UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D/A
Amendment No. 3
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Biolase, Inc.
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
(Name of Issuer)
Common Shares, $0.001 par value
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
(Title of Class of Securities)
090911108
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
(CUSIP Number)
Copy to:
Robert L. Lawrence, Esq. Kane Kessler, P.C. 1350 Avenue of the Americas, 26th Floor New York, New York 10019 (212) 541-6222 |
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
March 7, 2014
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
(Date of Event which requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Oracle Partners, L.P. |
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) (a)
(b) |
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS*
OO |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ¨
|
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 (See Item 5) |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
4,195,237 (See Item 5) | |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 (See Item 5) | |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
4,195,237 (See Item 5) |
11
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 4,195,237 (See Item 5) |
12
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* ¨
|
13
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 11.3% |
14
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN
|
2 |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Oracle Institutional Partners, L.P. |
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) (a)
(b) |
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS*
OO |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ¨
|
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 (See Item 5) |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
599,194 (See Item 5) | |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 (See Item 5) | |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
599,194 (See Item 5) |
11
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 599,194 (See Item 5) |
12
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* ¨
|
13
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.6% |
14
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN |
3 |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Oracle Ten Fund Master, L.P. |
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) (a)
(b) |
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS*
OO |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ¨
|
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Cayman Islands |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 (See Item 5) |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
1,310,952 (See Item 5) | |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 (See Item 5) | |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,310,952 (See Item 5) |
11
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,310,952 (See Item 5) |
12
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* ¨
|
13
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 3.5% |
14
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
OO |
4 |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Oracle Associates, LLC |
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) (a)
(b) |
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS*
OO |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ¨
|
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 (See Item 5) |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
4,794,431 (See Item 5) | |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 (See Item 5) | |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
4,794,431 (See Item 5) |
11
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 4,794,431 (See Item 5) |
12
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* ¨
|
13
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 12.9% |
14
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
OO |
5 |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Oracle Investment Management, Inc. |
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) (a)
(b) |
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS*
OO |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ¨
|
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 (See Item 5) |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
1,310,952 (See Item 5) | |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 (See Item 5) | |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,310,952 (See Item 5) |
11
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,310,952 (See Item 5) |
12
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* ¨
|
13
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 3.5% |
14
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO |
6 |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Larry N. Feinberg
|
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) (a)
(b) |
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS*
OO |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ¨
|
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States |
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 (See Item 5) |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
6,105,383 (See Item 5) | |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 (See Item 5) | |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
6,105,383 (See Item 5) |
11
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 6,105,383 (See Item 5) |
12
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* ¨
|
13
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 16.4% |
14
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN |
7 |
Item 1. Security and Issuer.
This Amendment No. 3 (the “Amendment”) amends the Schedule 13D originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 22, 2013, as previously amended by Amendment No. 1, filed on December 20, 2013, and Amendment No. 2, filed on February 13, 2014(the “Original Schedule 13D,” and collectively with the Amendment, the “Statement”) with respect to the shares of common par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock” or the “Shares”) of Biolase, Inc. (the “Issuer”), whose principal executive offices are located at 4 Cromwell, Irvine, CA 92618.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction
Item 4 of the Statement is hereby amended by the addition of the following:
The Reporting Persons are long-term investors and beneficial owners of approximately 16.4% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Issuer, which the Reporting Persons believe makes them the Issuer’s largest shareholder. As such, the Reporting Persons have significant concerns regarding both the operations and strategic direction of the Company, a number of which the Reporting Persons have expressed to the Issuer in the past.
There is now additional concern over a breakdown in corporate governance apparently engineered by the Chairman and CEO, Federico Pignatelli, in a blatant attempt to entrench himself and certain Board members who support him.
