SC 13G 1 sc13g07422mer_02232018.htm THE SCHEDULE 13G

 UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

(Rule 13d-102)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED

PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)

(Amendment No.   )1

 

Merus N.V.

 (Name of Issuer)

Common Shares, nominal value €0.09 per share

 (Title of Class of Securities)

N5749R100

 (CUSIP Number)

February 13, 2018

 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

     Rule 13d-1(b)

   Rule 13d-1(c)

     Rule 13d-1(d)

 

 

 

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P.  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
             
  4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Delaware  
NUMBER OF   5   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         0 shares  
OWNED BY   6   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         991,850  
PERSON WITH   7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0 shares  
    8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          991,850  
  9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        991,850  
  10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)  
         
        4.4%  
  12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN  

  

2

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P.  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
             
  4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Delaware  
NUMBER OF   5   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         0 shares  
OWNED BY   6   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         661,180  
PERSON WITH   7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0 shares  
    8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          661,180  
  9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        661,180  
  10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)  
         
        2.9%  
  12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN  

  

3

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Biotechnology Value Trading Fund OS LP  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
             
  4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Cayman Islands  
NUMBER OF   5   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         0 shares  
OWNED BY   6   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         200,282  
PERSON WITH   7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0 shares  
    8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          200,282  
  9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        200,282  
  10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)  
         
        Less than 1%  
  12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN  

  

4

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        BVF Partners OS Ltd.  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
             
  4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Cayman Islands  
NUMBER OF   5   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         0 shares  
OWNED BY   6   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         200,282  
PERSON WITH   7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0 shares  
    8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          200,282  
  9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        200,282  
  10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)  
         
        Less than 1%  
  12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        CO  

  

5

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        BVF Partners L.P.  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
             
  4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Delaware  
NUMBER OF   5   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         0 shares  
OWNED BY   6   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         2,124,443  
PERSON WITH   7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0 shares  
    8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          2,124,443  
  9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        2,124,443  
  10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)  
         
        9.4%  
  12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN, IA  

  

6

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        BVF Inc.  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
             
  4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Delaware  
NUMBER OF   5   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         0 shares  
OWNED BY   6   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         2,124,443  
PERSON WITH   7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0 shares  
    8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          2,124,443  
  9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        2,124,443  
  10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)  
         
        9.4%  
  12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        CO  

  

7

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Mark N. Lampert  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
             
  4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        United States  
NUMBER OF   5   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         0 shares  
OWNED BY   6   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         2,124,443  
PERSON WITH   7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0 shares  
    8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          2,124,443  
  9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        2,124,443  
  10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)  
         
        9.4%  
  12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        IN  

  

8

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

Item 1(a).Name of Issuer:

 

Merus N.V., a company organized under the laws of the Netherlands (the “Issuer”).

 

Item 1(b).Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

 

Yalelaan 62

3584 CM Utrecht

The Netherlands

 

Item 2(a).Name of Person Filing
Item 2(b).Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence
Item 2(c).Citizenship

 

Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. (“BVF”)

1 Sansome Street, 30th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P. (“BVF2”)

1 Sansome Street, 30th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

Biotechnology Value Trading Fund OS LP (“Trading Fund OS”)

PO Box 309 Ugland House

Grand Cayman, KY1-1104

Cayman Islands

Citizenship: Cayman Islands

 

BVF Partners OS Ltd. (“Partners OS”)

PO Box 309 Ugland House

Grand Cayman, KY1-1104

Cayman Islands

Citizenship: Cayman Islands

 

BVF Partners L.P. (“Partners”)

1 Sansome Street, 30th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

BVF Inc.

1 Sansome Street, 30th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: Delaware

 

Mark N. Lampert (“Mr. Lampert”)

1 Sansome Street, 30th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Citizenship: United States

 

Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.”

9

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

Item 2(d).Title of Class of Securities:

 

Common Shares, nominal value €0.09 per share (the “Shares”).

 

Item 2(e).CUSIP Number:

 

N5749R100

 

Item 3.If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

 

  /x/ Not applicable.
     
(a) / / Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
     
(b) / / Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
     
(c) / / Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act.
     
(d) / / Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.
     
(e) / / An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
     
(f) / / An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
     
(g) / / A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).
     
(h) / / A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
     
(i) / / A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act.
     
