BUSINESS COMBINATION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

BUSINESS COMBINATION

BUSINESS COMBINATION

4. BUSINESS COMBINATION

Summary of Business Combination

EQRx, Inc., formerly known as CM Life Sciences III Inc. (“CMLS III”), was incorporated in Delaware on January 25, 2021 for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On December 17, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), the Company consummated the merger transaction contemplated pursuant to a definitive merger agreement dated August 5, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the former EQRx, Inc. (“Legacy EQRx”), CMLS III and Clover III Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”). As contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Legacy EQRx, with Legacy EQRx surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMLS III (such transactions, the “Business Combination”). As a result of the Business Combination, CMLS III was renamed EQRx, Inc., and Legacy EQRx was renamed EQRx International, Inc.  

The Company assumed 11,039,957 publicly-traded warrants (“Public Warrants”) and 8,693,333 private placement warrants issued in connection with CMLS III’s initial public offering (“Private Warrants” and, together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. As of the Closing Date, each of the issued and outstanding Private Warrants and Public Warrants automatically converted into warrants to acquire shares of common stock.

In connection with the Business Combination, CMLS III entered into agreements with existing and new investors to subscribe for and purchase an aggregate of 120.0 million shares of common stock (the “PIPE Financing”) that resulted in gross proceeds of $1.2 billion upon the closing of the PIPE Financing. The closing of the Business Combination was a precondition to the PIPE Financing.

Net Proceeds

In connection with the Business Combination, the Company received net proceeds of $1.3 billion from the merger and related PIPE Financing. The following table summarizes the elements of the net proceeds from the Business Combination and PIPE Financing transactions (in thousands):

	Recapitalization
Cash - CMLS III's trust account and cash (net of redemptions)	$	158,160
Cash - PIPE Financing		1,200,000
Less transaction costs and fees paid as of the Closing Date		(53,596)
Proceeds from the Business Combination, net of transaction costs paid as of the Closing Date		1,304,564
Less transaction costs paid following the Closing Date		(1,363)
Net proceeds from the Business Combination	$	1,303,201

Earn-Out Shares

Following the Closing Date, holders of Legacy EQRx securities and options (“Earn-Out Service Providers”) are entitled to receive as additional merger consideration up to 50,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Earn-out Shares”), comprised of two separate tranches, for no consideration upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. Earn-Out Service Providers may receive a pro rata share of up to 35,000,000 additional shares of

common stock if at any time between the 12-month anniversary of the Closing Date and the 36-month anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Earn-Out Period”), the common stock price is greater than or equal to $12.50 for a period of at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days (“Tranche 1”), and up to 15,000,000 additional shares of common stock if at any time during the Earn-Out Period the common stock price is greater than or equal to $16.50 for a period of at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days (“Tranche 2”).

Earn-Out Shares allocated to Earn-Out Service Providers who held equity securities not subject to any vesting conditions or restrictions as of the Closing Date of the Business Combination are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”), as the Earn-Out Shares are not indexed to the  common stock. Pursuant to ASC 815, these Earn-Out Shares were accounted for as a liability at the Closing Date of the Business Combination and subsequently remeasured at each reporting date with changes in fair value recorded as a component of other income (expense), net in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Earn-Out Shares allocated to Earn-Out Service Providers who held shares of common stock or options to purchase common stock that are subject to time-based vesting conditions or restrictions as of the Closing Date of the Business Combination are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Share-Based Compensation (“ASC 718”), as the Earn-Out Shares are subject to forfeiture based on the satisfaction of certain service conditions. Pursuant to ASC 718, these Earn-Out Shares were measured at fair value at the grant date (the Closing Date) and will be recognized as expense over the time-based vesting period with a credit to additional paid-in-capital.