(Información remitida por la empresa firmante)
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ) (“Vicore” or the “Company”), a pioneer in the development of angiotensin II type 2 receptor agonists (ATRAGs), announces its intention to carry out a directed share issue corresponding to approximately 10 million shares in the Company through an accelerated bookbuilding procedure directed to Swedish and international institutional investors (the “Directed Issue”), starting immediately. Vicore has engaged Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ)(“Carnegie”), Pareto Securities AB (“Pareto Securities”), Van Lanschot Kempen N.V. (“Van Lanschot Kempen”) and Zonda Partners AB (“Zonda”) to act as Joint Bookrunners (together the “Joint Bookrunners”) in connection with the Directed Issue. Vicore’s largest shareholder, HealthCap VII L.P., has expressed its intention to participate in the Directed Issue with up to SEK 40 million.
The Directed Issue
The subscription price and the number of new shares in the Directed Issue will be determined through an accelerated bookbuilding procedure, which will commence immediately following the publication of this press release and be led by the Joint Bookrunners. Closing of the accelerated bookbuilding procedure, pricing and allocation of the new shares are expected to take place before the commencement of trading on Nasdaq Stockholm at 09:00 CET on 8 December 2022. The timing of closing, pricing and allocation in the bookbuilding procedure are determined at the discretion of the Company and may be shortened, extended or cancelled at any time, meaning the Company may refrain, in part or in full, from carrying out the Directed Issue. The Company will announce the outcome of the Directed Issue in a subsequent press release after the bookbuilding procedure has been completed.
Vicore intends to use the net proceeds from the Directed Issue to:
Finance preparations for Phase 2b trial in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) including scale-up and manufacturing whilst continuing and completing the IPF AIR trial.
Prepare commercial launch of the ALMEETM, a digital therapeutic (DTx) for patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
Accelerating the development of the ATRAG platform (angiotensin II type 2 receptor agonists) and advance the preclinical pipeline.
General corporate purposes and extending the cash runway to Q4 2024.
Prior to the Directed Issue, the Company’s board of directors has made an overall assessment and carefully considered the possibility to raise capital through a rights issue. The board of directors considers that the reasons for deviating from the shareholders’ preferential right are (i) that a rights issue would take a significantly longer time to complete and entail a higher risk for a materially adverse effect on the share price, particularly in light of the market volatility and the challenging market conditions, (ii) to diversify and strengthen the Company’s shareholder base with Swedish and international institutional investors and to strengthen the share’s liquidity, (iii) to carry out a directed share issue can be made at lower costs and with less complexity than a rights issue and in light of the market volatility, the board of directors has assessed that a rights issue would also require a rather significant underwriting from a guarantor syndicate that would entail additional costs and/or additional dilution depending on the type of remuneration for such underwriting, and (iv) to ensure a strong balance sheet in the prevailing market situation. Considering the above, the board of directors has made the assessment that a directed share issue with deviation from the shareholders’ preferential right is the most favourable alternative for Vicore, creates value for the Company and is in the best interest of the Company’s shareholders. The board of directors thus considers that the reasons outweigh the default option that new issues are to be carried out with preferential rights for the shareholders.
By establishing the subscription price in the Directed Issue through an accelerated bookbuilding procedure, it is the assessment of the board of directors that the subscription price will be set on market terms and conditions.
Lock-up undertakings
In connection with the Directed Issue, the Company has agreed to a lock-up undertaking, with customary exceptions, on future share issuances for a period of 180 calendar days after the settlement date of the Directed Issue. In addition, Vicore’s board members, shareholding members of the senior management and the Company’s largest shareholder HealthCap VII L.P. have undertaken not to, subject to customary exceptions, divest any shares in Vicore for a period of 90 days from the settlement date of the Directed Issue.
Advisors
Carnegie, Pareto Securities, Van Lanschot Kempen, and Zonda Partners have been appointed Joint Bookrunners in connection with the Directed Issue. Law firm Vinge acts as legal counsel to the Company and Baker McKenzie acts as legal counsel to the Joint Bookrunners.
For further information, please contact:
Carl–Johan Dalsgaard, CEO
Phone: +46 70 975 98 63
-E-mail: carl-johan.dalsgaard@vicorepharma.com
This information constitutes inside information which Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above on 7 December 2022 at 17.31 CET.
About Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ)
Vicore is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative medicines in severe diseases where the Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) plays an important role. The Company currently has four development programs, VP01, VP02, VP03 and VP04. VP01 aims to develop the substance C21 for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). VP02 is a new formulation and delivery route of thalidomide and focuses on the underlying disease and the severe cough associated with IPF. VP03 includes the development of new AT2 receptor agonists. VP04 develops a clinically validated digital therapeutic for patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
The Company’s shares (VICO) are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm’s main market. For more information, see www.vicorepharma.com.
Important information:
The release, announcement or distribution of this press release may, in certain jurisdictions, be subject to restrictions by law. The recipients of this press release in jurisdictions where this press release has been published or distributed shall inform themselves of and follow such restrictions. The recipient of this press release is responsible for using this press release, and the information contained herein, in accordance with applicable rules in each jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to acquire or subscribe for shares issued by the Company in any jurisdiction where such offer or invitation would be illegal prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. This press release is not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”) and has not been approved by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction. The Company has not authorized any offer to the public of shares or rights in any Member State of the EEA and no prospectus has been or will be prepared in connection with the Directed Issue. In any EEA Member State, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.
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