PledPharma’s rights issue oversubscribed by 34 percent
December 17, 2014
PledPharma AB Company Announcement PledPharma’s rights issue oversubscribed by 34 percent Stockholm, Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, 2014-12-17 08:27 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The rights issue was subscribed to approximately 99,4 percent with subscription rights (a total of 4 693 939 shares). In addition, 1 629 651 shares have been applied for subscription without subscription rights, corresponding to approximately 34,5 percent of the total offer. The rights issue was thus oversubscribed by approximately 34 percent. Shares subscribed for without subscription rights (a total of 30 541 shares), have been allocated to shareholders in accordance with the principles set out in the prospectus. Information regarding such allocation will only be sent to persons entitled to allotment. PledPharma receives approximately SEK 75,6 million before issue costs. “It is invigorating to see the strong support of our existing shareholders and the interest from new institutional investors. With this rights issue, we now have the resources to run our new drug candidate Aladote™ against acetaminophen induced acute liver failure through clinical phase II and up to a potential partnering deal. Furthermore, this positions PledPharma financially well for the upcoming partner negotiations regarding the drug candidate PledOx®, which is in the final stage of the Phase IIb study PLIANT with the goal of reducing some major serious and dose-limiting side effects from chemotherapy treatment of colorectal cancer”, says CEO Jacques Näsström. The rights issue will increase the number of shares by 4 724 480 to a total of 28 346 883 shares and the share capital will increase by approximately SEK 248 657 to approximately SEK 1 491 941. After registration of the share capital increase at the Companies Registration Office, the paid interim shares in the rights issue will be converted into new shares. Trading in the new shares is expected to commence on Nasdaq First North around the January 9, 2015. For further information please contact: Jacques Näsström, CEO PledPharma, phone +46 73 713 09 79 Michaela Gertz, CFO PledPharma, phone +46 70 926 17 75 About PledPharma PledPharma is a Swedish pharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for life-threatening diseases. The company's initial goal is to develop a drug, PledOx®, which reduces the serious side effects associated with chemotherapy. In the latest project PP-100, Aladote™ and its ability to reduce or prevent the development of acute liver failure due to paracetamol poisoning is evaluated. Project PP-099 is based on limiting the damage that occurs to the heart muscle when a patient suffers from acute myocardial infarction. The company has the potential to offer patients valuable and unique treatments for severe, life-threatening diseases for which there may be an opportunity for faster registration process of the drug in the United States called "Breakthrough therapy". The value of the current market for preventing and reducing serious side effects from chemotherapy amounts according to Datamonitor to approximately SEK 70 billion. PledPharma (STO: PLED) is listed on the Nasdaq First North. Erik Penser AB is Certified Adviser. For more information, see www.pledpharma.se Important notice The information in this press release is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, New Zeeland, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland or South Africa. The distribution of this press release in certain other jurisdictions may be restricted. The information in this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities in PledPharma in any jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration as provided in the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. PledPharma does not intend to register any portion of the offering of the securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of the securities in the United States. Copies of this announcement are not being distributed or sent and may not be distributed or sent to the United States, Australia, New Zeeland, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland or South Africa. This document has not been approved by any regulatory authority. This document is a press release and not a prospectus and investors should not subscribe for, or purchase any securities referred to in this document, except on the basis of information in the prospectus (including supplements thereto) which has been published by PledPharma and is available, inter alia, on its web site. European Economic Area PledPharma has not resolved to offer to the public shares or rights in any Member State of the European Economic Area other than Sweden and any other jurisdiction into which the offering of shares or rights may be passported. Within such Member States of the European Economic Area other than Sweden (and any other jurisdiction into which the offering of shares or rights may be passported) and which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "Relevant Member State"), no action has been undertaken as of this date to make an offer to the public of shares or rights requiring a publication of a prospectus in any Relevant Member State. As a result hereof, the shares or rights may only be offered in Relevant Member States: (a) to a qualified investor (as defined in the Prospectus Directive or under applicable law); or (b) in any other respect that does not require that PledPharma publishes a prospectus in accordance with Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive. For the purposes hereof, the expression an "offer to the public of shares or rights" in any Relevant Member State means the communication, in any form, of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares or rights to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any securities, as the same may be varied in a Relevant Member State due to the implementation of the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC including any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State. Pareto Securities AB is acting for PledPharma and no one else in connection with the rights issue and will not be responsible to anyone other than PledPharma for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the rights issue and/or any other matter referred to in this announcement. Pareto Securities AB accepts no responsibility whatsoever and makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by Pareto Securities AB, or on its behalf, in connection with PledPharma and the new shares, the rights issue, and nothing in this announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or future. Pareto Securities AB accordingly disclaims to the fullest extent permitted by law all responsibility and liability whether relating to damages, contract or otherwise which it might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any such statement. Forward-looking statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and potential financial performance. Although PledPharma believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Accordingly, results can differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. You are advised to read this announcement, and the prospectus and the information incorporated by reference therein, in their entirety for a further discussion of the factors that could affect the PledPharma's future performance and the industries in which PledPharma operates. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, it is possible that the events described in the forward-looking statements in this announcement may not occur.