Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its controlled subsidiaries.

On July 21, 2023, AEON completed the Merger with Old AEON, with Old AEON surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, the accounting acquirer. The transaction was accounted for as a forward merger asset acquisition.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” for periods prior to the Closing, refers to Old AEON, AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (“Predecessor”), and for the periods after the Closing, refers to AEON Biopharma, Inc., including AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (“Successor”). As a result of the Merger, the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of the Predecessor and Successor are not directly comparable. AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. was deemed to be the predecessor entity. Accordingly, the historical financial statements of AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. became the historical financial statements of the combined Company, upon the consummation of the Merger. As a result, the financial statements included in this report reflect (i) the historical operating results of AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. prior to the Merger and (ii) the combined results of the Company, including AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc., following the Closing. The accompanying financial statements include Predecessor periods from January 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 and July 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023, and Successor periods for the period from July 22, 2023 to September 30, 2023, and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. A black line between the Successor and Predecessor periods has been placed in the condensed consolidated financial statements and in the tables to the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements to highlight the lack of comparability between these two periods.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024 (Successor), the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income and stockholders’ deficit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 (Successor) and the periods from January 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 (Predecessor), July 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023

(Predecessor) and July 22, 2023 to September 30, 2023 (Successor), and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (Successor) and the periods from January 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 (Predecessor) and July 22, 2023 to September 30, 2023 (Successor) and the related note disclosures are unaudited. The balance sheet information as of December 31, 2023 (Successor) is derived from the Successor’s audited financial statements. These unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and, in management’s opinion, on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements and reflect all adjustments which only include normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2024 (Successor) and its results of operations and comprehensive (loss) income and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 (Successor) and the periods from January 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 (Predecessor), July 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 (Predecessor) and July 22, 2023 to September 30, 2023 (Successor). The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 (Successor) are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024 or any other interim period.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes. The Company’s most significant estimates relate to the research and development accruals, valuation of common stock and related stock-based compensation, and the fair values of the contingent consideration, forward purchase agreements, in-process research and development, warrant liabilities and convertible notes. Although the Company bases estimates on historical experience, knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments over the carrying values of assets and liabilities, this process may result in actual results differing materially from those estimated amounts used in the preparation of the financial statements.

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The Company provides segment financial information and results for its segments based on the segregation of revenues and expenses that its chief operating decision makers review for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating its financial performance.

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company operates and manages its business as one operating and reportable segment.

Risk and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks common to early-stage companies in the pharmaceutical industry including, but not limited to, dependency on the clinical and commercial success of its current and any future product candidates, ability to obtain regulatory approval of its current and any future product candidates, the need for substantial additional financing to achieve its goals, uncertainty of broad adoption of its approved products, if any, by physicians and patients and significant competition.

The Company relies on Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. (“Daewoong”), a South Korean pharmaceutical manufacturer, as an exclusive and sole supplier to manufacture the Company’s source material for product candidates. Any termination or loss of significant rights, including exclusivity, under the Company’s license and supply agreement with Daewoong (the “Daewoong Agreement”) would materially and adversely affect the Company’s commercialization of its products. See Note 7 Commitments and Contingencies for a discussion of the Daewoong Agreement.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The cost of property and equipment is depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. The Company’s furniture and fixtures are depreciated on a straight-line basis over a period of seven years. Equipment is depreciated over a useful life of five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset or the related lease term.

Property and equipment, net, as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (unaudited) are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2024		2023
Furniture and fixtures	$	199	$	199
Equipment		237		237
Leasehold improvements		66		66
Property and equipment		502		502
Accumulated depreciation		(244)		(170)
Property and equipment, net	$	258	$	332

Other Accrued Expenses

Other accrued expenses were as follows (in thousands):

		September 30,		December 31,
		2024		2023
Legal expenses	$	1,779	$	1,867
Excise tax liability		569		569
Operating lease liability - short term portion		128		278
Daewoong vial usage		444		33
Remaining other accrued expenses		240		843
Total other accrued expenses	$	3,160	$	3,590

Convertible Notes

The Company elected to account for its convertible promissory notes at fair value at inception and at each subsequent reporting date. Subsequent changes in fair value are recorded as a component of non-operating income (loss) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income or as a component of other comprehensive (loss) income for changes related to instrument-specific credit risk. As a result of electing the fair value option, direct costs and fees related to the convertible promissory notes are expensed as incurred. The Predecessor convertible promissory notes were converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at the Closing.