The Issuer announced in a press release on March 3, 2014 (the “March 3 Release”) that on, February 28, 2014, two current Board members, Dr. Alexander K. Arrow and Dr. Sam Low tendered their resignations as directors of the Company, and that two independent new directors, Mr. Jeffrey M. Nugent and Mr. Paul N. Clark, were appointed by the Board to fill the two vacancies created by Drs. Arrow’s and Low’s resignations. The Issuer publicly announced in the March 3 Release that the Board consists of six directors. Contrary to its own March 3 Release, on March 6, 2014, the Issuer filed a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “March 6 Form 8-K”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) reporting the appointments of Messrs. Clark and Nugent to the Board, but claiming the size of the Board somehow to be increased to eight members because Mr. Pignatelli claims after-the-fact not to have accepted the resignations of Drs. Arrow (who as the Issuer’s President and COO is not considered independent) and Low. However, under both the Issuer’s own Bylaws and as a matter of Delaware law, director resignations become effective immediately and are effective whether or not accepted by the Company or the Board. Since the vacancies created by Drs. Arrow’s and Low’s resignations were subsequently filled by Messrs. Clark and Nugent, as disclosed in both the March 3 Release and the March 6 Form 8-K, there were no Board vacancies remaining to which Drs. Arrow and Low could be reappointed. Any expansion of the Board from six to eight members and any reappointment of Drs. Arrow and Low require action by a majority of the Board of Directors, and subsequent disclosure of such actions in a Form 8-K filing with the SEC, neither of which, to the Reporting Persons knowledge, has occurred. Rather, what seems to have occurred is a manipulation of the Board at the behest of the Issuer’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Federico Pignatelli, in a misguided effort to protect his position as Chairman and CEO.
On March 7, 2014, one of the Reporting Persons and a record stockholder of the issuer’s Common Stock, Oracle Partners, L.P. (“Oracle Partners”), delivered a letter to the Issuer notifying it that Oracle Partners nominated and will seek to elect four (4) persons as nominees (the “Nominees”) to the Issuer’s Board of Directors at the Issuer’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual meeting”). All of Oracle Partners’ Nominees are highly qualified and have the requisite set of skills to serve as a Board member of the Issuer and would be considered independent directors. In fact, three of the four Nominees, Mr. Paul N. Clark, Mr. Jeffrey M. Nugent and Dr. Frederic H. Moll, are current independent directors who, in addition to their high qualifications, would allow for a degree of continuity on the Issuer’s Board.
8 |
Accordingly, Oracle Partners has nominated four Nominees based on the Board of Directors’ legal size of six (6) directors, as set forth in the March 3 Release. In the event the number of directors is increased beyond six, Oracle Partners reserves the right to nominate such number of additional persons as directors to fill any vacancies created by the increase or to fill any additional positions on the Board which the Issuer’s stockholders shall vote on at the Annual Meeting. Oracle Partners also stated that it may enter into enter into arrangements with one or more of its Nominees regarding various matters, including arrangements with respect to compensation, indemnification and expense reimbursement. Oracle Partners additionally reserved the rights, in the event any of its Nominees is unable to serve for any reason, to nominate a replacement Nominee.
On March 11, 2014, Oracle Partners issued a press release with respect to the submission of its Nomination Notice. The press release is attached to this Amendment as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Set forth below is certain biographical information with respect to each of the Nominees.
Paul N. Clark, 67, has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since February 2014. Mr. Clark has been a Strategic Advisory Board member of Genstar Capital, LLC since August 2007 and was an Operating Partner from August 2007 to January 2013. Genstar Capital LLC is a middle market private equity firm that focuses on investments in selected segments of life sciences and healthcare services, industrial technology, business services and software. Prior to that, Mr. Clark was the Chief Executive Officer and President of ICOS Corporation, a biotherapeutics company, from June 1999 to January 2007, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICOS from February 2000 to January 2007. From 1984 to 1998, Mr. Clark worked in various capacities for Abbott Laboratories, a health care products manufacturer, including President of the Pharmaceutical Products Division and retired from Abbott Laboratories as Executive Vice President and a board member. His previous experience included senior positions with Marion Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company, and Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (now Novartis Corporation), a pharmaceutical company. Mr. Clark currently serves as a director of Agilent Technologies, Inc. and Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. During the past five years Mr. Clark also served on the boards of directors of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Talecris Biotherapeutics Holding Corp. During the course of his career, Mr. Clark has also served on the boards of directors of other publicly-traded companies, including Abbot Laboratories and ICOS Corporation. Mr. Clark holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Alabama and a M.B.A. from Dartmouth College.
