US-based health information provider Sema4 has completed a reverse merger with special purpose acquisition company CM Life Sciences backed by financing from investors including telecommunications and internet group SoftBank.
The combined business is now trading its common stock and warrants on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbols SMFR and SMFRW respectively. CM Life Sciences floated on the Nasdaq Capital Market in a $385m initial public offering in September 2020.
SoftBank’s SB Management were among the investors that provided $350m to support the deal through a $350m private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing.
Investment and financial services group Fidelity, Casdin Capital, Corvex Management, Counterpoint Global, Perceptive Advisors, funds and accounts advised by T Rowe Price, Viking Global Investors and existing investors including funds and accounts managed by Blackrock and Deerfield Management also took part in the PIPE.
Founded in 2017, Sema4 offers screening services to help diagnose, treat and prevent disease. It started out by producing models for reproductive health but later added precision oncology and covid-19 to its capabilities.
The company will use the money gained through the reverse merger to fund its operations and accelerate business growth through strategic acquisitions.
Sema4 had received $121m in a July 2020 series C round led by Blackrock that also featured Deerfield, Moore Strategic Ventures, Blackstone, Section 32, Oak HC/FT, Decheng Capital and Connecticut Innovations.
Blackstone, Section 32, Oak HC/FT, Decheng Capital and Connecticut Innovations injected $120m in series B financing in Sema4 in 2019. Mount Sinai had supplied a “substantial investment” at the time of the company’s incorporation.
The original version of this story was published on our sister site, Global University Venturing.