Contingent Consideration (Successor)

The Company accounts for its contingent consideration as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the Contingent Consideration Shares specific terms (as further defined in Note 6 Fair Value Measurements) and applicable authoritative guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The Contingent Consideration Shares are classified as a liability on the Successor’s condensed consolidated balance sheets and remeasured at each reporting period with changes to fair value recorded to the Successor’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

Forward Purchase Agreements (Successor)

Based on the applicable guidance in ASC 480, ASC 815, Equity (“ASC 505”) and Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 4.E, Receivables from Sale of Stock (“SAB 4E”), the Company had determined that each of its forward purchase agreements entered in connection with the Merger was a freestanding hybrid financial instrument comprising a subscription receivable and embedded features, which were bifurcated and accounted for separately as derivative instruments. The Company recorded the derivatives as liabilities and measured them at fair value each reporting period. For more information, see Note 3 Forward Merger. Subsequent changes in the bifurcated derivatives were recorded in the Successor’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. The forward purchase agreements were terminated in March 2024, and the loss related to the termination was recorded to the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

Warrants (Successor)

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815. The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments and meet all of the requirements for equity classification, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own shares of common stock, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding. For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a liability and measured at their fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter until settlement. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized in the Successor’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

Convertible Preferred Stock (Predecessor)

The Company recorded its Predecessor convertible preferred stock at their respective issuance price, less issuance costs on the dates of issuance. The convertible preferred stock was classified outside of permanent equity as temporary equity in the accompanying Predecessor’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Although the convertible preferred stock was not redeemable at the holder’s option, upon certain change in control events that are outside of the Company’s control, including liquidation, sale or transfer of control of the Company, holders of the convertible preferred stock may have had the right to receive their liquidation preference to any distribution of the proceeds under the terms of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The Company did not adjust the carrying values of the convertible preferred stock to the liquidation preferences of such shares since it is uncertain whether or when a redemption event will occur. Subsequent adjustments to increase the carrying values to the redemption values will be made only when it becomes probable that such redemption will occur. As part of the Merger, each share of Old AEON common stock issued with respect to the Old AEON convertible preferred stock was converted into approximately 2.328 shares of common stock and the right to receive a pro-rata portion of the contingent consideration.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or an exit price paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Fair value measurements are based on a three-tiered valuation hierarchy, which is classified and disclosed by the Company in one of the three categories as follows:

· Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

· Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

· Level 3 — Prices or valuation techniques that require unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The categorization of a financial instrument within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Leases

The Company determines whether a contract is, or contains, a lease at inception. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset during the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement based upon the

estimated present value of unpaid lease payments over the lease term using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate applicable to the underlying asset unless the implicit rate is readily determinable. The Company determines the lease term as the noncancellable period of the lease, and may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recognized on the balance sheets.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs associated with clinical studies including clinical trial design, clinical site reimbursement, data management, travel expenses and the cost of products used for clinical trials and internal and external costs associated with the Company’s regulatory compliance and quality assurance functions, including the costs of outside consultants and contractors that assist in the process of submitting and maintaining regulatory filings, and overhead costs. Additionally, research and development expenses include employee compensation, including stock-based compensation, supplies, consulting, prototyping, testing, materials, travel expenses and an allocation of facility overhead expenses. Costs incurred in obtaining technology licenses are charged to acquired in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) if the technology licensed has not reached technological feasibility and has no alternative future use. The acquired IPR&D at the Closing was written off to the Successor’s consolidated income statement for the period ended September 30, 2023.

The Company accrues the expenses for its clinical trial activities performed by third parties, including clinical research organizations and other service providers, based upon estimates of the work completed over the life of the individual study in accordance with associated agreements. The Company determines these estimates through discussion with internal personnel and outside service providers as to progress or stage of completion of trials or services pursuant to contracts with clinical research organizations and other service providers and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services. Payments made to outside service providers in advance of the performance of the related services are recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets until the services are rendered. There have been no material adjustments to the Company’s estimates for clinical trial expenses through September 30, 2024 (Successor) and December 31, 2023 (Successor).

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes compensation expense for all share-based awards. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation as measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award. The Company measures the fair value of awards granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the estimated fair value of common stock, the expected volatility of the Company’s common stock, expected risk-free interest rate, and the option’s expected life. The Company also evaluates the impact of modifications made to the original terms of equity awards when they occur.