Based upon Mr. Clark’s significant experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, including his experience serving in senior management positions with ICOS Corporation (where he served as Chief Executive Officer and President), Abbott Laboratories, Marion Laboratories and Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, and his considerable public company director experience, Oracle believes that Mr. Clark has the requisite set of skills to serve as a Board member of the Company or to lead any of the committees of the Board. In addition, Mr. Clark brings significant experience on company management and governance issues and practices that are important to the Company’s corporate governance and the Board’s review of strategic alternatives.
9 |
Jeffrey M. Nugent, 67, has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since February 2014. Mr. Nugent is the Founder of Precision Dermatology, Inc., a privately held dermatology therapeutics company that was recently acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Mr. Nugent served as its President and CEO from December 2010 until February 2013 and Senior Advisor from February 2013 until June 2013. He served as Interim President and CEO of Ascension Orthopedics, Inc., an orthopedic extremeties company, from August 2008 until January 2009, and as director from January 2009 until it was acquired by Integra LifeSciences Corporation in September 2011. From May 2007 to June 2009, Mr. Nugent served as the President and CEO of Ventus Medical, Inc., a medical device company focused on the development of a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. From January 2005 to May 2007, Mr. Nugent served as President and CEO of Insight Pharmaceuticals LLC, a manufacturer and marketer of leading non-prescription medications. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Nugent served as President, CEO and a director of Revlon, Inc., a publicly traded beauty care company. Mr. Nugent previously held a number of senior management positions within Johnson & Johnson for 25 years in R&D, operations, marketing and finance, including serving as Worldwide President and CEO of Neutrogena Corp. from the time of its acquisition in 1994 until 1999. Mr. Nugent served on the Board of Directors of Bioform Medical, Inc., a publicly traded dermatology company, from February 2009 until its acquisition by Merz Pharmaceutical in February 2010. Mr. Nugent also serves on the boards of directors of several privately-held medical device companies.
Based upon Mr. Nugent’s significant experience as a senior executive at several privately held medical device companies, his experience as the CEO of a publicly-traded company and his current services as a director of the Company, Oracle believes that Mr. Nugent has the requisite set of skills to serve as a Board member of the Company or to lead any of the committees of the Board. In addition, Mr. Nugent brings significant experience on company management and governance issues and practices that are important to the Company’s corporate governance and the Board’s review of strategic alternatives.
Frederic H. Moll, 62, has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since June 2013 and is a member of the Board’s Compensation Committee. Dr. Moll is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Auris Surgical Robotics, Inc., an ophthalmic robotics company. Dr. Moll co-founded Hansen Medical, Inc., a medical robotics company, in September 2002, served as its Chief Executive Officer through June 2010, and served on its board of directors through May 2012. In November 1995, Dr. Moll co-founded Intuitive Surgical, Inc., a medical device company, and served as its first Chief Executive Officer and later, its Vice President and Medical Director until September 2003. In 1989, Dr. Moll co-founded Origin Medsystems, Inc., a medical device company, which later became an operating company within Guidant Corporation, a medical device company, following its acquisition by Eli Lilly in 1992. Dr. Moll served as Medical Director of Guidant’s surgical device division until November 1995. Dr. Moll holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. from Stanford University and an M.D. from the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Moll has also served on the Board of Directors of MAKO Surgical Corp., a public medical device company, since 2007. Dr. Moll also serves on several private medical device companies.
Based upon Dr. Moll’s leadership experience in the medical device industry, his long career as an executive of a publicly-traded company, his medical background, and his current services as a director of the Company, Oracle believes that Mr. Moll has the requisite set of skills to serve as a Board member of the Company or to lead any of the committees of the Board. In addition, Mr. Moll brings significant experience on company management and governance issues and practices that are important to the Company’s corporate governance and the Board’s review of strategic alternatives.
