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BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Business Description.

Transgenomic, Inc., and Subsidiary, (“we”, “us”, “our”, the “Company” or “Transgenomic”) is a biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine for the detection and treatment of cancer and integrated diseases through our proprietary molecular technologies and clinical and research services. A key goal is to bring our Multiplexed ICE COLD-PCR (“MX-ICP”) product to the clinical market through strategic partnerships and licensing agreements, enabling the use of blood and other bodily fluids for more effective and patient-friendly diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of cancer.

MX-ICP is technology proprietary to Transgenomic. It is a reagent that improves the ability to detect genetic mutations. This technology has been validated internally on all currently available sequencing platforms, including Sanger, Next Gen Sequencing and Digital PCR. By enhancing the level of detection of genetic mutations and suppressing the normal or wild-type DNA, several benefits are provided.

Historically, our operations were organized and reviewed by management along our major product lines and presented in two business segments: Laboratory Services and Genetic Assays and Platforms. Beginning with the quarter ended September 30, 2015, our operations are now organized as one business segment, our Laboratory Services segment, and during the fourth quarter of 2015, we began including a portion of our Laboratory Services segment as discontinued operations, this continued during 2016.

Our current Laboratory Services business consists of our laboratory in Omaha, Nebraska, which is focused on providing genetic analytical services related to Oncology and pharmacogenomics research services supporting Phase II and Phase III clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Our laboratory employs a variety of genomic testing service technologies, including our proprietary MX-ICP technology. Our laboratory in Omaha is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (“CLIA”) as a high complexity laboratory and is accredited by the College of American Pathologists.

Our consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows for all periods presented reflect our former Genetic Assays and Platforms activities and Patient Testing business as discontinued operations (See Note 3 - “Discontinued Operations”).
Going Concern