The fair value of equity awards that are expected to vest is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized net of actual forfeitures when they occur, as an increase to additional paid-in capital or noncontrolling interest in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and in selling, general and administrative or research and development expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. All stock-based compensation costs are recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income based upon the underlying employee’s role within the Company.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires, among other things, that deferred income taxes be provided for temporary differences between the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities and their financial statement reported amounts. In addition, deferred tax assets are recorded for the future benefit of utilizing net operating losses and research and development credit carryforwards and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such items are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that they will be realized.

The Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby (i) it determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (ii) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, it recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. Any accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions will be reflected as a liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Net income (loss) Per Share

Prior to the Merger, the Predecessor calculated basic and diluted net income (loss) per share to common stockholders in conformity with the two-class method required for companies with participating securities. The Company considered all series of convertible preferred stock to be participating securities as they participate in any dividends declared by the Company. Under the two-class method, undistributed earnings allocated to these participating stockholders were subtracted from net income in determining net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders. Net income (loss) was not allocated to convertible preferred stock as the holders of convertible preferred stock did not have a contractual obligation to share in losses. Subsequent to the Merger, the Company only has one class of shares.

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive shares of common stock in Predecessor periods. For Predecessor periods, diluted net income (loss) per share was computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period using the “treasury stock,” “if converted” or “two-class” method unless their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. For purposes of the diluted net income (loss) per share calculation, convertible preferred stock, warrants, convertible notes and common stock options were considered as potentially dilutive securities.

Since the Company was in a loss position for the periods from January 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 (Predecessor) and July 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 (Predecessor), July 22, 2023 to September 30, 2023 (Successor), and the three months ended September 30, 2024, basic net loss per share is the same as diluted net loss per share as the inclusion of all potentially dilutive shares of common stock was anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (Successor), dilutive options of 1,924,428 and restrict stock units of 848,521 were included in the calculation for diluted net income per share.

Basic and diluted net loss per share for the Predecessor periods from January 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 and July, 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 were calculated as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) (unaudited):

Period from January 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 (Predecessor)
Net loss	$	(60,678)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted		138,848,177
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.44)

Period from July 1, 2023 to July 21, 2023 (Predecessor)
Net loss	$	(27,661)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted		138,848,177
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.20)

Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share for the Successor periods from July 22, 2023 to September 30, 2023, and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 were calculated as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) (unaudited):

Period from July 22, 2023 to September 30, 2023 (Successor)
Net loss	$	(297,711)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted		37,159,600
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(8.01)

Three months ended September 30, 2024 (Successor)
Net loss	$	(6,171)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted		39,515,292
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.16)

Nine months ended September 30, 2024 (Successor)
Net income	$	39,923
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, basic		38,545,882
Net income per share, basic	$	1.04
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted		41,318,831
Net income per share, diluted	$	0.97

The following potentially dilutive securities outstanding have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding because such securities have an anti-dilutive impact (unaudited):

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2024	2023		2024	2023
	Successor	Successor July 22 to September 30	Predecessor July 1 to July 21	Successor	Successor July 22 to September 30	Predecessor July 1 to July 21
Warrants	3,988,952	14,479,999	14,479,999	3,988,952	14,479,999	14,479,999
Contingent consideration	16,000,000	16,000,000	16,000,000	16,000,000	16,000,000	16,000,000
Contingent founder shares	3,450,000	3,450,000	3,450,000	3,450,000	3,450,000	3,450,000
Common stock options and restricted stock units	8,966,962	4,888,537	4,888,537	6,194,013	4,888,537	4,888,537
	32,405,914	38,818,536	38,818,536	29,632,965	38,818,536	38,818,536

Contingencies

The Company may be, from time to time, a party to various disputes and claims arising from normal business activities. The Company continually assesses litigation to determine if an unfavorable outcome would lead to a probable loss or reasonably possible loss which could be estimated. The Company accrues for all contingencies at the earliest date at which the Company deems it probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of such liability can be reasonably estimated. If the estimate of a probable loss is a range and no amount within the range is more likely than another, the Company accrues the minimum of the range. In the cases where the Company believes that a reasonably possible loss exists, the Company discloses the facts and circumstances of the litigation, including an estimable range, if possible.

Recent Accounting Standards

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This update requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for public entities with annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. This update requires public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses and other segment items on an interim and annual basis. Public entities with a single reportable segment are required to apply the disclosure requirements in ASU 2023-07, as well as all existing segment disclosures and reconciliation requirements in ASC 280, on an interim and annual basis. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2023, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the SEC did not, or are not believed by management to, have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.