Each party is responsible for performing research and development activities based on research plans (each a "Research Plan") to be agreed upon throughout the initial five-year collaboration term under the AZ JRCA.
Pursuant to the IIA, on November 6, 2023, AZ Holdings made an initial equity investment of $80 million in Cellectis by subscribing to 16,000,000 ordinary shares at a price of $5.00 per share (the “Initial Investment”). On November 14, 2023, Cellectis and AZ Holdings signed the SIA for an additional equity investment of $140 million ("the Subsequent Investment") by AZ Holdings that was completed on May 3, 2024. The additional investment was made by way of subscription of 10,000,000 “class A” convertible preferred shares and 18,000,000 “class B” convertible preferred shares, in each case at a price of $5.00 per share. Both classes of preferred shares benefit from a liquidation preference and are convertible into ordinary shares with the same rights as the outstanding ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis.
Interdependence of the Initial Investment Agreement and the Subsequent Investment Agreement with the AZ JRCA
The IIA and the AZ JRCA were both signed on November 1, 2023, and the SIA was subsequently signed on November 14, 2023. The IIA, SIA and AZ JRCA were negotiated concurrently, and the execution of the IIA was a condition to the signing of the AZ JRCA. In addition, for both the IIA and the SIA, the price per share pursuant to such agreements was set at a level significantly higher than the quoted market price for the Company’s ordinary shares at their respective signing dates.
Considering all these factors, we concluded that in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards and for accounting purposes only, the IIA, SIA and AZ JRCA are accounted for as a single transaction as they were not negotiated based upon independently based market conditions.
Therefore, in accordance with applicable accounting standards, we allocated a portion of the proceeds received from AZ Holdings under the IIA and the initial fair value of the derivative recognized for the SIA to the AZ JRCA as additional consideration for the services to be rendered under the AZ JRCA, which is recorded as deferred revenue.
To estimate the portion of the share purchase price that exceeds fair value, we first assessed the fair value of both investment agreements at the date of initial recognition (i.e., on November 1, 2023 for the IIA and on November 14, 2023 for the SIA) and allocated to the AZ JRCA a portion of the share purchase proceeds equal to the difference between this initial fair value determination and the transaction price, i.e. the proceeds. As the proceeds from the SIA were zero at inception on November 14, 2023, the initial fair value of the SIA is allocated in full to the AZ JRCA.
The fair value of the IIA at the initial recognition date was determined on the basis of Cellectis' share price at the date of signature, and amounted to $35.7 million.(for more details refer to the Consolidated Financial statements as of December 31, 2024). The initial fair value of the SIA was estimated to be $48.4 million (for valuation method details and parameters refer to the Consolidated Financial statements as of December 31, 2024).
In accordance with applicable IFRS standards, we allocated $35.7 million of the proceeds received from the sale of ordinary shares pursuant to the IIA to the AZ JRCA and $48.4 million, representing the fair value of the derivative pursuant to the SIA to the AZ JRCA.
As the additional consideration is fixed from the inception of the IIA and SIA, it is reflected in the AZ JRCA transaction price from inception and initially recorded as deferred revenue totaling $84.1 million. The corresponding income will be recognized as revenue in profit and loss, in accordance with the characteristics of AZ JRCA performance obligations, when satisfied.
Accounting treatment of the Subsequent Investment Agreement
At the signing date of the SIA, the closing of this additional equity investment was subject to the fulfillment of several preceding conditions. This contract met all derivatives criteria and was recognized according to the principles of IFRS 9, under which the derivative instrument was recognized at its fair value with any subsequent change of fair value recognized in profit and loss. On May 3, 2024, the cash received following the additional investment has been recognized on the balance sheet, the derivative has been derecognized, and any difference between the cash received and the fair value of the derivative at closing date has been recognized against share premium and share capital.
At initial recognition, the fair-value of the derivative was $48.4 million. The fair value of this instrument was remeasured on December 31, 2023 and on May 3, 2024 and respectively amounted to $42.7 million and $57.0 million (for details refer to the Consolidated Financial statements as of December 31, 2024).