SeaStar Medical, a medical technology company developing proprietary solutions to reduce the consequences of hyperinflammation on vital organs, completed its business combination with LMF Acquisition Opportunities (LMAO), a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by LM Funding. The business combination closed on Oct. 28.
Following the closing of the business combination, LMF Acquisition Opportunities was renamed SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation and will operate under the same management team as SeaStar Medical, which is led by Eric Schlorff, CEO. Caryl Baron will serve as interim CFO. The common stock and warrants of SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation are expected to begin trading on Nasdaq on Oct. 31, under the new ticker symbols “ICU” and “ICUCW,” respectively.
The transaction was unanimously approved by both boards of directors of SeaStar Medical and LMAO. The holders of a majority of the SeaStar Medical voting power have approved the merger. Stockholders of LMAO approved the transaction at a special meeting of LMAO stockholders on Oct. 18, with more than 96% of the votes cast supporting the transaction.
“We are excited to begin the next phase of our journey as a public company,” Eric Schlorff, president and chief executive officer of SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation, said. “This transaction provides us greater resources to advance our Selective Cytopheretic Device (SCD) for patients suffering from the devastating consequences of hyperinflammation. We have submitted our Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pediatric use, and we plan to launch a pivotal study of the SCD in adults with acute kidney injury (AKI) in the first quarter of 2023. As a public company, we will be better positioned to move these programs forward.”
“We are proud that all of our hard work over the past several years has led us to this very significant milestone,” Bruce M. Rodgers, chairman and CEO of LM Funding, the sponsor of LMF Acquisition Opportunities, said. “We are extremely pleased that the transaction received the overwhelming support of the stockholders of LMF Acquisition and believe it will unlock significant value for the stockholders of LM Funding and SeaStar Medical. We look forward to supporting SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation as they continue to advance potentially lifesaving therapies as a public company.”
Maxim Group served as sole financial advisor and Morgan Lewis & Bockius served as legal counsel to SeaStar Medical in connection with the business combination. Foley & Lardner served as legal counsel to LMAO in connection with the business combination. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole served as legal counsel to Maxim Group.
