Nordic Nanovector launches a private placement of new shares
OSLO, Norway, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nordic Nanovector ASA (OSE: NANO) ("Nordic Nanovector" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to extending and improving the lives of patients with haematological cancers through the development and commercialisation of innovative targeted therapeutics, announces the launch of a private placement of new shares (the "Offer Shares") representing up to approximately 20% of the outstanding share capital of the Company at this date (the "Private Placement"). The Company has engaged ABG Sundal Collier ASA, Carnegie AS and DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners (collectively referred to as the "Managers") in connection with the Private Placement. Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS is acting as legal advisor to Nordic Nanovector.
Nordic Nanovector intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement for the following purposes:
- Conduct Pharmacokinetics (PK) studies and execute CMC activities required for the regulatory filing.
- Initiate the preparatory activities for the confirmatory phase 3 trial and preparation of market launch.
- General corporate purposes.
The proceeds from the Private Placement are expected to ensure financing past the Company's value inflection point targeted for H2 2021 and an additional at least six months period (throughout Q2 2022) to enable the Company to maximize shareholder value from the PARADIGME clinical trial.
Company update
The Company is carrying out the PARADIGME study, which investigates Betalutin® in relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkins lymphoma. In 2020, the Company completed a strategic review and concluded that it will focus its efforts and resources fully on the PARADIGME study until its completion. Further, in 2020, the Company made the following key decisions related to Betalutin® and the PARADIGME study:
- Expansion of inclusion criteria for recruitment to the PARADIGME trial
- Focus for the PARADIGME trial going forward is set on the "40/15" arm based on Independent Review Committee recommendation (after comprehensive review of interim data)
The pivotal Phase IIb PARADIGME trial of Betalutin® in 3L R/R FL is, although significantly affected by COVID-19, progressing with 95 sites in 24 countries open for enrolment:
- 73 patients enrolled as of 17 February 2021. (59 enrolled as of 18 November 2020)
- Following discussions with the FDA and an internal review, the company believes that a robust clinical data set (safety and efficacy) to support a filing at the designated dosing regimen of 40/15 can be achieved with a reduction of the initially targeted population from 130 to 120 patients. On this basis, 47 more patients are required to complete PARADIGME for regulatory submission of Betalutin
- Still targeting preliminary 3-month top-line data from PARADIGME in H2 2021
Nordic Nanovector believes that these initiatives make the Company well positioned towards the read out from Phase IIb PARADIGME trial of Betalutin®, having seen a meaningful increase in rate of enrolment last two months despite Christmas and Covid-19.
The Private Placement
The subscription price and the number of shares to be issued in the Private Placement will be determined through an accelerated book building process. The application period for the Private Placement commences today at 16:30 hours CEST and will close at 08:00 hours (CEST) on 24 February 2021 (the "Application Period"). The Company and the Managers reserve the right to close or extend the Application Period at any time and for any reason. If the Application Period is shortened or extended, any other dates referred to herein may be amended accordingly. The Company's largest shareholder, HealthCap VI L.P., has pre-subscribed for a number of Offer Shares equivalent to EUR 500,000 Primary insiders including Chairman of the Board and key management have pre-subscribed for a number of Offer Shares equivalent to approximately EUR 85,000.
The minimum subscription and allocation amount in the Private Placement will be the NOK equivalent of EUR 100,000, provided that the Company may, at its sole discretion, may allocate an amount below EUR 100,000 to the extent applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirement pursuant to applicable regulations, including the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and ancillary regulations, are available. Allocation of the Offer Shares will be determined at the end of the book building process, and the final allocation will be made by the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") at its sole discretion, following advice from the Managers.
The Offer Shares will be issued based on an authorisation granted to the Company's Board at the Company's extraordinary general meeting on 21 October 2021 (the "Authorisation").
The Board has considered alternative structures for the raising of new equity. Following careful considerations, the Board is of the view that it will be in the common interest of the Company and its shareholders to raise equity through a private placement setting aside the pre-emptive rights of the shareholders. By structuring the transaction as a private placement, the Company will be in a position to raise capital in an efficient manner, with a lower discount to the current trading price and with significantly lower risks compared to a rights issue. In addition, the Private Placement is subject to marketing through a pre-sounding and a publicly announced book building process. By this, a market based subscription price will be achieved. The Company will also consider whether to commence a repair offering towards the existing shareholders who did not participate in the Private Placement.
