Eargo, Inc (Nasdaq: EAR) (“Eargo” or “the Company”), a medical device company on a mission to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss, announced that Patient Square Capital (“Patient Square”) has become the majority equity owner of the Company. Patient Square’s equity ownership of Eargo resulted from the conversion of Patient Square’s senior secured convertible notes per its previously announced investment in June 2022 and following the recent closing of Eargo’s successful rights offering of common stock.
Patient Square now holds approximately 316.4 million shares of Eargo, or approximately 76.3% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, according to the announcement. As a result of the conversion of Patient Square’s convertible notes, Eargo currently has no debt for borrowed money outstanding. Together with the gross proceeds from subscriptions in the rights offering, Eargo raised total net proceeds of approximately $32.3 million pursuant to the rights offering, including an additional investment of $5.5 million by Patient Square and after deducting approximately $2.5 million in estimated offering-related expenses. The Company plans to use these net proceeds for working capital purposes and to fund the Company’s omni-channel growth strategy, it announced.
Christian Gormsen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eargo, said: “The ownership and support of Patient Square Capital, which we believe is one of the most well-respected investment firms in the health care industry, underscores their commitment to our long-term success and demonstrates their belief in our technology, mission, and growth strategy.”
Eargo has developed six generations of virtually invisible, completely-in-canal (“CIC”), FDA-regulated hearing aids that are offered direct to consumers online. In October of this year, FDA regulations establishing a new regulatory category of over-the-counter (“OTC”) hearing aids became effective, allowing people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to buy OTC hearing aids without supervision, prescription, or other order, involvement, or intervention of a licensed practitioner, whether online, at retail locations, or over the phone.
“Eargo’s innovative technology, established telecare infrastructure, and direct-to-consumer experience position the Company well for future growth, particularly now that the new FDA rules are increasing patient access and that the Company has a strengthened balance sheet,” said Justin Sabet-Peyman, managing director at Patient Square Capital. “We are excited to partner with Eargo’s talented team as the majority owner in the Company to continue executing on Eargo’s mission of improving the lives of people with hearing loss.”
Source: Eargo