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Sard Verbinnen & Co. and FTI Consulting are handling 23andMe’s merger with Richard Branson’s VG Acquisition, special purpose acquisition company, in a deal that will take the genetics/research firm public during the second quarter.
23andMe helped pioneer the direct-to-consumer genetic testing market. More than 80 percent of consumers have opted to participate in research to create a database to analyze data and discover new genetic insights.
"As a fellow industry disruptor as well as early investor in 23andMe, we are thrilled to partner with Sir Richard Branson and VG Acquisition Corp. as we approach the next phase of our business, which will create new opportunities to revolutionize personalized healthcare and medicine, " said Anne Wojcicki, CEO and co-founder of 23andMe.
Branson said his team reviewed hundreds of companies for his SPAC, but 23andMe “stands head and shoulders above the rest."
Sard Verbinnen’s Paul Kranhold, John Christiansen and Chris Kittredge represent 23andMe.
FTI Consulting’s Antonia Gray, Grace Altman, Charles Palmer handle VG Acquisition Corp.
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Kekst CNC handles Getty Images as it begins a prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization and receives a commitment from Koch Equity Development and the Getty family to invest $533M in the visual content company.
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