The Private Placement will be directed towards Norwegian and international investors, in each case subject to and in compliance with applicable exemptions from relevant prospectus or registration requirements. Notification of allotment and payment instructions is expected to be issued to the applicants on or about 24 February 2021 through a notification to be issued by the Managers.
Up to 15,878,122 shares will be issued by the Board pursuant to the Authorisation on a delivery versus payment basis (the "Offer Shares"). The Offer Shares will be tradable from registration of the share capital increase in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises (the "NRBE"), expected to be on or about 25 February 2021. The Managers are expected to pre-fund the Offer Shares to facilitate a swift registration of the share capital increase in the NRBE.
The Company has agreed with the Managers to a lock-up on future share issuances for a period until the Company's public disclosure of the preliminary 3-month top-line data from the PARADIGME clinical study (targeted for H2 2021), subject to customary exceptions. The Company's Board and Executive Management have all agreed with the Managers to a lock-up on existing shareholdings for a period of 360 days from the closing date, subject to customary exceptions. In addition, the Company's largest shareholder, HealthCap VI L.P. has agreed with the Managers to a lock-up for a period of 90 days from the closing date, subject to customary exceptions.
The Company will announce the final number of Offer Shares placed and the final subscription price in the Private Placement in a stock exchange announcement expected to be published before opening of trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange tomorrow, 24 February 2021. Completion of the Private Placement is subject to final approval by the Company's Board.
The Company's latest company update presentation is available at www.nordicnanovector.com in the section: Investors & Media/Reports and Presentation.
For further information, please contact:
IR enquiries
Malene Brondberg, CFO
Cell: +44 7561 431 762
Email: ir@nordicnanovector.com
Media Enquiries
Mark Swallow/Frazer Hall/David Dible (Citigate Dewe Rogerson)
Tel: +44 203 926 8535
Email: nordicnanovector@citigatedewerogerson.com
About Nordic Nanovector:
Nordic Nanovector is committed to develop and deliver innovative therapies to patients to address major unmet medical needs and advance cancer care. The Company aspires to become a leader in the development of targeted therapies for haematological cancers. Nordic Nanovector's lead clinical-stage candidate is Betalutin®, a novel CD37-targeting antibody-radionuclide-conjugate designed to advance the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). NHL is an indication with substantial unmet medical need, representing a growing market forecast to be worth nearly USD 29 billion by 2026. Nordic Nanovector retains global marketing rights to Betalutin® and intends to actively participate in the commercialisation of Betalutin® in the US and other major markets.
Further information can be found at www.nordicnanovector.com.
Important Notices
This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for shares. Copies of this document may not be sent to jurisdictions, or distributed in or sent from jurisdictions, in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful absent registration, or an exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
This document is not for publication or distribution in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan and it does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities in such countries or in any other jurisdiction. In particular, the document and the information contained herein should not be distributed or otherwise transmitted into the United States of America or to U.S. persons (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or to publications with a general circulation in the United States of America. This document is not an offer for sale of securities in the United States of America. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or the laws of any state, and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration under or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Nordic Nanovector does not intend to register any part of the Private Placement in the United States of America.
There will be no public offering of the securities in the United States of America. Any public offering in the United States of America would be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.
The information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom. No prospectus offering securities to the public will be published in the United Kingdom. This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons.
Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Any offer of securities to the public that may be deemed to be made pursuant to this communication in any member state of the European Economic Area (each an "EEA Member State") that has implemented Regulation 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation") is only addressed to qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.
The information contained in this document does not purport to be comprehensive. None of the Managers, any of their respective subsidiary undertakings or affiliates, or their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this document (or whether any information has been omitted from the document) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliates or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this document or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. The Managers disclaim any responsibility for any acts or omissions of the Company, any of the Directors, or any other person in connection with the Private Placement.
The Managers are acting for the Company in connection with the Private Placement and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice in relation to the Private Placement or any transaction or arrangement referred to in this press release.
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the securities described in this press release have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the securities may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the securities offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the securities is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Transaction. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Managers will only approach investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the securities. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the securities and determining appropriate distribution channels.
This publication may contain specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions. Such forward -looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of Nordic Nanovector and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. Nordic Nanovector assumes no responsibility to update forward -looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.
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