(j) / / Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).  
     
(k) / / Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ____

 

Item 4.Ownership

 

(a)Amount beneficially owned:

 

As of the close of business on February 23, 2018 (i) BVF beneficially owned 991,850 Shares, (ii) BVF2 beneficially owned 661,180 Shares, and (iii) Trading Fund OS beneficially owned 200,282 Shares.

 

Partners OS, as the general partner of Trading Fund OS, may be deemed to beneficially own the 200,282 Shares beneficially owned by Trading Fund OS.

10

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

Partners, as the general partner of BVF, BVF2, the investment manager of Trading Fund OS, and the sole member of Partners OS, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,124,443 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by BVF, BVF2, Trading Fund OS, and certain Partners managed accounts (the “Partners Managed Accounts”), including 271,131 Shares held in the Partners Managed Accounts.

 

BVF Inc., as the general partner of Partners, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,124,443 Shares beneficially owned by Partners.

 

Mr. Lampert, as a director and officer of BVF Inc., may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,124,443 Shares beneficially owned by BVF Inc.

 

The foregoing should not be construed in and of itself as an admission by any Reporting Person as to beneficial ownership of any Shares owned by another Reporting Person. Partners OS disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by Trading Fund OS. Each of Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by BVF, BVF2, Trading Fund OS, and the Partners Managed Accounts, and the filing of this statement shall not be construed as an admission that any such person or entity is the beneficial owner of any such securities.

 

(b)Percent of class:

 

The following percentages are based on the 22,509,604 Shares outstanding, which is the sum of (i) 19,409,607 Shares outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 1, 2017, and (ii) 3,099,997 Shares issued pursuant to an agreement, as described in the Issuer’s 6-K filed with the SEC on February 16, 2018.

 

As of the close of business on February 23, 2018 (i) BVF beneficially owned approximately 4.4% of the outstanding Shares, (ii) BVF2 beneficially owned approximately 2.9% of the outstanding Shares, (iii) Trading Fund OS beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding Shares (iv) Partners OS may be deemed to beneficially own less than 1% of the outstanding Shares, and (v) each of Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert may be deemed to beneficially own approximately 9.4% of the outstanding Shares (approximately 1.2% of the outstanding Shares are held in the Partners Managed Accounts).

 

(c)Number of shares as to which such person has:

 

(i)Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

 

See Cover Pages Items 5-9.

 

(ii)Shared power to vote or to direct the vote

 

See Cover Pages Items 5-9.

 

(iii)Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

See Cover Pages Items 5-9.

 

(iv)Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

See Cover Pages Items 5-9.

11

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

 

Item 5.Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 6.Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

 

Partners, BVF Inc. and Mr. Lampert share voting and dispositive power over the Shares beneficially owned by BVF, BVF2, Trading Fund OS, and the Partners Managed Accounts.

 

Item 7.Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary That Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 8.Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

 

See Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.Notice of Dissolution of Group.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 10.Certifications.

 

By signing below each of the undersigned certifies that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

 

12

CUSIP NO. N5749R100

SIGNATURE

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated: February 23, 2018

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.   BVF INC.
     
By: BVF Partners L.P., its general partner     /s/ Mark N. Lampert
By: BVF Inc., its general partner   By: Mark N. Lampert
        President
By:

/s/ Mark N. Lampert

     
  Mark N. Lampert      
  President   /s/ Mark N. Lampert
      MARK N. LAMPERT
         
BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, L.P.    
         
By: BVF Partners L.P., its general partner      
By: BVF Inc., its general partner      
         
By:

/s/ Mark N. Lampert

     
  Mark N. Lampert      
  President      
         
       
         
BVF PARTNERS L.P.      
         
By: BVF Inc., its general partner      
         
By:

/s/ Mark N. Lampert

     
  Mark N. Lampert      
  President      
   
   
BVF PARTNERS OS LTD.  
     
By: BVF Partners L.P., its sole member  
By: BVF Inc., its general partner  
     
By:

/s/ Mark N. Lampert

 
  Mark N. Lampert  
  President  
     
     
Biotechnology Value Trading Fund OS LP  
     
By: BVF Partners L.P., its investment manager  
By: BVF Inc., its general partner  
     
By:

/s/ Mark N. Lampert

 
  Mark N. Lampert  
  President  

 

13