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America applicable for a going concern which assumes that the Company will realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The Company has incurred substantial operating losses and has used cash in its operating activities for the past few years. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had negative working capital of approximately $19.3 million. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon a combination of completing its planned merger with Precipio Diagnostics, LLC (“Precipio”), generating additional revenue, improving cash collections, potentially selling underutilized assets and/or product lines related to discontinued operations and, if needed, raising necessary financing to meet its obligations and pay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. As noted in subsequent events, the Company is suspended from NASDAQ listing. As discussed below as a condition of the merger, the New Precipio common Stock must be approved by the NASDAQ. As a result of the merger, the equity of New Precipio is expected to be in compliance. In addition, at the time of the merger the Company will execute a reverse stock split. The outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with any certainty at this time and raises substantial doubt that the Company will be able to continue as a going concern for the next twelve months from the date of issuance of these financial statements. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. There is no assurance that the Company will complete the merger in a timely manner or at all. The merger agreement is subject to many closing conditions and termination rights. The Company also cannot be certain that additional financing, if needed, will be available on acceptable terms, or at all, and its failure to raise capital when needed could limit its ability to continue its operations. 
Merger Agreement
On October 12, 2016, Transgenomic, New Haven Labs Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Transgenomic (“Merger Sub” and, together with Transgenomic, the “Transgenomic Parties”), and Precipio entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended by the Merger Agreement Amendment (as defined below) the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Precipio will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Transgenomic (the “Merger”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. On February 2, 2017, Transgenomic, Merger Sub and Precipio entered into a First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement Amendment”) which provided for, among other things, the revision of the exchange ratio set forth in the Merger Agreement, the waiver and removal of certain closing conditions and the authorization of certain actions taken by each of Transgenomic and Precipio since the date the Merger Agreement. The parties expect the Merger to close in the second quarter of 2017. following the Merger, Transgenomic will change its name to Precipio, Inc. (“New Precipio”).
Upon the effectiveness of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), (i) the outstanding common units of Precipio will be converted into the right to receive approximately 160.6 million shares of common stock of New Precipio (“New Precipio common stock”), together with cash in lieu of fractional units, which will result in Precipio common unit holders owning approximately 52% of the issued and outstanding shares of New Precipio common stock on a fully diluted basis, taking into account the issuance of shares of convertible preferred stock of New Precipio (“New Precipio preferred stock”) in the Merger and the private placement as discussed below (the “fully diluted New Precipio common stock”) and (ii) the outstanding preferred units of Precipio will be converted into the right to receive approximately 24.1 million shares of New Precipio preferred stock with an aggregate face amount equal to $3.0 million (based upon the purchase price of the new preferred stock of New Precipio in the new preferred stock financing), which will result in the Precipio preferred unit holders owning approximately 8% of the fully diluted New Precipio common stock.
The board of managers of Precipio and the boards of directors of Transgenomic and Merger Sub, and Transgenomic, in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, have each approved the Merger Agreement and the board of managers of Precipio and the board of directors of Transgenomic have each recommended that their respective equity holders approve the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Transgenomic will hold a special meeting of its stockholders to approve the issuance of shares of Transgenomic common stock pursuant to the Merger, as required by Nasdaq Listing Rules, as well as certain other matters (the “Special Meeting”).
The Merger Agreement contains various representations, warranties and covenants of the Transgenomic Parties and Precipio, including, among others, covenants (i) by each of Precipio and Transgenomic to operate its business in the ordinary course, (ii) by each of Precipio and Transgenomic not to engage in certain kinds of transactions during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the completion of the Merger, (iii) by Precipio to have its members approve the Merger and (iv) by Transgenomic to hold the Special Meeting.
Under the Merger Agreement, Precipio and Transgenomic are subject to customary “no shop” provisions that limit their respective abilities to solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties or to provide confidential information to third parties, subject to a “fiduciary out” provision that allows Precipio and Transgenomic to provide information and participate in discussions with respect to certain unsolicited written proposals and to terminate the Merger Agreement and enter into an acquisition agreement with respect to a superior proposal in compliance with the terms of the Merger Agreement (a “Superior Proposal”).
Completion of the Merger is subject to various conditions, including, among others: (i) approval of the holders of a majority of Transgenomic’s shares of outstanding common stock, (ii) approval of the requisite amount of the members of Precipio, (iii) approval of an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Transgenomic contemplating the New Preferred Stock Financing (described below) and changing the name of Transgenomic to Precipio, Inc. or such other name as determined by Precipio, (iv) obtaining certain third party consents, (v) the absence of any judgment, injunction, order or decree prohibiting or enjoining the completion of the Merger, (vi) consummation of the New Preferred Stock Financing, (vii) approval of listing of New Precipio common stock on Nasdaq, (viii) the conversion of all outstanding membership interests of Precipio into common units or preferred units which will be converted into New Precipio common stock or New Precipio preferred stock as Merger consideration, as applicable, (ix) increase in the size of the Transgenomic board by two members and the appointment of designees in accordance with the Merger Agreement and (x) the lock-up of certain Transgenomic stockholders and Precipio members.
