In re: Apple Tree Life Sciences, Inc., et al.

CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Delaware
DecidedApril 14, 2026
Docket25-12177
StatusUnknown

This text of In re: Apple Tree Life Sciences, Inc., et al. (In re: Apple Tree Life Sciences, Inc., et al.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re: Apple Tree Life Sciences, Inc., et al., (Del. 2026).

Opinion

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

In re: Chapter 11 APPLE TREE LIFE SCIENCES, INC., etal, | Case No. 25-12177 (LSS) Debtors. (Jointly Administered)

MEMORANDUM OPINION 1. Motion of Rigmora Biotech Investor One LP and Rigmora Biotech Investor Two LP for Relief from the Automatic Stay (D.I. 125) 2. Amended Motion of Rigmora Biotech Investor One LP and Rigmora Biotech Investor Two LP for an Order Dismissing the Bankruptcy Cases of ATP Life Science Ventures L.P. and ATP III GP, Ltd. (D.I. 204) Apple Tree Life Sciences Venture, L.P. (the “Fund” or “Partnership”) is a venture capital fund formed as a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership. Since 2012, its mission has been to invest in pharmaceutical and medically-related start-up companies. It has investments in fifteen portfolio companies whose research spans from developing treatments for tumors and cancers to obesity. Unless extended, the Fund’s term expires on February 6, 2029. Of the $2.525 billion in committed funding approximately $25 million remains subject to future capital calls. Between December 9, 2025 and January 15, 2026, ATP III GP, Ltd (the “General Partner”), which is charged with managing the Fund, filed voluntary chapter 11 petitions for itself, the Fund and seven of its portfolio companies. Since that time, certain limited partners (the “Rigmora LPs”) akin to “silent investors,” have objected to nearly all requests for relief. They have also filed the instant motions to dismiss and for relief from stay, to which Debtors have objected. Put in its most charitable light, the motions and associated objections reflect a difference of opinion on how to maximize the value of a “closed-end”

venture capital fund nearing the end of its contractual and monetary lifespan. The General Partner believes the portfolio companies have promise such that continued funding over the next few years both brings value to the Fund and continues to promote the Fund’s mission. The Rigmora LPs disagree believing that their investment in the Fund is best served by more selective funding, particularly of the Debtor portfolio companies, which are in the pre- clinical stage. The Rigmora LPs also contend that bankruptcy is not an option, the Fund has no problem to solve through bankruptcy and the Fund should be wound up in the Cayman Islands courts. Having read the filings of the parties, received expert testimony on both venture capital funds generally and Cayman law and heard testimony from Debtors’ representatives, the Rigmora LPs and certain of the Debtor portfolio companies, I am denying the motion to dismiss. I conclude that the Fund is eligible to be a debtor and that the Fund and the General Partner filed their cases in good faith. But, I am granting limited relief from the stay to permit the partners to proceed with certain aspects of the winding up proceedings pending in in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. The winding up petition was filed by the Rigmora LPs on June 6, 2025 only one week after the General Partner sought relief in the Court of Chancery seeking, among other things, to enforce capital calls. While there was some jockeying among the partners for advantages in each court, ultimately, the Grand Court deferred trial on the winding up petition in order to provide the Court of Chancery the opportunity to rule on the matters before it. For its part, on December 5, 2025, the Court of Chancery ruled on matters it determined were ripe, reserved where they were not and deferred to the Grand Court on issues central to the winding up petition.

Under the unique circumstances of these cases, I will also defer to the Grand Court on two issues it is best positioned to resolve and grant limited relief from stay to permit the partners to proceed on the winding up petition so that the Grand Court can determine: (4) whether the Rigmora LPs can prove that they have justifiably and irretrievably lost all trust and confidence in the General Partner’s ability to manage the Fund and (ii) whether the Fund has lost its substratum. The Rigmora LPs may also seek to have Joint Official Liquidators appointed to act in the stead of the General Partner if they are successful on one of the two grounds above. But the automatic stay is otherwise in place. The Rigmora LPs may not seek other relief from the Grand Court, including to transfer (or deem transferred) the rights or property of the Fund to the Joint Official Liquidators or to permit the Joint Official Liquidators to wind up the Partnership in the Grand Court. Further, this Court will not recognize a monetary judgment against the General Partner or the Fund. To be clear, while Debtors remain in bankruptcy the automatic stay is in force and will continue to apply to the Rigmora LPs and to any Joint Official Liquidators that may be appointed. I recognize the challenging situation that any Joint Official Liquidators, to the extent appointed, may face. But, any challenges will be addressed when they surface and to the extent required, a protocol can be established to address any conflicts between the proceedings before me and any proceedings before the Grand Court.

Background The Fund, the General Partner and the Portfolio Companies In 2012, Dr. Seth Harrison and Dr. Dimitry Rybolovlev, both doctors turned venture capitalists,” established Apple Tree Partners IV, L.P., which was later renamed to ATP Life Science Ventures, L.P.* The Fund is a venture capital fund that was established for the “sole purpose” of investing in “pharmaceutical, medical and other medically-related business projects.”* The relationship is embodied in that certain First Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement and its twenty-two amendments (collectively, the “LPA”).° The Fund is a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (“ELP”) formed under the Exempted Limited Partnership Act (“ELP Act”).° It has one general partner, two majority limited partners and at least 12 non-contributing limited partners.’ It is capitalized

! This Opinion constitutes my findings of fact and conclusions of law. My findings are derived from testimony presented at the January 20, 2026, February 19-20, 2026 and February 25-26, 2026, hearings as well as exhibits. Unfortunately, the parties did not agree to a joint set of exhibits. “JX __” refers to joint exhibits admitted at the hearing. “JA __” refers to joint authorities provided by the parties. 2 Dr. Harrison received a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University and trained as a surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Hr’g Tr. 16:24-17:3, Jan. 20, 2026, Dkt No. 210. Dr. Rybolovlev received a Doctor of Medicine from Perm Medical Institute. JA-78, Post-Tr. Mem. Op., at 3. 3 Hr’g Tr. 108:19-22, Feb, 26, 2026, Dkt. No. 426. 4 JX-0, LPA L(c). > JX-0-JX-22. Exempted Limited Partnership Act (2025 Revision), JA-18. While I did not receive testimony on the benefits of forming a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, I assume they include favorable tax treatment, contractual flexibility and the ability to limit liability. 7 The non-contributing limited partners are present or former employees of Apple Tree Life Sciences, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund. JX-230, Second Witness Statement of Dr. Seth Harrison Jf 29-32; JA-78, Post-Tr. Mem. Op., at 12 n.68.

by commitments from its contributing limited partners, which are referred to as “Contingent Subscriptions” in the LPA.* The term of the Fund expires on February 6, 2029; it can be extended for up to two one-year periods at the discretion of the General Partner.’ By law, it cannot do outward facing business in the Cayman Islands.’ Debtor ATP III GP, Ltd., the General Partner, is a Cayman Islands company owned by Dr. Harrison.'! As the managing director of the General Partner, Dr. Harrison manages the Fund” and he is on the board of many of the portfolio companies.'? Dr.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
In re: Apple Tree Life Sciences, Inc., et al., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-apple-tree-life-sciences-inc-et-al-deb-2026.