Active Biotech raises SEK 43.4 million in substantially oversubscribed rights issue including exercise of over-allotment option
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Active Biotech AB’s (publ) (”Active Biotech” or the “Company”) rights issue with pre-emptive rights for Active Biotech’s shareholders has been oversubscribed (the “Rights Issue”). Due to strong demand, the board of directors has resolved to exercise the over-allotment option. Through the Rights Issue and the Over-allotment Option, Active Biotech will receive proceeds amounting to approximately SEK 43.4 million before transaction costs.
“With this funding in place, we will concentrate on the clinical programs with tasquinimod in myelofibrosis as well as finding a partner for the continued clinical development of laquinimod. We are grateful for the support from both existing and new shareholders and will update the market as the projects progress,” says Helén Tuvesson, CEO Active Biotech.
Following the end of the subscription period, the results of the Rights Issue show that 681,872,586 shares, corresponding to approximately 94 percent of the shares offered, were subscribed for with subscription rights. In addition, applications to subscribe for 679,279,991 shares without subscription rights have been received. The subscription ratio in the Rights Issue was thus approximately 188 percent.
Due to the oversubscription of the Rights Issue, the board of directors of the Company has exercised the Over-allotment Option to meet additional demand from investors, issuing an additional 144,725,256 new shares. In accordance with the issue authorization for the Over-allotment Option, granted by the extraordinary general meeting in the Company held on October 23, 2024, the Over-allotment Option is carried out for the purpose of expanding the Rights Issue and the subscription price corresponds to the subscription price in the Rights Issue.
Final allotment and admission to trading of 164,638,960 shares in the Rights Issue requires a prior decision from the Inspectorate of Strategic Products in accordance with the Screening of Foreign Direct Investment Act (Sw. lag (2023:560) om granskning av utländska direktinvesteringar) (“FDI”).
Through the Rights Issue and the Over-allotment Option, Active Biotech receives proceeds amounting to approximately SEK 43.4 million, before transaction costs. As a result of the Rights Issue incl. the Over-allotment Option, provided that relevant FDI clearances are obtained, Active Biotech’s share capital increases by approximately SEK 4,484,160 to approximately SEK 6,352,560 and the total number of shares and votes increases by 868,351,540 to 1,230,164,682.
Notification of allotment of new shares subscribed without subscription rights will be given in the form of a contract note.
Trading in the new shares on Nasdaq Stockholm is expected to commence in the beginning of December 2024.
For more information, please contact:
Helén Tuvesson, CEO, +46 46 19 21 56, helen.tuvesson@activebiotech.com
Hans Kolam, CFO, +46 46 19 20 44, hans.kolam@activebiotech.com
Active Biotech AB (publ) (NASDAQ Stockholm: ACTI) is a biotechnology company that develops first-in-class immunomodulatory treatments for oncology and immunology indications with a high unmet medical need and significant commercial potential. Active Biotech currently holds three projects in its portfolio, of which tasquinimod and laquinimod are wholly owned small molecule immunomodulators with a mode of action that includes modulation of myeloid immune cell function. The projects are in clinical development for hematological malignancies and inflammatory eye disorders, respectively. The company’s core focus is on the development of tasquinimod in myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer, where clinical proof-of-concept studies has been initiated. Also ongoing is a clinical Phase Ib/IIa study in multiple myeloma. Laquinimod is in clinical development for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis. A clinical phase I program with a topical ophthalmic formulation is ongoing to support phase II development together with a partner. The third pipeline project is naptumomab, a targeted anti-cancer immunotherapy, partnered to NeoTX Therapeutics, which is in a phase Ib/II clinical program in patients with advanced solid tumors. Please visit www.activebiotech.com for more information.
Active Biotech AB
Scheelevägen 22, SE-223 63 Lund, Sweden
Tel: +46 (0)46 19 20 00
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The information in this press release does not contain or constitute an offer to acquire, subscribe or otherwise trade with shares or other securities in Active Biotech. No action has been taken and measures will not be taken to permit a public offering in any other jurisdictions besides Sweden.
The information in this press release does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor’s option with respect to the rights issue. Each investor or prospective investor should conduct his, her or its own investigation, analysis and evaluation of the business and data described in this press release and publicly available information. The price and value of securities can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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The English text is an unofficial translation of the original Swedish text. In case of any discrepancies between the Swedish text and the English translation, the Swedish text shall prevail.