10 |
Eric Varma, M.D., 32, has been a Partner at Oracle Investment Management, Inc., one of the Reporting Persons, which is a fundamental research driven investment management company that is exclusively focused on the global healthcare and bioscience industries, since 2009. Prior to joining Oracle Investment Management, Dr. Varma worked at Leerink Swann, the Boston Consulting Group, and the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Varma has served on the Board of Directors of Vermillion, Inc., a multivariate diagnostics company focused on gynecologic cancers and women's health, since 2013 and is the Chair of its Compensation Committee. Dr. Varma received his B.A. from the University of California Berkeley, M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Based upon Dr. Varma’s experience healthcare and bioscience industries, his financial and commercial experience in the healthcare and bioscience industries and his experience on the board of another public healthcare company, Oracle believes that Dr. Varma has the requisite set of skills to serve as a Board member of the Company or to lead any of the committees of the Board.
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
99.1 | Press Release of Oracle Partners, dated March 11, 2014. |
11 |
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this Schedule 13D is true, complete and correct.
Dated: March 11, 2014
ORACLE PARTNERS, L.P.
By: ORACLE ASSOCIATES, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Larry N. Feinberg
Larry N. Feinberg, Managing Member
ORACLE INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, L.P.
By: ORACLE ASSOCIATES, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Larry N. Feinberg
Larry N. Feinberg, Managing Member
ORACLE TEN FUND MASTER, L.P.
By: ORACLE ASSOCIATES, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Larry N. Feinberg
Larry N. Feinberg, Managing Member
ORACLE ASSOCIATES, LLC
By: /s/ Larry N. Feinberg
Larry N. Feinberg, Managing Member
ORACLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
By: /s/ Larry N. Feinberg
Larry N. Feinberg, Managing Member
/s/ Larry N. Feinberg
Larry N. Feinberg, Individually
12 |
Oracle Partners Announces Its Proxy Contest Against Biolase, Inc.
Submits Nominations for Four Independent Directors
GREENWICH, Conn., March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle Partners, L.P. ("Oracle"), Biolase, Inc.'s ("Biolase" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: BIOL) largest shareholder, announces its nomination of four independent directors for election to the Biolase Board, citing management and Board entrenchment in the face of continuing poor financial performance.
Poor Financial Performance
Larry Feinberg, the Managing Member of Oracle's general partner, said: "As the Company's largest shareholder, we have previously expressed our concern regarding the operating and financial performance of Biolase to management, which has fallen on deaf ears." Mr. Feinberg added: "The financial results of the Company for the year ended 2013 were very disappointing, with a 2% decrease in net revenue (including an approximate 9% year-over-year decline in the most important laser product line) and a decrease in gross margins to 38% from 46% year-over-year. Reflecting investors' concern, the price of Biolase's Common Stock has declined an astounding 50.8%, from a high of $5.83 on April 26, 2013 to the closing price of $2.87 on March 10, 2014."
Management and Board Entrenchment
"In addition to financial performance issues, at the apparent behest of Federico Pignatelli, the Company's Chairman and CEO, management is now attempting to unlawfully entrench itself and certain Board members, which raises significant corporate governance concerns."
Mr. Feinberg continued: "On March 3, 2014, the Company announced in a press release that Dr. Alexander K. Arrow and Dr. Sam Low had tendered their resignations as directors of the Company, and that two new independent directors, Mr. Jeffrey M. Nugent and Mr. Paul N. Clark, had been appointed by the Board to fill the vacancies, resulting in a Board consisting of six directors.
On March 6, 2014, after apparently realizing that Messrs. Clark and Nugent were, in fact, acting with an independent voice in the best interest of all shareholders, the Company filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission claiming the size of the Board had somehow been increased to eight in an effort by the Chairman to secure his position by claiming that Drs. Arrow (who as the Company's President and COO is not considered independent) and Low were still on the Board. These actions violate Biolase's own bylaws and Delaware law, which provide director resignations become effective immediately. Since the vacancies created by these Board resignations were subsequently filled by Messrs. Clark and Nugent, there were no Board vacancies remaining on the Company's six-member Board to which Drs. Arrow and Low could have been reappointed. What seems to be occurring is an unlawful manipulation of the Board composition by the Chairman to stack the Board in a manner favorable to management."