Upon completion of the merger, New Precipio will be required to meet the initial listing requirements to maintain the listing and continued trading of its shares on Nasdaq. These initial listing requirements are more difficult to achieve than the continued listing requirements.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Transgenomic agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the shares of Transgenomic common stock being issued in the merger to be approved for listing on Nasdaq at or prior to the effective time of the merger. Based on information currently available to Transgenomic, Transgenomic anticipates that its stock will be unable to meet the $4.00 (or, to the extent applicable, $3.00) minimum bid price initial listing requirement at the closing of the merger unless it effects a reverse stock split. On October 31, 2016, the stockholders of Transgenomic authorized the Transgenomic Board to effect a reverse stock split of the shares of Transgenomic common stock at a ratio of between one-for-ten to one-for-thirty.  In addition, often times a reverse stock split will not result in a trading price for the affected common stock that is proportional to the ratio of the split.
In addition, the obligation of the parties to complete the Merger is subject to certain other conditions, including (i) subject to the standards set forth in the Merger Agreement, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party, (ii) compliance of each party with its covenants in all material respects and (iii) no material adverse effect of either party.
The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the Transgenomic Parties and Precipio. Either may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger is not completed on or before the date that is six months following the date of the Merger Agreement, April 12, 2017. In the Merger Agreement Amendment, this date was extended to June 30, 2017. Moreover, either party may terminate the Merger Agreement if the other party changes its recommendation to its security holders to approve the Merger and the related transactions or enter into an agreement with a third party regarding a Superior Proposal.
If the Merger Agreement is terminated by Precipio or Transgenomic pursuant to (i) the Transgenomic board failing to recommend that Transgenomic’s stockholders vote to approve the issuance of New Precipio common stock in connection with the merger; (ii) Transgenomic failing to include in this proxy statement a recommendation by the Transgenomic board to vote in favor of the each of the proposals in this proxy statement; (iii) the Transgenomic board failing to make, withholding, withdrawing, amending, changing, qualifying or publicly proposing to withhold, withdraw, amend, change or qualify in a manner adverse to Precipio, its recommendation that the stockholders of Transgenomic vote in favor and adopt each of the proposals in this proxy statement, knowingly making any public statement inconsistent with such recommendation, failing to recommend against acceptance of any alternate acquisition proposal within ten business days after the public announcement of any such alternate acquisition proposal, approving, adopting, recommending or proposing publicly to approve, adopt or recommend any alternate acquisition proposal, or making any public statement inconsistent with its recommendation; (iv) Transgenomic entering into any letter of intent or similar document or any contract relating to any alternate acquisition proposal or (v) Transgenomic entering into a definitive agreement to effect an alternate acquisition proposal, then Transgenomic shall pay to Precipio, by wire transfer of immediately available funds within three business days after termination of the Merger Agreement, a nonrefundable fee in an amount equal to $256,500.
If the Merger Agreement is terminated by Transgenomic or Precipio pursuant to (i) Precipio’s board of managers failing to recommend that its members vote or act by written consent to approve the merger; (ii) Precipio’s board of managers failing to make, withholding, withdrawing, amending, changing, qualifying or publicly proposing to withhold, withdraw, amend, change or qualify in a manner adverse to Transgenomic, its recommendation that the members of Precipio vote in favor of each of the merger, the execution of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transaction contemplated therein, knowingly making any public statement inconsistent with such recommendation, failing to recommend against acceptance of any alternate acquisition proposal within ten business days after the public announcement of any such alternate acquisition proposal, approving, adopting, recommending or proposing publicly to approve, adopt or recommend any alternate acquisition proposal, or making any public statement inconsistent with its recommendation; (iii) Precipio entering into any letter of intent or similar document or any contract relating to any alternate acquisition proposal; or (iv) Precipio entering into a definitive agreement to effect an alternate acquisition proposal, Precipio shall pay to Transgenomic, by wire transfer of immediately available funds within three business days after termination of the Merger Agreement, a nonrefundable fee in an amount equal to $256,500.
In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement, Transgenomic and members and warrant holders of Precipio (collectively, the “Supporting Members”), entered into a voting agreement (the “Precipio Voting Agreement”) pursuant to which the Supporting Members agreed to, among other things, (i) authorize and approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and (ii) vote against any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement). Collectively, the shares held by the Supporting Members represent approximately 71% of Precipio’s issued and outstanding membership interests.
Precipio and certain Transgenomic stockholders (the “Supporting Stockholders”) also entered into a voting agreement (the “Transgenomic Voting Agreement”) pursuant to which the Supporting Stockholders agreed to, among other things, (i) authorize and approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and (ii) vote against any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement). Collectively, the shares held by the Supporting Stockholders represent approximately 31.84% of Transgenomic’s voting stock.
The Merger Agreement also provides that the combined company will enter into employment agreements with certain employees of Precipio at the Effective Time and that the officers of the combined company will be agreed to by the parties prior to the Effective Time.

Special Meeting of Stockholders
At our 2016 Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) held on October 31, 2016, our stockholders approved the proposal to authorize our Board of Directors to, in its discretion, amend our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio of between one-for-ten to one-for-thirty, such ratio to be determined by our Board of Directors (the “Reverse Split Proposal”). The Reverse Split Proposal was described in detail in our definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 22, 2016, as supplemented on October 13, 2016.
The approval of the Reverse Split Proposal by our stockholders provides our Board of Directors with the authority to carry out the reverse stock split, but our Board of Directors is not obligated to do so. If our Board of Directors determines to effect the reverse stock split, it intends to select a reverse stock split ratio that it believes would be most likely to achieve the anticipated benefits of the reverse stock split. Notwithstanding approval of the Reverse Split Proposal by our stockholders, our Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, abandon the Reverse Split Proposal and determine, prior to the effectiveness of any filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, not to effect the reverse stock split. If our Board of Directors fails to implement the reverse stock split on or prior to the first anniversary date of the Special Meeting, stockholder approval again would be required prior to implementing any reverse stock split.