issued in the

v


Table of Contents