Mr. Feinberg concluded: "Given the Company's continued poor operating and financial performance, and the grave concerns raised by these Board developments, we have notified the Company that we intend to seek changes to Biolase's Board at the 2014 annual meeting. Accordingly, we have nominated four highly distinguished independent directors, three of whom already sit on the Biolase Board. We are also considering legal action to enforce the rights of shareholders under applicable law."
Oracle's nominees to the Biolase Board include:
Paul N. Clark, 67, has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since February 2014. Mr. Clark has been a Strategic Advisory Board member of Genstar Capital, LLC, a middle market private equity firm focusing on the life sciences and healthcare services industries, since August 2007 and was an Operating Partner from August 2007 to January 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Clark was the Chief Executive Officer and President of ICOS Corporation, a biotherapeutics company, from June 1999 to January 2007, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICOS from February 2000 to January 2007. From 1984 to 1998, Mr. Clark worked in various senior management capacities for Abbott Laboratories, a health care products manufacturer and retired from Abbott Laboratories as Executive Vice President and a board member.
Jeffrey M. Nugent, 67, has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since February 2014. Mr. Nugent is the Founder of Precision Dermatology, Inc., a privately held dermatology therapeutics company that was recently acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Mr. Nugent served as its President and CEO from December 2010 until February 2013 and Senior Advisor from February 2013 until June 2013. Prior to then he served in a senior management capacity at various healthcare and biomedical companies, including Ascension Orthopedics, Inc., Ventus Medical, Inc., and Insight Pharmaceuticals LLC, a manufacturer and marketer of leading non-prescription medications. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Nugent served as President, CEO and a director of Revlon, Inc., and before then held a number of senior management positions within Johnson & Johnson.
Frederic H. Moll, 62, has served as a member of the Company's Board of Directors since June 2013 and is a member of the Board's Compensation Committee. Dr. Moll is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Auris Surgical Robotics, Inc., an ophthalmic robotics company. Dr. Moll co-founded Hansen Medical, Inc., a medical robotics company, in September 2002, served as its Chief Executive Officer through June 2010, and served on its board of directors through May 2012. In November 1995, Dr. Moll co-founded Intuitive Surgical, Inc., a medical device company, and served as its first Chief Executive Officer and later, its Vice President and Medical Director until September 2003.
Eric Varma, M.D., 32, has been a Partner at Oracle Investment Management, Inc., which is a fundamental research driven investment management company that is exclusively focused on the global healthcare and bioscience industries, since 2009. Prior to joining Oracle Investment Management, Dr. Varma worked at Leerink Swann, the Boston Consulting Group, and the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Varma has served on the Board of Directors of Vermillion, Inc., a multivariate diagnostics company focused on gynecologic cancers and women's health, since 2013 and is the Chair of its Compensation Committee.
Complete biographical details of Oracle's nominees will be contained within its preliminary proxy statement.
About Oracle Partners, L.P.
Oracle Partners is a fundamental-research driven investment fund that is exclusively focused on the global healthcare and bioscience industries.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
Oracle Partners, L.P., Oracle Institutional Partners, L.P., Oracle Ten Fund Master, L.P., Oracle Associates, LLC, Oracle Investment Management, Inc. and Larry N. Feinberg (collectively, "Oracle"), together with Paul N. Clark, Jeffrey M. Nugent, Frederic H. Moll and Eric Varma, are participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Biolase, Inc. (the "Company"). Oracle intends to file a proxy statement (the "2014 Proxy Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting.
Oracle may be deemed to beneficially own 6,105,383 shares of the Company's common stock, representing approximately 16.4% of the Company's outstanding common stock. None of the other participants owns in excess of 1% of the Company's common stock. Additional information regarding such participants, including their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the 2014 Proxy Statement and other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting.
Promptly after filing its definitive 2014 Proxy Statement with the SEC, Oracle intends to mail the definitive 2014 Proxy Statement and an accompanying proxy card to some or all stockholders pursuant to applicable SEC rules. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE 2014 PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain, free of charge, copies of the definitive 2014 Proxy Statement and any other documents filed by Oracle with respect to the Company with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) or by writing to Oracle Partners, L.P., 200 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.
CONTACT: Oracle Partners, L.P., Aileen Wiate, Chief Financial Officer, (203) 862-7900